Founded November 1, 2009 (2009-11-01) Focus Girls' education; Leadership development of students Slogan Education gives every girl a chance to be the first | ||
She's the First is a non-profit organization based New York City, New York that sponsors girls’ education in low-income countries, through creative and innovative means — particularly leveraging the leadership of students in the US and social media. As of summer 2016, She’s the First will have sponsored more than 750 girls across eleven countries while supporting the efforts of 193 independent campus chapters.
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Mission
She’s the First is a not-for-profit that sponsors girls’ education in low-income countries, helping them be the first in their families to graduate. In the process, She’s the First fosters leadership and self-awareness in young Americans, by inspiring them to lead creative fundraisers and correspond with sponsored students. Their efforts shape a rising generation of well-educated global leaders, future philanthropists, and cross-cultural communicators.
History
She's the First launched November 1, 2009 as a YouTube video featuring the singer JoJo. The video received a very good response, and this inspired co-founders Tammy Tibbetts and Christen Brandt to create a bigger effort of outreach, with the hope of creating more tangible results of change. In July 2011, She’s the First became an official 501(c)(3) organization and ran entirely on volunteer efforts up until May 2012, when founder Tammy Tibbetts was hired as its first employee.
Campus chapters
She's the First has established college and high school chapters across the United States and several other countries recognized officially as She’s the First*[Campus] chapters. The organization connects students with the girls and schools in need of sponsorship and provides leadership training. On October 11, 2012, which was the first-ever United Nations’ Day of the Girl, She’s the First*[Campus] presidents convened in New York City for a two-day Leadership Summit.
The first She's the First*{Campus} chapter was founded at Syracuse University, followed soon after by the University of Notre Dame and Hofstra University. To date, 176 independent campus chapters have been established in the United States, Canada, Nicaragua, China, and New Zealand. Those interested in creating a chapter at their school can apply through the She's the First website.
International Partner Programs
She's the First hosts an online directory of NGOs with sponsorship programs which they have vetted and stay in year-round contact with to track the girls' progress. They connect donors with these programs to arrange the sponsorship.
The organization's educational philosophy is: "Students need more than textbooks to do well; they need the support programs that will help them to focus in class and teach them the skills they need to translate their learnings outside of the classroom. We achieve this by partnering with local, on-the-ground partners who provide the absolute best in education, including all of the wrap-around programs that we know girls need to find success."
Current Partners
West Africa
East Africa
Asia
Latin America
Recognition
She's the First has been recognized numerous times since its founding through both organization-wide accolades and awards for individual staff and volunteer contributions.
2015
2014
2013
2012
2010
Finances
She's the First uses peer-to-peer fundraising to support their scholarship fund for girls around the world, while fundraising separately for other programmatic and operational costs. In 2015, She's the First raised more than $1 million.