Jelleff Club Faces Funding Gap in District Budget
The Georgetown Boys & Girls Club was left out of the District's 2027 budget, prompting a donor-backed matching campaign.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Philanthropy
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Should the District fund after-school youth programs like Jelleff's in its budget?
Funding for the Jelleff Boys & Girls Club was not included in the District of Columbia's slimmed-down 2027 budget. An anonymous donor and his wife are funding a campaign to match up to $100,000 in donations.
Why it matters
The club serves almost 500 children from all eight wards and provides transportation and late pickup for families. Its loss of city support puts that service at risk unless alternative funding is secured.
The donor match campaign covers up to $100,000 in donations, while the club serves almost 500 children from all eight wards. The extraction does not state the total amount of city funding that was omitted from the 2027 budget.
The players
Jelleff Boys & Girls Club
A Georgetown youth organization founded in 1931 that serves children from across Washington's wards.
Bob Stowers
A long-serving staff member who has worked at the Jelleff club since 1972.
The details
The Jelleff Boys & Girls Club, located on S Street in Georgetown, runs a basketball league and transports children directly from local schools to the club. Club leaders have contacted the Council to seek inclusion in the 2028 budget.
Timeline
1931: The Georgetown branch of the Boys & Girls Clubs was founded.
1953: The club was established at its S Street location.
1972: Bob Stowers began working at Jelleff.
2027: The District's budget omitted funding for the club.
Season Trajectory
The omission of youth-program funding from the District's 2027 budget sets up the 2028 budget cycle as the next point at which the club can seek restored support. Club leaders are making their case to the Council now, ahead of that cycle.
Families who rely on the club for after-school care and transportation could lose that support if the funding gap is not closed. Donors can help by contributing to the matching campaign through the club's donation page.
The takeaway
Local youth programs can depend heavily on budget decisions made far from their neighborhoods, so community donations and advocacy matter. Supporters who want to help can give directly to the matching campaign or contact Council members about the 2028 budget.
What happens next
Club leaders are seeking inclusion in the District's 2028 budget.
Further reading
Explore more Philanthropy coverage to see how donors are stepping in when public budgets fall short.
More information
Donations to the matching campaign can be made on the Jelleff Boys & Girls Club donation page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Georgetowner.
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Should the District fund after-school youth programs like Jelleff's in its budget?
