2020 ANNUAL REPORT putting girls first during a global pandemic
FOUNDERS' LETTER
2020 was a year that tested the resolve of advocates and nonprofits worldwide. We saw the catastrophic effects of the pandemic stress communities to the breaking point. However, girls and the community-based organizations that serve them stood firm. Girls stepped up to teach their neighbors about gardening to stem local hunger; they set up handwashing stations around town to prevent the spread of COVID-19; they built little libraries to provide their communities with access to books. But the pandemic isn't behind us yet. STF and our partners are still moving quickly to address the critical needs of girls and their families and to ensure their safety and rights. Vaccination rates in their countries are low and some schools shut down again as outbreaks spiraled, especially in Peru, India, and Nepal. Every day, we apply the lessons learned in 2020. In this report, you're going to learn, too, about the specific actions and accomplishments we're most proud of in the past year. You'll see where She's the First thrives: in strengthening the ecosystem of community-based girl organizations and driving girl-led advocacy forward. We couldn't have made it through 2020 without you.
ekemieD ybaG yb otohp
At She’s the First (STF), our vision is a world where every girl chooses her own future—even when facing a global pandemic.
She's the First teams up with grassroots organizations to make sure girls everywhere are educated, respected, and heard. Our vision is a world where every girl chooses her own future.
Our deepest thanks,
Christen Brandt & Tammy Tibbetts, Co-Founders 02
BY THE NUMBERS Sacred Valley Project, Peru
138,000
girls reached in 2020 through our toolkits, trainings, and funded partner programs
11,700
girls accessed STF's toolkits or campus community
girls in 11 countries were enrolled in partner programming funded by STF
286
community-based girl organizations belonged to our Girls First Network
ADDITIONALLY...
etnasalliV amayihsiN ogeiD yb otohp
100k
1,748
donors stepped up (this doesn't even include the hundreds of you who supported your friends' STF fundraisers!)
03
CENTERING GIRLS’ RIGHTS DURING COVID-19 When governments shut down schools globally due to COVID-19, we continued to put girls first. We didn't back down from supporting community-based girl organizations (CBOs), which were on the frontlines responding to girls’ struggles and caring for their families. The pandemic left many of our grassroots partners scrambling to cover fundraising shortfalls, so we moved quickly to fulfill our funding obligations to them ahead of schedule—despite our own reduced headcount and having to cut our operating budget by more than half a million dollars.
Arlington Academy of Hope, Uganda
04
izababM htuR rehtsE yb otohp
Our partners pivoted, using the funds to provide care kits, educational materials, and technology access for girls. We moved our trainings online and developed essential resources to aid organizations in mitigating drop-out risks. We also assessed the potential effect of the pandemic on girls’ futures through our #GirlsCantWait research reports.
etnasalliV amayihsiN ogeiD yb otohp
Sacred Valley Project, Peru
3 Key Actions COVID RESPONSE FUND
#GIRLSCANTWAIT REPORTS
GIRL-CENTERED RISK REGISTER
In 2020, our COVID-19 Response Fund delivered care kits (food, water, and menstrual supplies) to 1,000+ girls and families in more than 60 communities, ensured mentors could reach 7,867 girls with adapted materials and methods, taught sexual health and reproductive rights classes to 6,780 girls, and increased tech access for 1,340 girls.
Surveying 33 CBOs representing 15,000+ of the most vulnerable girls in East and West Africa, Central America, and South Asia, we assessed the heightened risks to girls’ futures and provided recommendations for time-sensitive next steps, both for CBOs strategizing a response and donors seeking direction.
We developed a practical tool to assist organizations in analyzing and mitigating the risks that girls in their own communities are facing as they resume learning. Through a webinar, we trained CBOs on how to work with a focus group of girls at least once per year to update the risk register and develop mitigation strategies.
SPOTLIGHT: GIRLS & COMMUNITY ADVOCACY DURING COVID-19
MAIA: Mini-Libraries When access to books was scarce, girls from our partner MAIA in Guatemala worked together to create three libraries in their community. After presenting the project to community leaders, they mobilized families to build the libraries and filled them with donated books. 06
STARFISH: Handwashing Stations After completing leadership training with our partner Starfish International in The Gambia, Fatou set up hand-washing stations in her community. "After this training, I've mentally shifted my feelings from fear to empowerment,” Fatou wrote. 07
STRENGTHENING ECOSYSTEMS She's the First strengthens the ecosystem of grassroots girl organizations by providing flexible funding, training, tools and resources, and networking. We talk about girls’ organizations as an “ecosystem” because there is immense value in helping them work together, exchange learnings, and achieve a common set of goals. Women-led, community-based organizations (CBOs) are best-positioned to create change for girls. Their local expertise, influence within the community, and connection to girls propel social change every day. Research has shown that women are more effective leaders during times of crisis and that girls are more likely to succeed when matched with female role models.
izababM htuR rehtsE yb otohp
Yet lack of access to funds, practical training, and other resources prevents these organizations from delivering on their unique value. That's why CBOs are the backbone of our ecosystem-strengthening strategy.
