Wikipedia

She's the First

She's the First (STF) is a non-profit organization whose stated mission is to "team up with grassroots organizations to make sure girls everywhere are educated, respected, and heard." She's the First was founded in New York, NY by Tammy Tibbetts and Christen Brandt[1] and operates remotely with headquarters in New York, NY, United States and Nairobi, Kenya. The organization's stated vision is "a world where every girl chooses her own future."[2][3]

She's the First
FormationNovember 1, 2011
TypeNonprofit organization
FocusGirls' education; girls' rights
HeadquartersNew York, NY, USA; Nairobi, Kenya
Location
Co-Founder
Tammy Tibbetts
Co-Founder
Christen Brandt
Websitewww.shesthefirst.org

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 (non-governmental organization), 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 stigmas that are 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."[4]

History

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She's the First launched November 1, 2009, as a YouTube video[5] featuring the singer JoJo. The video emphasized the power of girls' education as a solution to global poverty. The organization was registered as a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization in July 2011[6] and was managed by volunteers until May 2012, when co-founder Tammy Tibbetts was hired as its first employee in the role of CEO.[7]

In 2019, She's the First celebrated the organization's 10th anniversary[8] at an event featuring performances from Sarah Kay (poet), Desi Oakley, Grace Kelly (musician), and remarks from the organization's global ambassador Imaan Hammam.[9][10]

The organization has collaborated with poet Amanda Gorman,[11] actress Erika Henningsen,[12] actress and producer Elizabeth Banks,[13] United States Soccer Federation She Believes initiative,[14] and the Obama Foundation Girls Opportunity Alliance.[15][16] Additional noteworthy supporters have included Glamour (magazine)'s The Girl Project,[17] NoVo Foundation,[18] American Express Foundation,[19] and Bobbi Brown Cosmetics,[20] among others.

In each year 2014–2022, members of the Nerdfighteria community have selected She's the First to receive a grant from the Foundation to Decrease World Suck through the organization's Project for Awesome charitable contest, founded by John Green and Hank Green.[21]

Activities

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Global Girls' Bill of Rights

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In 2019, She's the First led an effort to create a Global Girls Bill of Rights in collaboration with grassroots organizations and girls across the globe.[22] The bill was presented to Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka at the United Nations on International Day of the Girl Child on October 11, 2019.[23]

Fundraising

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In 2017, She's the First retired the Child sponsorship model of fundraising that the organization had employed since its founding. Regarding the shift, co-founder Christen Brandt said, "In the end, human dignity is the most important consideration. If you are committed to eradicating systems of inequity, a sponsorship model actually undermines the ground you stand on. Sponsorship models are based on the very power dynamics we wanted to change."[24]

STF Summit

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Since 2012, She's the First has hosted an annual leadership conference called the STF Summit[25] for members of the organization's campus chapter network. STF Summit speakers have included Awkwafina, Jessica Bennett (journalist),[26] Blair Imani,[27] Ann Shoket, Amani al-Khatahtbeh, Jamia Wilson,[28] Jamira Burley,[25] and others.

Awards

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  • 2015 Outstanding Philanthropic Organization awarded by the Association of Fundraising Professionals NYC Chapter[29]
  • 2013 Organization's Commitment to Action recognized on stage by Chelsea Clinton at the annual CGIU Conference[30]
  • DVF Awards People's Voice Award, presented to Tammy Tibbetts [31]
  • 2012 Seventeen Magazine "Pretty Amazing" cover contest winner Lindsay Brown, recognized for her role as President of the She's the First campus chapter at the University of Notre Dame[32]

