EmpowHer Institute
EmpowHer Institute is a Los Angeles-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit serving girls aged 11-18 from marginalized communities through trauma-informed social-emotional learning and E-STEAM programming delivered via Title I school partnerships.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2003
- HeadquartersLos Angeles, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What EmpowHer Institute does
EmpowHer Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2003 and headquartered in Los Angeles, California. It serves girls aged 11-18 from marginalized communities through a trauma-informed social-emotional learning (SEL) curriculum, with a particular focus on participants from Title I schools. Its core programmatic portfolio comprises the Girls Academy, Leaders Academy, E-STEAM (Entrepreneurship, Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics), the Social Justice STEAM Camp, and a workforce development track. Delivery occurs primarily through partnerships with 12 or more Title I schools and a formal MOU with the Los Angeles County Office of Education, with supplemental Saturday community programming extended into Pasadena following the Eaton Fires.
The organization's underlying "product" is a proprietary, human-delivered curriculum platform built and iterated over more than two decades, rather than a software technology stack. New programming strands such as Youth Philanthropy and a French Polynesia capstone experience indicate ongoing curriculum diversification. There is no disclosed technology platform or AI/ML infrastructure in the operating model.
EmpowHer Institute generates revenue through a diversified nonprofit funding mix including individual donations, corporate sponsorships, foundation grants, and event-based fundraising. The organization operates with an approximate annual budget of $2M and reserves of approximately $1M. Under its current CEO, who assumed the role in 2020, the organization has reported roughly 4x growth in scale and has articulated a national expansion plan to extend its model beyond Los Angeles.
EmpowHer Institute firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- EmpowHer Institute
- Legal name
- EmpowHer Institute, Inc.
- Website
- https://empowher.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2003
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- EmpowHer Institute is a Los Angeles-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit serving girls aged 11-18 from marginalized communities through trauma-informed social-emotional learning and E-STEAM programming delivered via Title I school partnerships.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
EmpowHer Institute industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Youth Education and Social-Emotional Learning Services
- NAICS
- Educational Support Services (6117), Educational Support Services (611710)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- School-Based SEL Curriculum & Instructional Programs (EDAKAMAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Staff Training, Coaching & Professional Development (SEL/Mental Health) (EDAKAMAL), Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) & Emotional Regulation Programs (EDAMAIAC), Life Skills & SEL Camps (Confidence, Executive Function, Social Skills) (EDAMALAO), Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) & Behavioral Intervention Materials (PBIS, Social Skills) (EDAGAMAE)
Keywords
Where EmpowHer Institute is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Los Angeles
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
EmpowHer Institute business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Individual Donations: Direct contributions from individual donors supporting the organization's mission and programs.
- Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate partners sponsor events (Girls to Greatness Teen Summit, Pathmaker Awards Gala) and provide paid internship opportunities. Partnership tiers range from $2,500 to $50,000.
- Event Fundraising: Annual Pathmaker Awards Gala (masquerade ball format) and Girls to Greatness Teen Summit generate fundraising revenue through ticket sales, sponsorships, and auction items.
- Foundation Grants: Funding from private foundations including grants for youth philanthropy initiatives. Organization maintains a $2M annual budget and $1M reserve funds.
- School Partner Fees: Partner schools contribute a nominal annual program service fee of $100 per enrolled student.
- Named Scholarships: Corporate partners and foundations sponsor named scholarships for EmpowHer graduates, such as City National Bank Scholarship and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Scholarship.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Others | Free programs for girls ages 11-18 from marginalized communities |
| Subscription | Annual | School Partner Fee: $100 per enrolled student annually |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Corporate event sponsorships from $2,500 to $50,000 |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
EmpowHer Institute product offering
Product offeringCore offering
EmpowHer Institute delivers free, trauma-informed, culturally inclusive social-emotional learning (SEL) and STEAM education programs for girls ages 11-18 from marginalized communities in Los Angeles County. Programs are delivered as in-school enrichment classes through 12+ Title I middle and high school partnerships, supplemented by Saturday community programs, a summer Social Justice STEAM Camp, paid internships, and a college scholarship initiative. The organization's core product is its proprietary SEL/STEAM curriculum and the four-pillar programmatic framework covering confidence, skills development, social justice awareness, and college/career readiness.
