What Dottie Rose Foundation does

Dottie Rose Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2018 by Dr. Sharon Jones and headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, that delivers computer science and STEM education programs exclusively to girls from elementary school through early career. The foundation operates a portfolio of curriculum-based programs covering coding, full-stack web development (Stack Bytes), game design, AI/ML concepts, robotics, sports analytics (STATStars, in partnership with Carolina Ascent), digital maker education (Digital Maker Studio), and binary code instruction (Binary Bling). Programs are delivered at no cost to participants through a 100% scholarship model and reach beneficiaries across North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, and select international locations via the Dunbar House technology hub (opened 2023, featuring VR, AI/ML, robotics, and cybersecurity equipment), in-school district partnerships (notably Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools), summer camps at college campuses (UNC Charlotte, Legacy Early College), and workshops at partner venues. Underlying technology is third-party AI tools integrated into pedagogy rather than proprietary models — ChatGPT, GitHub Copilot, Replit Ghostwriter for debugging education, and Suno AI plus Magic Story/Story Spark/Story Bee/Fantasy Story Generator for creative modalities.

The organization is funded through a diversified mix of corporate sponsorships (seven pricing tiers from $300/year Supporter to $24,000/year Signature with bundled recognition benefits), recurring monthly donations ($25/month Savvy Society members), annual fundraising galas (Dazzle the Dot and Rewind to Redefine events with ticket sales, live auctions, and sponsorship packages), one-time individual donations, and a $350 camp registration fee for a small subset of programs. The go-to-market is community-led, anchored by 30+ corporate partners (Truist, Microsoft, Google Fiber, Wells Fargo, LendingTree, Ally Financial, Lowe's, Duke Energy, Dell Technologies, KPMG, Novant Health, Trane Technologies, Carolina Ascent, and others), Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools district-level integration, and a 7-person core staff that has grown from the original two-person founding team. The organization has served over 8,000 girls since inception and was recognized with the 2024 NTEN Digital Inclusion Fellowship, the 2025 Panthers & Honeywell Community Innovation Award, and multiple Charlotte Inno Fire Awards.

The customer base is bifurcated: program beneficiaries (girls) are uncompensated participants in a scholarship-funded model, while actual revenue is generated from corporate sponsors, individual donors, and event attendees. Pricing is fully transparent and published, with corporate partnership tiers explicitly tiered by annual contribution and corresponding recognition benefits across t-shirts, newsletters, sponsor pages, and event speaking opportunities.

Name

Dottie Rose Foundation

Legal name

Dottie Rose Foundation

Website

https://dottierosefoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Dottie Rose Foundation is a Charlotte-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2018 that delivers 100% scholarship-based computer science and STEM education programs — including summer camps, year-round courses, and a technology hub — to over 8,000 girls across the Carolinas, Florida, and select international locations, funded by corporate sponsors, individual donors, and fundraising galas.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

STEM/Computer Science Education (Nonprofit)

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (6117), Educational Support Services (61171), Computer Training (61142)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

STEM, Digital Literacy & Maker Education Nonprofits (BPAGADAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

STEM Research & Inquiry Programs (Research Mentorship, Science Fair Prep) (EDAMABAC), Web Development (HTML/CSS/JavaScript, Front-End/Back-End) (EDAMACAC), Title I & Compensatory Education Programs (EDAJAGAJ)

Keywords

• Computer science education
• STEM programs for girls
• Scholarship-based learning
• Summer technology camps
• Youth coding workshops

Headquarters

HQ city

Charlotte

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate partners sponsor programs at various tiers ranging from $300 to $24,000 annually, receiving recognition in annual impact reports, email newsletters, on summer camp t-shirts, and marketing materials.
2. Monthly Donations (Savvy Society): Monthly recurring donations of $25 per month from individual supporters, providing sustainable funding for programs and scholarships.
3. Event Revenue: Annual gala events like 'Dazzle the Dot' and 'Rewind to Redefine' generating funds through ticket sales, live auctions, and sponsorship packages.
4. One-Time Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals supporting the mission of bridging the gender gap in technology.
5. Camp Registration Fees: Some camp programs charge registration fees (e.g., $350 for certain camps), though many are fully scholarship-based.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

Dottie Rose Foundation delivers a portfolio of hands-on technology and computer science education programs for girls from upper elementary through high school, offered 100% scholarship based. Core offerings include multi-week summer camps, the year-long Stack Bytes full-stack web development program, the STATStars sports analytics program (with Carolina Ascent), Game Design, Digital Maker Studio, and Binary Bling workshops, plus the Binary Bling Box educational kit, all anchored by the Dunbar House technology hub in Charlotte, NC.

