New Programs

To become a member of SEA, organizations must demonstrate exceptional leadership, ensure a long-term and sustainable pathway of student support, and meet a range of programmatic and organizational criteria listed below.

To learn more about becoming a member of SEA, please contact david.kay@squashandeducation.org.

Programming Criteria – New US Programs

Enrollment – Enroll at least 20 children in core year-round programming

Long-Term Program – Provide core program participants with year-round support from the time that they join in elementary and middle school through post-secondary completion, or the age of 24

School-Year Sessions – Run required academic and squash programming at least five days a week throughout the school year, with participating students attending programming at least three days a week

School-Year Weekends – Deliver programming or events on at least half of school-year weekends

Academics – Track and support students’ school performance (collect report cards, etc.)

Summers – Ensure that two-thirds of your core students participate in 20+ days of summer programming (summer experiences not directly run by the program count toward a student’s total)

Population – Enroll students from schools at which at least 70% of students are eligible for the federal government’s free lunch program (if required, other data demonstrating economic need will be considered)

Attendance and Retention – Record attendance daily and track core student retention and attrition

Child Safety and Protection – Have a child safety and protection policy that addresses appropriate training and screening of volunteers, including background checks

Leadership, Finances, and Administration Criteria – New US Programs

Staff – Employ at least one full-time staff member

Board of Directors – Have a Board of Directors with 100% giving whose contributions account for at least one-third of the program’s operating budget

Finances – Have at least two-thirds of the fiscal year’s operating budget at the time of the application

Staff Evaluation – Provide an annual written review of all full-time staff, including the Executive Director

Insurance – Own directors and officers, liability and other appropriate insurance policies

Organizational Policies – Possess policies for professional organizational administration (Personnel Policies, Volunteer Handbook, Transportation Plan, etc.)

Partnerships – Develop and maintain strong partnerships with schools, community organizations, families, and volunteers

SEA Database – Use SEA’s CRM and dashboard infrastructure to collect, track, and annually report organizational and programmatic outcomes

Growth Plan – Have a 3+ year organizational growth plan to increase enrollment and community impact

Criteria for International Programs