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Girls Garage

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uuid0003wpe

Namestring
Girls Garage
Legal namestring
Girls Garage
Websiteurl
girlsgarage.org
Company typeenum
Private
Founded yearint
2013
Descriptiontext

Girls Garage is a Berkeley, California-based nonprofit design and construction school founded in 2013 by Emily Pilloton-Lam that serves girls and gender-expansive youth ages 9-18 through hands-on classes in carpentry, welding, architecture, metalwork, printmaking, and activist art. Programming is anchored at a single West Berkeley workshop facility at 2080 2nd St (expanded in 2023) and is delivered across after-school studios (Advanced Design/Build, Construction + Community, Carpentry + Wood, Protest + Print, Architecture + Activism), summer programs (Builder Bootcamp lottery camp at $500/week with scholarships; Young Women's Design and Building Institute free for teens), an adult Womxn in the Workshop series, Corporate Workshops, and a 2025-launched Alumni Program. 100% of teen programs are offered at no cost, with 88% of YWDBI students and 61% of Builder Bootcamp students being students of color.

The core 'technology' is a professionally equipped physical workshop (chop saw, track saw, table saw, drill press, MIG welder, Shaper Origin CNC hand router, hydraulic press brake, risograph printer, heat press, and a donated 3,000 lb Eames Institute electric forklift named 'Clementine') combined with a documented curriculum and a portfolio of 207 completed community build projects since 2013, ranging from ADA-compliant cedar saunas and Murphy beds to a life-sized whale play structure and a Stanford Bing Concert Hall 'construction performance.' There is no software platform, no proprietary digital IP, and no AI components.

The revenue model is a nonprofit philanthropy stack: ~$415K from foundations and ~$364K from individuals/corporations in 2024, anchored by a $300K multi-year U.S. Bank Foundation grant, plus ~$20K in Builder Bootcamp tuition, undisclosed corporate workshop fees, GG100 peer fundraising (~$27K), event proceeds (~$6K from Fieldwork Brewery happy hour), and merchandise/book sales via Big Cartel. Cornerstone $10,000+ construction industry partners include Novo, Turner, Cello & Maudru, Hensel Phelps, Kiewit, Clark, Overaa, and Wareham Development. Distribution is community-led via the girlsgarage.org website, Instagram, earned media (TED, NYT, MIT Tech Review, KPIX/CBS), direct lottery/application enrollment, and a referral-driven Bay Area family network.

Short descriptiontext

Girls Garage is a Berkeley, California nonprofit design and construction school founded in 2013 that teaches carpentry, welding, architecture, and activist art to girls and gender-expansive youth ages 9-18, delivering all teen programs free of charge and producing functional community assets for Bay Area nonprofits.

Operating statusenum
Operating
Ownership categoryenum
Headcount rangeband
1–10
akta.pro rankint
HeadquartersBerkeley, United States
HQ citystring
Berkeley
HQ countrystring
United States
HQ regionstring
North America
Markets served

Serves global market

Offices1 record

Each record includes

City, Country, Type, Description, Source

Keyword5 values
youth trades education, construction skills training, nonprofit design school, carpentry welding classes, activist art programs
Product category
Youth Trades and STEM Education
GTM motion3 records

Each record includes

Type, Description, Source

Revenue model6 records
1Donations (Individual, Corporate, Foundation)
TypeTransaction Fee
Description

Primary revenue stream. In 2024, Girls Garage received approximately $415K from foundations and $364K from individuals and corporations. Includes a $300K multi-year grant from U.S. Bank Foundation, multi-year support from Bayer, Yelp Foundation grant, Grow the Trades grant from DEWALT, and cornerstone $10,000+ partners (Novo, Turner, Cello & Maudru, Hensel Phelps, Kiewit, Clark, Overaa, Wareham Development). The GG100 campaign raised $27K+ from 100 fundraisers donating/raising $500 each.

girlsgarage.org
2Program Tuition (Builder Bootcamp)
TypeSubscription Recurring
Description

Summer camp tuition of $500 per week for rising 5th-8th grade (Builder Bootcamp), with full/partial/"pay what you can" scholarships. Revenue offset by free teen programs.

girlsgarage.org
3Free Teen Programs (no direct revenue)
TypeSubscription Recurring
Description

Young Women's Design + Building Institute (high school), After-School Programs, Advanced Design/Build, Carpentry + Wood, Construction + Community, Protest + Print, Architecture + Activism are offered FREE to 100% of teen students — funded by donations/grants.

girlsgarage.org
4Corporate Workshops & Adult Programs
TypeProfessional Services
Description

Corporate Workshops and Womxn in the Workshop (adult programming) provide fee-based team-building and adult-maker experiences.

girlsgarage.org
5Merchandise & Book Sales
TypeHardware Sales
Description

Branded merchandise sold via Big Cartel storefront, Girls Garage book (with 175+ tool guides, 11 how-to projects, 21 skills, 15 profiles), 2022 calendar, and limited-edition nut-and-bolt necklace.

girlsgarage.org
6Fundraising Events
TypeTransaction Fee
Description

Annual holiday market + garage sale, online auction, Fieldwork Brewery happy hour (with East Bay Tow donation match — raised $6,000+ in 2024), first-ever auction in 2025.

girlsgarage.org
Marketing channels9 records

Each record includes

Title, Type, Stage, Description, Source

Distribution channels5 records

Each record includes

Title, Type, Scope, Target buyer, Description, Source

Cost components6 values
Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others
Pricing details5 tiers
1Builder Bootcamp (rising 5th-8th grade): $500 per week (1 week long, 2 cohorts/summer)
ModelUnit PricingBilling cadenceAnnual
Notes

$500 tuition, with full, partial, and "pay what you can" scholarships available; lottery-based admission; 20 students/week.

girlsgarage.org
2Young Women's Design and Building Institute: Free (rising 9th-12th grade)
ModelOtherBilling cadenceAnnual
Notes

Application-based, no cost to participants; 16 students per cohort, 2 cohorts/summer; priority for Bay Area locals, low-income, BIPOC students.

girlsgarage.org
3After-School Programs / Advanced Design/Build: Free
ModelOtherBilling cadenceAnnual
Notes

100% free for teen students (ages 9-18); supported by donations, foundation grants, and corporate sponsors.

girlsgarage.org
4Corporate Workshops: Quote-based / not publicly disclosed
ModelOtherBilling cadenceOther
Notes

Tailored team-building/corporate experiences; pricing not publicly disclosed.

girlsgarage.org
5Girls Garage Book + Merchandise: One-time purchase
ModelOne time/ perpetual licenseBilling cadencePay-as-you-go
Notes

Book, calendars, nut-and-bolt necklaces, and apparel sold via girlsgarage.bigcartel.com and shop; not publicly priced.

girlsgarage.org
GTM typeB2C
B2C
Offering typeServices
Services
Core offering1 text field

Girls Garage is a nonprofit design and construction school that delivers free and low-cost hands-on classes in carpentry, welding, architecture, and activist art to girls and gender-expansive youth ages 9-18, primarily through summer and after-school programs anchored at a dedicated Berkeley workshop. The organization pairs curriculum-based learning with real-world community build projects delivered for nonprofit clients, and supplements its educational mission with adult workshops, corporate team-building sessions, a published book, and branded merchandise.

