Cambridge, June 8th, 2021 – Science Club for Girls is one of 7 nonprofits in the Greater Boston area to receive a grant through the Women’s Foundation of Boston’s 2021 grant cycle.
Science Club for Girls (SCFG) is proud to announce that we are the recipient of a 2021 Women’s Foundation of Boston grant! SCFG has been awarded $100,000 per year for the next three years—$300,000 in total. We are very grateful for the continued support of the Women’s Foundation of Boston that will fund SCFG’s dual mode STEM programming, both in-person and virtual, with the hiring of a program manager and communications associate. With this expansion, we are increasing the accessibility of STEM education and increasing STEM resilience for girls and women from underrepresented communities on a whole new level for participants and mentors with our impactful blend of STEM content, social-emotional learning, and community.
SCFG is a 27 year-old nonprofit that provides free, mentor-led STEM programming to girls in grades K-12 from underrepresented communities. SCFG’s guiding principles are equity of access, hands-on learning, and commitment to increasing girls’ networks of role models and caring adults.
“SCFG is thrilled to receive this grant from the Women’s Foundation of Boston to make STEM learning, mentorship, and community accessible to more girls from underrepresented communities. SCFG’s programs increase academic confidence and social/emotional well-being while addressing myriad intersecting needs: the persistent academic achievement gap for low-income students and students of color, the learning-loss caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the lack of racial and gender diversity in the STEM workforce, the shortage of STEM workers, and the need for pathways out of poverty that begin early in life and lead to meaningful jobs that provide economic independence. We are honored to have the Women’s Foundation of Boston as a partner in addressing these challenges,” Bonnie Bertolaet, Executive Director, Science Club for Girls.
SCFG has successfully provided a variety of programs in a virtual format during the pandemic including mentor-led Science Clubs for over 250 girls per semester in grades K-12 during the academic year, summer rocketry programs for middle school girls, and a live science show, SCFGLive, with over 50,000 views in six cities. The Women’s Foundation of Boston grant will support SCFG’s expansion of dual mode programming going forward, in both in-person and virtual formats, allowing the organization to increase its enrollment by 150% over the next three years; by 2023-2024 SCFG will serve 625 girls per semester, further reducing the barriers of STEM education for girls from underrepresented communities.
This year, the Women’s Foundation of Boston is awarding more than $1 million to seven exceptional nonprofits that serve Greater Boston women and girls, to fund program development, capacity building, professional training, and STEM related projects. Grantees were selected based on program impact, financial efficiency, innovation, operational experience, and leadership vision.
“We are extremely proud of the work our grantee partners do to economically empower women and girls in Greater Boston,” said Christina Gordon, Co-Founder and CEO of the Women’s Foundation of Boston. “These amazing nonprofits share our steadfast commitment to investing in the long-term success of women and girls. We’re excited to accelerate their growth as part of our mission to promote women and girls’ leadership and financial independence.”
The complete list of the 2021 grant recipients is available at www.wfboston.org.
About Science Club for Girls
Science Club for Girls (SCFG) fosters excitement, confidence and literacy in STEM for girls, those who identify with girlhood, and nonbinary youth from underrepresented communities by providing free, experiential programs and by maximizing meaningful interactions with women mentors in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. For 27 years, SCFG has been addressing gender and racial inequities in STEM and increasing opportunities for girls from diverse backgrounds. With women making up only 24 percent of the STEM workforce—and Black and Hispanic women at less than 4 percent—SCFG addresses a critical need, offering a continuum of engaging activities in STEM for K-8 girls, leadership experiences for high school girls, and adult mentoring by committed women in STEM. To find out additional information and ways to get involved with SCFG please visit www.scienceclubforgirls.org.
About the Women’s Foundation of Boston
The Women’s Foundation of Boston is a nonprofit public charity that creates, funds, and accelerates high-impact economic and leadership programs that equip Greater Boston women and girls to be financially independent and successful leaders. The Women’s Foundation of Boston is becoming the primary vehicle for investing in women and girls in Greater Boston and is building a fast-growing network of female nonprofit and business leaders. For more information, please visit www.wfboston.org.
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