We already have programming planned—do we still need this?

Yes, if your tracking/reporting system isn’t clear. Strong programming still fails when data and documentation are inconsistent.

Steps To Achieve team supporting BOOST and VIP grant programs

BOOST & VIP Grant Strategy and Administration Support

Q: Do you write the grant for us?

No. We help you strengthen the outcomes, reporting, documentation, and evaluation parts so the plan is fundable and realistic.

Q: Can you support multi-site projects?

Yes—this is where systems and consistency matter most.

From a competitive application to a compliant 36-month grant, we help you plan it, measure it, and report it.

PCCD’s FY26-27 VIP + BOOST round is open. Applications are due December 10, 2026.

We help you shape a stronger application before you submit, and we set up the systems that keep you compliant after you win.

Schedule a Strategy Session

PDE 21st CCLC Approved External Organization

American Evaluation Association Members

FERPA Compliant

70+ OST and 21st CCLC Sites Supported

Students working together in an afterschool program

Before You Apply:

Build an Application That Scores

Community Need and Project Implementation account for 55 of the scored points. Most applications lose those points on vague outcomes and need statements without data. We help you get them right.

Eligibility and funding cap. Your applicant type, activity area, and maximum request.
Community need data. County crime trends and at-risk youth indicators, turned into a clear need statement.
Measurable outcomes. Goals and indicators that match your activities and that your staff can actually track.
Evaluation plan and budget. Evaluation is an allowable cost. We help you scope and justify it.
Rubric review. A scored read of your draft before you submit.

We don’t write your full application. We build the strategy and measurement plan that make it competitive.

“Because of your guidance and connections, we were successful in securing the $75,000 BOOST grant.” - recent awardee

Schedule a Strategy Session

FY26-27 VIP + BOOST Key Dates

November 18, 1 PM: PCCD applicant webinar
December 4: Last day to submit questions to PCCD

December 10, 11:59 PM: Applications due in Egrants

Spring 2027: Awards announced; formal application due within 45 days
April 2027 – March 2030: Project period

Steps To Achieve is not affiliated with PCCD. All funding decisions are made solely by PCCD. Full details: PCCD funding page

Out-of-school-time program staff and students

Once awarded, we set up the system that keeps you compliant

Participation Tracking

Consistent attendance & dosage rules

Outcomes Tracking System

Simple measures tied to activities

Documentation Checklist

What to save, where it lives, and why it matters.

Quarterly Reporting Readiness

Program and fiscal deadlines, coordinated

Dashboards + Snapshots

Clear summaries for leadership and partners.

Staff Training + Handoffs

Systems that survive turnover

Monitoring Prep

Files and summaries ready before the visit.

Continuous Improvement

Practical adjustments based on what data shows.

How the Partnership Works

STEP ONE

Strategy Session

We review your organization, program plan, and eligibility, confirm your maximum request, and map out what your application needs to score well in Community Need and Project Implementation.

STEP TWO

Build the Plan

We develop your need data, measurable outcomes, evaluation approach, and budget justification with your team, so the application is ready before December 10.

STEP THREE

Administer Through the Grant Period

If you’re funded, we set up tracking and reporting and stay with you through check-ins, data cleanup, budget revisions, and quarterly reports across all 36 months.

Practical systems and clear reporting—without complicated processes or jargon-heavy reports.

Common Questions

Program staff reviewing BOOST grant data together

Do you write the grant for us?

Not the full application. We help with grant strategy and build the pieces that carry the most weight: need data, measurable outcomes, the evaluation plan, and budget justification.

How much can we request?

Up to $500,000 or 50% of your July 2025–June 2026 operating expenditures, whichever is less. That amount covers all three years combined, not each year.

We already have 21st CCLC funding. Can we apply?

Often, yes. BOOST funds can't replace existing funding for the same activities, so we help you frame the proposal as an expansion: new sites, more youth, summer programming, or added services.

Who's eligible?

For BOOST: community-based 501(c)(3)s, school districts, CTCs, and libraries. Charter schools, IUs, and childcare providers can't apply directly but can take part as partners or subrecipients. Statewide youth-serving 501(c)(4)s apply separately for up to $975,000 on behalf of three or more subrecipients. We support both.

Don't we already get free technical assistance?

Yes, through PCCD's provider, WestEd's Justice & Prevention Research Center. We don't replace that support. We handle your grant strategy, data systems, and reporting so your staff can stay focused on youth.

Can you support multi-site projects?

Yes. We design tracking and reporting systems that work across multiple sites with consistent data collection — even when sites have different staff or schedules.