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Girl Rising
New York, NY · EIN 822862554 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE Q70 · International Affairs · Medium ($1M-$10M) · girlrising.org
revenue
$1.9M
expenses
$3.1M
net assets
$1.5M
employees
12
volunteers
10
program ratio
71%
mission · from form 990

Girl Rising ignites change so that girls everywhere can learn, rise and thrive.

profile · synthesized from sources

Girl Rising advances girls' education and gender equity globally through storytelling, leadership development, and strategic investments in local leaders. The organization supports girls and young women in marginalized communities by amplifying their voices, funding grassroots education initiatives, and fostering global advocacy. Programs focus on building leadership skills, changing social norms, and creating systemic change in countries including India, Kenya, Guatemala, and Afghanistan.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024

What they reported doing

  1. #1 primary $379K
    FUTURE RISING FELLOWSHIP IS A LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOR YOUNG ADULTS (AGE 17-25) WORKING IN THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITIES ON ENVIRONMENTAL AND GENDER JUSTICE. EACH YEAR, GIRL RISING CONDUCTS AN EXTENSIVE GLOBAL SEARCH FOR THE MOST PROMISING PARTICIPANTS AND SUPPORTS THEM AT A CRITICAL JUNCTURE IN THEIR LIVES AND CAREERS. FUTURE RISING'S STORYTELLING CREATES CHANGE IN THREE SPHERES: INDIVIDUALS (FELLOWS BUILD CRITICAL SKILLS, VOICE, AGENCY AND HONE THEIR MISSION), COMMUNITIES (STORYTELLING GALVANIZES COMMUNITIES, BUILDS SOCIAL COHESION, HELPS ADDRESS DIFFICULT GENDERED NORMS) AND SOCIETY (FUTURE RISING FELLOWS ACCESS HALLS OF POWER AND HAVE SHARED IMPORTANT LOCAL STORIES WITH INFLUENCER AUDIENCES AT UNGA, UN WATER, ECOSOC, COP 26, 27 AND 28, ASPEN IDEAS, COP 40 AND MORE.)LONG TERM, FELLOWS BECOME PART OF A DYNAMIC NETWORK WITH OPPORTUNITIES FOR FURTHER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND AMPLIFICATION OF THEIR LOCAL WORK AND GLOBAL ADVOCACY.
  2. #2 $293K
    THE GIRL RISING GLOBAL EDUCATION FUND (GR-GEF) IS A SIX-YEAR VENTURE PHILANTHROPY FUND (2019-2024) THROUGH WHICH WE SEEK OUT, INVEST IN, AND JOIN FORCES WITH LOCAL LEADERS WHO HAVE INNOVATIVE, CULTURALLY RELEVANT IDEAS ON HOW TO ADVANCE GENDER EQUITY AND EDUCATION QUALITY FOR GIRLS AND BOYS LIVING IN POVERTY. WE FIRST INTRODUCED THIS MODEL IN INDIA AND KENYA, AND THEN EXPANDED THE FUND TO INCLUDE GRANTEES IN GUATEMALA. WITH GEF FUNDING AND RESOURCES, ORGANIZATIONS LED BY STRONG SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURS HAVE NEW OPPORTUNITIES TO GROW AND CREATE POSITIVE CHANGE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES, REACHING 5,901,856 ADOLESCENTS AND 266,844 EDUCATORS IN INDIA, AND 141 TEACHERS AND 1,500 ADOLESCENTS IN KENYA.
named programs · 5 · from sources

What they call their work

Communications and Movement Building
Global awareness campaigns using film, media content, and social media to highlight barriers to girls’ education such as climate change, gender bias, displacement, and gender-based violence, while promoting the human right to education.
Financial Education Program
Curriculum-based initiative delivered through local partners in Ghana and Mexico that builds financial literacy and life skills—including social-emotional learning and goal setting—among adolescent girls and boys and their caregivers.
Future Rising Fellowship
Leadership development program for young adults (ages 17–25) working on environmental and gender justice in their communities. Fellows receive training, storytelling support, and opportunities to advocate at global forums such as UN events and COP conferences.
Girl Rising Global Education Fund (GR-GEF)
Six-year venture philanthropy fund (2019–2024) that identifies, invests in, and supports local leaders in India, Kenya, and Guatemala to improve access to quality education and advance gender equity for children living in poverty.
Girls Advisory Council
Youth-led council composed of girls and young women (ages 14–22) from diverse communities who guide organizational strategy, programming, and advocacy. Members serve as ambassadors and two representatives sit on the Board of Directors.
activities · 10 groups

