Girls4Science
Girls4Science is a Chicago-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that runs a free, quarterly six-week Saturday STEM Academy for girls ages 10-18 at three partner college campuses, funded by corporate sponsors and foundation grants.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2008
- HeadquartersChicago, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Girls4Science does
Girls4Science (G4S) is a Chicago-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2008 by Jackie Lomax and operationally launched in 2009. Its mission is to expose girls ages 10-18 in the Chicago metropolitan area to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) through hands-on programming, mentorship, and college-preparation support, with explicit focus on underserved and minority communities where female representation in STEM careers is lowest. The organization's core product is a free, six-week Saturday STEM Academy conducted quarterly (Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall) at three partner-campus locations — Malcolm X City College, Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences (Mount Greenwood), and Joliet Junior College — using state-of-the-art laboratory facilities provided in-kind by host institutions.
Programming is structured around hands-on experiments in small groups, field trips to museums, zoos, businesses, and nature preserves, and ongoing mentorship relationships with women STEM professionals and college students. Supplementary offerings include scholarships for 12th-grade participants who have completed at least 12 weeks of programming and intend to pursue undergraduate STEM study, and a G4S Alumni Association that provides continued professional development resources (interview help, networking, STEM news, self-assessment tools) to program graduates. The organization reports outcome metrics including 94% of participants feeling more confident in science, 84% more confident in math, 83% expressing intent to study STEM, and 100% of senior participants enrolling in college.
G4S is not a technology platform; it does not maintain a software product, app, or API, and has no disclosed AI/ML capabilities. The organization operates with 1-10 employees, is governed by an actively expanding Board of Directors, and is funded through corporate sponsorships (Ingredion, ITW, Horizon Pharma, Cedar Concepts, KSMB Associates, NBCUniversal), foundation grants (Feinberg Foundation, B&T Foundation), and individual donations. There are no traditional equity funding rounds, no parent company, and no revenue or expense figures disclosed. Distribution is direct through the three partner-campus venues, with marketing conducted via social media (Twitter, Instagram), email newsletters, community events, and referrals through a network of 35+ partner Chicago-area schools.
Girls4Science firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Girls4Science
- Legal name
- Girls4Science
- Website
- https://girls4science.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2008
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Girls4Science is a Chicago-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that runs a free, quarterly six-week Saturday STEM Academy for girls ages 10-18 at three partner college campuses, funded by corporate sponsors and foundation grants.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Girls4Science industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Youth STEM Education (Nonprofit)
- NAICS
- Educational Services (611)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Science Camps & Field Programs (Nature, Space, Marine, Geology) (EDAMABAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- STEM & Maker Education (Makerspaces, Coding Clubs, Robotics) (EDAAAFAL)
Keywords
Where Girls4Science is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chicago
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices4 records
Markets served
Girls4Science business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Corporate Sponsorships: G4S relies on corporate sponsors to fund program operations. Contact for corporate sponsor opportunities is Executive Director Jackie Lomax at [email protected]. Sponsors include Ingredion, ITW, Horizon Pharma, Cedar Concepts, and others.
- Individual Donations: G4S accepts generous donations from individuals to help expand programs and expose more girls to STEM. Donations support program supplies, bus transportation for field trips, refreshments, and general operations.
- Foundation and Institutional Grants: G4S receives support from foundations including the Feinberg Foundation and B&T Foundation, as well as institutional partners like City Colleges of Chicago and the University of St. Francis.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Annual | Free Saturday STEM Academy for girls ages 10-18 |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Girls4Science product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Girls4Science delivers a free, six-week Saturday STEM Academy for girls ages 10-18 in the Chicago metropolitan area, hosted four times per year (Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall) at three partner college campuses (Malcolm X City College, Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences, and Joliet Junior College). Programming includes hands-on laboratory experiments led by female STEM instructors, educational field trips, mentorship with women STEM professionals, and scholarships for graduating seniors pursuing undergraduate STEM study. All services are provided at no cost to participants.
Product overview
Girls4Science operates as a single unified program focused on exposing girls ages 10-18 in Chicago to STEM education. The core offering is the Saturday STEM Academy, a free six-week program delivered at Chicago City Colleges with female STEM instructors. This is supported by complementary features including Science Exploration (hands-on experiments in small groups), Field Trips (to museums, zoos, businesses), Mentorships (with women pioneers and professionals), and Scholarships (for 12th graders pursuing STEM studies). The G4S Alumni Association extends engagement by providing professional development resources, networking opportunities, and career support to program graduates.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- G4S Alumni Association: Alumni community providing continued encouragement, support, and education for Girls 4 Science alumni, including professional development resources such as video tutorials, interview help, STEM news, networking opportunities, and self-assessment tools.
Products and services
- Saturday STEM Academy Free six-week Saturday STEM program for girls ages 10-18, conducted four times per year (Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall) at three Chicago-area locations (Malcolm X City College, Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences, Joliet Junior College) with female STEM instructors and state-of-the-art laboratory access.
