She's the First


She's the First is a non-profit organization, headquartered in New York City, that fights gender inequality through education. The organization's stated mission is "a world where every girl chooses her own future."
As of January 2019, the organization had provided scholarships for more than 7,841 girls across 11 countries, while supporting the efforts of 225 independent campus chapters.

History

She's the First launched November 1, 2009, as a social media campaign centered on a YouTube video featuring the singer JoJo.
In July 2011, She's the First became an official 501 organization. It was run by volunteers until May 2012, when co-founder Tammy Tibbetts was hired as its first employee in the role of CEO.She's the First#cite note-Newhouse Newsroom-4| Brandt soon followed, becoming the organization's Chief Programs Officer. Since 2015, She's the First has continuously exceeded one million dollars in annual revenue, attracting support from Glamour's The Girl Project, NoVo Foundation, Andrew & Ann Tisch Foundation, Diller-von Furstenberg Family Foundation, American Express Foundation, and Unilever, among others.

Activities

In an article published by The Lily, co-founders Tammy Tibbetts and Christen Brandt shared the She's the First philosophy, explaining why She's the First calls itself a non-profit, for-purpose, or NGO, as opposed to a charity: "In the cultures and communities where we serve, when you give a girl the opportunity to be the first in her community to go to high school, you're also asking that she be the one to stand up when others question why it should be her. You’re asking her to take on the burden of being the oldest, unmarried woman in her family, with all of the stigma that is often attached to that. You’re asking her to become the family’s main breadwinner and to navigate how to handle the family’s debts and financial challenges. And she steps up."
She's the First has sponsored over 1,000 female scholars, equipping them with thorough scholarships and mentorship. Additionally, over 300 crowd fundraisers have been started by chapter members across the US. STF has 200 chapters.

Awards