Girls on the Run

What Girls on the Run does

Girls on the Run International, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1996 and headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina (operational base in Charlotte). The organization delivers a physical activity-based positive youth development program for girls in grades 3-8, combining running with a research-based life skills curriculum. Core products include the 3rd-5th Grade Program (refreshed in 2024 with the 'Hello, Superstar!' and 'Hello, Mountain Mover!' curricula), the 6th-8th Grade Program marketed as 'Heart & Sole', Camp GOTR for summer programming, and 5K Celebrations as culminating events. Since founding, the organization reports transforming over 2.7 million lives across a network of more than 160 local councils operating in North America.

The organization operates through a decentralized council model in which independently operated local councils recruit participants, train volunteer coaches, and deliver programs at schools and community centers. In the 2024 season, 173,546 girls participated with the support of 39,287 volunteer coaches, and 322 5K Celebrations were held. The revenue model combines program registration fees (with need-based financial assistance), individual donations and corporate/foundation grants (e.g., $500,000 from the Rite Aid Foundation in March 2025 and $57,000 from the Life Time Foundation in December 2025), and merchandise sales through the GOTR Shop. The organization maintains evidence-based positioning through the longitudinal Alums Study, which tracks participants from fourth grade through high school and reports durable impact metrics (97% reporting critical life skills learned, 96% of schools willing to offer the program again).

Supporting operations include an alumni community platform ('Beyond the Finish'), Community Impact Projects (11,629 completed in 2024), and a diversified corporate partnership portfolio spanning BNP Paribas, Academy Sports + Outdoors, Life Time Foundation, Carrie Underwood's HiNote brand, Rowan, RunStar, and the Rite Aid Foundation. Technology infrastructure consists of online program registration, email communications, and survey/analytics tooling; no proprietary AI/ML or software platform is disclosed. Leadership includes CEO Liz Kunz (22-year tenure), CFO Victoria Payne, and Chief Program Officer Allie Riley (13-year tenure).

Name

Girls on the Run

Legal name

Girls on the Run International, Inc.

Website

https://girlsontherun.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Girls on the Run is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers a research-based, physical activity and life skills curriculum to girls in grades 3-8 through a network of 160+ local councils across North America, serving 173,546 participants in 2024.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Development Programs

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620), Child and Youth Services (62411), Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

After-School, Tutoring & Academic Enrichment Nonprofits (BPAGADAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Arts, Sports & Recreation-Based Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAJ), After-School & Extended-Day Programs (School-Run) (EDAJAJAK), Youth & Junior Tournament Organizers (MPAKADAL)

Keywords

• Youth development programs
• Girls empowerment curricula
• After-school running programs
• Social-emotional learning
• Nonprofit physical activity

Headquarters

HQ city

Charlotte

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: Girls on the Run operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization primarily funded through individual donations, corporate sponsorships, foundation grants, and fundraising campaigns. Major grants include $57,000 from Life Time Foundation for program expansion.
2. Program Registration Fees: Fees collected from families for program participation, with financial assistance available to ensure accessibility.
3. Merchandise Sales: E-commerce sales through gotrshop.com featuring apparel and accessories.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Girls on the Run operates an after-school and summer youth development program for girls in grades 3-8 that integrates running and physical activity with a research-based life skills and social-emotional learning curriculum. Programs are delivered through a network of more than 160 local councils at schools and community centers, culminating in community 5K celebration events. Revenue is generated through program registration fees, individual and corporate donations, foundation grants, sponsorships, and branded merchandise sales.

Product overview

Girls on the Run International is a nonprofit youth development organization offering a portfolio of physical activity-based programs for girls in grades 3-8. The core offerings include the 3rd-5th Grade Program and the 6th-8th Grade Program (Heart & Sole), which combine running with social-emotional learning curricula. In 2024, the organization introduced new curricula called 'Hello Superstar!' and 'Hello Mountain Mover!' for elementary-age participants. Additional offerings include Camp GOTR for summer programming, the GOTR Alumni Community for former participants, and 5K Celebrations as culminating events. The organization also partners with the HiNote Life fitness app (formerly fit52) for youth wellness initiatives. Programs are delivered through a network of over 160 local councils across North America.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Heart & Sole: Middle school program for 6th-8th grade girls combining physical activity with life skills development
• Camp GOTR
• GOTR

Products and services

• 3rd-5th Grade Program After-school physical activity-based youth development program combining running with a research-based life skills curriculum for girls in grades 3-5. Participants learn critical life skills including resolving conflict, helping others, making intentional decisions, and building healthy habits.
• 6th-8th Grade Program (Heart & Sole)
• Camp GOTR
• Hello Superstar! Curriculum 2024 curriculum for 3rd-5th grade girls empowering participants to shine their Star Power, build confidence, and encourage others through movement-based activities and meaningful conversations.
• Hello Mountain Mover! Curriculum 2024 curriculum for 3rd-5th grade girls encouraging participants to develop confidence to do hard things by strengthening their I Can! Power through interactive movement activities.
• 5K Celebrations
• GOTR Alumni Community (Beyond the Finish)
• Community Impact Projects
• GOTR Shop

Quantifiable outcome

• 97% of alums reported the program had a positive impact on their lives
• +9 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered major and minor.