Product overview
EmpowHer Institute offers a comprehensive suite of educational and empowerment programs for girls ages 11-18 from marginalized communities in Los Angeles County. The core program portfolio includes EmpowHer Girls Academy (middle school social-emotional learning), EmpowHer Leaders Academy (high school mentorship and career readiness), E-STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts & Math exposure), E-Summer (summer programs including Social Justice STEAM Camp), Girls to Greatness Teen Summit (annual empowerment event), Youth Philanthropy (grant-making training), College Scholarship Initiative, and Workforce Development Program. The organization serves over 1,000 girls annually through school-based partnerships and community programs, delivering trauma-informed, culturally inclusive curriculum in safe, gender-responsive spaces.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- EmpowHer Girls Academy School-based program for 7th and 8th grade girls using a social-emotional learning (SEL) curriculum designed to build confidence, skills, social justice awareness, and college and career readiness. Delivered at partnering Title I schools throughout LA County and includes Saturday community programming in Pasadena prioritizing girls impacted by the Eaton Fires. Free to participants.
- EmpowHer Leaders Academy High school program for girls in 9th-12th grades offering mentorship, college and career guidance, leadership skills workshops, healthy relationships, self-care, financial literacy, social entrepreneurship, social justice advocacy, and community organizing skills. Delivered at partner high schools in LA County.
- E-STEAM
Quantifiable outcome
- 100% high school graduation and college acceptance rate for EmpowHer participants
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use EmpowHer Institute
Customer profileNamed customers15 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
EmpowHer Institute technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
EmpowHer Institute partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and legacy.
- Lawrence Livermore National LaboratorycoreCollaboration on E-STEAM initiatives to expose girls to STEAM careers early. LLNL's Office of Strategic Diversity and Inclusion Programs provides programming, mentorship, and student programs. Tony Baylis serves as director of LLNL's Office of Strategic Diversity and Inclusion and represents LLNL on STEM outreach initiatives.
- National Museum of Natural HistorycorePartner in E-STEAM program collaboration to provide STEAM exposure and educational experiences for girls in marginalized communities.
- USC Wrigley Science CentercorePartner in E-STEAM program collaboration for STEAM education and career exposure.
- National Center for Women in Information & Technology (NCWIT)corePartner in E-STEAM program to increase representation of women and girls in technology fields.
- UCLA Advancing Women in Science and Engineering (AWiSE)corePartner providing STEAM education and career pathways support for girls through the E-STEAM initiative.
- SpaceXminorCollaborates with EmpowHer on E-STEAM programming to expose girls to careers in aerospace and technology.
- Southern California EdisonminorCorporate partner supporting E-STEAM initiatives and career exposure for girls.
- Two Bit Circus FoundationcoreEducation nonprofit partner. Dr. Dijanna Figueroa collaborated with Two Bit Circus Foundation to install over 500 makerspace innovation labs in schools throughout the greater Los Angeles area.
- Black Girls Dive FoundationminorEducation nonprofit partner collaborating on STEAM programming for girls of color.
- Bridge Builders FoundationminorEducation nonprofit partner collaborating on youth development and STEAM programming.
- Boys and Girls Club of Los AngelesminorEducation nonprofit partner collaborating on youth development programs.
- National Association of Black Scuba DiversminorPartner supporting underwater exploration and marine science programming for girls.
- National Marine Educators AssociationminorProfessional organization partner supporting marine science and environmental education.
- Water PlanetminorPartner for scuba diving instruction and certification (PADI Open Water Scuba Certification) in Session II of Social Justice STEAM Camp.
- Network for Training Entrepreneurs (NFTE)legacyOriginal program partner for E-BEST (EmpowHer-Building Entrepreneurial Skills for Tomorrow) curriculum collaboration in 2003.
Scale indicators14 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
EmpowHer Institute competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- GEMS (Girls Educational and Mentoring Services): New York-based nonprofit serving young women who have experienced commercial sexual exploitation and exploitation vulnerability with SEL, education, and workforce programming; comparable trauma-informed, gender-responsive SEL focus for marginalized girls.
