¿Hablas español? Trouble with technology?
Email financialaid@wildartsnyc.org or call (646) 389-6572
Wildarts Financial Aid Assistance
Wildarts believes everyone needs afterschool, and anyone who needs afterschool should be able to attend.
We encourage families in need to work with our Financial Aid Team to identify and apply for financial aid. Wildarts Financial Aid is only for students who attend programs 5 days per week.
Wildarts can coach your family through applying for HRA Childcare vouchers, ACS Childcare vouchers, or Wildarts Funded Scholarships.*
Wildarts can also help families with employer childcare benefits obtain the required documentation.
*Financial Aid applications do not ask for immigration status
The first step toward financial assistance is filling out the Wildarts Financial Aid Intake Form
Types of Financial Aid
HRA Childcare Vouchers
Families who already receive certain forms of assistance may be eligible for free childcare through the HRA Voucher program.
If you receive SNAP, Fair Fares, Medicaid, Cash Assistance, HEAP, or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) you may qualify.
omplete the Wildarts Financial Aid Intake Form above to see if you qualify.
ACS Childcare Vouchers
Families in need who may not be eligible for free childcare through the HRA Voucher program may still qualify for the ACS Childcare Voucher.
Complete the Wildarts Financial Aid Intake Form above to see if you qualify.
Wildarts Scholarship Fund
Full and partial scholarships are available to families with demonstrable need. While Wildarts believes every family should be able to participate in the program, regardless of economic means, scholarships are limited. Financial Aid is not available for Wildarts 3K/PK Programs, Enrichment, Camps, or Parent's Night Out.
omplete the Wildarts Financial Aid Intake Form above to see if you qualify.
Financial Aid Deadlines
Wildarts Summer Camp 2025
To give your family the best chance of registering in time for the start of Wildarts Summer Camp, the deadline to fill out the Wildarts Financial Aid Intake Form and start the application process for a voucher is January 30th, 2025.
Wildarts Afterschool 2025-2026 School Year
To register in time for the start of afterschool in September 2025, the deadline to fill out the Wildarts Financial Aid Intake Form and start the application process for a voucher is June 30th, 2025.
Families who complete the intake form after June 30th, 2025 will be notified that they have submitted their form after the deadline and they will be helped after those who submitted on time.
Quick Financial Aid FAQ
My family needs financial assistance for afterschool. Where should we start?
The first step is filling out the Wildarts Financial Aid Intake Form. Once we receive your form, our Financial Aid Team will contact you to discuss whether you may qualify for ACS/HRA vouchers or a Wildarts Funded Scholarship. Don't worry, we can help you apply for the vouchers too!
How can Wildarts help me apply for financial assistance?
Our Financial Aid Team will review your Wildarts Financial Aid Intake Form and determine whether we believe you may qualify for an ACS or HRA Childcare Voucher. If we think you may qualify, we can provide computer access, help with translation, creating accounts, uploading documents, and navigating the application process. Wildarts can't submit the application on your behalf, but we can lend advice and resources along the way.
What if my family does not qualify for a childcare voucher?
Wildarts has a limited number of Wildarts Funded Scholarships available to help families in need who are ineligible for city childcare assistance. Wildarts Funded Scholarships are awarded based on income and need and are awarded on a rolling basis throughout the school year. Wildarts Funded Scholarships are only good for one school year, so families need to apply each new school year.
Is financial assistance available for Camps or Enrichment?
Wildarts is unable to offer Wildarts Funded Scholarships to Enrichment Classes, Day Camps and Wildarts Summer Camp at this time. Only families who have active childcare vouchers for Wildarts Afterschool programs can attend Wildarts Day Camps and Wildarts Summer Camp with their vouchers. Families may request coupon codes to enroll in Wildarts Day Camps under their vouchers as needed. The deadline for families to request a coupon code to enroll in Wildarts Summer Camp under their voucher is April 1st, 2025.
What if I need afterschool now, but I'm still waiting on financial assistance?
Families can enroll in Wildarts programs while they apply for financial assistance, but they must pay tuition. We recommend choosing monthly installments for afterschool while your application is in the works. If you are awarded a city funded childcare voucher, Wildarts will refund any tuition you paid after the issue date on the voucher as soon as Wildarts receives the first payment from city agencies for your child's attendance. Families will not receive a refund for tuition payments made before the start date on the voucher.
Families who are awarded a Wildarts Funded Scholarship will be refunded any tuition payments made to attend Wildarts afterschool for the current school year.
Financial Aid Handbook
Step-by-Step Financial Aid Application Process for Families at Wildarts:
This step-by-step guide should help families understand the process for applying for financial aid and the options available based on their eligibility.