References

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  1. ^ Manuz, Shay (July 28, 2016). "Girl Talk: Why the Cofounders of She's the First Don't Want You to Call Them Cute". Glamour.
  2. ^ "WHAT WE DO". She's the First. Retrieved 2018-12-10.
  3. ^ "Contact Us + FAQs". She's the First. Retrieved 2023-02-03.
  4. ^ First, She's the (10 January 2018). "We don't do 'charity.' Here's why you shouldn't either". Washington Post. Retrieved 2023-02-03.
  5. ^ "Meet 2 millennials helping educate girls around the world". TODAY.com. Retrieved 2023-02-03.
  6. ^ Roberts, Andrea Suozzo, Ken Schwencke, Mike Tigas, Sisi Wei, Alec Glassford, Brandon (2013-05-09). "Shes The First Inc - Nonprofit Explorer". ProPublica. Retrieved 2023-02-08.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  7. ^ "OUR IMPACT (SCHOLAR STORIES)". She's the First. Retrieved 2018-12-10. [verification needed]
  8. ^ Luzio, Cate. "She's The First Puts Girls First". Forbes. Retrieved 2023-02-08.
  9. ^ "She's the First Celebrated a Decade of Girl Power". Vogue. 2019-10-25. Retrieved 2023-02-03.
  10. ^ "Imaan Hammam on What Makes a Role Model". Harper's BAZAAR. 2020-11-24. Retrieved 2023-02-03.
  11. ^ "DAY OF THE GIRL #POWERofFIRSTs COLLABORATION". Kimothy Joy. Retrieved 2023-02-03.
  12. ^ "Erika Henningsen Reflects on the 'Singular Experience' of Mean Girls & the Future of Flying Over Sunset". Broadway.com. Retrieved 2023-02-03.
  13. ^ "Virtue Hair Care Launches Campaign for She's the First". American Salon. 2019-11-21. Retrieved 2023-02-08.
  14. ^ "SheBelieves Ambassador Spotlight - She's The First". www.ussoccer.com. Retrieved 2023-02-03.
  15. ^ "Learn & Take Action: Commitments | Girls Opportunity Alliance". Obama Foundation. Retrieved 2023-02-03.
  16. ^ "Michelle Obama Announces Obama Foundation Girls Opportunity Alliance Campaign". Black Enterprise. 2022-10-19. Retrieved 2023-02-08.
  17. ^ "Girl Talk: Why the Cofounders of She's the First Don't Want You to Call Them Cute". Glamour. 2016-07-28. Retrieved 2023-02-03.
  18. ^ Roberts, Andrea Suozzo, Ken Schwencke, Mike Tigas, Sisi Wei, Alec Glassford, Brandon (2013-05-09). "Novo Foundation, Form 990PF - Nonprofit Explorer". ProPublica. Retrieved 2023-02-08.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  19. ^ https://s29.q4cdn.com/330828691/files/doc_downloads/esg_resources/2017-Amex-Grants-List.pdf [bare URL PDF]
  20. ^ "Sandra Main underscores Bobbi Brown's 'pretty powerful' mission on International Women's Day". The Moodie Davitt Report. 2022-03-08. Retrieved 2023-02-03.
  21. ^ "The Foundation to Decrease World Suck". fightworldsuck.org/. Retrieved 2023-02-08.
  22. ^ "Global Girls' Bill of Rights unveiled at UN for International Day of the Girl - Upworthy". www.upworthy.com. Retrieved 2023-02-03.
  23. ^ Cole, Diane (October 11, 2019). "6 Young Women Went To The U.N. With A Bill Of Rights For Girls". NPR. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
  24. ^ "How to Take Risks Without Losing Your Donors (SSIR)". ssir.org. Retrieved 2023-02-08.
  25. ^ a b Morin, Wideyveline (2018-08-30). "She's The First Summit Envisions A Gender Equal World". Her Agenda. Retrieved 2023-02-08.
  26. ^ Manuz, Shay (2017-08-08). "Is it Cool for Companies to Use Feminism to Get Us to Shop?". Glamour. Retrieved 2023-02-08.
  27. ^ "How to be an activist (no experience required)". NBC News. 15 January 2018. Retrieved 2023-02-08.
  28. ^ "She's the First Summit 2016".
  29. ^ "Association of Fundraising Professionals". Retrieved 3 December 2015.
  30. ^ "She's the First Commitment Announcement - CGI U 2013". youtube.com. Clinton Global Initiative. 11 April 2013. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
  31. ^ "The Fourth Annual DVF Awards". DVF.com. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
  32. ^ "And The Winner Of Pretty Amazing Is..." Seventeen Magazine. Hearst Digital Media. 7 September 2012.
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