It has been quite a year for the local nonprofit Dallas Afterschool. Earlier this year, the organization received a $1 million award from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott’s Yield Giving Open Call. Following the gift, D Magazine named Dallas Afterschool’s RECESS fundraiser as No. 1 in the region in its Best of Big D competition.
So, how is Dallas Afterschool attracting the attention of one of the country’s wealthiest women and making waves with original fundraising? CEO Marjorie Murat says the organization is valuable because of its ability to impact children with a systems approach.
Dallas Afterschool was formed in 2007 in response to a study conducted in Dallas that found a need for training and resources for hundreds of local afterschool programs. Unlike schools and daycares, which have relatively extensive oversight and governance, many free or low-cost after school programs don’t have an organizing or accrediting body.
The lack of oversight and support posed risks for the programs caring for thousands of children, many of whom already live in underserved areas. Dallas Afterschool was created to serve that purpose, offering training for staff, resources, and certification of the programs that meet quality and safety standards.
Today, the organization works with 270 afterschool programs and has trained 1,000 staff members, impacting 19,000 children across Dallas County—a 17 percent increase over the prior year. The organization doesn’t run its own programming but guides, trains, and supports the organizations that work directly with children in high-need areas.
It aligned well with Scott’s (Jeff Bezos’ ex-wife, author, and third-wealthiest woman in the country) $640 million worth of grants, which were gifted to community-led, community-focused organizations reaching those who need the most support.
“Education doesn’t end when the school bell rings, and working parents need a safe place for their kids to go,” Murat says. “Not everybody has the privilege to be able to leave their workplace at 3 p.m. or 3:30 p.m. to pick up their kid, and having high quality afterschool care contributes to the economy. It’s a well-needed resource.”
Staff training resources include everything from CPR and safety to trauma-informed care, bullying, and age-appropriate behavior. Dallas Afterschool is also a curricular resource, as many of the programs don’t have the time or expertise to make a lesson plan for their programming. The organization offers different STEM, VR, college readiness, and cultural kits and supplies.
This year, Dallas Afterschool hosted its first regional conference with attendees from across the state, where they discussed workforce development and advocating for equitable wages and health benefits for staff. After school staffing recruitment and retention have always been difficult, but after the pandemic, the issue is more acute, so advocating for better benefits and conditions for these employees has become an important cause for Dallas Afterschool. Additionally, Covid relief funds allowed the organization to grant $10,000 to 17 outside of school time organizations last year, and Dallas Afterschool hopes to give 24 similar grants this year.
In another big win for Dallas Afterschool, its annual fundraiser RECESS was named the best fundraiser in the city by D Magazine earlier this year. “Its successful RECESS event is playground fun for adults, complete with spiked adult juice boxes, competitive musical chairs, and games with grown-up prizes (like booze),” the magazine wrote. The next RECESS (March 21) promises a sandbox with buried prizes, live music, a life-sized Operation game, and gourmet-inspired cafeteria food.
“It’s our opportunity to bring awareness to the need for free and low-cost after school programs in Dallas, and we have parents and partners that come and give touch points so folks can hear about the work we’re doing,” Murat says.
Murat is a New York native whose family moved to North Texas for her father’s work and has spent her career in the nonprofit world. She previously served at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Dallas and Jubilee Park Community Center near Fair Park. She became a board member of Dallas Afterschool and later became a vice president. In 2021, she was named CEO.
During her time working in the industry, she has seen a shift of perception toward outside of school time. “These times are seen as an extension of the school day in a manner that focuses on the child,” she says. “After school learning is the avenue of experiential learning where kids are able to touch and see and soak it in.”
Dallas Afterschool is funded by government programs and individual donors, but most of its budget comes from foundations. There is fierce competition for foundation money amongst local education nonprofits, but Murat says Dallas Afterschool stands out because of its ability to impact multiple programs through its staff training and resources. “We have a systems approach. By funding us, you impact 19,000 children. You’re not just investing in one program, but you’re investing in hundreds of programs when you fund and invest with Dallas Afterschool.”
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