Girl Rising

What Girl Rising does

Girl Rising is a US-headquartered non-profit organization (founded circa 2005, based at 11 Broadway, New York) that advances girls' education and leadership globally through three interconnected programmatic pillars: the Girls Leadership Programmes (Fellows, Advisory Council, Consejo de Niñas, and 100+ Chapters), the RISE Education Programme (school-based life-skills curricula operating in India, Kenya, and Cox's Bazar), and the Girls First Institute (capacity-building for educators, families, and community-based organizations). Its core "technology" stack is a content-and-curriculum platform built on documentary films (Girl Rising Films), play-based toolkits (the "What Would You Do?" card game), and advocacy resources (Global Girls' Bill of Rights Toolkit, available in English, Kiswahili, and French), distributed through a hybrid model combining direct field delivery in four hub countries (Guatemala, India, Kenya, US) and partner-mediated programs in six additional countries (Cambodia, El Salvador, Honduras, Mexico, Thailand, Uganda).

The organization operates as a 501(c)(3)-style non-profit and does not charge for its programs or content; revenue is generated entirely through donations from individuals, foundations, and corporate sponsors, channeled via its website, monthly newsletters, NYC Marathon team fundraising, Front Row membership, Sweet Sixteen campaigns, and memorial funds. Distribution leverages a community-led GTM motion: 100+ Girl Rising Chapters across US schools and universities serve as grassroots mobilization nodes, while 1,300+ community-based organization partners implement programs in field countries, and 55,000+ educators and mentors are engaged as multipliers. The organization reports reaching 3,000,000+ youth cumulatively since inception.

In late 2025, Girl Rising announced a merger with She's the First (effective 2026) under the combined "Girl Rising + She's the First" brand, with stated ambitions of reaching 500,000 adolescents in-person and 7 million online within three years. The merger is explicitly positioned as a defensive consolidation amid backlash against gender equity and reductions in international aid. Following the merger, the combined entity will integrate She's the First's programs (including the Naserian initiative in Kenya) alongside Girl Rising's existing portfolio, and will maintain regional offices in New Delhi and Nairobi in addition to its New York headquarters.

Name

Girl Rising

Legal name

Girl Rising

Website

https://girlrising.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Girl Rising is a US-based non-profit that advances girls' education and leadership globally through storytelling, school-based curricula, and community capacity-building, serving adolescents, educators, and community-based organizations across four hub countries (Guatemala, India, Kenya, US) and six additional program countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Girls' Education Nonprofit

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Child and Youth Services (62411), Educational Services (611)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Gender Equality & Women’s Empowerment (BPAGABAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Gender Equality & Women’s Rights (BPADAGAF), Education Partnerships for Equity, Inclusion & Gender (EDADALAF), Newcomer & Refugee Student Support Programs (EDAJAGAH)

Keywords

• Girls' education programs
• Nonprofit advocacy services
• Gender equity programs
• Girls leadership training
• Educational film production

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Girl Rising operates as a non-profit organization funded primarily through donations from individuals, foundations, and corporate sponsors. The organization solicits donations through its website and various fundraising campaigns including NYC Marathon team, Front Row membership, Sweet Sixteen, and memorial funds.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Girl Rising delivers girls' education, leadership, and rights programs through three interconnected pillars: Girls Leadership Programmes (Fellows, Advisory Council, Consejo de Niñas, and 100+ US Chapters), the RISE Education Programme (school-based life skills and gender equity curriculum in India, Kenya, and Cox's Bazar), and the Girls First Institute (training and capacity building for educators, families, and community-based organizations). Supporting offerings include the documentary Girl Rising Films series, the "What Would You Do?" play-based toolkit, and the multilingual Global Girls' Bill of Rights Toolkit.

Product overview

Girl Rising is a nonprofit organization that uses storytelling, education, and mentorship as three interconnected programmatic pillars to support girls' education and leadership globally. The organization operates four key hubs in Guatemala, India, Kenya, and the US, with additional programming in Cambodia, El Salvador, Honduras, Mexico, Thailand, and Uganda. Core offerings include Girls Leadership Programmes (Fellows, Advisory Council, Chapters), the RISE Education Programme (India, Kenya, Cox's Bazar), and the Girls First Institute for community capacity building. Additional offerings include Girl Rising Films documentary series, the 'What Would You Do?' card game toolkit, and the Global Girls' Bill of Rights Toolkit. The organization has merged with She's the First and is now integrating programs, including the new Naserian integrated program in Kenya.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Girl Leadership Programmes: Programmes including Girl Rising Fellows, Girls Advisory Council, Consejo de Niñas, and Girl Rising Chapters supporting girl leaders
• RISE Education Programme
• Girls First Institute
• Ellas al Frente
• Naserian
• Global Girls' Bill of Rights

