Our History
Girls Inc. is the longest-running girls’ leadership organization.
Our Mission
Girls Inc. inspires all girls to be strong, smart, and bold.
Our Vision
Powerful girls in an equitable society.
Our Values
Respect the dignity of each human being.
Recognize and support the strength in every girl.
Appreciate, embrace, and advance diversity.
Drive for results anchored in accountability.
Operate collaboratively.
Girls Inc. was founded in 1864 to serve girls and young women who were experiencing upheaval in the aftermath of the Civil War.
Across the decades, we adapted to meet the specific environmental challenges facing girls and young women, always working in partnership with schools and communities, and guided by our founders’ fundamental belief in the inherent potential of each girl. Woven into those early girls’ clubs are the same core values of Girls Inc. today: the importance of creating a safe gathering place for girls to learn and to share in a sisterhood and a strong premise that each girl can develop her own capacities, self- confidence, and grow up healthy, educated, and independent.
History of Girls Inc. of Greater Indianapolis
Girls Inc. of Greater Indianapolis (“Girls Inc. Indy”) has been serving girls in the Indianapolis area since 1969. Since its inception, Girls Inc. Indy was a club-based organization, providing programming to girls in two facility locations in the Indianapolis area.
However, in 2008, the organization shifted its model from a club-based operation to an outreach model, where all programming is done in 45 minute to one-hour increments during school time at partner schools.
The outreach model was based on a strategy to reach a higher quantity of girls and to reduce overhead by leveraging borrowed space and volunteer facilitation of programs to drive costs down.
Currently, the Greater Indianapolis affiliate is charged with serving Marion, Boone, Hamilton, and Hendricks counties; however, the organization serves very few girls in the latter three counties.
For 160 years, Girls Inc. has been evolving with girls.
We not only support girls, we also equip them and give them the opportunity to envision, and then create, a more equitable future.
Girls Inc. is the leading expert on girls.
Working with and on behalf of girls for 160 years has given us unparalleled knowledge and expertise. The Girls Inc. Experience changes the trajectory of girls’ lives and prepares them for lifelong success.
Girls Inc. has served millions of girls across the United States and Canada.
Our participants are equipped with the skills to lead and create positive change in their communities.
Girls’ Bill of Rights
We will always support girls and ensure that their rights are recognized and respected.