Are you a newer OST program manager looking to gain knowledge and skills that will help you be more effective within your own organization and to advance professionally within the OST field?

If so, apply to join APOST’s 3rd Managers Cohort!
This interactive cohort series designed specifically for site coordinators or managers who oversee staff runs from November 2026 through April 2027. APOST will select at least 15 people to participate in this learning cohort. The monthly sessions will be a mix of in-person and virtual and will cover a wide range of topics and the critical role you play in buildling a high-quaility OST workforce:
  • Coaching & Mentoring Staff
  • Program Evaluation Basics
  • Telling Your Program’s Story
  • Finances & Understanding the Funding Landscape
Whether you're managing your first team or looking to expand your nonprofit knowledge, this Cohort offers practical tools, peer learning, and real-world strategies to help you supervise with confidence and impact.

Application Deadline: Fill out this application by 5pm on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, to be considered. Applicants will be notified of their selection status by Monday, November 2, 2026.

Questions about the Cohort or the application? Contact APOST's Partnerships Manager Kelly Rottmund at krottmund@afterschoolpgh.org
Contact & Organization Information

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1. Your Name (Required.)

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2. Your Job Title / Role (Required.)

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4. Organization Name (Required.)

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5. Does your organization have 501(c)3 status? (Required.)

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6. What community, or communities, are you working in? (Required.)

Cohort Schedule & Commitment
APOST strongly encourages Managers Cohort members to attend all of the scheduled sessions. Completing the Cohort requires attending at least five of the seven sessions (the March session covers two topics and is counted as two sessions) and giving a 5-minute Impact Project Presentation at the closing session.

The Managers Cohort sessions take place one Wednesday a month from 10am-12pm unless otherwise noted. All the dates & times are listed below:
  1. November 12, 2026, 10am-2pm (in-person)
  2. December 9, 2026 (Zoom)
  3. January 6, 2027 (Zoom)
  4. February 10, 2027 (in-person)
  5. March 3, 2027, 10am-12pm (in-person)
  6. March 3, 2027, 12:30-2:30pm (in-person)
  7. April 14, 2027 (in-person Impact Project Presentations & Closing Celebration)

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7. Are you available to attend all the session dates and times listed above? (Required.)

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8. As most sessions are held during normal business hours, the support of your organization is important. The applicant is expected to get its support and completion of this section indicates the applicant has done so. Your supervisor may be contacted.

If you are selected for the Managers Cohort, does your supervisor give approval for you to participate in the monthly sessions? (Required.)

Your Knowledge & Experience

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9. Share your current level of knowledge or experience for each of the session topics on a scale of 1 to 5.

1 = no knowledge/experience
3 = moderate knowledge/experience
5 = equals expert level knowledge/experience (Required.)

  1 2 3 4 5
Supervising & coaching staff
Fundraising
Nonprofit financial management (managing a program budget)
Communications (telling your program's story)
Program evaluation (collecting & analyzing data)

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10. What experiences or qualities would you bring to this learning cohort? (500 words or less) (Required.)

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11. What would you hope to gain from this learning cohort? (500 words or less) (Required.)

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12. How long have you been in the OST field? (Required.)

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13. Do you supervise staff who work directly with youth? (Required.)

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14. How long have you been a manager/supervisor of staff? (Required.)

Accessibility & Accommodations

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15. APOST is committed to ensuring everyone can participate in the Zoom and in-person sessions comfortably. If you need information about the accessibility of the spaces we'll be in or specific accommodation for disability, sensory needs, or language access, please let us know.

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16. If you have dietary needs to take into consideration when providing food, please let us know.

Other

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17. Are you willing to host a Managers Cohort session at your site? Space would need to be able to accommodate up to 25 people at tables, projection and microphone, gender neutral restrooms, and space to set up refreshments. (Required.)

Questions about the Managers Cohort or application process?
Reach out to APOST Partnerships Manager Kelly Rottmund at krottmund@afterschoolpgh.org

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