Product overview

Dottie Rose Foundation operates as a nonprofit educational organization offering a portfolio of technology and computer science programs for girls. The core offerings include Summer Camps & Workshops (multi-week immersive experiences across multiple states), Year-Round Programs (Stack Bytes full stack development, Game Design, Digital Maker Studio), and STATStars (sports statistics initiative). The organization also offers Binary Bling educational workshops, maintains the Dunbar House technology hub facility, and runs the Savvy Society monthly donor membership. Programs are 100% scholarship-based, serving girls from elementary through high school with pathways from early exposure to career exploration. The organization emphasizes hands-on, experiential learning in coding, AI, robotics, game design, and digital arts.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Savvy Society: Monthly donation program where members commit to recurring $25 monthly contributions to support girls in STEM education and tech careers.
• Dunbar House
• Binary Bling Box
• Stack Bytes

Products and services

• Summer Camps & Workshops Multi-week immersive technology and computer science camps for girls held across Charlotte, NC, South Carolina, and Florida. Camps cover coding, robotics, game design, AI, arts, and tech entrepreneurship with hands-on experiential learning. Most programs are 100% scholarship-based; some camps charge a $350 registration fee.
• Stack Bytes (Full Stack Web Development Program) Year-long full stack web development program teaching front-end (user interface) and back-end (data structure) development. Curriculum includes coding fundamentals, JavaScript, React, and Python programming for girls.
• STATStars Sports Analytics Program Sports statistics program in partnership with Carolina Ascent (Charlotte's professional women's soccer team) and Mint Hill Elementary that empowers young girls in sports analytics, journalism, management, and data-driven insights through mentorship with local athletes.
• Game Design Program Game Design course offered in partnership with East Mecklenburg High School where students learn game development skills including designing games, coding interactive features, and creating unique characters.
• Digital Maker Studio Multifaceted STEM exploration program for 4th & 5th-grade girls combining digital design, engineering, robotics (Finch robots), and horticulture through guided challenges.
• Binary Bling Workshop Fun educational workshops teaching the binary language of computers through creating wearable binary bracelet bling. Multi-modal instructions with teacher facilitation for various settings.
• Binary Bling Box A STEM educational kit teaching binary code through creating binary bracelet bling with multi-modal instructions and all materials provided. The foundation's first retail product.

Quantifiable outcome

• 8,000+ girls served since 2018
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability6 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Carolina AscentflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Professional women's soccer team partnership for StatStars program teaching sports analytics to girls through mentorship with local athletes.
• Visual CaffeinecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Branding and design company providing creative services and strategic partnership for marketing and brand development.
• Dualboot PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Product and technology partner supporting digital initiatives and tech workforce development.
• ApparocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Nonprofit technology partner providing tech executive engagement, speed networking, and AI education day programs.
• TechRising CLTcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Charlotte technology ecosystem organization supporting tech education and community building.
• Carolina Women in TechminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Organization supporting women in technology through collaborative programs and initiatives.
• Charlotte Mecklenburg SchoolsflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Primary school district partnership for in-school technology programs, CTE curriculum, and student engagement initiatives.
• The Dot ConsultingcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Strategic consulting partner for technology education and program development.
• SIM CharlottecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Society for Information Management chapter providing tech professional mentorship and workforce development support.
• ManpowerGroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Workforce solutions partner supporting employment pathways and career development for program participants.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Code.org: Nonprofit expanding access to computer science in K–12 schools, including targeted initiatives for girls and underrepresented students. Comparable in CS education mission and school-district channel, though a much larger scale and policy-oriented operator.
• Million Girls Moonshot: Initiative focused on engaging one million girls in STEM by 2025, with after-school and maker-based programming. Comparable target demographic and STEM/tech focus, but operates as an ecosystem funder rather than direct camp provider.
• Girls Inc. National nonprofit inspiring all girls to be strong, smart, and bold, with STEM among several program pillars. Comparable in serving girls across multiple age groups and a national affiliate network, but broader in mission than a CS-specific nonprofit.
• National Girls Collaborative Project: Network organization connecting girl-serving STEM programs across the U.S. Highly relevant thematically as a girls-in-STEM umbrella body and potential partner or competitor for national programmatic grants.
• NCWIT (National Center for Women & Information Technology): Nonprofit coalition increasing women's participation in computing across K–12, higher education, and industry. Comparable mission (women in computing) but operates as an umbrella/advocacy body rather than direct program delivery.

Direct peers

• TechGirlz: Nonprofit running free tech workshops and camps aimed at middle-school girls, with a curriculum library used by schools and partner organizations. Highly comparable in age tier (middle school), workshop model, and STEM focus.
• Black Girls CODE: Nonprofit providing technology education for Black girls through workshops, hackathons, and summer camps. Comparable target demographic, hands-on computer science focus, and corporate-sponsored delivery model.
• Kode With Klossy: Nonprofit offering free two-week coding camps for young women ages 13–18. Comparable in free-summer-camp delivery, target demographic, web development curriculum, and brand-driven fundraising approach.
• Girls Who Code: National nonprofit closing the gender gap in technology through after-school clubs, summer immersion programs, and college-loops programming. Direct comparable to Dottie Rose Foundation in mission, target demographic (girls in tech), and summer-camp-led delivery model.

Regional players

• STEM NOLA: New Orleans-based nonprofit delivering STEM and computer science exposure to underserved youth through camps, workshops, and maker events. Comparable in hands-on STEM delivery to youth, regional single-hub model, and focus on underrepresented communities.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCza48BpBteenDziTuPfeASQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/dottierosefoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dottierosefoundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/dottierosefoundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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 Dottie Rose Foundation