Differentiator
Functional benefit
Problem solved
Quantifiable outcome1 of 11 values shown
  • 1,000+ youth participants since 2013
+10 more records
Product overview1 text field

Girls Garage is a single, unified nonprofit educational offering — a design and construction school for girls and gender-expansive youth ages 9-18 — rather than a platform-plus-modules SaaS product. Its core delivery is a portfolio of in-person programs (Builder Bootcamp, Young Women's Design and Building Institute, Advanced Design/Build, Construction + Community, Carpentry + Wood, Protest + Print, Architecture + Activism, and the adult Womxn in the Workshop), supported by the Alumni Program, Job Board, Corporate Workshops, and the published Girls Garage Book. Across these programs, the organization also produces a continuing portfolio of named community build projects (e.g., Whale Play Structure, Community Care Sauna, Multi-purpose Redwood Tables, Pollinator Bee Mansions, Murals, Performance Stage Boxes, Murphy Beds with Desks, Kiln Shed + Breezeway Roof) that function as both learning experiences and deliverables for community partners. The whole offering is anchored at the Girls Garage physical workshop at 2080 2nd St, Berkeley, CA 94710, and the operation as a whole is branded as "Fear Less. Build More." Since this is a physical workshop / education nonprofit, no software API, AI features, or external product integrations are offered beyond the basic commerce, donations, and email tools used to run the organization.

Product and service12 records
1Builder Bootcamp
CategorySummer Camp Program
Description

Week-long, half-day summer camp for girls and gender-expansive youth entering 5th-8th grades; students learn carpentry, metalwork, graphic design, and screenprinting in shop and studio rotations. Lottery enrollment, ~20 students per week, $500/week with full, partial, and 'pay what you can' scholarships.

2Young Women's Design and Building Institute (YWDBI)
CategorySummer Program
Description

Immersive week-long design/build experience for rising 9th-12th grade girls and gender-expansive youth; cohorts design and build a real-world project for a local nonprofit client. Free for participants, application-based, limited to 16 students per cohort, two cohorts per summer. Priority for Bay Area locals, low-income, and BIPOC students.

3Advanced Design/Build
CategoryAfter-School Program
Description

Yearlong after-school program for Girls Garage's most experienced high school builders who have been with the organization for many years; tackles complex, professional-scope design/build projects such as Murphy beds, community care sauna, kilns, and home renovation.

4Construction + Community
CategoryAfter-School Program
Description

After-school program for high school students focused on hands-on construction of community-driven projects such as Murphy beds, multi-purpose redwood tables, pollinator bee mansions, and redwood benches.

5Carpentry + Wood
CategoryAfter-School Program
Description

After-school program for middle school students that introduces woodworking, hand and power tools, and design through take-home and partner projects such as mid-century modern birdhouses, mud kitchens, diorama clocks, and library duplexes.

6Protest + Print
CategoryAfter-School Program
Description

After-school art and activism program that teaches printmaking, risograph printing, screen printing, linocut, and related media; students create posters, zines, protest banners, murals, and other activist art.

7Architecture + Activism
CategoryAfter-School Program
Description

Studio program that pairs architectural design with community activism; students learn precedent studies, site surveys, client relations, drawings (plan/section/elevation), and representational techniques like model-building and collage.

8Womxn in the Workshop
CategoryAdult Workshop Program
Description

Adult program for womxn and gender-expansive participants; multi-week workshops held in the Girls Garage shop covering tools and construction of partner-driven builds such as collapsible step stools and performance stage boxes.

9Alumni Program
CategoryAlumni Program
Description

Program connecting Girls Garage graduates through professional development, workshops, socials, and an externship pipeline with partners such as Turner Construction.

10Corporate Workshops
CategoryCorporate Workshop
Description

Custom fee-based workshops hosted at the Girls Garage shop for corporate teams and industry partners including Cello & Maudru, Clark Construction, NOVO, Turner, and Overaa, covering team-building and hands-on skills sessions.

11Girls Garage Book
CategoryPublication
Description

Published book by founder Emily Pilloton-Lam: 'Girls Garage: How To Use Any Tool, Tackle Any Project, and Build The World You Want To See' containing over 175 illustrated tool guides, 11 how-to projects, 21 essential skills, and 15 profiles of builder girls and women.

12Girls Garage Shop (Branded Merchandise)
CategoryRetail / E-commerce
Description

Online store selling Girls Garage branded merchandise and project items (apparel, calendars, limited-edition nut-and-bolt necklaces) hosted on the Big Cartel e-commerce platform at girlsgarage.bigcartel.com.

Scale indicator17 records

Each record includes

Type, Value, Description, Source

Partnership63 partners
Strategic tierFlagship / CornerstoneTypeStrategic or Co-development Partner
Description

Cornerstone corporate partner donating $10,000+ to support year-round free programming. Turner Construction hosted an externship for alumna Carina Lucia in 2025 (procurement, safety, site visits) and offered an internship to a GG student following the 2024 corporate mixer.

Strategic tierFlagship / CornerstoneTypeStrategic or Co-development Partner
Description

Cornerstone corporate partner donating $10,000+ to support year-round free programming. Also a donor for the Builder Bootcamp program.

Strategic tierFlagship / CornerstoneTypeStrategic or Co-development Partner
Description

Cornerstone corporate partner donating $10,000+ to support year-round free programming; attended the 2024 corporate mixer.

Strategic tierFlagship / CornerstoneTypeStrategic or Co-development Partner
Description

Cornerstone corporate partner donating $10,000+ to support year-round free programming.

Strategic tierFlagship / CornerstoneTypeStrategic or Co-development Partner
Description

Cornerstone corporate partner donating $10,000+ to support year-round free programming.

Strategic tierFlagship / CornerstoneTypeStrategic or Co-development Partner
Description

Cornerstone corporate partner donating $10,000+ to support year-round free programming. Attended 2024 corporate mixer.

Strategic tierFlagship / CornerstoneTypeStrategic or Co-development Partner
Description

Cornerstone corporate partner donating $10,000+ to support year-round free programming. Attended 2024 corporate mixer.

Strategic tierMajorTypeStrategic or Co-development Partner
Description

Donated "Clementine" the 4-wheel electric forklift (3,000 lb lift capacity) to Girls Garage, significantly improving material handling and project efficiency. Also a cornerstone partner donating $10,000+.

Strategic tierCoreTypeStrategic or Co-development Partner
Description

Cornerstone corporate partner donating to support year-round free programming.

Strategic tierMajorTypeStrategic or Co-development Partner
Description

Launched affordable housing initiative in 2025: Advanced Design/Build cohort renovated a home for an aging couple in West Berkeley. Plans to expand into building ADUs and affordable housing.

Strategic tierMajorTypeStrategic or Co-development Partner
Description

First international project (summer 2025): Advanced Design/Build crew traveled to Salt Spring Island, British Columbia for a week-long collaboration to learn natural plaster, build a breezeway roof, and finish a local ceramicist's kiln shed. Molly Murphy hosted and led training.