What they do

  • Girls' Mentorship and Leadership Development 3 activities
    • Deliver girls' leadership and empowerment programs
      Directly engages approximately 3,000 girls annually across 58 countries through in-person and digital programming focused on building voice, confidence, agency, leadership, advocacy, and 21st-century skills such as digital and financial literacy. Programs include the RISE curriculum, which reached over 2 million youth and reported measurable gains in educational aspirations and digital confidence.
    • Host girl-led events and conferences
      Hosts girl-led convenings such as HERizon Fest (April 2025), empowering girls and young women to take on leadership roles and challenge gender norms through public forums and creative expression.
    • Support girl-led chapters and peer networks
      Supports a global network of 120 girl-led chapters across 21 countries involving 2,500 girl leaders, providing training, mentorship, grant funding, and opportunities for peer-led activities including discussion groups, advocacy, and mentorship.
  • Human Rights Advocacy & Accountability 1 activity
    • Conduct advocacy campaigns and public awareness initiatives
      Runs global social media and in-person advocacy campaigns addressing barriers to girls’ education, including gender-based violence, climate change, displacement, and lack of reproductive healthcare. Initiatives include the Power of Poetry campaign, pop-up art galleries (“My Body, My Choice”), and collaborations on FGM education resources.
  • Financial Literacy Education Programs 1 activity
    • Deliver financial education through local partners
      Delivers a financial education curriculum in Ghana and Mexico through local partners, training teachers and engaging parents to support adolescent learning; reached 10,400 youth and 3,300 caregivers in 2023.
  • Individual Child Education Sponsorship 1 activity
    • Fund and support local organizations advancing girls’ education
      Funds and supports local leaders and organizations in India, Kenya, and Guatemala to advance gender equity and education quality for children living in poverty, reaching over 5.9 million adolescents and 266,844 educators in India and 1,500 adolescents in Kenya in 2024.
  • Girls' Education Access Initiatives 1 activity
    • Implement country-specific education programs
      Runs targeted programs such as the Naserian pilot in Narok County, Kenya (reaching 8,500 in- and out-of-school adolescents) and delivers programming in marginalized regions of India (Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh), supported by government accreditation of the RISE curriculum in Kenya in 2024.
  • Organizational Governance & Leadership Development 1 activity
    • Integrate girls’ voices into organizational governance
      Operates a Girls Advisory Council that guides organizational strategy, programming, advocacy, and governance, with two members serving on the Board of Directors to ensure youth leadership at the highest level of decision-making.
  • Women's Rights and Empowerment Grants 1 activity
    • Partner with community-based organizations
      Supports over 1,300 community-based organizations through partnerships, resources, and capacity-building tools to advance girls’ education and empowerment.
  • Youth Leadership Development Programs 1 activity
    • Provide leadership fellowships for young activists
      Operates an 18-month fellowship program for girls aged 14–22 from six continents to build leadership, activism, and organizing skills; also runs a leadership development program for young adults aged 17–25 working on environmental and gender justice in their communities.
  • Educator Training in Equity and Inclusion 1 activity
    • Train educators and mentors globally
      Engages over 55,000 educators and mentors through training and resources, including the RISE curriculum; increased educator belief in gender equality in intelligence from 14% to 91% post-participation. Plans to reach 800 educators in-person and 1 million digitally through RISE programming in 2026.
  • Uncategorized 1 activity
    • Produce and distribute educational media and storytelling resources
      Produces films, digital content, comic books (e.g., “Kusum’s Adventurous Innings”), zines (e.g., “Beyond Bleeding”), and educational toolkits (e.g., “Safiya Speaks Up”) to promote girls’ rights, challenge gender stereotypes, and provide accessible learning materials on menstrual health and safety.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$1.95M
Contributions & grants$2.09M107%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$6860%
Other revenue$-141K
expenses
Total expenses$3.09M
Program expenses71%
Admin / overhead13%
Fundraising16%
Salaries & benefits$1.25M
Grants paid out$279K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$1.59M
Cash$962K
Investments$0
Liabilities$61K
Net assets$1.53M
Liquid reserves3.7 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -57.6%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 3
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
Christina Lowery Chief Executive Officer 40 $202K
Anna Hall Chief Storytelling Officer 40 $169K
Cristina Marzo VP of Finance & Administration 40 $157K
board members · 10
  • Dana Bober — Treasurer
  • Divya Mani — Director
  • Holly Gordon — Director
  • Kim Anstatt — Director
  • Kimberly Mughal — Director
  • Meg Porfido — Board Chair
  • Nabila Aguele — Committee Chair
  • Nikhil Taneja — Director
  • Shabnam Mogharabi — Director
  • Victoria Gonin — Director
relationships · 29

