Girls Inc. of the Pacific Northwest
Inspiring all girls to be strong, smart, and bold
Programs and results
Reports and documents
Download other documentsWhat we aim to solve
Today in the Pacific Northwest, girls still face many obstacles to growing up healthy, educated, and economically independent. For example: 1 in 5 girls live in poverty 1 in 4 girls are victims of sexual abuse or assault 1 in 20 teen girls become pregnant each year 1 in 3 girls experience regular symptoms of depression 1 in 7 girls do not graduate from high school Equally compelling, however, are the stories of empowerment, resilience, and leadership by Girls Inc. youth. As one recent alumna, Mekdes, shares: “At Girls Inc., I felt as if a transformation had happened, as if I took one big step on the ladder of success, as if I paved a way for my own future. I felt as if a barrier was removed from my way. It was an exciting feeling, the feeling of pride in one’s own success, the feeling of overcoming fear through taking risks. And it is that moment of joy that makes me want to take another step, take another risk, and pave a new path.”
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Girls Groups
Girls Groups work in partnership with schools and communities throughout the Pacific Northwest. Each Girls Group has 10-15 girls, grouped by grade level (2nd-8th) and led by 1-2 adult mentors. Groups meet weekly after school, plus through field trips and summer day camps. Our trained staff and volunteer mentors provide age-appropriate lessons and activities in social-emotional learning, anti-bullying, academic tutoring, STEAM, media and financial literacy, teen pregnancy and drug abuse prevention, self-defense, leadership skills, and health, exercise, and nutrition.
This foundational program supports girls in their childhood and early teen years, setting them up for success in high school and beyond. Participants who are aging out of the program frequently choose to continue their “Girls Inc. Experience” through Eureka! and/or Leadership Council, and some even come back when they are adults to volunteer as mentors for current participants.
Eureka!
Eureka! is a five-year STEAM program that empowers 8th - 12th grade youth to see themselves as an important part of the modern workforce. During the Eureka! program, youth participate in a variety of exciting and compelling activities that explore science, technology, engineering, art, and math through hands-on experiences in a college campus environment. With additional lessons in life skills and college-and-career readiness, Eureka! fully fosters educational, professional, and personal development. Long-term, Eureka! helps close the gender gap in STEM – where currently, only 25% of STEM professionals are women – and helps individuals, families, and communities break cycles of poverty.
Leadership Council
Leadership Council members — 6th-12th grade students — help us understand the rapidly changing, nuanced needs of today’s young people. Members serve on Leadership Council for at least one year, and work on individual and group projects, honing their skills around research, leadership, and community action. A variety of guest speakers from the community help youth hone their leadership and life skills, and expose youth to a variety of career paths and leadership opportunities they may not have otherwise considered.
Girls thINC Outside the Box (GTOB)
Girls thINC Outside the Box (GTOB) is an activity box subscription program for youth ages 6-10 that brings the evidence-based “Girls Inc. Experience” directly to youths’ homes. Boxes are curated by youth development professionals to inspire youths’ self-confidence, creativity, problem-solving, and love of learning, while building key skills in literacy and STEM.
Each box contains an educational childrens’ book, a Girls Inc. Magazine (printed lessons, activities, and colorful illustrations), and supplies for 5+ hours of fun, hands-on learning. Quarterly “Zoom Parties” give youth a chance to meet other participants and our staff, and review and celebrate what youth are learning through GTOB.
GTOB centers BIPOC youth, LGBTQ+ youth, and youth with other diverse identities. Each magazine contains an illustrated lesson about a modern role model (a trailblazing youth or adult) with diverse identities and expertise in STEM, art, leadership, education, or specific life skills.
Where we work
Affiliations & memberships
Girls Incorporated 2005
External reviews
Photos
Videos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Evaluation documents
Download evaluation reportsNumber of youth who plan to attend post-secondary education
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Children and youth, Ethnic and racial groups, Girls, At-risk youth, Economically disadvantaged people
Related Program
Eureka!
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
In the Eureka! program, 90%+ of our 11th-12th grade youth plan on attending post-secondary education. Program enrollment levels dropped during the pandemic, and are growing again in 2022-2023.
Number children performing average or above average academically
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Children and youth, Ethnic and racial groups, Girls, At-risk youth, Economically disadvantaged people
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
A study by the American Institute for Research shows that Girls Inc. programming helps youth perform better in school, compared to their peers. Program enrollment levels dropped during the pandemic.
Number of youth receiving services (e.g., groups, skills and job training, etc.) with youths living in their community
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Children and youth, Ethnic and racial groups, Girls, At-risk youth, Economically disadvantaged people
Related Program
Eureka!
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
All of the youth in our Eureka! program receive academic, career, and post-secondary education coaching and mentorship. During their 3rd and 5th years, youth participate in STEM internships.