Strategic tierMajorTypeStrategic or Co-development Partner
Description

Partnered for Vermont bus stop project (summer 2022): 12 GG students designed and constructed a bus stop for Vermont Transit Authority in 4 days with Yestermorrow instructors.

Strategic tierMajorTypeStrategic or Co-development Partner
Description

Co-developed the community altar design plans and wall partitions + mobile altar carts for Community Works West (Architecture + Activism studio and Construction + Community). Multihyphenate architecture and design firm and non-profit working to end mass incarceration.

Strategic tierMajorTypeStrategic or Co-development Partner
Description

Design client for Architecture + Activism studio; received custom wall partitions and mobile altar carts for new SF office. Organization implements restorative justice programs.

Strategic tierCoreTypeStrategic or Co-development Partner
Description

Community project partner: Construction + Community cohort built 3 multi-purpose redwood tables (Spring 2025) and redwood picnic tables and benches (Fall 2024) for the Indigenous women-led land trust.

Strategic tierMajorTypeStrategic or Co-development Partner
Description

Construction + Community cohort built 7 Murphy beds with desks for transitional housing for unhoused and transitional youth (Winter 2025).

Strategic tierMajorTypeStrategic or Co-development Partner
Description

Most technically ambitious project (summer 2023): 54 high school students built an ADA-approved cedar sauna for Shelterwood's restorative hub in Cazadero forest.

Strategic tierCoreTypeStrategic or Co-development Partner
Description

Summer 2024 community client: 12 planter boxes, 8 Adirondack chairs, garden mosaics, and a slatted shade house built to revitalize La Tercera Community Garden.

19Feed Black Futures
Strategic tierCoreTypeStrategic or Co-development Partner
Description

Summer 2022 client: Builder Bootcamp cohort built 15 redwood planter boxes to be installed in homes of Black mothers and caregivers affected by the carceral system.

girlsgarage.org
Strategic tierCoreTypeStrategic or Co-development Partner
Description

Summer 2021 community client: 29 YWDBI students painted 6 vibrant garden box murals in the Ursula Sherman Village transitional housing complex.

Strategic tierCoreTypeStrategic or Co-development Partner
Description

Summer 2021 client: Advanced Design/Build cohort built a 200 sq. ft. shed roof greenhouse with 42-foot hand-painted graphic mural for youth gardening/entrepreneurship program.

22Portola Garden Club (San Francisco)
Strategic tierCoreTypeStrategic or Co-development Partner
Description

Spring 2021 community client: 12 students built 12 hexagonal bee boxes for pollinating mason bees in the Portola Garden Club's community gardens.

girlsgarage.org
Strategic tierCoreTypeStrategic or Co-development Partner
Description

Fall 2025 community client: 13 students built 6 colorful pollinator bee mansions (~3.5 ft tall) using locally sourced bamboo and redwood.

Strategic tierCoreTypeStrategic or Co-development Partner
Description

Winter 2026 community client: 13 middle school students built 2 mud kitchens (outdoor child-sized play kitchens) for the organization.

Strategic tierCoreTypeStrategic or Co-development Partner
Description

Fall 2025 community partner: 16 students built a dual little free library + art gallery in a planter box outside the cooperative grocery.

Strategic tierCoreTypeStrategic or Co-development Partner
Description

Spring 2025 community partner: 12 adult students in Womxn in the Woodshop program built 6 functional wooden cube modules for the literary arts nonprofit.

Strategic tierCoreTypeStrategic or Co-development Partner
Description

Winter 2026 program partner: visited the Carpentry + Wood class to share wild teaching. Community partner for the 12 redwood + pine benches built in 3 weeks by 11 high school students.

Strategic tierCoreTypeStrategic or Co-development Partner
Description

Summer 2024 community client: 24+ middle school students built a 7-foot wooden cat sculpture installed outside the shelter; also created individual animal adoption flyers. Birdhouse BBQ display now lives at Berkeley Animal Services.

Strategic tierCoreTypeStrategic or Co-development Partner
Description

Spring 2023 community partner: Protest + Print students designed multimedia posters displayed in the teen room (West branch) and on the 5th floor (Central branch).

Strategic tierMinorTypeStrategic or Co-development Partner
Description

June 2024: Led a ramp-building workshop; instructor Allison Oropallo showed participants how to use chop saw, jigsaw, drill, and driver to build two skate ramps.

Strategic tierCoreTypeStrategic or Co-development Partner
Description

Winter/spring 2024: Advanced Design/Build built and delivered a watermelon-themed California "bungalow" chicken coop for 24 chickens to Willard Middle School.

Strategic tierCoreTypeStrategic or Co-development Partner
Description

Spring 2025 community partner: Protest + Print students painted the "Building Together" mural celebrating tradeswomxn on the back wall of the lumber company at 640 Hearst Ave.

Strategic tierCoreTypeStrategic or Co-development Partner
Description

Spring 2021: Built 16 colorful 2x4 benches for the Tiny House Empowerment Village in East Oakland.

34Nick Offerman & Lee Buchanan (Little Woodchucks Book Tour)
Strategic tierMajorTypeGTM or Marketing Partner
Description

Actor/woodworker Nick Offerman and woodworker Lee Buchanan visited the Girls Garage shop during their 'Little Woodchucks' book tour for a meet-and-greet with students and a fireside chat moderated by founder Emily Pilloton-Lam (Feb 2026). Woodchuck toys built by students Hazel and Stella joined the Big Woodchuck tour.

girlsgarage.org
35Cordy Joan (Guest Teaching Artist)
Strategic tierMinorTypeStrategic or Co-development Partner
Description

Guest teaching artist in Protest + Print (Fall 2025) who led a crash course in fabric dyeing, sewing, weaving, and embroidery. Contributed a pennant to the online auction and was inspired to continue.

girlsgarage.org
Strategic tierCoreTypeStrategic or Co-development Partner
Description

Co-instructor of Protest + Print with HyeYoon Song; joined Girls Garage in summer 2024 to lead printmaking, risograph, and protest art classes.

Strategic tierCoreTypeStrategic or Co-development Partner
Description

Co-teaches Construction + Community with shop manager Augusta Sitney; joined Girls Garage at the start of 2024. Also led Womxn in the Workshop adult programming.

Strategic tierCoreTypeStrategic or Co-development Partner
Description

Architecture instructor who drew up plans for the Community Care Sauna (her first ever!) and co-led the Architecture + Activism studio with Emily Pilloton-Lam.

Strategic tierMajorTypeStrategic or Co-development Partner
Description

Longtime supporter; partner for "Reclaiming Workwear" project (Winter 2023) providing thermal trucker and Oahe work jackets. Girls Garage is a Dovetail Maven. Also donated Winky Dinky Dogs and Best Friends wine for the Nick Offerman fireside chat.

Strategic tierMajorTypeChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor
Description

Lumber donation partner providing materials for summer 2024 programs and beyond. Also listed in the 2022 summer thank-yous.

Strategic tierCoreTypeChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor
Description

Lumber donation partner supporting summer 2024 programming.