• HiNote (Carrie Underwood Brand)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 May 2026Carrie Underwood launched HiNote, a new wellness brand, in partnership with Girls on the Run International to support youth wellness initiatives. The partnership involves supporting girls' health and empowerment through Carrie Underwood's wellness platform. The brand was incubated with Caravan as a strategic capital partner.
• RunStarminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 30 April 2026RunStar launched a giveback campaign with Girls on the Run throughout May 2026 in recognition of National Physical Fitness and Sports Month. The health technology brand donates 15% of all website sales to the nonprofit, aligning with RunStar's brand philosophy of promoting health knowledge and empowerment.
• BNP ParibasmajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 6 March 2026BNP Paribas continues its partnership with Girls on the Run through the Points for Change initiative at the 2026 BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament. The bank donates $1 for every point scored during the tournament to support programs for girls' development. The collaboration coincides with GOTR's 30th anniversary and will help expand access to evidence-based programs nationwide and support local programming in the Coachella Valley.
• Academy Sports + OutdoorsmajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 March 2026Academy Sports + Outdoors launched its annual Run Month campaign and partnered with Girls on the Run to donate $20,000, providing brand-new running shoes to 80 youth athletes in four cities: New Orleans, Evansville, San Antonio, and El Paso. The partnership includes discounts, exclusive online offers, and over 50 in-store fit clinics across the U.S. store network.
• RowanminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 11 October 2025Rowan, a hypoallergenic jewelry and piercing brand, partnered with Girls on the Run to support girls' milestones and self-expression through events and activities. The collaboration involves Rowan participating in select 5K events and engaging with communities across the US from fall 2025 through spring 2026.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Girls Inc. National nonprofit delivering girl-focused youth development programming with research-based curricula and local affiliate network. Directly comparable in mission, demographic (girls), nonprofit model, and local-delivery structure, though Girls Inc. has a broader age range.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of America: Largest youth development nonprofit in the U.S., operating a federated club model delivering after-school programming. Closest analog in decentralized affiliate structure, school/community site delivery, and youth-development mission, though co-ed and broader age range.
• Positive Coaching Alliance: Nonprofit focused on developing 'better athletes, better people' through youth and high school sports. Comparable in combining physical activity with life-skills/character development and serving youth through school-based partnerships.
• Students Run America (Students Run LA and affiliates): Network of youth running programs using marathon/5K training to build life skills in at-risk youth. Directly comparable model of using distance running as the vehicle for youth empowerment, with similar culminating-event structure.

Emerging players

• Playworks: Nonprofit bringing safe, inclusive play and physical activity into low-income elementary schools. Comparable in physical-activity-based youth development, school-based delivery model, and emphasis on social-emotional outcomes.
• Camp Fire: National youth development nonprofit with century-long history delivering in-school and after-school programming including summer camps. Comparable in program mix (after-school plus camp), youth-development outcomes focus, and nonprofit council network.
• Girls Who Code: Nonprofit closing the gender gap in technology through girls-focused programming. Comparable in girls-specific mission, national program-delivery model, and corporate partnership-heavy funding approach, though STEM rather than physical activity.

Broad incumbents

• Girl Scouts of the USA: Established, larger-scale girls-youth organization with troop-based programming and lifetime alumnae network. Comparable target demographic (girls) and nonprofit revenue model with council structure, but broader mission beyond physical activity.
• YWCA USA: Long-standing nonprofit network focused on eliminating racism and empowering women, with youth programming. Comparable in women's/girls empowerment mission, local-affiliate structure, and donation/revenue model.

Others

• Road Runners Club of America: National association of running clubs and events promoting distance running at all levels, including youth. Comparable as ecosystem participant in youth running and 5K events, with member-club structure analogous to GOTR's council network.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/girls-on-the-run-international
• Instagraminstagram.com/girlsontheruninternational
• Xx.com/gotri

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds4 records

Investors4 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Girls on the Run