PEARLS For Teen Girls

What PEARLS For Teen Girls does

PEARLS For Teen Girls, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1993 and headquartered at 1300 N 7th St, Suite 200, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It delivers free, voluntary weekly peer support groups to youth identifying as girls in grades 5 through 12, operating both Traditional Groups at partner schools and Open Groups at community sites (including hybrid and virtual options) across the Greater Milwaukee area throughout the September-to-May school year. Its core product is the PEARLS Groups program, layered with a College and Career Readiness (CCR) program covering college preparation, campus visits, career exploration, job shadowing, and mentorship, supplemented by signature community events (Inspired to Lead gala, Summer Block Party, CHEERS to PEARLS Who Cook) and an alumnae engagement program.

Program delivery is grounded in a research-based Social Emotional Learning curriculum structured around the proprietary PEARLS acronym framework (Personal Responsibility, Empathy, Awareness, Respect, Leadership, Support) and a Leadership Compass tool for academic and career planning. Operational data is managed through the Apricot CRM system, which tracks attendance and survey responses for impact measurement. Leadership includes an inter-generational facilitation model combining adult Program Coordinators and Teen Facilitators, with Tiffany Tardy, EdD serving as President and CEO since July 2023.

PEARLS is funded through a diversified mix of individual donations (tiers from $5 to $2,000+), foundation grants (including Stand Together Foundation's Catalyst Impact Grant Program), corporate event sponsorships, a United Way sponsored-agency partnership, and state government funding. All programming is provided at no cost to participants. According to the 2024-2025 annual report, the organization has served 13,000+ girls cumulatively over 33 years, with 100% of active participants graduating high school and 97.5% of graduates on track for post-secondary success.

Name

PEARLS For Teen Girls

Legal name

PEARLS for Teen Girls, Inc.

Website

https://pearlsforteengirls.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

PEARLS For Teen Girls is a Milwaukee-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that runs free, weekly peer support groups for girls in grades 5-12 at schools and community sites, funded through donations, foundation grants, corporate sponsorships, United Way, and state funding.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Development Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169), Child and Youth Services (624110)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Peer Support, Mentoring & Student Leadership (SEL) (EDAKAMAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) & Emotional Regulation Programs (EDAMAIAC), Leadership, Character Education & Values Development (EDAMAIAG)

Keywords

• Youth development programs
• Social emotional learning
• College career readiness
• Peer support groups
• Nonprofit youth services

Headquarters

HQ city

Milwaukee

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, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Direct donations from individuals supporting girls' programming, supplies, and enrichment activities. Donation tiers range from $5 to $2,000+ with specific impact descriptions for each level.
2. Foundation Grants: Funding from private foundations including grants from organizations like Stand Together Foundation's Catalyst Impact Grant Program
3. Corporate Sponsorships: Event sponsorships and workplace giving programs including matching gifts from employers
4. United Way Partnership: Ongoing partnership with United Way as a sponsored agency providing stable funding stream
5. State Funding: Government funding at state level for youth programming

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

PEARLS For Teen Girls is a Milwaukee-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers free weekly peer support groups for youth identifying as girls in 5th-12th grade at schools and community sites throughout the school year. Programming is anchored in a research-based Social Emotional Learning (SEL) curriculum built around the PEARLS values framework (Personal Responsibility, Empathy, Awareness, Respect, Leadership, Support) and is supplemented by a College and Career Readiness (CCR) program, signature community/girl events, and alumnae engagement.

