Science Club for Girls (SCFG)

What Science Club for Girls (SCFG) does

Science Club for Girls (SCFG) is a Cambridge, Massachusetts-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1994 that runs free, hands-on STEM programs for girls and gender-expansive youth from groups underrepresented in STEM by income, race, and/or first-generation college status. Its core delivery is a K-12 continuum: Science Clubs (K-8) providing free afterschool experiential STEM activities with women-in-STEM mentors; Junior Mentors (grades 8-12) giving older students leadership and peer-mentoring roles; and seasonal specialty programs including Summer Rocketry, a February Vacation Coding Club, and an April Vacation AI & Robotics Club (grades 6-8). SCFGLive! extends the curriculum online as a digital science show.

Underlying "technology" is experiential curriculum rather than software: SCFG supplies lesson kits, equipment, and mentors to partner schools and community centers in Cambridge, Somerville, and Greater Boston. Annual reach is more than 1,000 girls and gender-expansive youth; more than 83% of participants and more than 60% of mentors come from backgrounds underrepresented in STEM. Reported longitudinal outcomes include >90% college enrollment among high school juniors and seniors served by the program (approximately 20 percentage points above the national average) and >55% of those college-enrolled participants choosing STEM majors.

The operating model is donation-funded rather than revenue-generating: all programs are free to participants. Funding flows from four streams — individual donations (one-time, monthly recurring, cryptocurrency, stock, donor-advised funds, IRA qualified charitable distributions), corporate sponsorships (program and supply kit underwriting, employee matching, workplace giving), foundation grants (including a disclosed $750,000 Cummings Foundation grant in 2024 and a $25,000 The Boston Foundation grant in 2018), and event fundraising (Catalyst Awards, which raised over $450,000 in 2024 and $250,000 in 2025). A board co-chaired by Alejandra Carvajal and Jennifer Rossi governs the organization, with Bonnie Bertolaet as Executive Director and Kelley Borer-Miller as Director of Development. Geographic operations remain focused on Massachusetts.

Name

Science Club for Girls (SCFG)

Legal name

Science Club for Girls

Website

https://scienceclubforgirls.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Science Club for Girls (SCFG) is a Cambridge, MA-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit, founded in 1994, that delivers free, hands-on STEM programs to K-12 girls and gender-expansive youth from underrepresented communities through partner schools, community centers, and women-in-STEM mentors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth STEM Education (Nonprofit)

NAICS

All Other Schools and Instruction (61169)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Hands-on Science Exploration & Experiments (Lab Kits, Science Clubs) (EDAMABAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Robotics After-School & Enrichment Clubs (EDAMADAA), STEM & Science Camps (Biology, Chemistry, Space, Lab Science) (EDAMALAC)

Keywords

• STEM education programs
• Youth mentorship services
• K-12 science clubs
• Girls in STEM
• Nonprofit education

Headquarters

HQ city

Cambridge

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Individual donors contribute through one-time donations, monthly recurring gifts, cryptocurrency, stock donations, and donor-advised funds. Monthly donor program provides sustained funding.
2. Corporate Partnerships: Corporate sponsors provide funding through event sponsorships, employee matching gifts, workplace giving programs, and direct sponsorship of STEM programs and supply kits.
3. Catalyst Awards Event Revenue: Annual fundraising event generates revenue through ticket sales, table sponsorships, and direct donations. 2025 event raised $250K; 2024 event raised over $450,000.
4. IRA and Retirement Donations: Accepts qualified charitable distributions from IRAs and workplace retirement accounts.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Science Club for Girls provides free, hands-on STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) education programs for K-12 girls and gender-expansive youth. The organization operates after-school Science Clubs, a Junior Mentor program for older youth, summer and vacation enrichment programs in rocketry, coding, AI and robotics, and an online learning platform called SCFGLive!. All programs are offered at no cost to participants.

Product overview

Science Club for Girls (SCFG) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit offering a suite of free STEM education programs for K-12 girls and gender-expansive youth from underrepresented communities. The core offering consists of Science Clubs (K-8) providing hands-on afterschool STEM activities paired with women-in-STEM mentors; the Junior Mentors program (grades 8-12) offering leadership development and peer mentoring roles; and seasonal specialty programs including the Summer Rocketry Program (grades 6-8), February Vacation Coding Club (grades 6-8), and April Vacation AI & Robotics Club (grades 6-8). SCFGLive! serves as an online science show extension. All programs are free to participants and are delivered in partnership with schools and community centers, prioritizing engagement with women-in-STEM role models.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• >90% of high school participants enroll in college, 20% above national average
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• AlnylamflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 8 May 2025Platinum sponsor of 2025 Catalyst Awards, supporting SCFG's mission to provide free STEM programs to girls and gender-expansive youth from underrepresented communities.
• BioMed Realty (BMR)flagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 8 May 2025Platinum sponsor of 2025 Catalyst Awards, supporting STEM education and diversity initiatives.
• ComcastcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 8 May 2025Media sponsor for 2025 Catalyst Awards, providing promotional support and visibility for the event.
• New England Biolabs (NEB)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 8 May 2025Gold sponsor of 2025 Catalyst Awards supporting STEM leadership recognition.
• SanoficoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 8 May 2025Gold sponsor of 2025 Catalyst Awards supporting diversity in STEM.
• American Chemical Society (ACS)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 8 May 2025Silver sponsor of 2025 Catalyst Awards, supporting STEM education initiatives.
• Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 8 May 2025Silver sponsor of 2025 Catalyst Awards supporting STEM diversity.
• HologiccoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 8 May 2025Silver sponsor of 2025 Catalyst Awards supporting women in STEM.
• Mersana TherapeuticscoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 8 May 2025Silver sponsor of 2025 Catalyst Awards.
• A&O ShearmanminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 8 May 2025Bronze sponsor of 2025 Catalyst Awards.
• AmgenminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 8 May 2025Bronze sponsor of 2025 Catalyst Awards.
• Alexandria Real Estate EquitiesminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 8 May 2025Bronze sponsor of 2025 Catalyst Awards.
• Chiesi USAminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 8 May 2025Bronze sponsor of 2025 Catalyst Awards.
• HaemoneticsminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 8 May 2025Bronze sponsor of 2025 Catalyst Awards.
• AlkermesminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 8 May 2025Copper sponsor of 2025 Catalyst Awards.
• MITcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 8 May 2025Copper sponsor of 2025 Catalyst Awards.
• Mitsubishi Electric Research LaboratoriesminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 8 May 2025Copper sponsor of 2025 Catalyst Awards.
• Dr. Dorothy J. PhillipsminorOthers · 8 May 20252025 Catalyst Award recipient; 2025 President of American Chemical Society; first African American woman elected to ACS presidential succession and Board of Directors.
• Dr. Christine SantosminorOthers · 8 May 20252025 Catalyst Award recipient; CTO of Manus; expert in industrial biotechnology and sustainable bio-based alternatives.
• Dr. Elenoe 'Crew' SmithminorOthers · 2 May 20242024 Catalyst Award recipient; Director of biology for Sickle Cell Diseases Small Molecule Program at Vertex Pharmaceuticals.
• Dr. Jo VineyminorOthers · 2 May 20242024 Catalyst Award recipient; co-founder and CEO of Seismic Therapeutic, a machine learning immunology company.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/scfg
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/ScienceClubforGirls
• Facebookfacebook.com/SCFGFan
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/science-club-for-girls
• Instagraminstagram.com/scienceclubforgirls/?hl=en

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Science Club for Girls (SCFG)