Number of youth who have a positive adult role model
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Girls, At-risk youth, Children and youth, Ethnic and racial groups, Low-income people
Related Program
Girls Groups
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
In all of our programs, youth are consistently interacting with two or more positive adult role models. Program enrollment levels dropped during the pandemic.
Number of youth who volunteer/participate in community service
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Children and youth, Girls, At-risk youth, Ethnic and racial groups, Low-income people
Related Program
Leadership Council
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
We consistently have about 15 youth on our Youth Leadership Council. Each member serves on the council for 1 or 2 years, and pursues an in-depth advocacy or volunteer project of interest to them.
Number of youth who demonstrate leadership skills (e.g., organizing others, taking initiative, team-building)
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Children and youth, Ethnic and racial groups, Girls, At-risk youth, Economically disadvantaged people
Related Program
Leadership Council
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
A rigorous comparative study by the American Institutes for Research found that Girls Inc. youth have an advantage over their peers in more than 20 key areas, including leadership skills.
Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
Girls Inc. of the Pacific Northwest’s mission is to inspire all girls to be strong, smart, and bold, with the long-term vision of having powerful girls in an equitable society.
Over the next few years, our goal is to grow our program capacity so that more girls in the Pacific Northwest can benefit from the life-changing “Girls Inc. Experience.” With recent multi-year, large investments from the Cowlitz Tribal Foundation, M.J. Murdock Trust, and Marie Lamfrom Charitable Foundation, we are especially growing in the SW Washington and Seattle/Puget Sound regions. Each year, our goal is to serve a minimum of 1,000 unduplicated girls across Oregon and Washington.
We are also intentionally increasing the number of girls we serve whose diverse identities, life circumstances, and backgrounds are historically underrepresented in STEM, leadership, and other career fields. This includes students who are: girls of color, immigrants, refugees, first generation, English language learners, LGBTQ+, neurodiverse, disabled, in foster care, experiencing mental health conditions or trauma, and other marginalized identities and life circumstances.
Additionally, we are continually improving our curriculum and activities based on youth, teacher, and family feedback, and through ongoing use of the Youth Program Quality Assessment Tool. The YPQA is a gold-standard assessment tool, used by the youth development sector nationwide, for evaluating the quality of afterschool programs.
A recent multi-year study by the American Institutes for Research shows that Girls Inc. programs help youth excel in over 20 key indicators of healthy youth development. The research team found, “Girls participating in Girls Inc. were more likely to engage in activities and express beliefs that lead to physical and mental well-being, academic achievement, and the development of leadership skills… [They] had consistently higher math test scores…[and] Girls Inc. girls reported more positive attitudes and behaviors than the comparison group.” Compared to their peers, our youth are also more likely to graduate from high school, pursue post-secondary education, and become first-generation college students.
View the full report attached to our GuideStar profile or at girlsincpnw.org/stronger-smarter-bolder.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
The Girls Inc. Experience consists of six essential elements. Together, they provide a comprehensive approach to youth development programming that is grounded in a belief in girls' inherent rights and abilities.
(1) Pro-Girl Environments
(2) Mentoring Relationships
(3) Intentional Programming
(4) Research-based Curricula
(5) Interactive Activities
(6) Sustained Exposure Over Time
These six essential elements are embedded in our core programs: Girls Groups, Eureka!, Leadership Council, and GIRLS thINC Outside the Box. Our programs are guided by the Girls Inc. Girls’ Bill of Rights, which states that all girls have the right to…
(1) Be themselves and to resist gender stereotypes
(2) Express themselves with originality and enthusiasm
(3) Take risks, to strive freely, and to take pride in success
(4) Accept and appreciate their bodies
(5) Have confidence in themselves and be safe in the world
(6) Prepare for interesting work and economic independence
All of the above is encapsulated in our motto: “Strong, Smart, and Bold.” This is a fun way to say healthy, educated, and independent. It is also a confidence-building affirmation that our girls, volunteers, and staff love to use to celebrate themselves and uplift one another. It is also a statement of belief that our girls are inherently powerful, and have amazing potential despite the many obstacles they face in life. With the Girls Inc. Experience, girls can harness their innate power and learn, grow, and become “Strong, Smart, and Bold” throughout their childhood and adult lives.
Furthermore, the CDC confers that afterschool programs play an essential role in healthy youth development. However, in Oregon, for every child enrolled in an afterschool program, approximately three more children are waitlisted or otherwise unable to access programs. In Washington, the ratio is 1:5. Children from low-income families and families of color have an especially hard time accessing programs, primarily due to cost and transportation burdens.
Meanwhile, demand for afterschool programs is only increasing. In the wake of the pandemic, families are increasingly recognizing the role of afterschool programs in their children’s health and well-being, academic performance, and social development.
