Girl Scouts of the USA Receives Funding from the Ford Foundation to Support Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Access, and Racial Justice Work
This marks the first major funding toward GSUSA’s commitment to becoming an anti-racist organization.
NEW YORK, NY (March 30, 2021)— Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) today announced an investment of $500,000 from the Ford Foundation to support GSUSA’s commitment to becoming an anti-racist organization. As the country’s largest girls’ leadership organization, GSUSA is working toward using its collective power to dismantle systemic racism within the organization and create impactful change in the communities Girl Scouts serves. The Ford Foundation is the first major funder to proudly support GSUSA’s long-term commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, access, and racial justice (DEIA/RJ).
The funding from the Ford Foundation will ensure GSUSA can continue on its journey to build an organization where all girls can feel a sense of belonging. The generous support will enable GSUSA to work with expert consultants to conduct a thorough audit of its programs, policies, and practices and evaluate the Girl Scout experiences of members and non-members nationwide. By reexamining existing programming and traditions, GSUSA is making important progress toward fostering a welcoming space for all members, which will require investing in communities across the country as part of a large-scale effort.
"The Ford Foundation is proud to support Girl Scouts of the USA in their work to better serve our young leaders by solidifying their stance as an anti-racist organization," said Darren Walker, president of the Ford Foundation. "We applaud Girl Scouts' commitment to addressing and rooting out systemic racism by conducting a movement-wide audit in order to make the organization a more inclusive place for all members."
The Ford Foundation is an independent nonprofit grantmaking organization, that is committed to advancing racial justice and addressing the complex problems of our evolving society. The foundation’s focus aligns with GSUSA’s mission to develop girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place.
“We are grateful to the Ford Foundation for highlighting the importance of this work and investing in the scaling of our DEIA/RJ efforts to have a larger impact,” said GSUSA Interim CEO Judith Batty. “GSUSA is committed to doing the difficult work to become an anti-racist organization, and this grant will help us implement strategic and meaningful change that promotes an environment where Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) feel welcome, respected, and supported.”
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We're Girl Scouts of the USA
We're 2.5 million strong—more than 1.7 million girls and 750,000 adults who believe in the power of every G.I.R.L. (Go-getter, Innovator, Risk-taker, Leader)™ to change the world. Our extraordinary journey began more than 100 years ago with the original G.I.R.L., Juliette Gordon “Daisy” Low. On March 12, 1912, in Savannah, Georgia, she organized the very first Girl Scout troop, and every year since, we’ve honored her vision and legacy, building girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place. We’re the preeminent leadership development organization for girls. And with programs from coast to coast and across the globe, Girl Scouts offers every girl a chance to practice a lifetime of leadership, adventure, and success. To volunteer, reconnect, donate, or join, visit www.girlscouts.org.
The Ford Foundation
The Ford Foundation is an independent, nonprofit grant-making organization. For more than 80 years it has worked with courageous people on the frontlines of social change worldwide, guided by its mission to strengthen democratic values, reduce poverty and injustice, promote international cooperation, and advance human achievement. With headquarters in New York, the foundation has offices in Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.
The Ford Foundation is an independent, nonprofit grant-making organization. For more than 80 years it has worked with courageous people on the frontlines of social change worldwide, guided by its mission to strengthen democratic values, reduce poverty and injustice, promote international cooperation, and advance human achievement. With headquarters in New York, the foundation has offices in Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.
