Girls to Women

What Girls to Women does

Girls to Women is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in January 2007 by Patricia Foster and headquartered in East Palo Alto, California. The organization delivers year-round, girl-centered youth development programming for approximately 75 girls and young women ages 6-25, drawn almost entirely (90%) from low-income or below-poverty families in East Palo Alto and Menlo Park. Participant demographics skew heavily toward girls of color: 60% Latinas, 30% African-Americans, and 10% Pacific Islanders. Girls to Women describes itself as the only girl-centered youth development organization in the community, addressing a gap where only 20% of K-8 youth locally have access to such programming versus 90% in nearby Palo Alto.

Programming is organized into five integrated streams: Information Technology & Maker Learning (coding, 3D printing, carpentry, electronics, digital literacy); Personal Development Through the Arts (painting, drama, music, crafts, cultural field trips); Transition-Age Women Support (workshops on job-market navigation, housing, childcare, independent living); Health, Safety & Fitness (sports, culinary classes, mindfulness, the annual Margaret Wright Wellness 5K Run/Walk); and shorter-form program modules such as Creative Writing, Makinu! African Dance, Tutoring, Creative Watercolor, and photography projects. Notable strategic partnerships include Oxford Day Academy, Meta Community Hub, California Family Foundation, Streetside Stories, Cafe Zoe, and MidPeninsula Regional Open Space.

The operating model is community-led rather than commercial. Revenue is generated through individual donations (historically ~$60,000 cumulatively), foundation grants (~$70,000 historically), modest subsidized program fees from low-income families, corporate sponsorships tied to community events, in-kind contributions (~$15,000/year), and platform-based fundraising via GlobalGiving and PayPal. Governance is provided by a small board, and Patricia Foster serves as Founder-Executive Director. The organization adapted a virtual programming model during the 2020-2021 COVID period and continues to operate year-round programming.

Name

Girls to Women

Legal name

Girls to Women

Website

https://girlstowomen.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Girls to Women is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2007 that delivers year-round girl-centered youth development programming — including STEM, arts, wellness, and transition support — to approximately 75 girls and young women ages 6-25 from low-income families in East Palo Alto and Menlo Park.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Development Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Child and Youth Services (624110)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGABAF

Gender Equality & Women’s Empowerment

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/International Development & Poverty Alleviation

SECONDARYEDAAAFAN

Youth-to-Adult Transition & Life Skills (Independent Living, Soft Skills)

Education/Adult & Continuing Education/Community & Public Education Programs (Libraries, Community Centers)

SECONDARYEDAAAOAD

Youth & Young Adult Workforce Programs (Out-of-School Youth)

Education/Adult & Continuing Education/Workforce Development Initiatives

Keywords

• Youth development programs
• Girls mentoring services
• Arts education programs
• Stem education programs
• After school programs

Headquarters

HQ city

East Palo Alto

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. Individual Donations: Tax-deductible contributions from individuals supporting the organization's mission to serve low-income girls and families. Donations can be made via PayPal or check.
2. Foundation Grants: Grant funding from foundations to support programming costs. The organization has raised $70,000 in grants revenue historically.
3. Program Fees: Modest fees charged to families, with most served being low-income to below-poverty families who receive subsidized access.
4. Corporate Sponsorships: Support from local businesses as sponsors for events such as the annual Margaret Wright Wellness 5K Run/Walk.
5. In-Kind Contributions: Acceptance of in-kind donations including books, van for field trips, vegetable seedlings, and other useful items. Estimated at $15,000 worth annually.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Girls to Women is a community-based nonprofit that delivers year-round youth development programming for approximately 75 girls ages 6-25 in East Palo Alto and Menlo Park. Programming is delivered across four integrated streams: Information Technology & Maker Learning (coding, 3D printing, carpentry, electronics), Personal Development Through the Arts (painting, drama, music, crafts, photography), Health/Safety/Fitness (sports, mindfulness, wellness events), and Transition-Age Women Support (job market, housing, childcare, independent living). The organization also runs an annual Summer Program and the Margaret Wright Wellness 5K Run/Walk, with services offered at no cost or subsidized rates to predominantly low-income families.