42East Bay Tow, Inc.
Strategic tierCoreTypeStrategic or Co-development Partner
Description

Matched donations at the November 2024 Fieldwork Brewery happy hour, helping raise over $6,000. Also provided emergency towing help for the SF Pride Parade toolbox float (2022).

girlsgarage.org
Strategic tierCoreTypeStrategic or Co-development Partner
Description

Recipient of the Vermont bus stop built in partnership with Yestermorrow Design/Build School (summer 2022).

Strategic tierCoreTypeStrategic or Co-development Partner
Description

Financial supporter and corporate partner.

Strategic tierCoreTypeStrategic or Co-development Partner
Description

Financial supporter and corporate partner.

Strategic tierCoreTypeStrategic or Co-development Partner
Description

Financial supporter and corporate partner.

Strategic tierCoreTypeStrategic or Co-development Partner
Description

Financial supporter and corporate partner; books donated to the Nick Offerman fireside chat.

Strategic tierCoreTypeStrategic or Co-development Partner
Description

Financial supporter and corporate partner.

Strategic tierCoreTypeStrategic or Co-development Partner
Description

Financial supporter and corporate partner.

50Joseph J. Albanese
Strategic tierCoreTypeStrategic or Co-development Partner
Description

Financial supporter and corporate partner.

girlsgarage.org
Strategic tierCoreTypeStrategic or Co-development Partner
Description

Provided Bayard font created by Tres Seals for screen printing and heat press projects.

Strategic tierCoreTypeStrategic or Co-development Partner
Description

Cornerstone corporate construction partner.

Strategic tierMinorTypeStrategic or Co-development Partner
Description

Built outdoor redwood picnic tables and benches for the food and land justice organization.

Strategic tierMinorTypeStrategic or Co-development Partner
Description

Winter 2024 community partner: Construction + Community cohort built 3 redwood planters and an ADA-accessible picnic table (fits 3 wheelchair users).

Strategic tierMinorTypeOthers
Description

Venue/event supporters for the Nick Offerman fireside chat: Winky Dinky Dogs (sausage provisions), Best Friends (drinks), William Stout Architectural Books (book donations), and Miya Hirabayashi (event photography).

Strategic tierMinorTypeStrategic or Co-development Partner
Description

Brieanna and Martin from Fireclay Tile visited Advanced Design/Build and led an interactive tiling workshop (substrate mortaring, trowel angle) supporting the home renovation project.

Strategic tierMinorTypeGTM or Marketing Partner
Description

Collaborated with Bethany Kaylor on a 'Intro to Risograph Printing' workshop for Bay Area tweens and teens on the theme of living with alopecia.

58Fieldwork Brewery
Strategic tierMinorTypeGTM or Marketing Partner
Description

Hosted the November 2024 happy hour that raised $6,000+.

girlsgarage.org
59Kerbi Urbanowski (stained glass artist)
Strategic tierMinorTypeOthers
Description

Created the stained glass window featured in the Library + Art Gallery Duplex built for Mandela Grocery (Fall 2025).

girlsgarage.org
60Operation Homebase (City of Oakland)
Strategic tierMinorTypeStrategic or Co-development Partner
Description

Spring 2021: Built 4 benches for the RV park serving older folks experiencing homelessness during the COVID-19 pandemic.

girlsgarage.org
Strategic tierMinorTypeOthers
Description

Various supporters of the SF Pride Parade toolbox float and other 2022 summer programming (printing, design, parade infrastructure, financial support).

62University destinations (UC Berkeley, Stanford, UCLA, Howard, Cal Poly SLO, Smith, Barnard, Scripps, McGill, etc.)
Strategic tierMinorTypeOthers
Description

Higher-education destinations for Girls Garage graduates; 27 graduates in class of 2026 going to colleges including UC Berkeley, Stanford, UCLA, Cal Poly SLO, Howard, Smith, Barnard, Scripps, McGill, Boston University, Johns Hopkins, and others.

girlsgarage.org
Strategic tierMinorTypeStrategic or Co-development Partner
Description

June 2021: 3 benches built for the unhoused residents of People's Park, a local landmark of mutual aid and activism.

Recent move7 records

Each record includes

Date, Type, Title, Description, Source

Expansion highlight7 records

Each record includes

Type, Description

Peers10 records
TypeDirect peer
Description

Wayne, PA-based nonprofit running free in-person workshops for middle-school girls in STEM/tech topics. Direct peer in target audience (tween/teens) and the free-workshop delivery model that mirrors Girls Garage's After-School and Summer programs.

TypeBroad incumbent
Description

National nonprofit inspiring 'all girls to be strong, smart, and bold' through after-school and summer programming nationwide. Broad incumbent because Girls Inc. operates at much larger scale and broader mission, but the girls-equity programming model and national affiliate structure provide a comparison point for Girls Garage's potential expansion.

TypeDirect peer
Description

Waitsfield, VT-based nonprofit design/build school offering hands-on carpentry, architecture, and sustainable-building programs for adults and youth. Direct peer because Girls Garage partnered with Yestermorrow on the 2022 Vermont Transit Authority bus stop project, and the two organizations operate nearly identical hands-on design/build education models.

TypeDirect peer
Description

Founded by Michael Ford, this nonprofit runs one-week architecture and design camps for middle and high school students, with a focus on underrepresented youth. Direct peer because it teaches youth architecture/design through immersive, equity-centered camps, mirroring Girls Garage's Architecture + Activism studio in audience and pedagogy.

TypeBroad incumbent
Description

Leesburg, VA-based national nonprofit serving middle-school, high-school, and college students preparing for careers in trade, technical, and skilled-service occupations. Broad incumbent because SkillsUSA operates the dominant national infrastructure for K-12 trades education, providing a comparable at-scale trades-education benchmark for Girls Garage's niche youth-trades programs.

TypeBroad incumbent
Description

Calabasas, CA-based nonprofit grant program (sponsored by Harbor Freight) funding K-12 trades education. Broad incumbent/comparable funder because Girls Garage has received a 'Grow the Trades' grant from DEWALT — both organizations are part of the broader K-12 trades-education funding ecosystem.

TypeDirect peer
Description

NYC-based nonprofit preparing women for careers in the skilled trades through pre-apprenticeship training, job placement, and support services. Direct peer in mission (women in the building trades) and in building a pipeline from training to construction-firm employment.

8Mudgirls Collective
TypeDirect peer
Description

Salt Spring Island, BC-based women-led natural-building collective specializing in natural plaster, timber framing, and earthen construction. Direct peer because Girls Garage's Advanced Design/Build cohort traveled to Mudgirls in 2025 for a week-long natural-plaster collaboration, and both organizations teach women hands-on natural-building skills.

9Rosie's Girls (YWCA Vermont)
TypeDirect peer
Description

Burlington, VT-based summer program that introduces girls ages 9-12 to carpentry, welding, plumbing, and other nontraditional trades. Direct peer because the audience (girls 9-18) and trades-education mission overlap nearly exactly with Girls Garage's Builder Bootcamp.