Who they work with

  • Aspen Ideas Partner — Fellows have participated in and presented at the Aspen Ideas Festival.
  • COP 26 Partner — Fellows have shared stories at the COP26 climate summit.
  • COP 27 Partner — Fellows have shared stories at the COP27 climate summit.
  • COP 28 Partner — Fellows have shared stories at the COP28 climate summit.
  • COP 40 Partner — Fellows have shared stories at COP40.
  • Consejo de Niñas Partner — Youth advisory council that shapes Girl Rising's programs, advocacy, and governance through direct participation and representation.
  • Crossing Thresholds Partner — Program implementing partner for RISE Kenya.
  • Drawing Dreams Initiative Partner — Program implementing partner for RISE Kenya.
  • ECOSOC Partner — Fellows have engaged with audiences at the UN Economic and Social Council.
  • Empower Her Initiative Partner — Program implementing partner for RISE Kenya.
  • Girls Advisory Council Partner — Partners with staff, Board, and Fellows to shape programs and storytelling; two members serve on the Board to ensure girls' voices are included in organizational leadership.
  • Girls Bill of Rights Partner — Partners on the Chapters program, providing toolkits and resources for girl-led organizing.
  • Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development Partner — Partnered with Girl Rising to endorse the RISE life skills curriculum in Kenya
  • Kilgoris Project Partner — Program implementing partner for RISE Kenya.
  • Msichana Empowerment Kuria Partner — Partnered with Girl Rising Fellows to document girls' experiences with FGM and co-create educational viewing guides.
  • Murua Girl Child Education Program Partner — Program implementing partner for RISE Kenya.
  • PACEmaker International Partner — Program implementing partner for RISE Kenya.
  • Patinaai Osim Partner — Program implementing partner for RISE Kenya.
  • She's the First Partner — Collaborates on the Fellowship program, supporting girl leaders.
  • She's the First Partner — Collaborative relationship indicated by Mahi's involvement with She's the First/Girl Rising since age 13.
  • She's the First Partner — Merger partner combining programs and resources to strengthen impact for girls.
  • She’s the First Partner — Co-developed the global chapter network, originally built by She’s the First and now growing as part of Girl Rising.
  • Sunflower Trust Partner — Implementing partner for the RISE program in Kenya; supports girls' education initiatives.
  • Teach for Kenya Partner — Program implementing partner for RISE Kenya.
  • The Thorn Tree Project Partner — Program implementing partner for RISE Kenya.
  • UN Water Partner — Fellows have participated in and shared stories at UN Water events.
  • UNGA Partner — Fellows have shared local stories with influencer audiences at the United Nations General Assembly.
  • UNICEF Partner — Partnered with Girl Rising to implement a program for Rohingya adolescent girls in Cox’s Bazar.
  • Yuvaa Partner — Collaborated with Girl Rising to create the comic book "Kusum's Adventurous Innings" as part of the RISE curriculum.
strategies · 5

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Girl-Centered, Girl-Led Approach
    methodology: girl_centered_girl_led
    By centering girls as leaders and decision-makers in program design and implementation, we produce more relevant, authentic, and sustainable change because programs reflect girls' lived realities and foster ownership, agency, and leadership.
  • Integrated Life Skills and Holistic Development
    methodology: integrated_life_skills
    By integrating financial and digital literacy with social-emotional learning and gender-equity education, we prepare adolescents holistically for future success because real-world readiness requires interconnected skill sets that go beyond academics.
  • Leadership Development Through Peer-Driven Activism
    methodology: girl_led_activism
    By investing in long-term leadership development and enabling girls to lead rights-based initiatives, we produce sustained community change because peer-led activism fosters ownership, builds confidence, and creates scalable models of youth-driven transformation.
  • Storytelling as a Catalyst for Empathy and Agency
    methodology: storytelling_for_change
    By using storytelling—especially real-life and youth-authored narratives—we build empathy, self-awareness, and confidence, because personal stories make abstract issues tangible, foster emotional connection, and empower participants to see themselves as agents of change.
  • Whole-Community Ecosystem Engagement
    methodology: norms_shifting_ecosystem
    By engaging boys, educators, families, and institutions alongside girls, we shift entrenched gender norms and sustain change because systemic transformation requires altering social dynamics at multiple levels, not just individual empowerment.