Girl Rising
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
To use the power of storytelling to change the way the world values girls and their education. Through media creation, educational tools and programs, and direct support of local organizations, Girl Rising ignites change so that girls everywhere can learn, rise and thrive.
- Income
- $1.9 million
- Spending
- $3.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 71%
- Reserves
- 0.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Employees
- 12
- Volunteers
- 10
- Highest pay
- $201,562, chief executive officer
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 39 out of 100. Higher than 6% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.4 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 4% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 58% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 58% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1571% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 23 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2510 of 10 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (5)
- $1.2 million spent. Girl Rising's flagship education program, RISE, delivered in partnership with innovative community-based organizations, equips young people - especially girls - with essential life skills to thrive. Through engaging, collaborative activities, our programs nurture confidence, critical thinking, financial and digital literacy, and gender equity awareness. The programs use storytelling to amplify youth voices and foster a strong sense of identity. Recognizing that girls thrive in supportive environments, our programs engage parents, educators, and community leaders to create lasting support for girls' education. The expected outcomes are higher school retention, reduced early marriages, and empowered youth ready to shape their futures and challenge harmful social norms. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O) GIRL RISING'S EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING IS FOCUSED ON BUILDING GIRLS' 21ST CENTURY SKILLS, DEVELOPING THEIR CONFIDENCE, AGENCY AND ASPIRATIONS FOR THE FUTURE, AND STRENGTHENING COMMUNITIES OF SUPPORT FOR GIRLS AMONG THEIR MALE PEERS, TEACHERS, AND CAREGIVERS. GIRL RISING COLLABORATES WITH LOCAL PARTNERS, CREATING, ADAPTING AND CUSTOMIZING OUR STORYTELLING-BASED EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES FOR USE IN PARTNERS' PROGRAMS, WHICH INCLUDE BOTH GIRLS AND BOYS. GIRL RISING'S CURRICULA COVER THEMES SUCH AS SELF-AWARENESS, SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING, GENDER NORMS, CHILD MARRIAGE, GOAL-SETTING, BUILDING ALLIES, FINANCIAL LITERACY AND THE IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATION. THE GIRL RISING TEAM LEADS PRE-SERVICE AND IN-SERVICE TRAINING FOR EDUCATORS AND FACILITATORS WHO THEN IMPLEMENT THE CURRICULUM WITH ADOLESCENTS AND ENGAGE PARENTS THROUGH A PARALLEL STRUCTURED LEARNING PROCESS. GIRL RISING MEASURES IMPACT AMONG ADOLESCENTS, TEACHERS, AND PARENTS. IN 2024, GIRL RISING WORKED WITH 20 LOCAL EDUCATION PARTNERS ACROSS FIVE COUNTRIES, DELIVERING AND SUPPORTING PROGRAMMING AND INNOVATIVE LEARNING RESOURCES. THROUGH OUR IN-PERSON PROGRAMMING, WE REACHED 270,000 ADOLESCENTS, 2,000 EDUCATORS, AND 440 PARENTS. THROUGH OUR ONLINE PROGRAMMING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SLAM OUT LOUD AND 1 MILLION TEACHERS, WE REACHED 8 MILLION ADOLESCENTS AND 300,000 TEACHERS. WE ALSO WERE EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS ON A NEW FILM, COMPARSA, CREATED TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT THE POWER OF YOUNG WOMEN AS COMMUNITY LEADERS AND THE ISSUES FACING GIRLS IN GUATEMALA. THE FILM WILL BE ENTERED INTO FILM FESTIVALS IN 2025, DISTRIBUTED WIDELY AND BE USED IN OUR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS IN FUTURE YEARS.
- $378,509 spent. 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.
- $293,098 spent. 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.
- $327,199 spent. COMMUNICATIONS AND MOVEMENT BUILDING: GIRL RISING LEADS IMPACTFUL IN-PERSON EVENTS AND GLOBAL SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGNS TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT THE BARRIERS TO GIRLS' EDUCATION, INCLUDING CLIMATE CHANGE, GENDER BIAS, DISPLACEMENT, AND GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE. WE ALSO HIGHLIGHT THE HUMAN RIGHT TO EDUCATION AND THE POWERFUL RIPPLE EFFECTS OF INVESTING IN GIRLS' EDUCATION. OUR CAMPAIGNS FEATURE DATA FROM TRUSTED SOURCES SUCH AS UN AGENCIES AND SHARE COMPELLING STORIES OF GIRLS IN OUR PROGRAMS, EFFECTIVELY AMPLIFYING THE MESSAGE AND MOBILIZING SUPPORT WORLDWIDE.
- (Expenses $ 327,199 including grants of $ 0)(Revenue $ 0) COMMUNICATIONS AND MOVEMENT BUILDING: GIRL RISING LEADS IMPACTFUL IN-PERSON EVENTS AND GLOBAL SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGNS TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT THE BARRIERS TO GIRLS' EDUCATION, INCLUDING CLIMATE CHANGE, GENDER BIAS, DISPLACEMENT, AND GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE. WE ALSO HIGHLIGHT THE HUMAN RIGHT TO EDUCATION AND THE POWERFUL RIPPLE EFFECTS OF INVESTING IN GIRLS' EDUCATION. OUR CAMPAIGNS FEATURE DATA FROM TRUSTED SOURCES SUCH AS UN AGENCIES AND SHARE COMPELLING STORIES OF GIRLS IN OUR PROGRAMS, EFFECTIVELY AMPLIFYING THE MESSAGE AND MOBILIZING SUPPORT WORLDWIDE.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since June 2018.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated November 4, 2026.
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