PLATINUM2023

GIRLS INCORPORATED OF COLUMBUS AND PHENIX-RUSSELL

Inspiring all girls to be strong, smart, and bold.

aka GIRLS INC. OF COLUMBUS   |   Columbus, GA   |  http://www.girlsinc-columbus.org

Mission

Girls Inc. inspires all girls to be strong, smart, and bold. The Girls Inc. Experience is a unique, holistic approach made up of people, an environment, and programming that, together, empower girls to succeed. Trained staff and volunteers build lasting, mentoring relationships in girls-only spaces that are physically and emotionally safe. Here, girls find a sisterhood of support with shared drive, mutual respect, and high expectations. Hands-on, research-based programs provide girls with the skills and knowledge to set goals, overcome obstacles, and improve academic performance. ​Informed by girls and their families, Girls Inc. also works with policymakers at the local, state and national levels to advocate for legislation and initiatives that increase opportunities for girls.

Ruling year info

2000

Executive Director

Dr. Gail Burgos

Main address

PO Box 3096

Columbus, GA 31903 USA

Show more contact info

Formerly known as

Girls Club of Columbus, Inc.

EIN

58-6011441

NTEE code info

Girls Clubs (O22)

IRS filing requirement

This organization is required to file an IRS Form 990 or 990-EZ.

Sign in or create an account to view Form(s) 990 for 2019, 2016 and 2015.
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Communication

Programs and results

What we aim to solve

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Despite historic strides in the fight for women's rights and equality, girls continue to encounter significant obstacles to their well-being and success.
- 1 in 6 girls will not finish high school.
- 78% of girls are not happy with their bodies.
- More than 1 in 20 U.S. teen girls become pregnant each year.
- 1 in 4 girls experiences sexual abuse or assault by age 17.
- Only 62% of U.S. college women graduate

Our programs

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?

STRONG (Healthy)

Girls Inc. teaches healthy living so girls are able to make informed decisions, resist peer pressure, avoid risky behaviors, and take charge of their health:
- Girls develop assertiveness and refusal skills to avoid substance use and educate peers and younger girls on these issues.
- Girls learn about their bodies and identify ways and reasons to avoid early pregnancy and prevent STIs.
- Girls learn about media influences on self-perception.
- Girls embrace sportsmanship, positive risk taking, and team building.
- Girls build a holistic approach to stress management, nutrition, physical activity, and body image.

Population(s) Served
Women and girls
Children and youth

Girls Inc. provides academic enrichment so girls increase their love of learning, improve performance in school, aspire to and plan for education beyond high school, and explore non-traditional careers:
- Girls receive homework help and tutoring in support of classroom learning.
- Girls boost literacy skills and take ownership of learning.
- Girls develop enthusiasm for and skills in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and view these fields as career options.
- Girls prepare for college, including course selection, campus visits, and securing financial aid.
- Girls explore job readiness through workshops and introduction to diverse women professionals in various careers.

Population(s) Served
Women and girls
Children and youth

Girls build life skills to set and achieve goals and increase resilience in the face of obstacles to live productive and fulfilling lives:
- Girls learn to earn, save, and spend money with confidence and understand economic concepts from the individual to global levels.
- Girls build leadership skills and create lasting social change through community action projects.
- Girls gain the skills and confidence to be future voters, candidates, and legislators with nonpartisan civic engagement activities.
- Girls learn to avoid and address violence in their homes, relationships, and communities
- Girls develop their voices and learn to positively advocate for themselves and others.

Population(s) Served
Women and girls
Children and youth

Where we work

Our results

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.

Number of girls served with holistic, high-impact experiences enabling them to grow up healthy, educated and independent.

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Population(s) Served

Women and girls, Children and youth

Related Program

STRONG (Healthy)

Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Increasing

Context Notes

Girls Inc. creates trusting relationships with adult mentors, as well as hands-on experiences for girls that address their ability to grow up healthy, educated and independent.

Number of financial literacy courses conducted

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Population(s) Served

Economically disadvantaged people, Children and youth, Women and girls

Related Program

SMART (Educated)

Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Increasing

Context Notes

Distinct count of Economic Literacy classes, by year. Economic Literacy is composed of the following classes: "Futures and Options", "Dollars, Sense and Me", "Equal Earners, Savvy Spenders", "E3".

Number of youth who report less likelihood to engage in criminal activity

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Population(s) Served

Economically disadvantaged people, Children and youth, Women and girls

Related Program

BOLD (Independent)

Type of Metric

Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues

Direction of Success

Increasing

Goals & Strategy

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.

Charting impact

Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.

As we embark on a new strategic direction, building from our current position of strength, our goals for the future include:
- Our program framework will effectively deliver desired outcomes for girls, particularly those who live in low and very low income communities.
- We will consistently deliver a high-quality Girls Inc. Experience.
- We will grow the number of low income girls served with the Girls Inc. program model.
- We will expand our impact by becoming a leading advocate for advancing the rights and opportunities for all girls.
- We will have the necessary resources, systems, and supports to be data-driven, performance-oriented, and an external influencer.

Effectively deliver desired outcomes for girls: align with a network-wide approach to reaching girls with an intensive, holistic method that is distinctive to Girls Inc.

Consistently deliver a high-quality Girls Inc. Experience: align business practices and strategic goals to emphasize sustainability and risk mitigation, opening the way to reach new communities.