Products and services

• Girls Leadership Programmes
• RISE Education Programme School-based education program operating in India, Kenya, and Cox's Bazar focused on building life skills among girls, addressing gender bias, and creating a community of girls' education advocates.
• Girls First Institute Training and capacity-building institute for educators, families, and community-based organizations to support girls' education, leadership, and lasting community change.
• Ellas al Frente Leadership programme in Guatemala providing women with tools to support girls in their communities through education, health rights, and safe spaces.
• RISE India School-based program in India focused on building life skills among girls, addressing gender bias, and building a community of girls' education advocates.
• RISE Kenya Education and leadership program in Kenya, part of the integrated Naserian initiative in Narok County supporting girls' education and lasting community change.
• RISE Cox's Bazar Education program for refugees and host communities in Cox's Bazar focused on girls' education and life skills development.
• Naserian Integrated program in Narok County, Kenya combining RISE and Girls First Institute approaches to support girls' education, leadership, and lasting community change.
• Girl Rising Films Documentary films telling the stories of real girls, the barriers they face, and the courage they summon to achieve their aspirations; used as educational and awareness content.
• "What Would You Do?" Game Play-based toolkit for mentors featuring a card game designed with and for girls across three age groups to explore healthy relationships and learn strategies for setting safe personal boundaries.
• Global Girls' Bill of Rights Toolkit Toolkit helping communities turn girls' rights into action; guides users in creating a local bill of rights, organizing events, and amplifying girls' voices online. Available in English, Kiswahili, and French.
• Certification Programmes Programs for certifying educators, mentors, and community-based organizations to build capacity for girls' education and leadership support.

Quantifiable outcome

• 3,000,000+ youth reached globally
• +3 more outcomes

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

One partnership is on record.

• She's the FirstcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 October 2025Girl Rising and She's the First announced a merger effective in 2026. The merger combines complementary programs to enhance support for girls' education, rights, and leadership. The combined organization aims to reach over 500,000 adolescents with in-person programs and more than 7 million online over three years, with pilot initiatives planned in Kenya.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Educate Girls: Educate Girls focuses on enrolling and retaining out-of-school girls and improving learning outcomes in India (one of Girl Rising's hub countries). Comparable in girls' education mission and India-specific school-based delivery model, though regionally concentrated rather than global.

Broad incumbents

• Plan International: Plan International is a large multinational NGO with global girls' rights and education programs across more than 80 countries. Overlaps with Girl Rising's gender-equity mission but at much greater scale and broader thematic scope (child protection, health, etc.).
• CARE International: CARE International is one of the world's largest humanitarian NGOs with extensive girls' education and women's empowerment programming across more than 100 countries. Overlaps significantly with Girl Rising but at much broader scale and across multiple sectors (food security, health, emergencies).

Direct peers

• Room to Read: Room to Read operates global programs focused on literacy and girls' education across Asia and Africa. Directly comparable to Girl Rising in mission (girls' secondary education, life skills) and hub-country geography (India, Kenya, etc.).
• Girl Up (UN Foundation): Girl Up, a United Nations Foundation initiative, drives gender equity through girl-led chapters in schools and universities — directly mirroring Girl Rising's 100+ chapter model. Targets adolescent girls globally through advocacy, leadership programs, and UN-backed partnerships.
• Women for Women International: Women for Women International supports women and girls in conflict-affected countries through education, economic empowerment, and rights training. Comparable to Girl Rising in targeting marginalized women/girls, multiple-country hub delivery, and donor-funded training programs.
• She's the First: She's the First partners with local organizations to support girls' education and leadership; it is Girl Rising's announced merger partner (effective 2026) and operates the "What Would You Do?" toolkit that Girl Rising now features. Most directly comparable in target audience and partner-led delivery model.
• CAMFED (Campaign for Female Education): CAMFED supports girls' education across sub-Saharan Africa (including Kenya, overlapping with Girl Rising's hub). Comparable in mission, Africa focus, and use of community-based delivery partners and alumnae networks for sustained engagement.
• Malala Fund: Founded by Malala Yousafzai, Malala Fund works to advance girls' education globally through advocacy, investment, and activism. Directly comparable to Girl Rising as a high-profile non-profit focused on removing barriers to girls' education across multiple developing countries.
• Global Fund for Women: Global Fund for Women is a public foundation that funds gender equity organizations globally, including girls' education. Comparable as a grantmaker and ecosystem supporter for women's rights NGOs, with overlapping donor base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/girlrising
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/10x10act
• Facebookfacebook.com/girlrising
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/10x10
• Instagraminstagram.com/girlrising

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A1 record

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Girl Rising