Girls on the Run-Chicago

What Girls on the Run-Chicago does

Girls on the Run-Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (Tax ID 36-4331462) founded in 1999 and headquartered at 306 W Erie St, Suite 300, Chicago, Illinois. It operates as a local council of Girls on the Run International, delivering evidence-based after-school programs that combine running with social-emotional learning to approximately 5,500 girls in grades 3-8 each year across seven Chicagoland counties (Cook, DuPage, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, Lake, and Will). The core offering consists of two seasonal curricula: an 8-week, twice-weekly program for 3rd-5th graders and a 10-week, twice-weekly Heart & Sole program for 6th-8th graders, both culminating in celebratory 5K events. The organization refreshes its intellectual property periodically, most recently with the Fall 2024 launch of the 'Hello, Superstar!' curriculum.

Program delivery is volunteer-driven through partnerships with schools (prioritizing sites where at least 50% of students receive free or reduced lunch) and community centers; trained volunteer coaches, including high school-aged Junior Coaches, lead teams at host sites. Underpinning technology is intentionally lightweight: Pinwheel.us powers registration and event management, Double the Donation handles matching-gift processing, and BAND supports team communication. No AI/ML, custom platform, or proprietary software product is in evidence.

The revenue model is hybrid and donation-led. Approximately 80% of participants come from low-income households, and the published fee structure is a fully income-based sliding scale from $0 (households under $50K) to $400 (households above $300K), with 100% of financial aid applications auto-approved. The bulk of revenue is therefore generated through individual donations (including a sustainable recurring giving program), corporate and foundation grants (Polk Bros Foundation, Grainger, Wintrust, EY, West Monroe, 50 South Capital, Laureus Sport for Good, DICK'S Sporting Goods, Adidas), SoleMates peer-to-peer charity athlete fundraising tied to the Chicago Marathon and Half Marathon, and event revenue from 5Ks and the annual Hope & Heart Gala.

Name

Girls on the Run-Chicago

Legal name

Girls on the Run-Chicago

Website

https://gotrchicago.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Girls on the Run-Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers evidence-based running and social-emotional learning programs to approximately 5,500 girls in grades 3-8 annually across seven Chicagoland counties, supported by volunteer coaches, sliding-scale fees, and corporate and individual donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Development Programs

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162), Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

After-School, Tutoring & Academic Enrichment Nonprofits (BPAGADAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Extended Learning Time Programs (After-School/Summer Intervention) (EDAJAGAK)

Keywords

• Youth development programs
• Social-emotional learning
• After-school athletics
• Girls empowerment
• Running programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Program Registration Fees: Sliding scale program fees based on household income, ranging from $0 to $400 per participant per season. Approximately 80% of participants come from low-income families receiving scholarships.
2. Individual Donations: Financial gifts from individuals supporting the mission to ensure no girl is turned away due to financial hardship. Includes monthly sustainable giving program.
3. SoleMates Fundraising: Charity athletes train for marathons and other events while fundraising for Girls on the Run-Chicago, with funds supporting program scholarships.
4. Corporate Partnerships: Sponsorships from local and national partners providing financial support, in-kind donations, and volunteer engagement opportunities.
5. Event Revenue: Gala events (Hope & Heart Gala), 5K events, and other fundraising activities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Girls on the Run-Chicago delivers seasonal evidence-based after-school programs that combine running with a social-emotional learning curriculum for girls in 3rd-5th grade (Girls on the Run, 8 weeks) and 6th-8th grade (Heart & Sole, 10 weeks), each culminating in a celebratory 5K event. Programs are delivered at schools and community centers across 7 Chicagoland counties through trained volunteer coaches. The organization also operates the SoleMates charity athlete fundraising program, Junior Coach leadership program for high school students, and the Finish Line Council donor society.