Arlington Academy of Hope, Uganda
08
2020 IMPACT 4 Growth Areas HIRED OUR FIRST DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMS IN KENYA In 2020, we welcomed our newest staff member, Kate Kiama, as Director of Programs. Kate is a celebrated feminist trailblazer and brings extensive experience: She holds a law degree from the University of London, is an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya, was a former grant manager at the Nike Foundation, and most recently, she worked with our Kenyan partner, Akili Dada.
FUNDED AND COUNSELED THE STF PARTNER COALITION The STF Partner Coalition consists of community-based organizations in 11 countries working on girls’ education and girls’ rights. We provided nearly $800,000 in flexible funding, personalized on-site training for our Ugandan partner in January, girl-centered tools, and networking opportunities.
EXPANDED THE GIRLS FIRST NETWORK The Girls First Network, STF’s larger network of practitioners and organizations working toward a better future for girls, attracted 46 new members! STF kept its 286 members in 2020 appraised on funding and resource opportunities across the sector.
HELD A VIRTUAL GIRLS FIRST SUMMIT Last fall, our annual Girls First Summit, co-hosted with our Kenyan partner Akili Dada, virtually convened representatives from 70 community-based organizations in 15 different East and West African countries. Over three days, practitioners discussed policies and programs to ensure girls' safety during a global pandemic and beyond. 09
SPOTLIGHT: STF'S TRAINING ETHOS STF is well known for our effective trainings in practical girl-centered program design. "Girl-centered" means designing programs that give girls a voice in the spaces where they should hold power. To meet CBOs' needs, every training we host must meet four main criteria:
1
2 Designed Using Participatory Methods
Open-sourced to Community-Based Organizations
We survey participants to understand their needs and areas of interest within our available training topics.
Organizations with budgets under $750,000 USD may use our tools, resources, and trainings for free.
3 Highly Practical and Customized to Local Contexts Takeaways are easily transferable and usable by organizations with small teams and limited resources.
4 Includes Girls’ Voices Bringing in girls’ opinions and experiences allows us to design sessions that 1) address specific needs and 2) ensure we’re working from the right set of assumptions.
10
We’ve seen the most positive results in trainings that focus on these three areas, which are often overlooked in standard organizational trainings:
FEMINIST MENTORSHIP
STRONG SEXUAL & REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH & RIGHTS (SRHR) PROGRAMS
GIRL-CENTERED PROGRAMMING
An approach to mentorship which is neither overly prescriptive nor peer level. It allows space for girls to make their own decisions while providing them with the necessary information and support they need to find their way. Feminist mentorship is based on the recognition of girls’ rights and agency over their own lives.
STF works with local facilitators and feminist organizations to strengthen SRHR programs for girls. We incorporate peer educators and focus groups into the design process. When girls’ concerns and questions form the basis of the program, practitioners can create more effective SRHR programs.
The ethical inclusion of girls’ voices and opinions makes for stronger programs. Our girlcentered design training focuses on tools and techniques practitioners can use with girls as they develop or evaluate a program. Girl Hour (described below) gives us the opportunity to demonstrate the impact in real time.
Girl Hour Girl Hour is a module we use at trainings to position girls as experts in front of practitioners. Girls speak to the real needs and experiences of their peers. This module has many steps to ensure an ethical and impactful engagement with girls; it also shows girls that they have power in the programs and policies affecting them.
11
GIRL-LED ADVOCACY As a relatively small organization with a very wide reach, we know we're most powerful when we equip girls with the tools to advocate for themselves. All too often, those in the girls’ empowerment space talk about the leadership potential of girls, yet as a sector, we fail to include their voices in meaningful ways. To shift our own habits, our girl-led advocacy incorporates two approaches: we create resources for girls to advocate for themselves, and we invite girls to set the agenda for our campaigns and beyond. MAIA, Guatemala
Council meetings are a very safe, welcoming space where members can freely share. I really like connecting with other girls around the world and hearing about their experiences and perspectives. - Ananya Jain, Girls Advisory Council
rg/powe rst.o r i f e h st e h
s
ig
In 2020, we launched new toolkits for girls and our global campus community, to support them in standing up for their rights on the local and international level. Check out the Global Girls' Bill of Rights toolkit and Discover Your Power journal. 110,000 girls accessed them so far!
s.org ight r f illo b rls
Our Girls Advisory Council debuted in July. The council represents a multitude of diverse experiences and includes girls from the STF Partner Coalition, Campus Community, and girls new to STF. Each month, we present the council with our strategy, media campaigns, and resources that are in the works. Their feedback was even incorporated into this very annual report! 12
2020 IMPACT 5 Proud Moments TWO GIRLS JOINED OUR BOARD
Roshni Singh, 20, and Elsie Chacha, 19, joined our Board of Directors. They ensure that girls have a vote at our highest level of leadership.