To bridge this service gap, Girls Inc. prioritizes enrollment for low-income girls and youth of color, and our programming is free-of-charge. Girls Groups, our most wide-spread program, take place afterschool in Title I public schools, which reduces transportation burdens on families. Our teen programs take place virtually and in-person, and we connect teens with free bus passes. Our programs are led by a diverse team of staff and volunteers, who facilitate curriculum and activities with a trauma-informed and gender-specific lens. We maintain an average staff-to-youth ratio of 1:15.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
Girls Inc. of the Pacific Northwest is a locally-governed, financially-independent affiliate of Girls Inc., the nation's leading voice for girls. Girls Inc. provides program research and development, staff training, and advocacy support to 70+ affiliate organizations across the United States and Canada. Girls Inc. originated in 1864, and is guided by a belief in the inherent potential of each girl.
Girls Inc. of the Pacific Northwest has been serving Portland since 1998, Southwest Washington since 2017, Seattle since 2018, and statewide in Oregon and Washington since 2020. Over the past 25 years, we have maintained a strong community of supporters from Pacific Northwest individuals, families, public schools, colleges and universities, STEAM industries, small businesses, local governments, and community partners. Our supporters appreciate Girls Inc.’s track record, transparency, collaboration, and dedication to the community.
Girls Inc. PNW’s mentorship programs also thrive with volunteer support. Volunteers mentor youth through one-time, seasonal, or ongoing program sessions. Most of our volunteers are women who come to share their knowledge, skills, life stories, and careers in STEM, arts, sports, leadership, and other fields.
Our programs take an “outreach approach” by taking our programs to schools and community settings where girls are already situated. Our "pipeline" model supports girls as they progress from elementary school through high school, so they get the sustained “Girls Inc. Experience” throughout their crucial youth development years.
Girls Inc. PNW staff are trained to provide the best programming experiences possible. Staff are trained in: Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), Youth Program Quality Assessment (YPQA), Trauma Informed Practice in Afterschool, Creating Brave Spaces that Center Gender and Racial Equity, Methods to Foster Positive Family Relationships, and more. Staff are also trained in first aid, mandatory reporting, and other standard safety procedures.
Furthermore, according to Oregon Afterschool & Summer for Kids Network, every $1 invested into high-quality youth development programs leads to a $4.60 return on investment for the community. This is because programs like Girls Inc.’s help increase graduation rates while decreasing grade repetition, drug and alcohol addiction, crime rates, and obesity-related healthcare costs.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
In 2023, we are celebrating 25 years of inspiring girls to be strong, smart, and bold! Over the past 25 years, we have provided youth empowerment programming in after-school and summer settings to thousands of youth who have gone on to college, careers, and prosperous lives. Our impact is evident, our history is extraordinary, and we have much to share and celebrate!
Recent milestones include:
APRIL 2020: All Girls Inc. programs pivoted to virtual formats when the pandemic started. We also began providing free laptops, Internet hotspots, activity kits, basic needs supplies, and academic tutoring to Girls Inc. youth across the Pacific Northwest. Many families and youth said our programming was a “lifeline” for them during the pandemic – while also missing and looking forward to resuming in-person programming. Programming remained primarily virtual through December 2021.
MARCH 2021: Cyreena Boston Ashby became Chief Executive Officer after serving as Interim Executive Director since summer 2020. While our mission has always been “to inspire all girls to be strong, smart, and bold,” this was taken to a more meaningful, equity-focused level when Cyreena permanently joined Girls Inc. Under her leadership, our organization renewed its commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and is making significant progress in our DEI policies, strategies, and staff and board representation.
WINTER 2022: Youn Han was promoted to Chief Programs Officer after serving as our Eureka! Program Manager for two years. With her leadership, Girls Inc. programs began transitioning to a hybrid format. Girls Groups returned in-person in local schools, and other Girls Inc. programs now use a mixture of in-person and online programming.
SPRING 2022: We struck new investment partnerships with M.J. Murdock Trust, Highline Public Schools District, and the City of Burien to expand our Girls Groups program in the Seattle area. Our Board of Directors also unanimously appointed Gwendolyn Turner as our first Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer. Gwen brings over 20 years of expertise in leading and changing culture through DEI. In collaboration with the Board President and Officers, and the CEO, Gwen is creating a DEI Roadmap that supports board membership development, training, and recruitment.
SUMMER 2022: We launched a new branch of our teen STEM program, “Eureka!”, in Vancouver, Washington. Meanwhile, our Portland “Eureka!” branch resumed in-person summer camps and internships for 8th-12th grade teens. We also launched GIRLS thINC Outside the Box (GTOB), an activity kit and book delivery program. GTOB now reaches early learners across Oregon and Washington states, with new boxes shipped out each season.