- Black Girls Code: Nonprofit introducing girls of color to STEAM/technology through workshops, camps, and after-school programs; closely comparable STEAM-for-girls-of-color niche, with national chapters versus EmpowHer's LA-centric footprint.
- Girls Inc. National nonprofit delivering girl-focused empowerment and SEL/STEM programs through school and community sites; directly comparable mission, target audience (girls from underserved communities), and outcomes-driven model, though at much larger national scale than EmpowHer.
- Step Up Women's Network: Los Angeles-based nonprofit mentoring teen girls from under-resourced communities with college access, leadership, and career readiness programs; directly comparable geographic base, beneficiary demographic, and after-school/in-school delivery model.
- Girls Who Code: National nonprofit running school-based clubs, summer immersion programs, and college-loops for girls in computing; comparable STEAM exposure model targeting girls in middle and high school, with broader geographic reach.
Emerging players
- All Star Code: Nonprofit preparing young men and women of color for careers in tech through intensive summer and after-school programs; comparable focus on underrepresented youth in STEAM with selective, outcomes-driven cohort programming.
- Technovation Girls: Global nonprofit running technology entrepreneurship programs for girls ages 10–18 with mentorship and pitch competitions; comparable STEAM-for-girls model with international reach and curriculum-based delivery.
Others
- National Girls Collaborative Project: Network/collaborative connecting girl-serving STEM and SEL organizations across the U.S.; comparable beneficiary audience and STEM exposure mission but acts as an aggregator/convener rather than direct program operator like EmpowHer.
Broad incumbents
- Boys & Girls Clubs of America: National youth development organization with SEL, academic enrichment, and college/career programming through school-based club sites; comparable SEL and college/career readiness offering but gender-inclusive and significantly larger scale.
- YWCA Los Angeles: Established LA-area nonprofit offering broader youth development, SEL, and women's empowerment services; comparable target market in LA County but with a much wider service portfolio spanning housing, advocacy, and adult programs.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
EmpowHer Institute social profiles
Digital presenceEmpowHer Institute financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
EmpowHer Institute leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
EmpowHer Institute funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
EmpowHer Institute 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 EmpowHer Institute
What does EmpowHer Institute do?
EmpowHer Institute delivers free, trauma-informed, culturally inclusive social-emotional learning (SEL) and STEAM education programs for girls ages 11-18 from marginalized communities in Los Angeles County. Programs are delivered as in-school enrichment classes through 12+ Title I middle and high school partnerships, supplemented by Saturday community programs, a summer Social Justice STEAM Camp, paid internships, and a college scholarship initiative. The organization's core product is its proprietary SEL/STEAM curriculum and the four-pillar programmatic framework covering confidence, skills development, social justice awareness, and college/career readiness.
Is EmpowHer Institute a public or private company?
EmpowHer Institute is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was EmpowHer Institute founded?
EmpowHer Institute was founded in 2003. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is EmpowHer Institute based?
EmpowHer Institute is headquartered in Los Angeles, United States, in the North America region.
How does EmpowHer Institute make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Individual Donations are the primary driver. The others are corporate Sponsorships, event Fundraising, foundation Grants, school Partner Fees and named Scholarships.
Who are EmpowHer Institute's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are GEMS (Girls Educational and Mentoring Services), Black Girls Code, Girls Inc., Step Up Women's Network and Girls Who Code. Emerging players are All Star Code and Technovation Girls. National Girls Collaborative Project is listed as an others. Broad incumbents are Boys & Girls Clubs of America and YWCA Los Angeles.
Does EmpowHer Institute have an API?
No public API is recorded for EmpowHer Institute.
What industry is EmpowHer Institute in?
EmpowHer Institute's product category is Youth Education and Social-Emotional Learning Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAKAMAA, School-Based SEL Curriculum & Instructional Programs, with a secondary code of EDAKAMAL, Staff Training, Coaching & Professional Development (SEL/Mental Health). Its NAICS code is 6117 and its SIC code is 8200.