Step 1: Start the Financial Aid Process
Go to the Wildarts Website: Navigate to wildartsnyc.org and click Financial Aid. Locate the Financial Aid Intake Form.
Complete the Form: Fill out the form to provide basic information about your family and financial need.*
*Please note this is not an application for financial aid, but only an intake form.
Step 2: Review of Eligibility
Voucher Eligibility Determination: Wildarts Financial Aid Team will review your answers to the Wildarts Financial Aid Intake form and determine if we believe you may qualify for a city-funded childcare voucher or not.
Email Notification: Wildarts Financial Aid Team will email you outlining the available options. Please respond confirming you understand the Financial Aid options and would like to move forward with an application. Wildarts will follow-up with a phone call if we don’t get a response. If you stop responding to our attempts to communicate, you will be considered ineligible for Wildarts Funded Scholarships.
Step 3: Completing Financial Aid Applications
A) If Eligible for a Voucher
Completing the Voucher Application:
Families will work directly with Wildarts to complete their voucher applications.
A list of required documents will be provided by Wildarts, and families must complete the necessary steps to apply for the voucher.
Wildarts provides support with language translation, document uploading, accessing computers, and creating accounts.
Families must submit the application to their respective agencies and follow up as needed.
B) If Not Eligible for a Voucher
Consideration for Wildarts Scholarships:
Families who are not awarded a voucher are considered for Wildarts Funded Scholarships for afterschool programs based on income and need.
Scholarships are awarded on a rolling basis, as funds are available.
Wildarts Funded Scholarship eligibility is based on these income thresholds:
Family Size, 1 Child: Annual income ≤ $76,488.48
Family Size, 2 Children: Annual income ≤ $93,869.56
Family Size, 3 Children: Annual income ≤ $111,250.63
Family Size, 4 Children: Annual income ≤ $128,631.70
Family Size, 5 Children: Annual income ≤ $146,012.77
Step 4: Financial Aid Award Notification
Families may opt to pay for Wildarts programs during the financial aid application process.
No Financial Aid Awarded: If not awarded a voucher or a Wildarts Funded Scholarship, no refund will be issued for tuition paid.
Voucher Awarded:
Families will receive a coupon code to register for Wildarts programs through HiSawyer.
Free services begin on the voucher issue date.
5 Days per Week Requirement: Participants receiving financial aid must be enrolled for 5 days per week in the HiSawyer system.
If the voucher stipulates a dollar amount families must contribute each week, the amount will be multiplied by 4 to calculate your family’s monthly payment for Wildarts programs. Your Hi Sawyer coupon code will cover all costs minus your calculated monthly payment.
Tuition Refunds: For families who paid tuition before receiving the voucher, once the first payment from the city is received by Wildarts, a refund will be issued for any payments the month of and after the voucher issue date. Any payments made prior to the voucher issue date cannot be refunded.
Wildarts Funded Scholarship Awarded:
Families will receive a coupon code to register for Wildarts programs through HiSawyer.
5 Days per Week Requirement: Participants receiving financial aid must be enrolled for 5 days per week in the HiSawyer system.
Tuition Refunds: Families awarded scholarships will receive refunds for any tuition payments made during the application period for the current school year.
Wildarts Scholarship Renewal: Wildarts scholarships are valid for the current school year only. Families must re-apply annually to continue receiving assistance.
Special Financial Aid Considerations
Voucher Use for Summer Camp:
Only families already using a childcare voucher for afterschool programs are eligible to use their vouchers for Wildarts Summer Camp.
Summer Camp Deadline: Request a Summer Camp Enrollment Code by April 1st, 2025.
Non-Voucher Holders: If you do not have a voucher, fill out the Wildarts Financial Aid Intake Form by January 30th, 2025 to begin the voucher application process in time for Summer Camp.
Voucher Use for Fall Programs:
Fall Vouchers: To register for Fall afterschool programs starting in September 2025, submit the Financial Aid Intake Form by June 30th, 2025.
Late Submissions: Submissions after June 30th will be processed after those who submitted on time.
Enrichment Programs: Voucher holders cannot enroll in Enrichment activities unless paid separately.
Late Pick-Up Fees: Voucher recipients are responsible for any late pick-up fees incurred. Wildarts will document If late fees are not paid. If a family accumulates three unpaid late pick-up fees, their participation in the program will be suspended.
Contacting Wildarts Financial Aid Team
Wildarts Financial The best way to contact Wildarts Financial Aid team is by email at financialaid@wildartsnyc.org.
Families may also call the Wildarts Financial Aid Hotline at (646) 389-6572 to leave a voicemail. When you call the hotline and leave a voicemail, please leave your full name and a contact telephone number and a member of our team will call you back as soon as possible. Please keep in mind that our team is small. We will try to respond quickly, but can only respond as quickly as our limited resources allow.