- G4S Alumni Association Alumni community providing continued encouragement, support, and professional development resources for Girls 4 Science graduates, including video tutorials, interview help, STEM news, networking opportunities, and self-assessment tools.
- STEM Scholarships for Graduating Seniors Scholarships awarded to 12th graders who have completed at least 12 weeks of the G4S program and seek to apply for undergraduate study in science, technology, math, or engineering.
Quantifiable outcome
- 94% of girls report being more confident in science after participating
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Girls4Science
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Girls4Science technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Girls4Science partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- City Colleges of ChicagocoreCity Colleges of Chicago provides campus facilities and resources for G4S Saturday Science Academy programs at Malcolm X City College. This partnership enables G4S to access premier space for hands-on STEM instruction in state-of-the-art laboratories.
- University of St. FranciscoreUniversity of St. Francis serves as a program location for G4S sessions and the founder Jackie Lomax is an alumna. Provides academic resources and support for the organization's STEM education mission.
- Chicago High School for Agricultural SciencescoreCHSAS serves as one of three Saturday Science Academy program locations, serving girls on Chicago's far south side. Provides facilities for hands-on STEM instruction.
- Joliet Junior CollegecoreJoliet Junior College serves as one of three program locations for Saturday Science Academy sessions, extending G4S reach to the Joliet metropolitan area.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Girls4Science competitors and assessment
Company assessmentRegional players
- STEM NOLA: New Orleans-based nonprofit providing free STEM engagement events and programs to underrepresented youth, with comparable community-based, free, hands-on delivery model — but serving a different metro.
Broad incumbents
- Girls Who Code: National nonprofit running free coding and STEM programs for girls; directly comparable mission to expand girls' access to STEM, but operates at significantly larger scale with clubs, summer programs, and an alumni network.
Direct peers
- Black Girls Code: Nonprofit providing free STEM and technology education to girls of color, with chapters and workshops nationwide. Closely aligned with G4S's mission to address underrepresentation of women and minorities in STEM through hands-on learning.
- ChickTech: Nonprofit focused on retaining women and girls in STEM through hands-on workshops, mentorship, and community programs. Overlaps with G4S in combining hands-on science activities, mentorship from women professionals, and a focus on college-readiness.
- Project Scientist: Nonprofit delivering science, technology, engineering, and math summer academies and after-school programs for girls; directly comparable supplemental enrichment model targeting underrepresented girls in STEM.
- Technovation: Global nonprofit running a structured curriculum-based program that teaches girls to build mobile apps and startups. Comparable in offering free, supplemental STEM education to underserved girls, with similar intent-to-STEM-outcome tracking.
Others
- National Girls Collaborative Project: National network that connects and supports girl-serving STEM programs; relevant as an enabling/ecosystem organization that G4S could partner with to expand reach and access shared resources.
- Society of Women Engineers (SWE) Outreach Programs: Professional society with K-12 outreach programs and mentorship pipelines for girls interested in engineering. Overlapping audience and mentor pool with G4S, and a potential partnership or referral source.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Girls4Science social profiles
Digital presenceGirls4Science compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Girls4Science financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Girls4Science leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Girls4Science funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Girls4Science M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Girls4Science
What does Girls4Science do?
Girls4Science delivers a free, six-week Saturday STEM Academy for girls ages 10-18 in the Chicago metropolitan area, hosted four times per year (Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall) at three partner college campuses (Malcolm X City College, Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences, and Joliet Junior College). Programming includes hands-on laboratory experiments led by female STEM instructors, educational field trips, mentorship with women STEM professionals, and scholarships for graduating seniors pursuing undergraduate STEM study. All services are provided at no cost to participants.
Is Girls4Science a public or private company?
Girls4Science is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Girls4Science founded?
Girls4Science was founded in 2008. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Girls4Science based?
Girls4Science is headquartered in Chicago, United States, in the North America region.
How does Girls4Science make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Corporate Sponsorships are the primary driver. The others are individual Donations and foundation and Institutional Grants.
Who are Girls4Science's main competitors?
STEM NOLA is listed as a regional player. Girls Who Code is listed as a broad incumbent. Direct peers are Black Girls Code, ChickTech, Project Scientist and Technovation. Others are National Girls Collaborative Project and Society of Women Engineers (SWE) Outreach Programs.
Does Girls4Science have an API?
No public API is recorded for Girls4Science.
What industry is Girls4Science in?
Girls4Science's product category is Youth STEM Education (Nonprofit). Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAMABAB, Science Camps & Field Programs (Nature, Space, Marine, Geology), with a secondary code of EDAAAFAL, STEM & Maker Education (Makerspaces, Coding Clubs, Robotics). Its NAICS code is 611 and its SIC code is 8200.