Product overview

Girls to Women is a nonprofit youth development organization offering year-round programming for 75 girls ages 6-25 in East Palo Alto and Menlo Park. The organization provides multiple integrated program streams: Summer Programs (including the 2025 'Back to Basics: Art Is Life' camp), Information Technology & Maker Learning (coding, 3D printing, electronics), Personal Development Through the Arts (creative writing, watercolor, photography), Health & Fitness (mindfulness, sports, wellness events), and Transition-Age Women Support. Programs include Creative Writing, Makinu! African Dance, Tutoring, Mindfulness Classes, Creative Watercolor, the annual Margaret Wright Wellness 5K Run/Walk, and special initiatives like Your Story is My Story photography project and Project Open Paw.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Information Technology & Maker Learning Programs Technology education programs teaching coding, 3D printing, carpentry, and electronics to under-served girls in East Palo Alto and Menlo Park; partners with local schools and organizations to provide access to computer science and emerging technologies.
• Personal Development Through the Arts Structured arts programming facilitating self-awareness, intercultural understanding, and expression on gender, culture, and society through painting, drama, music, crafts, and cultural field trips, targeted at elementary and middle school-age girls.
• Transition-Age Women Support Programs Support-group and workshop series for young women ages 6-25 (often first-generation college students) covering job market navigation, affordable housing, childcare, and independent living as they transition from student to entry-level professional.
• Health, Safety & Fitness Programs Physical and educational activities including sports, nutritional support, culinary classes, mindfulness training, leadership building, and the annual Margaret Wright Wellness 5K Run/Walk, supporting healthy development for participating girls.
• Summer Program 2025 - 'Back to Basics: Art Is Life' A 4-week arts-based summer camp partnership with California Family Foundation, encouraging girls to unplug, connect and express through visual arts, mentorship, wellness and community building in Belle Haven, Menlo Park.
• Margaret Wright Wellness 5K Run/Walk Annual community-building fitness event honoring benefactor Margaret Wright, featuring running, walking, and community activities for girls, families, and neighbors.

Quantifiable outcome

• 90% of participants are below poverty or low-income
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments2 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

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• California Family FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Partner for the 2025 Summer Program 'Back to Basics: Art Is Life' - a 4-week arts-based camp in Belle Haven, Menlo Park (June 16 - July 11, 2025) featuring visual arts, mentorship, wellness, and community building.
• Meta Community HubcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Hosted the 2024 Summer Program focused on the intersection of technology and art, where girls explored animation, engineering, photography, typography, solar power, and sustainability through storytelling and design.
• Bottletree CultureminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for the Makinu! African Dance program - an introduction to Central African dance and song for youth exploring traditional and popular movement and music from Central Africa.
• Pets In NeedminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGirls to Women gathered teen ambassadors to work together organizing events and raising funds for Project Open Paw, providing supplies to pets living in homeless encampments in San Francisco.
• Oxford Day AcademycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for photography programs including 'Your Story is My Story' and 'See Us for Who We Are' - photography exhibitions exploring body image and related topics with high school students from East Palo Alto.
• Streetcode AcademyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for science technology, engineering, and math (STEAM) programming during summer 2018.
• Design XminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for fashion learning programming during summer 2018.
• Cafe ZoeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity cafe venue partner for displaying photography exhibitions including 'Your Story is My Story' and 'Words of Wisdom' student artwork showcases.
• Latino Outdoors South BayminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Mother's Day Hike event celebrating motherhood and mother nature at Cooley Landing.
• MidPeninsula Regional Open SpaceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for community outdoor events and the annual Margaret Wright Wellness 5K Run/Walk.
• Streetside StoriesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration for the 'Words of Wisdom' international photography exchange program where young people explored the meaning of wisdom through photography, creative writing, and book making.
• One BirdminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration for the 'Words of Wisdom' international photography exchange program.
• Global GivingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPlatform for dedicated project fundraising at Girls to Women.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Girls Who Code: National nonprofit working to close the gender gap in technology through coding education programs for girls. Directly comparable to Girls to Women's IT/Maker Learning programs (coding, 3D printing, electronics), with similar focus on reaching girls of color.
• Girls Inc. National nonprofit network inspiring all girls to be strong, smart, and bold through direct programming and advocacy. Operates affiliate organizations serving girls with similar youth development, education, and mentorship programming to Girls to Women, but at significantly greater scale and geographic breadth.
• Girl Scouts of the USA: National youth organization delivering girl-centered leadership, STEM, life skills, and outdoor programming. Shares Girls to Women's core focus on empowering girls through mentorship, structured activities, and community engagement, though operates at vastly larger scale with paid membership model.
• YWCA USA: National nonprofit focused on eliminating racism and empowering women, with local affiliates providing youth programming, mentoring, and enrichment for girls and young women. Highly comparable mission focus on girl/women empowerment with community-based service delivery.
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of America: National youth mentoring nonprofit pairing young people with adult mentors. Shares Girls to Women's mentoring-driven model, including homework assistance and one-on-one mentorship, though operates nationally and serves all genders.

Peers

• Step Up: Nonprofit organization empowering girls and young women through mentorship, education, and college/career preparation programs. Highly comparable mission serving transition-age young women from underserved communities with mentorship and life-skills programming similar to Girls to Women's transition support offerings.
• The Girls' Lounge: Nonprofit community focused on supporting the next generation of women leaders through mentorship and connection. Comparable focus on female empowerment and intergenerational mentorship, though operates more as an event/advocacy platform than direct service provider.

Broad incumbents

• Boys & Girls Clubs of America: Large national youth development organization providing after-school programming, mentoring, and enrichment with dedicated girls' programs. Serves similar low-income youth populations with comparable year-round programming model, though operates with both genders and at far greater scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/girls-to-women-epa

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Girls to Women