Product overview

Girls on the Run-Chicago operates two core seasonal programs: Girls on the Run for 3rd-5th graders (8 weeks) and Heart & Sole for 6th-8th graders (10 weeks). Both combine running with evidence-based life skills curricula, culminating in celebratory 5K events. The organization supports these programs through volunteer coaching (including a Junior Coach program for high school students), the SoleMates charity athlete fundraising program, the Finish Line Council donor society, and a sustainable giving recurring donation program. A Coaches Corner portal provides volunteer coaches with resources and materials. Starting Fall 2024, a new 'Hello, Superstar!' curriculum replaced the previous version.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Heart & Sole: A program for middle school girls in 6th-8th grade that provides a place of belonging for adolescent girls with interactive lessons, opportunities for social connection, and a culminating 5K celebration.

Products and services

• Girls on the Run (3rd-5th Grade)

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 100% of participants agree they feel safe at Girls on the Run and that coaches care about them
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• DICK'S Sporting GoodscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational sporting goods retailer providing product donations, sponsorships, and employee volunteer opportunities for GOTR events and programs.
• Chicago Stars FCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChicago women's soccer team partnering to promote girls' sports participation and empowerment through athletics.
• AdidascoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational partner providing athletic footwear and apparel support for GOTR participants nationally.
• Illinois Bone & Joint InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrthopedic care provider supporting athlete wellness for GOTR participants through health resources and expertise.
• Gogo SqueezminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSnack company providing healthy snacks for GOTR program participants during practices and events.
• Fleet FeetminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRunning specialty retailer supporting 5K events and promoting running culture in Chicago communities.
• Gamma Phi BetaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational sorority partnership supporting women's leadership development aligned with GOTR mission.
• RowanminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWomen's health platform partner supporting female participants and community health initiatives.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Boys & Girls Clubs of America: Largest youth development nonprofit in the U.S., with Chicago-area affiliates serving K-12 youth through after-school programming that includes sports, fitness, and SEL. Much broader program portfolio but overlapping mission and target population.

Regional players

• YWCA Metropolitan Chicago: Local Chicago-area chapter of YWCA USA, providing youth empowerment, after-school, and SEL programming for girls and families in the same Chicagoland footprint. Direct overlap on regional mission and girls/youth programming.

Others

• Laureus Sport for Good: Global foundation that funds and supports sport-for-development organizations, and is a listed financial partner of GOTR-Chicago. Not a direct competitor, but rather an adjacent ecosystem participant and funder in the same youth-sports-for-good space.

Direct peers

• Black Girls RUN!: Community-based running organization serving Black women and girls, with a national footprint and local chapters. Comparable on the running + empowerment mission for female participants, though targeted at adult runners and a different demographic.
• Girls on the Run NYC: Sister council of Girls on the Run International serving the New York City area. Runs the same GOTR (3rd-5th) and Heart & Sole (6th-8th) programs with the same curriculum, 5K celebration structure, and nonprofit funding model.
• Girls on the Run International: National parent organization of GOTR-Chicago; runs the same evidence-based running + SEL curriculum and 5K model across 200+ councils. Direct product and model overlap, with the local council operating under its brand and curriculum license.
• After-School All-Stars: National nonprofit providing free after-school programs to title I schools, with strong emphasis on health, fitness, and SEL outcomes. Highly comparable on equitable access programming and school-based delivery to youth in under-resourced communities.
• Girls Inc. National nonprofit delivering research-based after-school and out-of-school programming for girls ages 6-18, with a similar equity-first delivery model. Overlaps directly on audience, mission (girls' empowerment), and school/community-based delivery.
• Playworks: National nonprofit that places trained coaches in low-income elementary schools to run recess, after-school, and sports-based social-emotional programs. Strong overlap on volunteer coach model, SEL focus, and school-based delivery to under-resourced youth.

Emerging players

• Girls Who Code: National nonprofit focused on closing the gender gap in tech through after-school and summer programs for girls in grades 3-12. Comparable on girls-only empowerment programming and school/community partnerships, but serves a STEM rather than running/SEL focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/girls-on-the-run-chicago

Compliance1 record

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&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Girls on the Run-Chicago