Product overview

PEARLS For Teen Girls is a Milwaukee-based nonprofit organization that provides a comprehensive youth empowerment program centered on weekly peer support groups for girls in 5th-12th grade. The core programming consists of PEARLS Groups that run throughout the school year at schools and community sites, supplemented by the College and Career Readiness Program (CCR) for academic and professional preparation. The organization also runs annual community and girl-focused events including the Inspired to Lead gala, Summer Block Party, and CHEERS to PEARLS Who Cook culinary mentorship event. Additional offerings include an alumnae engagement program, volunteer opportunities, site partner hosting arrangements, and curated summer resources for girls. All programming is provided free of charge and is funded through foundations, United Way partnerships, state funding, and individual donors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• PEARLS Groups Weekly peer support groups for girls in 5th-12th grade that run throughout the school year at schools and community sites, providing safe spaces for real conversations, games, social emotional learning, trauma-informed care, self-development, and healthy relationship building.
• College and Career Readiness Program (CCR) Program equipping girls with knowledge, resources, and tools to define and navigate their academic and professional paths, including college preparation events, campus visits, career exploration through job shadowing, networking events, mentoring, and one-on-one application support.
• Community and Girl Events Annual events including the Summer Block Party for girls and families, Inspired to Lead (ITL) fundraiser gala, CHEERS to PEARLS Who Cook culinary mentorship event, Goal Support Party, Closing Ceremony, and Holiday Party.
• PEARLS Alumnae Program Alumni engagement program offering the Chrysalis Award ($1,500) for alumnae promoting PEARLS values in their careers, networking opportunities, and pathways to give back to the organization.
• Site Partner Program Partnership with schools and community centers to host PEARLS groups, with site partners providing physical space and student access for weekly programming; partners report positive impacts including decreased disciplinary issues and improved student success.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% high school graduation rate for all active girls served
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• United WaycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnited Way sponsored agency providing stable funding and organizational credibility. As a United Way partner, PEARLS benefits from workplace giving campaigns, donor referrals, and community visibility.
• GuideStar (Candid)coreOthersMaintains Platinum Transparency status, the highest level of nonprofit accountability verification. Enables public access to 990 filings and organizational information.
• PBSminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia coverage on PBS showcasing PEARLS programming and community impact, reaching national audience.
• BettermentminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner participating in career workshop with WNBA star Arike Ogunbowale for PEARLS girls.
• SecureFuturesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner in financial literacy and career programming for PEARLS girls through joint workshop events.
• Kinship CafeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal restaurant partnering for CHEERS to PEARLS Who Cook fundraising event featuring chef-mentee collaborations.
• Green Bay PackersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPackers Empower sponsorship supporting middle school empowerment events for PEARLS girls.
• Brown Deer School DistrictcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSite partner hosting PEARLS groups at schools, providing space and student access to programming.
• Site Partners (Schools and Community Centers)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSchools and community centers across Greater Milwaukee hosting PEARLS groups as site partners, enabling programming delivery throughout the region.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• MENTOR (National Mentoring Partnership): Umbrella advocacy organization advancing youth mentoring; not a direct service provider but referenced because PEARLS' board includes MENTOR Greater Milwaukee leadership and the national body convenes the funding ecosystem PEARLS draws from.
• National Girls Collaborative Project: Network connecting organizations serving girls in STEM and leadership; functions as an ecosystem convener rather than direct peer, but competes for the same foundation and federal capacity-building grants.

Direct peers

• Girls Inc. National nonprofit inspiring all girls to be strong, smart, and bold through direct-service programming including peer groups, leadership, and college/career readiness - the closest national analog to PEARLS' girl-only SEL and empowerment model.
• Girls on the Run: National nonprofit delivering SEL and life-skills programming for girls in 3rd-8th grade through school-based cohorts with curriculum and trained coaches, directly comparable to PEARLS' school-based weekly groups.
• I AM THAT GIRL: Community-based nonprofit supporting girls' self-esteem, identity, and leadership through local chapters and curricula; comparable as a girl-only SEL/leadership brand serving similar age cohorts.
• Black Girls Rock!: Youth empowerment organization centered on Black girls' self-confidence, leadership, and academic achievement - directly comparable in target demographic, mission, and outcomes focus.
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of America: National youth-mentoring nonprofit pairing youth with adult volunteers for one-to-one mentorship; overlaps with PEARLS' mentoring and role-model components even though delivery model is one-on-one rather than group-based.
• Step Up Women's Network: Nonprofit providing mentoring, college prep, and career pipeline programs for girls from under-resourced communities - closely aligned with PEARLS' College and Career Readiness and corporate mentorship model.

Broad incumbents

• YWCA USA: National federation with a much broader mission spanning racial justice, women's empowerment, and youth programming; the YWCA of Southeast Wisconsin operates in the same Milwaukee market with overlapping girls-youth offerings.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of America: Largest national youth-development organization providing after-school programming; while co-ed, the Milwaukee-area clubs offer competing SEL and college/career services to similar age groups.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses2 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/PEARLS_MKE

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 PEARLS For Teen Girls