TypeDirect peer
Description

Oakland-based nonprofit architecture and design firm founded by Deanna Van Buren, building spaces that address mass incarceration and restorative justice. Direct peer because Girls Garage students built wall partitions and altar carts for Designing Justice's Community Works West project, and both orgs deliver pro-bono design/build for social-justice clients.

Market position
Strengths5 records

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Headline, Details, Source

Weaknesses5 records

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Headline, Details, Source

Competitive moat6 records

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Type, Details

Key risks5 records

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Headline, Details, Source

Key highlights7 records

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Headline, Details, Source

Customer concentration

Classification, Details

Named customers23 records

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Name, Industry, Type, Use case, Source, UUID

Ideal customer profile4 records

Each record includes

Profile, Firmographic size, Sales motion, Sales cycle length, Buying structure, Purchase trigger, Buyer persona, Geography, Industry vertical, Primary use case, Description, Pain points, Evidence proof points, Target buyer

Technology focused
No
API detail
Has APIbool
No

Docs URL, Description

Integration5 records

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Title, Type, Description, Source

AI maturity
App detail

Has app

Feature7 records

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Title, Differentiator, Description, Source

Core technology
Revenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Number of profiles
Profiles4 records

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Name, Designation, Designation category, Overview, Profile commentary, Source

No data
Compliance1 record

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Name, Class, Description

Funding overview

Funding stage, Last funding date, Total funding USD

Funding rounds1 record

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Round, Amount USD, Date, Pre money valuation, Total investors, Investors, News

Investors1 record

Each record includes

Name, Type, Date of entry, Rounds participated, Website

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

M&A

Each record includes

Name, Acquisition type, Announced date, Completed date, Status, Website, News

Investment

Each record includes

Name, Round, Announced date, Lead investor, Website, News

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

Girls Garage

Youth Trades and STEM Educationgirlsgarage.org

Girls Garage is a Berkeley, California nonprofit design and construction school founded in 2013 that teaches carpentry, welding, architecture, and activist art to girls and gender-expansive youth ages 9-18, delivering all teen programs free of charge and producing functional community assets for Bay Area nonprofits.

What Girls Garage does

Girls Garage is a Berkeley, California-based nonprofit design and construction school founded in 2013 by Emily Pilloton-Lam that serves girls and gender-expansive youth ages 9-18 through hands-on classes in carpentry, welding, architecture, metalwork, printmaking, and activist art. Programming is anchored at a single West Berkeley workshop facility at 2080 2nd St (expanded in 2023) and is delivered across after-school studios (Advanced Design/Build, Construction + Community, Carpentry + Wood, Protest + Print, Architecture + Activism), summer programs (Builder Bootcamp lottery camp at $500/week with scholarships; Young Women's Design and Building Institute free for teens), an adult Womxn in the Workshop series, Corporate Workshops, and a 2025-launched Alumni Program. 100% of teen programs are offered at no cost, with 88% of YWDBI students and 61% of Builder Bootcamp students being students of color.

The core 'technology' is a professionally equipped physical workshop (chop saw, track saw, table saw, drill press, MIG welder, Shaper Origin CNC hand router, hydraulic press brake, risograph printer, heat press, and a donated 3,000 lb Eames Institute electric forklift named 'Clementine') combined with a documented curriculum and a portfolio of 207 completed community build projects since 2013, ranging from ADA-compliant cedar saunas and Murphy beds to a life-sized whale play structure and a Stanford Bing Concert Hall 'construction performance.' There is no software platform, no proprietary digital IP, and no AI components.

The revenue model is a nonprofit philanthropy stack: ~$415K from foundations and ~$364K from individuals/corporations in 2024, anchored by a $300K multi-year U.S. Bank Foundation grant, plus ~$20K in Builder Bootcamp tuition, undisclosed corporate workshop fees, GG100 peer fundraising (~$27K), event proceeds (~$6K from Fieldwork Brewery happy hour), and merchandise/book sales via Big Cartel. Cornerstone $10,000+ construction industry partners include Novo, Turner, Cello & Maudru, Hensel Phelps, Kiewit, Clark, Overaa, and Wareham Development. Distribution is community-led via the girlsgarage.org website, Instagram, earned media (TED, NYT, MIT Tech Review, KPIX/CBS), direct lottery/application enrollment, and a referral-driven Bay Area family network.

Girls Garage firmographics

Firmographics
Name
Girls Garage
Legal name
Girls Garage
Website
https://girlsgarage.org
Company type
Private
Founded year
2013
Operating status
Operating
Headcount range
1–10 employees
Short description
Girls Garage is a Berkeley, California nonprofit design and construction school founded in 2013 that teaches carpentry, welding, architecture, and activist art to girls and gender-expansive youth ages 9-18, delivering all teen programs free of charge and producing functional community assets for Bay Area nonprofits.
Ownership category
akta.pro rank

Where Girls Garage is headquartered

Location

Headquarters

HQ city
Berkeley
HQ country
United States
HQ region
North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

Girls Garage business model

Business model
GTM type
B2C
Offering type
Services
Cost components
Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

  1. Donations (Individual, Corporate, Foundation): Primary revenue stream. In 2024, Girls Garage received approximately $415K from foundations and $364K from individuals and corporations. Includes a $300K multi-year grant from U.S. Bank Foundation, multi-year support from Bayer, Yelp Foundation grant, Grow the Trades grant from DEWALT, and cornerstone $10,000+ partners (Novo, Turner, Cello & Maudru, Hensel Phelps, Kiewit, Clark, Overaa, Wareham Development). The GG100 campaign raised $27K+ from 100 fundraisers donating/raising $500 each.
  2. Program Tuition (Builder Bootcamp): Summer camp tuition of $500 per week for rising 5th-8th grade (Builder Bootcamp), with full/partial/"pay what you can" scholarships. Revenue offset by free teen programs.
  3. Free Teen Programs (no direct revenue): Young Women's Design + Building Institute (high school), After-School Programs, Advanced Design/Build, Carpentry + Wood, Construction + Community, Protest + Print, Architecture + Activism are offered FREE to 100% of teen students — funded by donations/grants.
  4. Corporate Workshops & Adult Programs: Corporate Workshops and Womxn in the Workshop (adult programming) provide fee-based team-building and adult-maker experiences.
  5. Merchandise & Book Sales: Branded merchandise sold via Big Cartel storefront, Girls Garage book (with 175+ tool guides, 11 how-to projects, 21 skills, 15 profiles), 2022 calendar, and limited-edition nut-and-bolt necklace.
  6. Fundraising Events: Annual holiday market + garage sale, online auction, Fieldwork Brewery happy hour (with East Bay Tow donation match — raised $6,000+ in 2024), first-ever auction in 2025.