#GIRLSGETLOUD For Day of the Girl, we launched the #GirlsGetLoud challenge, asking adults to pass their Instagram account to a girl for the day. An estimated 175 people participated, including Imaan Hammam, Demi Moore, Barbie, Nargis Fakhri, Monique Coleman, Erika Henningsen, Jameela Jamil, and Liz Plank. #GirlsGetLoud posts were viewed more than 1.8 billion times!
LAUNCH OF GIRL GAZETTE
DIGITAL WEEK OF ACTION
CREATIVE CAMPUS FUNDRAISING
We began publishing The Girl Gazette, a newsletter of essays, interviews, and art from girls who participate in STF-funded programs. These girls volunteer to share their voices as part of their own advocacy efforts.
With girls’ access to education at risk, we rallied our STF Campus community online for our first-ever Digital Week of Action. 350 students took daily actions to protect and advance girls’ rights.
Our STF Campus community dreamed up fun, safe events to raise awareness and funds. They held online gaming fundraisers, cookbooks, cross-chapter challenges, and more! 13
SPOTLIGHT: #GIRLSGETLOUD
92,769 1.8B
engagements with influencer posts
media impressions
We asked celebrities, influencers, and brands to hand over their Instagram accounts to girls on International Day of the Girl 2020 for our #GirlsGetLoud challenge. Girls took over accounts all over the globe—including Demi Moore's and Barbie’s!—and declared what they’d like world leaders to know, when they feel most powerful, and how they’re going to make an impact in the future.
When my friends saw #GirlsGetLoud talk about the difficulties they were facing, they realized that their rights were worthy of conversation, not only between them but also with the world. - Lélia Amarouchene, Girls Advisory Council
14
As a girl, I demand that world leaders help women that suffer violence and girls in poverty, so that they can make their dreams come true. I would like to be president and to overcome the difficulties we live in.
Brisayda, 15, Peru
“My advice for young girls afraid to chase their dreams is to remember that you are a girl: You are powerful and unstoppable!”
Serena, 10, New York
“I’m going to make an impact by going to law school and dedicating my life to fighting for girls’ justice and gender equity.”
Anuli, 20, California Girls Advisory Council 15
FINANCIALS CONTRIBUTIONS BY CATEGORY
EXPENSES* Management & General
9.3%
17.6% 29.4%
8% 5.7%
Fundraising Programs
80.4%
10.3%
1.9%
37.4%
Individual
Foundation Grants
Government Grants
Corporate & Foundation
Donated Goods & Services
Other (Board, Campus)
CONTRIBUTIONS FROM 2011-2020 ($)
*Note: Donated goods and services have been removed from the expense chart and contributions graph.
16
FUTURE PLANS Simply put, our values will guide us forward. To grow as a girl-centered and anti-oppressive international organization, we commit to:
Strengthen our Nairobi office and move grantmaking and training decisions to local hubs.
Hire executive leadership from the Global South.
Grow our training and advocacy programs, while better tracking our impact through them.
Increase girl-led advocacy and talk directly to girls through our Girls’ Advisory Council and a new Youth Ambassadors program.
To make that happen, we seek funders interested in supporting us to:
Hire regional talent, a Director of Development, and additional support staff
Open new training initiatives and provide additional programming resources to grassroots CBOs
Achieving these goals requires a significant increase in resources, especially as the COVID-19 crisis depleted our reserves. Frankly, it will take the kind of investments that are less attractive to funders who favor direct program services. But with new multi-year funding and more members in our Front Row monthly giving community, STF is more than capable of continuing our trajectory as a truly feminist force for good in the world.
Our second decade is just beginning. We hope that you will join us!
