Targeted leadership development increases the effectiveness of Girls on the Run programs.

Why we care: Girls on the Run Council directors lead our physical activity based youth development program where volunteers teach critical life skills to girls.

How we’re solving this: Provide scholarships for 25 council directors to attend leadership training so they can more effectively lead a youth development program.

Girls on the Run is a non-profit focused on girls during the critical, formative years of 3rd to 8th grade. Our mission is to inspire girls to be joyful, healthy, and confident using a fun, experienced-based curriculum, which creatively integrates running. The organization serves more than 120,000 girls annually with its program (47 states, D.C. and Canada) and continues to grow at an average of 20% per year. The 12-week program culminates with a 5K ( run, totally 200 events annually.

The Girls on the Run Education Summit is a key component to equipping council staff and volunteers to better serve girls in their community. Council Directors, program staff, board members and other key volunteers come together for professional development, in a collaborative environment, where participants can network with other councils, learn best practices for council success and growth and interact with leadership from the national office. The program includes breakout sessions focusing on all areas of council management and includes training on board governance, fund development, program delivery, event management, social media and financial management. Attendees leave feeling energized and supported in their efforts to facilitate growth in their communities, therefore increasing the effectiveness of Girls on the Run to reach and inspire more pre-teen girls in every community.

With more than 200 councils around the country, nearly half of all directors have never attended the Education Summit vital to their personal and professional development. Many councils are small and often comprised of unpaid volunteer Directors without the budget to attend. Without the support training provides, Council Director turnover, and even council termination, occurs. When a council terminates, it is the young women Girls on the Run serves who are most impacted. Council Directors, staff and key volunteers need more than just passion; they need the knowledge and experience to motivate, inspire and lead their councils to grow and achieve greater impact in their community.

Funding will provide scholarships for 25 council directors to attend the Education Summit enhancing their confidence and ability to lead, cultivating program excellence and increase participation an organizational growth.