Pricing tiers

ModelBillingPrice
Unit PricingAnnualBuilder Bootcamp (rising 5th-8th grade): $500 per week (1 week long, 2 cohorts/summer)
OtherAnnualYoung Women's Design and Building Institute: Free (rising 9th-12th grade)
OtherAnnualAfter-School Programs / Advanced Design/Build: Free
OtherOtherCorporate Workshops: Quote-based / not publicly disclosed
One time/ perpetual licensePay-as-you-goGirls Garage Book + Merchandise: One-time purchase

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Girls Garage product offering

Product offering

Core offering

Girls Garage is a nonprofit design and construction school that delivers free and low-cost hands-on classes in carpentry, welding, architecture, and activist art to girls and gender-expansive youth ages 9-18, primarily through summer and after-school programs anchored at a dedicated Berkeley workshop. The organization pairs curriculum-based learning with real-world community build projects delivered for nonprofit clients, and supplements its educational mission with adult workshops, corporate team-building sessions, a published book, and branded merchandise.

Product overview

Girls Garage is a single, unified nonprofit educational offering — a design and construction school for girls and gender-expansive youth ages 9-18 — rather than a platform-plus-modules SaaS product. Its core delivery is a portfolio of in-person programs (Builder Bootcamp, Young Women's Design and Building Institute, Advanced Design/Build, Construction + Community, Carpentry + Wood, Protest + Print, Architecture + Activism, and the adult Womxn in the Workshop), supported by the Alumni Program, Job Board, Corporate Workshops, and the published Girls Garage Book. Across these programs, the organization also produces a continuing portfolio of named community build projects (e.g., Whale Play Structure, Community Care Sauna, Multi-purpose Redwood Tables, Pollinator Bee Mansions, Murals, Performance Stage Boxes, Murphy Beds with Desks, Kiln Shed + Breezeway Roof) that function as both learning experiences and deliverables for community partners. The whole offering is anchored at the Girls Garage physical workshop at 2080 2nd St, Berkeley, CA 94710, and the operation as a whole is branded as "Fear Less. Build More." Since this is a physical workshop / education nonprofit, no software API, AI features, or external product integrations are offered beyond the basic commerce, donations, and email tools used to run the organization.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

  • Builder Bootcamp Week-long, half-day summer camp for girls and gender-expansive youth entering 5th-8th grades; students learn carpentry, metalwork, graphic design, and screenprinting in shop and studio rotations. Lottery enrollment, ~20 students per week, $500/week with full, partial, and 'pay what you can' scholarships.
  • Young Women's Design and Building Institute (YWDBI) Immersive week-long design/build experience for rising 9th-12th grade girls and gender-expansive youth; cohorts design and build a real-world project for a local nonprofit client. Free for participants, application-based, limited to 16 students per cohort, two cohorts per summer. Priority for Bay Area locals, low-income, and BIPOC students.
  • Advanced Design/Build Yearlong after-school program for Girls Garage's most experienced high school builders who have been with the organization for many years; tackles complex, professional-scope design/build projects such as Murphy beds, community care sauna, kilns, and home renovation.
  • Construction + Community After-school program for high school students focused on hands-on construction of community-driven projects such as Murphy beds, multi-purpose redwood tables, pollinator bee mansions, and redwood benches.
  • Carpentry + Wood After-school program for middle school students that introduces woodworking, hand and power tools, and design through take-home and partner projects such as mid-century modern birdhouses, mud kitchens, diorama clocks, and library duplexes.
  • Protest + Print After-school art and activism program that teaches printmaking, risograph printing, screen printing, linocut, and related media; students create posters, zines, protest banners, murals, and other activist art.
  • Architecture + Activism Studio program that pairs architectural design with community activism; students learn precedent studies, site surveys, client relations, drawings (plan/section/elevation), and representational techniques like model-building and collage.
  • Womxn in the Workshop Adult program for womxn and gender-expansive participants; multi-week workshops held in the Girls Garage shop covering tools and construction of partner-driven builds such as collapsible step stools and performance stage boxes.
  • Alumni Program Program connecting Girls Garage graduates through professional development, workshops, socials, and an externship pipeline with partners such as Turner Construction.
  • Corporate Workshops Custom fee-based workshops hosted at the Girls Garage shop for corporate teams and industry partners including Cello & Maudru, Clark Construction, NOVO, Turner, and Overaa, covering team-building and hands-on skills sessions.
  • Girls Garage Book Published book by founder Emily Pilloton-Lam: 'Girls Garage: How To Use Any Tool, Tackle Any Project, and Build The World You Want To See' containing over 175 illustrated tool guides, 11 how-to projects, 21 essential skills, and 15 profiles of builder girls and women.
  • Girls Garage Shop (Branded Merchandise) Online store selling Girls Garage branded merchandise and project items (apparel, calendars, limited-edition nut-and-bolt necklaces) hosted on the Big Cartel e-commerce platform at girlsgarage.bigcartel.com.

Quantifiable outcome

  • 1,000+ youth participants since 2013
  • +10 more outcomes

Companies that use Girls Garage

Customer profile

Named customers23 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Girls Garage technology and API

Technology

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API
No
API docs
API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature7 records

Girls Garage partnerships and signals

Strategic signal

Partnerships

63 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship / cornerstone, major, core and minor.