17
2020 LEADERSHIP Board of Directors Tara Abrahams, Chair Harish Nataraj, Vice Chair Tom Kerns, Treasurer Vivian Nunez, Secretary Elsie Chacha, Girl Representative Roshni Singh, Girl Representative Christen Brandt Philippe Lust-Bianchi Mercy Nzioki Scheaffer Okore Ezinne Okoro Lisa Sepulveda Tammy Tibbetts Staff Christen Brandt Tyler Harris Kate Kiama Henah Parikh Alvi Rashid Katie Riley Tammy Tibbetts Interns Molly Lavin Tali Malcom Bri Murphy Anuli Ononye Kindred St. Germain
Girls Advisory Council Ananya Jain, USA Anuli Ononye, USA Elsie Chacha, Kenya Kira Santos, USA Lea Baskin Monk, USA Lélia Amarouchene, France Maria Florinda Meletz Chumil, Guatemala Olivia Lombardo, USA Roshni Singh, Nepal Wuday Jaiteh, The Gambia
Special thanks to the organizations who serve as our thought partners and collaborators in all that we do AfricAid / GLAMI (Tanzania) Akili Dada (Kenya) Arlington Academy of Hope (Uganda) Blink Now (Nepal) Kusi Kawsay (Peru) MAIA (Guatemala) Project Education South Sudan Project PIKIN (Sierra Leone) Sacred Valley Project (Peru) Selamta Family Project (Ethiopia) Shanti Bhavan (India) Starfish International (The Gambia)
18
HONOR ROLL $325,000
$1,000-$4,999
Bobbi Brown Cosmetics Pretty Powerful Fund
Amy Schoenberger Amy Simpson Andrea Bartz Andy & Maria Polansky Asha Patel Ashley Conway Autodesk Corporate Giving Catbird Charity Miles Charles Turner Charlie Henick Christen Brandt & Evan Rhoda Cornwall Central High School National Honor Society Devin Streur Eddie Leung Emma Tynan Erica Flener Gail Milliken Gemma Rogers Goodway Cares Hannah Riley Hart Seely & Janice Whitcraft Health Center Credit Union Hyperbiotics Imaan Hammam Jennie Armstrong Joseph & Megan Ax Julia Keswin Julie Norris Julie Steiger Katherine Hobson Kevin & Zhou Curry Kim-Nicola Lorentzen Kinloch Salon LenioBio Lisa Sepulveda Mama Gena's School of Womanly Arts Matthew Clark May Day Women Mohak Rastogi & Friends Muriel F. Siebert Foundation Nina Abrams Fund
$25,000-$50,000 Dow Jones Foundation Harish & Sarah Nataraj Nuria Summit Foundation The Giving Block Tom Kerns & Jeanmarie Hargrave
$15,000-$24,999 Beatrice & Reymont Paul Foundation Facebook & Instagram Fundraisers Foundation to Decrease World Suck Hotjar Silicon Valley Community Foundation Tara & Riad Abrahams
$10,000-$14,999 Akin Gump Gwen Greene IND Beverages Luxor Capital Group Marie Forleo International Salesforce Xandr
$5,000-$9,999 Brides for a Cause Couture for Cause Covet Fashion & Badgley Mischka DefineMe Fragrance Dubner Family Foundation Edelman Erika Henningsen Flora & Curl Horizontal Digital Nephron Research NoManIs Foundation & Global Imprint STF BASIS Chandler High School The Influencer Giveback Wittrup & Rhodes Family Charitable Fund
19
HONOR ROLL $1,000-$4,999 cont. PopSockets Y Ravi & Karen Soundararajan HAPP RY ERSA Rebecca Reed V I N N A OW Rick Padget ONT R R F O T ERS! Robin Gelfenbien MEMB Sherry Brown Silver Choi Slidebean Contrast Staci Guillen Stephen Hull Steven & Elissa Director Steven Hartz STF American University STF H-B Woodlawn Secondary Program STF Hanover High School STF Highland Park High School STF Temple University STF University of California - Los Angeles STF University of Florida STF University of Michigan - Ann Arbor STF University of Minnesota - Twin Cities STF University of Texas - Austin STF University of Wisconsin - Madison Tammy Tibbetts & Michael Walters The Grace Jones Richardson Trust The Rhoades School Girl Rising Club The Selz Foundation The Verost & Pettibone Family Fund VEERAH
Pro Bono Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner (legal services) Edelman (PR) Jennie Armstrong & Elyse Richter (design) The New York Foundling (our office)
Donors noted reflect gifts made between Jan. 1 - Dec. 31, 2020. We do our best to be accurate but please let us know if there is an error so we can correct our records.
Celebrating 6 Years Nidha Farooq
Celebrating 4 Years Alexandra Okun Amy Schoenberger Amy Simpson Charlie Henick Genevieve Tabios Kate Adams Laura El Daher Mary Norris Matthew Clark Myrth York Oge Ngonadi Rob & Michelle Rittenhouse Vesa Tuomi
Celebrating 3 Years Anna Shirmohammadi Caitlyn D'Souza Candace Ross Carol & Michael Rich Caroline & Andy Armstrong Ella Battle Ellen Pham Emily Violi Florence Abad Turner Jennifer Crego Jennifer Martini Jonathan Adams Jordan Chaffiotte Kevin Limburg Kim-Nicola Lorentzen Kristen Tully Lisa Kardos Lydia Francis Melissa Gallant Rebecca Reed Rebecca Short Sherry Brown Slidebean Contrast Stephanie Bittner Steven Hartz Susan Claesson Tamara Wallace VEERAH 20
shesthefirst.org info@shesthefirst.org @shesthefirst