In 2023 and beyond, we will continue refining and acting upon our strategic expansion plans, in line with our mission to inspire all girls to be strong, smart, and bold. We hope you will join us during this pivotal time for supporting girls in the Pacific Northwest!
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
We collect feedback from the people we serve at least annually, We take steps to get feedback from marginalized or under-represented people, We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us, We look for patterns in feedback based on demographics (e.g., race, age, gender, etc.), We look for patterns in feedback based on people’s interactions with us (e.g., site, frequency of service, etc.), We engage the people who provide feedback in looking for ways we can improve in response, We act on the feedback we receive, We tell the people who gave us feedback how we acted on their feedback, We ask the people who gave us feedback how well they think we responded
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
It is difficult to find the ongoing funding to support feedback collection, Staff find it hard to prioritize feedback collection and review due to lack of time
Financials
Financial documents
Download audited financialsRevenue vs. expenses: breakdown
Liquidity in 2022 info
9.97
Months of cash in 2022 info
8.2
Fringe rate in 2022 info
19%
Funding sources info
Assets & liabilities info
Financial data
Girls Inc. of the Pacific Northwest
Revenue & expensesFiscal Year: Jul 01 - Jun 30
Girls Inc. of the Pacific Northwest
Balance sheetFiscal Year: Jul 01 - Jun 30
The balance sheet gives a snapshot of the financial health of an organization at a particular point in time. An organization's total assets should generally exceed its total liabilities, or it cannot survive long, but the types of assets and liabilities must also be considered. For instance, an organization's current assets (cash, receivables, securities, etc.) should be sufficient to cover its current liabilities (payables, deferred revenue, current year loan, and note payments). Otherwise, the organization may face solvency problems. On the other hand, an organization whose cash and equivalents greatly exceed its current liabilities might not be putting its money to best use.
Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Documents
Chief Executive Officer
Cyreena Boston Ashby
In March 2021, Cyreena Boston Ashby joined Girls Inc. PNW as CEO after working in Oregon public affairs and nonprofits for over 15 years.
Cyreena is a proud alumna of two all women's institutions, St. Mary's Academy and Spelman College; and has earned Executive Education Certificates from the European Institute of Business Administration and Harvard Business School.
Cyreena has worked on issues such as racial justice, LGBTQ rights, affordable housing, public education, and workers’ rights through the Democratic National Committee, Obama for America, and the offices of Senator Jeff Merkley and Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber. Cyreena was also the first Director of the Portland African American Leadership Forum. Most recently, Cyreena was a Partner at Hilltop Public Solutions.
In the local community, Cyreena also serves as Chair of the NW Health Foundation, a board member of Health Share of Oregon and Trillium Family Services, and a trustee of the French American International School.
Chief Programs Officer
Youn Han
Youn Han is a proud first generation Korean-American-Atlantan, with a B.A. in International Affairs from the University of Georgia and a Master of Science degree in Environmental Studies from Antioch University New England. Driven by a passion for people, growth, and connection, Youn has been leading environmental education, community leadership, and youth service programs since 2008.
Before becoming our Chief Programs Officer, Youn was our Eureka! Program Manager. She brings with her an extensive history of direct service, system-level administration, and program management from her previous work history, which includes the Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization, Portland Audubon, and the Student Conservation Organization.
Among her professional background, her most inspirational and humbling experiences have been collaborating and working directly with colleagues, community members, and youth who show strength against oppression with ferocity, grace, and courage.
Number of employees
Source: IRS Form 990
Girls Inc. of the Pacific Northwest
Officers, directors, trustees, and key employeesSOURCE: IRS Form 990
Compensation data
There are no highest paid employees recorded for this organization.
Girls Inc. of the Pacific Northwest
Board of directorsas of 06/27/2023
Board of directors data
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Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
The organization's co-leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Sexual orientation
Disability
Equity strategies
Last updated: 02/16/2022GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more
- We review compensation data across the organization (and by staff levels) to identify disparities by race.
- We ask team members to identify racial disparities in their programs and / or portfolios.
- We analyze disaggregated data and root causes of race disparities that impact the organization's programs, portfolios, and the populations served.
- We disaggregate data to adjust programming goals to keep pace with changing needs of the communities we support.
- We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders.
- We disaggregate data by demographics, including race, in every policy and program measured.
- We have long-term strategic plans and measurable goals for creating a culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.
- We use a vetting process to identify vendors and partners that share our commitment to race equity.
- We have a promotion process that anticipates and mitigates implicit and explicit biases about people of color serving in leadership positions.
- We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
- We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board.
- We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.
- We measure and then disaggregate job satisfaction and retention data by race, function, level, and/or team.
- We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.