Grow the number of low income girls served with impact: ensure we are anchored in communities where girls who most need us are located.

Expand our impact by being a leading advocate for advancing rights and opportunities for all girls:
engage in advocacy at national, state, and local levels, with a focus on the needs of girls from low-income communities and girls who face multiple, intersectional challenges.

Ensure the resources, systems, and supports to be data-driven, performance oriented, and external influencer: utilize Outcomes Measurement Strategy to demonstrate measurable difference.

Girls Inc. of Columbus has strengthened its business operations and financial management, and actively leverages our relationship with the national organization. Changes include:
• Improved operational efficiency and more properly-focused functional roles.
• Better internal controls, consistent operations policies, and clear performance expectations.
• A new pay structure based on market research to ensure competitive salaries and a stronger ability to recruit and retain high caliber staff.
• Regular professional development opportunities for all staff at all levels.
• Improved financial management practices and policies to ensure transparency and facilitate timely management decisions.

The organization has embarked on an ambitious growth plan that will increase the total number of girls served with impact to more than 2200 by 2020.

On a local level, Girls Inc. of Columbus successfully met 85 percent of its 2015-2020 strategic goals by January 2017 and ended the fiscal years 2016 and 2017 with modest revenue surpluses. In May 2016, the first new Executive Director in 35 years assumed leadership of the organization. Since then, operating and infrastructure changes have been implemented, local partnerships have been strengthened, and visibility of the organization has grown.

How we listen

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.

done We demonstrated a willingness to learn more by reviewing resources about feedback practice.
done We shared information about our current feedback practices.

  • Who are the people you serve with your mission?

    Girls Inc. serves all girls between the ages of 6 and 18, with a primary focus on serving girls living in economically disadvantaged communities. More than 85% of the girls we serve live in households at or below federal poverty guidelines. Girls Inc. Centers are directly located in low-performing school attendance zones and low-income areas. In addition, school-based programs are delivered in seven Muscogee County middle schools.

  • How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?

    To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals

  • What significant change resulted from feedback?

    In response to the feedback provided to us from The United Way of the Chattahoochee Valley, we recently reimplemented school-based learning within the Muscogee County School District. In the post COVID-19 world of education; literacy and math scores have plummeted due to the negative impacts of virtual learning. Thanks to our combined partnerships with our community leaders, we have been able to continue this service to local families to ensure our community daughters become strong, smart, and bold.

  • Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?

    We collect feedback from the people we serve at least annually, We take steps to get feedback from marginalized or under-represented people, We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us, We look for patterns in feedback based on demographics (e.g., race, age, gender, etc.), We engage the people who provide feedback in looking for ways we can improve in response, We act on the feedback we receive, We tell the people who gave us feedback how we acted on their feedback, We ask the people who gave us feedback how well they think we responded

  • What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?

    We don't have any major challenges to collecting feedback

Financials

GIRLS INCORPORATED OF COLUMBUS AND PHENIX-RUSSELL
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Operations

The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.

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Connect with nonprofit leaders

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Build relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.

  • Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
  • Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
  • Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations

Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.

GIRLS INCORPORATED OF COLUMBUS AND PHENIX-RUSSELL

Board of directors
as of 04/14/2023
SOURCE: Self-reported by organization
Board chair

Mr. Carmen Buckner

Aflac

Term: 2023 - 2024

Amie Guin

Board Treasurer - Synovus

Kia Chambers

Prestige Property Brokers

Sherricka Day

Aflac

Darcy Brito

Aflac

Tiffany McBride

Columbus State University

Sherpri Giles

St. Frances Hospitals

Amy Hudock

Synovus

Shantina Lovejoy

Board Secretary - Martin Army Hospital

Kathryn McCamy

TSYS

Ashley Woitena

Visit Columbus

Shannon Reynolds

Green Island Country Club

Latshia Stephens-Archibald

Muscogee County School District

Susan Berry

Retired

Cyndee Redmond

Synovus

Martha Ingram

Pratt & Whitney

Robert Landers

Columbus Civic Center

Tiffanee McDaniel

Synovus

Marvin Smith

Retired

Kimberly Wright

Muscogee County School District

Donna Baker

Aflac

Board leadership practices

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.

  • Board orientation and education
    Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes
  • CEO oversight
    Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes
  • Ethics and transparency
    Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes
  • Board composition
    Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes
  • Board performance
    Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes

Organizational demographics

SOURCE: Self-reported; last updated 2/28/2023
info Candid has made improvements to the race and ethnicity options.

Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.

Leadership

The organization's leader identifies as:

Race & ethnicity
Black/African American
Gender identity
Female

Race & ethnicity

Gender identity

 

Sexual orientation

No data

Disability

No data

Equity strategies

Last updated: 02/14/2023

GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more

Data
  • We review compensation data across the organization (and by staff levels) to identify disparities by race.
  • We analyze disaggregated data and root causes of race disparities that impact the organization's programs, portfolios, and the populations served.
  • We disaggregate data to adjust programming goals to keep pace with changing needs of the communities we support.
  • We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders.
  • We disaggregate data by demographics, including race, in every policy and program measured.
  • We have long-term strategic plans and measurable goals for creating a culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.
Policies and processes
  • We use a vetting process to identify vendors and partners that share our commitment to race equity.
  • We have a promotion process that anticipates and mitigates implicit and explicit biases about people of color serving in leadership positions.
  • We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
  • We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board.
  • We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.
  • We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.