BLOSSOM PROJECT
Let Your Greatness Blossom
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
• When girls feel good about themselves, they increase confidence and self-acceptance. This helps them try new challenges, cope with mistakes and try again
• Low self-esteem and low self-acceptance can leave girls distracted by the stress of having to deal with challenges
• 53% of 13-year-old girls are unhappy with their bodies. That number increases to 78% by age 17
• 65% of women and girls have an eating disorder
• In the last 10 years, the rates of depression among girls and women have doubled
• 17% of teens engage in cutting and self-injurious behavior
• More than 1 in 7 women experience sexual dating violence
• Among children as young as ages 6-8, 1 in 2 girls feel that they should be thinner
• As the social contact with the outside world increases, youth uncover new experiences and opportunities that can influence social behavior
• Youth who are isolated from these experiences can suffer loneliness, decreased self-worth, and depression
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Blossom Project High School Cohorts
The Blossom Project uses a leadership, learning, advocacy, and philanthropy model encouraging girls to learn about their world in the process of changing it. Girls, ages 15-19, participate within cohorts for two years, with the option of continuing for a third year.
The development of leadership skills is interwoven throughout the program. Participants also lead social change efforts by engaging their peers.
Learning sessions start with participants’ lived realities. The participants identify issues that are important to them, such as poverty, human trafficking, the environment and education. The Blossom Project mobilizes around these issues, creating a learning network to use participants’ experiences and participants’ solutions to address issues. Inspiring women leaders who are experts in their fields, provide a deeper understanding of the issues. The issues are explored as they exist in Colorado, the US and across the globe. Based on what each cohort learns about, a national or international trip is arranged to increase education, and awareness.
Advocacy - participants create advocacy/awareness plans around the issues. An example is the "Bring a Boy" event, where participants invite the boys and men in their lives (brothers, boyfriends, dads and uncles) to learn about violence against women, so that they can be allies in ending gender-based violence.
Philanthropy - participants raise money to fund organizations that are working to address the issues they identify. They create funding applications, invite proposals, read and rank applications, conduct site visits, and make funding decisions. Of course, philanthropy extends beyond investing money, and the participants also engage in volunteer projects to better understand the full cycle of and impact of philanthropic efforts.
Where we work
External reviews
Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
We envision transformation where the unique voices of high school girls are amplified, and where girls are activated to create social, economic, and political change.
Our Mission is to amplify the voices of girls, inspiring them to courageously address systems of inequality and drive social change.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
The Blossom Project uses a cohort model. A cohort is a group of up to 15 participants who join the program together and work together for the duration of the program. Each cohort participates in programming for two years
The cohorts:
o Are participant-centered – to focus on the needs, interests, and experiences of participants
o Build strong, supportive bonds among members of the group
o Create professional, and social networks beyond the Blossom Project
Model:
● The development of leadership skills is interwoven throughout the program. Participants also lead social change efforts by engaging their peers
● Learning sessions start with participants' lived realities. The participants identify issues that are important to them, such as poverty, human trafficking, the environment and education. The Blossom Project mobilizes around these issues, creating a learning network to use participants' experiences and participants' solutions to address issues. Inspiring women leaders who are experts in their fields, provide a deeper understanding of the issues. The issues are explored as they exist in Colorado, the US and across the globe. Based on what each cohort learns about, a national or international trip is arranged to increase education, and awareness
● Advocacy - participants create advocacy/awareness plans around the issues. An example is the "Bring a Boy" event, where participants invite the boys and men in their lives (brothers, boyfriends, dads and uncles) to learn about violence against women, so that they can be allies in ending gender-based violence
They also engage in a Policy Symposium each year where they learn about issues facing Coloradans, and learn how those issues are addressed from a legislative perspective (issues might include hunger, homelessness, and sexual assault on college campuses). Armed with this information and guided by state legislators, community experts, and advocates, participants work on their own legislative solutions to the issues and present it to the community. Legislators are invited to hear more about the solutions and introduce them as bills during the legislative session at the Colorado General Assembly
● Philanthropy - participants raise money to fund organizations that are working to address the issues they identify. They create funding applications, invite proposals, read and rank applications, conduct site visits, and make funding decisions. Of course, philanthropy extends beyond investing money, and the participants also engage in volunteer projects to better understand the full cycle of and impact of philanthropic efforts
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
Our model also encompasses aspects from the Positive Youth Development Framework connecting participants to positive experiences:
Focus on strengths and positive outcomes
• Girls encounter unique social, political and economic issues in their everyday lives. The Blossom Project builds girls' experiences and girls' solutions to address issues. Using girls' strengths and developing their competencies, and values The Blossom Project creates safe, gendered spaces where young women are empowered to take action
Youth voice and engagement
• Participants are valued partners in the creation of the curriculum
• Participants have meaningful, decision-making roles in the organization
Programming involves all youth
• The Blossom Project engages all high school girls rather than focusing solely on "high-risk" or "gifted"
Programming involves civic engagement
• The Blossom Project helps participants engage in their own community and contribute through service
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
In our first three years, we have shown the following results:
- 100% of participants showed an increase in self-esteem
- 100% of participants showed a decrease in isolation
- 75% were engaged in promoting self-advocacy
- 100% showed an increased awareness of issues affecting girls and their communities
- 100% showed leadership in their communities, including at their schools
What's Next? Turning the Cohorts into a Fellowship
• Participants who participate in the cohorts will receive $100 per month, for each month that they attend meetings
• After six months, participants can choose to receive the $100 monthly, or save it through the Blossom Project and have the funds matched ($0.50 from the Blossom Project for every $1.00 saved by the participant)
• During the summer, the Blossom Project helps place interested participants in paid internship positions for up to 4 weeks, at companies and organizations that match participants' interests
Expansion
• The Blossom Project currently provides services to the Metro Denver region of Colorado
• We would like to expand services across Colorado
• Eventually, we would like to expand internationally
o We would start our international expansion in South Africa, because of current relationships held by our founder
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild 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.
BLOSSOM PROJECT
Board of directorsas of 02/22/2022