Membership

By becoming a member of the Expanded Learning Opportunities (ELO) Network you are supporting standards of quality for afterschool programs and ensuring that youth in the Greater Grand Rapids community will have brighter futures.

Membership Benefits

Funding Opportunities
Opportunities for Leadership
Newsletters & Network Website
Professional Learning Community
Data Management System

Becoming a Member

Commitment to vision, mission, and goals of the ELO Network
Use of ELO Quality Standards of Care in after school programs
Regular commitment participation
Annual renewal of commitment of The ELO Network (requires a signed letter of commitment)

All Benefits Online Membership Application Membership Application PDF

Funding Opportunities

Members can be eligible for ELO grants as available. Local, regional, and national funding opportunities are researched and promoted within the ELO Network. Your membership shows community collaboration to other funders.

Newsletter

The ELO Network offers a subscription to an online newsletter, and the most up-to-date resources including ELO member updates, national after school research, funding opportunities, and training events.

Resources for Quality Programming

The ELO Network has created the ELO Standards for Quality Care. Members benefit from the cutting-edge initiatives to improve quality practices in emerging fields such as social emotional learning and STEM.

Advocacy and Public Education

The ELO Network advocates for funding and legislative policies that positively impact local programs. The ELO Network is a member of the Michigan Afterschool Partnership, the National League of Cities, and the Forum for Youth Investment. ELO members can join forces with others in building public support for after school programs.

Professional Learning Community

The ELO Network has grown since 2001 to a collaboration of over 50 member organizations, including after school providers, business partners, nonprofits, elected officials, and parents. Our collaborative model brings many voices around the table to plan and promote out-of-school time programs and to share best practices.

Opportunities for Leadership

The ELO Network has many opportunities to be involved in leadership. Committees include the following: Quality Committee, Data & Evaluation Committee, Executive Team, Advocacy Committee.

Professional Development & Celebrations

The ELO Network offers professional development trainings to drive better practices and outcomes for children, as well as free quality self-assessment tools and evaluation resources. The annual Lights On Afterschool! event illuminates the importance youth programming in the lives of our young people. And, the annual ELO Network Awards embrace and acknowledge practitioners in the field who deserve recognition for a job well done!

Other membership benefits include:

Social media exposure
Data Management System
Logo on the ELO Network website

ELO Leadership

Step 1 of 5

By signing this letter your organization is indicating your commitment and participation to the work and mission of the Expanded Learning Opportunities Network for one year to ensure every child in the Grand Rapids Community has access to quality after school programs. You are also allowing the name of your organization to be listen publicly as a partner organization in the ELO Network.
Membership Requirements
Commitment to the ELO vision, mission, and goals.
Use of ELO Quality Standards of Care in after school programs.
Regular committee participation.
Annual Renewal of commitment to ELO Network (requires a signed letter of commitment)

As ELO members, we are committed to excellence, inclusion, safe spaces, and success. We believe in best practices and strive to provide positive outcomes for children.

By signing the organizational letter of commitment, your organization commits to contribute one annual fee.

With the full authority of the organization listed below, this agreement signifies the organization’s full support of the vision, mission, and goals of the ELO Network. Please identify staff to represent your organization at regularly scheduled meetings of the ELO Network and its committees.

Organization Name:

Name:

First Last

By marking this checkbox, you agree to The ELO Network's Terms & Conditions and this letter of Commitment.

I agree to the terms of this letter of commitment

Organization Director/CEO Name:
First Last
Organization Director/CEO Title:
Address
Street Address Address Line 2 City State / Province / Region ZIP / Postal Code Country
Main Phone Number:
Organization Website:

Hard Copy Application

Here you can find a hard copy of the ELO Membership forms. Alternatively applicants can fill in this PDF and send it with the information provided in one of two ways.

Using our provided physical address via USPS (post)
Send via a direct email to sharris@grcity.us

If you have any questions regarding the application process or Our Community’s Children, you can give Shannon a call or email with the information provided.

Download Letter of Commitment