  • Turner Constructionflagship / cornerstoneStrategic or Co-development PartnerCornerstone corporate partner donating $10,000+ to support year-round free programming. Turner Construction hosted an externship for alumna Carina Lucia in 2025 (procurement, safety, site visits) and offered an internship to a GG student following the 2024 corporate mixer.
  • Cello & Maudru Constructionflagship / cornerstoneStrategic or Co-development PartnerCornerstone corporate partner donating $10,000+ to support year-round free programming. Also a donor for the Builder Bootcamp program.
  • Novo Constructionflagship / cornerstoneStrategic or Co-development PartnerCornerstone corporate partner donating $10,000+ to support year-round free programming; attended the 2024 corporate mixer.
  • Hensel Phelps Constructionflagship / cornerstoneStrategic or Co-development PartnerCornerstone corporate partner donating $10,000+ to support year-round free programming.
  • Kiewit Corporation / Kiewit Constructionflagship / cornerstoneStrategic or Co-development PartnerCornerstone corporate partner donating $10,000+ to support year-round free programming.
  • Clark Constructionflagship / cornerstoneStrategic or Co-development PartnerCornerstone corporate partner donating $10,000+ to support year-round free programming. Attended 2024 corporate mixer.
  • Overaa Constructionflagship / cornerstoneStrategic or Co-development PartnerCornerstone corporate partner donating $10,000+ to support year-round free programming. Attended 2024 corporate mixer.
  • Eames InstitutemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDonated "Clementine" the 4-wheel electric forklift (3,000 lb lift capacity) to Girls Garage, significantly improving material handling and project efficiency. Also a cornerstone partner donating $10,000+.
  • Custom Drywall Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCornerstone corporate partner donating to support year-round free programming.
  • Rebuilding Together East Bay NetworkmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLaunched affordable housing initiative in 2025: Advanced Design/Build cohort renovated a home for an aging couple in West Berkeley. Plans to expand into building ADUs and affordable housing.
  • Mudgirls CollectivemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFirst international project (summer 2025): Advanced Design/Build crew traveled to Salt Spring Island, British Columbia for a week-long collaboration to learn natural plaster, build a breezeway roof, and finish a local ceramicist's kiln shed. Molly Murphy hosted and led training.
  • Yestermorrow Design/Build SchoolmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered for Vermont bus stop project (summer 2022): 12 GG students designed and constructed a bus stop for Vermont Transit Authority in 4 days with Yestermorrow instructors.
  • Designing Justice + Designing SpacesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-developed the community altar design plans and wall partitions + mobile altar carts for Community Works West (Architecture + Activism studio and Construction + Community). Multihyphenate architecture and design firm and non-profit working to end mass incarceration.
  • Community Works WestmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDesign client for Architecture + Activism studio; received custom wall partitions and mobile altar carts for new SF office. Organization implements restorative justice programs.
  • Sogorea Te' Land TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity project partner: Construction + Community cohort built 3 multi-purpose redwood tables (Spring 2025) and redwood picnic tables and benches (Fall 2024) for the Indigenous women-led land trust.
  • Tiny Village Spirit (Tiny Spirit Village)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConstruction + Community cohort built 7 Murphy beds with desks for transitional housing for unhoused and transitional youth (Winter 2025).
  • Shelterwood CollectivemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMost technically ambitious project (summer 2023): 54 high school students built an ADA-approved cedar sauna for Shelterwood's restorative hub in Cazadero forest.
  • Petaluma Bounty / La Tercera Community GardencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSummer 2024 community client: 12 planter boxes, 8 Adirondack chairs, garden mosaics, and a slatted shade house built to revitalize La Tercera Community Garden.
  • Feed Black FuturescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSummer 2022 client: Builder Bootcamp cohort built 15 redwood planter boxes to be installed in homes of Black mothers and caregivers affected by the carceral system.
  • Building Opportunities for Self-Sufficiency (BOSS) / Ursula Sherman VillagecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSummer 2021 community client: 29 YWDBI students painted 6 vibrant garden box murals in the Ursula Sherman Village transitional housing complex.
  • Growing LeaderscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSummer 2021 client: Advanced Design/Build cohort built a 200 sq. ft. shed roof greenhouse with 42-foot hand-painted graphic mural for youth gardening/entrepreneurship program.
  • Portola Garden Club (San Francisco)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpring 2021 community client: 12 students built 12 hexagonal bee boxes for pollinating mason bees in the Portola Garden Club's community gardens.
  • Garden to Table Silicon ValleycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFall 2025 community client: 13 students built 6 colorful pollinator bee mansions (~3.5 ft tall) using locally sourced bamboo and redwood.
  • East Bay Children & NaturecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWinter 2026 community client: 13 middle school students built 2 mud kitchens (outdoor child-sized play kitchens) for the organization.
  • Mandela Grocery (West Oakland)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFall 2025 community partner: 16 students built a dual little free library + art gallery in a planter box outside the cooperative grocery.
  • Youth SpeakscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpring 2025 community partner: 12 adult students in Womxn in the Woodshop program built 6 functional wooden cube modules for the literary arts nonprofit.
  • Wildmind Science LearningcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWinter 2026 program partner: visited the Carpentry + Wood class to share wild teaching. Community partner for the 12 redwood + pine benches built in 3 weeks by 11 high school students.
  • Berkeley Animal Care ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSummer 2024 community client: 24+ middle school students built a 7-foot wooden cat sculpture installed outside the shelter; also created individual animal adoption flyers. Birdhouse BBQ display now lives at Berkeley Animal Services.
  • Berkeley Public Library (West + Central branches)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpring 2023 community partner: Protest + Print students designed multimedia posters displayed in the teen room (West branch) and on the 5th floor (Central branch).
  • Skate Like a GirlminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJune 2024: Led a ramp-building workshop; instructor Allison Oropallo showed participants how to use chop saw, jigsaw, drill, and driver to build two skate ramps.
  • Willard Middle School (Berkeley)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWinter/spring 2024: Advanced Design/Build built and delivered a watermelon-themed California "bungalow" chicken coop for 24 chickens to Willard Middle School.
  • Truitt & White Lumber Co.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpring 2025 community partner: Protest + Print students painted the "Building Together" mural celebrating tradeswomxn on the back wall of the lumber company at 640 Hearst Ave.
  • Youth Spirit Artworks (Tiny House Empowerment Village)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpring 2021: Built 16 colorful 2x4 benches for the Tiny House Empowerment Village in East Oakland.
  • Nick Offerman & Lee Buchanan (Little Woodchucks Book Tour)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerActor/woodworker Nick Offerman and woodworker Lee Buchanan visited the Girls Garage shop during their 'Little Woodchucks' book tour for a meet-and-greet with students and a fireside chat moderated by founder Emily Pilloton-Lam (Feb 2026). Woodchuck toys built by students Hazel and Stella joined the Big Woodchuck tour.
  • Cordy Joan (Guest Teaching Artist)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGuest teaching artist in Protest + Print (Fall 2025) who led a crash course in fabric dyeing, sewing, weaving, and embroidery. Contributed a pennant to the online auction and was inspired to continue.
  • Miriam Klein StahlcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-instructor of Protest + Print with HyeYoon Song; joined Girls Garage in summer 2024 to lead printmaking, risograph, and protest art classes.
  • Evie OrtizcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-teaches Construction + Community with shop manager Augusta Sitney; joined Girls Garage at the start of 2024. Also led Womxn in the Workshop adult programming.
  • Tonia Sing ChicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitecture instructor who drew up plans for the Community Care Sauna (her first ever!) and co-led the Architecture + Activism studio with Emily Pilloton-Lam.
  • Dovetail WorkwearmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLongtime supporter; partner for "Reclaiming Workwear" project (Winter 2023) providing thermal trucker and Oahe work jackets. Girls Garage is a Dovetail Maven. Also donated Winky Dinky Dogs and Best Friends wine for the Nick Offerman fireside chat.
  • Ashby LumbermajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLumber donation partner providing materials for summer 2024 programs and beyond. Also listed in the 2022 summer thank-yous.
  • Golden State Lumber Santa RosacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLumber donation partner supporting summer 2024 programming.
  • East Bay Tow, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMatched donations at the November 2024 Fieldwork Brewery happy hour, helping raise over $6,000. Also provided emergency towing help for the SF Pride Parade toolbox float (2022).
  • Vermont Transit AuthoritycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRecipient of the Vermont bus stop built in partnership with Yestermorrow Design/Build School (summer 2022).
  • ARCO Murray ConstructioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFinancial supporter and corporate partner.
  • Arterra Landscape ArchitectscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFinancial supporter and corporate partner.
  • Carmel ConstructioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFinancial supporter and corporate partner.
  • Chronicle BookscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFinancial supporter and corporate partner; books donated to the Nick Offerman fireside chat.
  • Dome ConstructioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFinancial supporter and corporate partner.
  • Jetton ConstructioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFinancial supporter and corporate partner.
  • Joseph J. AlbanesecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFinancial supporter and corporate partner.
  • Vocal Type CocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvided Bayard font created by Tres Seals for screen printing and heat press projects.
  • Custom Drywall Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCornerstone corporate construction partner.
  • Agroecology Institute (Agroecology Commons)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBuilt outdoor redwood picnic tables and benches for the food and land justice organization.
  • Bay Area Outreach Recreation Program (BORP)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWinter 2024 community partner: Construction + Community cohort built 3 redwood planters and an ADA-accessible picnic table (fits 3 wheelchair users).
  • Winky Dinky Dogs / Best Friends Wine / William Stout Architectural Books / Miya Hirabayashi (event supporters)minorOthersVenue/event supporters for the Nick Offerman fireside chat: Winky Dinky Dogs (sausage provisions), Best Friends (drinks), William Stout Architectural Books (book donations), and Miya Hirabayashi (event photography).
  • Fireclay TileminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrieanna and Martin from Fireclay Tile visited Advanced Design/Build and led an interactive tiling workshop (substrate mortaring, trowel angle) supporting the home renovation project.
  • National Alopecia Areata FoundationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCollaborated with Bethany Kaylor on a 'Intro to Risograph Printing' workshop for Bay Area tweens and teens on the theme of living with alopecia.
  • Fieldwork BreweryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHosted the November 2024 happy hour that raised $6,000+.
  • Kerbi Urbanowski (stained glass artist)minorOthersCreated the stained glass window featured in the Library + Art Gallery Duplex built for Mandela Grocery (Fall 2025).
  • Operation Homebase (City of Oakland)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpring 2021: Built 4 benches for the RV park serving older folks experiencing homelessness during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • AARP / Town Print Shop / Vocal Type Co / Argonaut Garage / Level 10 Construction / The Parade Guys / Jenn and Jason / Sarah Cotton / Jon and PattyminorOthersVarious supporters of the SF Pride Parade toolbox float and other 2022 summer programming (printing, design, parade infrastructure, financial support).
  • University destinations (UC Berkeley, Stanford, UCLA, Howard, Cal Poly SLO, Smith, Barnard, Scripps, McGill, etc.)minorOthersHigher-education destinations for Girls Garage graduates; 27 graduates in class of 2026 going to colleges including UC Berkeley, Stanford, UCLA, Cal Poly SLO, Howard, Smith, Barnard, Scripps, McGill, Boston University, Johns Hopkins, and others.
  • People's Park (Berkeley)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJune 2021: 3 benches built for the unhoused residents of People's Park, a local landmark of mutual aid and activism.

Scale indicators17 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Girls Garage competitors and assessment

Company assessment

Direct peers

  • TechGirlz: Wayne, PA-based nonprofit running free in-person workshops for middle-school girls in STEM/tech topics. Direct peer in target audience (tween/teens) and the free-workshop delivery model that mirrors Girls Garage's After-School and Summer programs.
  • Yestermorrow Design/Build School: Waitsfield, VT-based nonprofit design/build school offering hands-on carpentry, architecture, and sustainable-building programs for adults and youth. Direct peer because Girls Garage partnered with Yestermorrow on the 2022 Vermont Transit Authority bus stop project, and the two organizations operate nearly identical hands-on design/build education models.
  • Hip Hop Architecture Camp: Founded by Michael Ford, this nonprofit runs one-week architecture and design camps for middle and high school students, with a focus on underrepresented youth. Direct peer because it teaches youth architecture/design through immersive, equity-centered camps, mirroring Girls Garage's Architecture + Activism studio in audience and pedagogy.
  • Nontraditional Employment for Women (NEW): NYC-based nonprofit preparing women for careers in the skilled trades through pre-apprenticeship training, job placement, and support services. Direct peer in mission (women in the building trades) and in building a pipeline from training to construction-firm employment.
  • Mudgirls Collective: Salt Spring Island, BC-based women-led natural-building collective specializing in natural plaster, timber framing, and earthen construction. Direct peer because Girls Garage's Advanced Design/Build cohort traveled to Mudgirls in 2025 for a week-long natural-plaster collaboration, and both organizations teach women hands-on natural-building skills.
  • Rosie's Girls (YWCA Vermont): Burlington, VT-based summer program that introduces girls ages 9-12 to carpentry, welding, plumbing, and other nontraditional trades. Direct peer because the audience (girls 9-18) and trades-education mission overlap nearly exactly with Girls Garage's Builder Bootcamp.
  • Designing Justice + Designing Spaces: Oakland-based nonprofit architecture and design firm founded by Deanna Van Buren, building spaces that address mass incarceration and restorative justice. Direct peer because Girls Garage students built wall partitions and altar carts for Designing Justice's Community Works West project, and both orgs deliver pro-bono design/build for social-justice clients.

Broad incumbents

  • Girls Inc. National nonprofit inspiring 'all girls to be strong, smart, and bold' through after-school and summer programming nationwide. Broad incumbent because Girls Inc. operates at much larger scale and broader mission, but the girls-equity programming model and national affiliate structure provide a comparison point for Girls Garage's potential expansion.
  • SkillsUSA: Leesburg, VA-based national nonprofit serving middle-school, high-school, and college students preparing for careers in trade, technical, and skilled-service occupations. Broad incumbent because SkillsUSA operates the dominant national infrastructure for K-12 trades education, providing a comparable at-scale trades-education benchmark for Girls Garage's niche youth-trades programs.
  • Harbor Freight Tools for Schools: Calabasas, CA-based nonprofit grant program (sponsored by Harbor Freight) funding K-12 trades education. Broad incumbent/comparable funder because Girls Garage has received a 'Grow the Trades' grant from DEWALT — both organizations are part of the broader K-12 trades-education funding ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Girls Garage social profiles

Digital presence

Girls Garage compliance and trust

Trust signal

Compliance1 record

Girls Garage financial estimates

Financial estimate

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Girls Garage leadership team

Management profile

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Girls Garage funding detail

Funding detail

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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

Girls Garage M&A and investment

M&A and investment

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Girls Garage

What does Girls Garage do?

Girls Garage is a nonprofit design and construction school that delivers free and low-cost hands-on classes in carpentry, welding, architecture, and activist art to girls and gender-expansive youth ages 9-18, primarily through summer and after-school programs anchored at a dedicated Berkeley workshop. The organization pairs curriculum-based learning with real-world community build projects delivered for nonprofit clients, and supplements its educational mission with adult workshops, corporate team-building sessions, a published book, and branded merchandise.

Is Girls Garage a public or private company?

Girls Garage is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.

When was Girls Garage founded?

Girls Garage was founded in 2013. It employs 1 to 10 people.

Where is Girls Garage based?

Girls Garage is headquartered in Berkeley, United States, in the North America region.

How does Girls Garage make money?

Six revenue lines are on record. Donations (Individual, Corporate, Foundation) is the primary driver. The others are program Tuition (Builder Bootcamp), free Teen Programs (no direct revenue), corporate Workshops & Adult Programs, merchandise & Book Sales and fundraising Events.

Who are Girls Garage's main competitors?

Direct peers on record are TechGirlz, Yestermorrow Design/Build School, Hip Hop Architecture Camp, Nontraditional Employment for Women (NEW), Mudgirls Collective, Rosie's Girls (YWCA Vermont) and Designing Justice + Designing Spaces. Broad incumbents are Girls Inc., SkillsUSA and Harbor Freight Tools for Schools.

Does Girls Garage have an API?

No public API is recorded for Girls Garage.

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