Get Involved
Letting Them Be Girl First Since 2009
Meals Served
Students Served
Outreach Hours
Want to learn more or Get Involved?
Join Girls First as a volunteer, connector, donor, or all of the above!
Volunteer
Students and volunteers forge rich, intergenerational relationships, providing unique opportunities to learn from one another and forming new and rewarding connections.
Serve
Serve on our Board of Directors or one of our Committees, offering guidance in the areas of finance, human resources, strategy, public relations, fundraising and more?
Connect
Do you know people that Girls First could benefit from being introduced to? Help create connections that will broaden our reach and enhance our programs
Volunteer Opportunities
Looking for ways to lend a helping hand? Check out our volunteer opportunities below and use the form to join our amazing group of volunteers
Spring 2025 Volunteer Opportunities
Our program has a profound impact on the girls we serve, providing a safe, stable environment where they practice respect for themselves and others, exercise appropriate interactions with peers and adults, discover new skills and talents, and develop tools that will allow them to achieve greater success in school and beyond. Your role as a volunteer is crucial in this journey.
Volunteer responsibilities include, but are not limited to
- Sitting with a group during snack/meal time and facilitating conversations,
- Providing support to teaching artists during activities,
- Encouraging engagement during movement & stretching,
- Helping with homework or leading learning games, and
- Above all, providing positive mentorship, building nurturing relationships with students, and possessing the ability to be youthful and have fun.
Your Commitment
We offer 3 tiers of volunteer involvement. Volunteers may choose one or more days of the week to volunteer, but we ask that all volunteers commit to their selected day(s). Our goal is to allow you to choose the volunteer method or commitment that works best for you (and ultimately provide our girls with consistency which is our top priority).
- Tier 1: Weekly participation for the program year.
- Tier 2: Frequent as possible participation for the program year.
- Tier 3:
Acting as a substitute for the program year.
FAQs
If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, please complete a volunteer interest. Once your completed interest form is received, the Program Director will contact you about the next steps. For more information, contact Program Director Raeanna Ellis (raeanna@girlsfirst.org).
Volunteer Schedule
Girls First volunteers can serve Monday through Thursday from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Each programming day includes snack/meal time and conversation (Chew and Chat), gentle stretching/high-energy exercises and gentle breathing, 45-minute small group arts-based activities, and student-led play and homework/academic enrichment time.
Calendar & Closures
Girls First follows the NASD school district calendar; there is no programming when school is out for professional development, holidays, etc. Additionally, any Girls First-related closures will be communicated accordingly.
Background Check Policy
All volunteers must provide
Training & Support
All volunteers must attend mandatory 2-hour volunteer trauma-informed training held either in person or virtually before starting as Volunteers. We are committed to providing you with the necessary support and training to ensure you feel prepared and confident in your role.
Ways to Give
Support Our Girls
For over a decade, volunteers and donors have made it possible to provide full meals every afternoon, creative studies, and most importantly, trusting relationship with caring adults. We’re preparing students for a successful future but letting them be girls first.
Girls First is tuition-free and no family is ever asked to pay for our program. But our no-cost approach is only possible because of the generosity of our supporters. There are many ways to give - choose the method that works best for you!
Donor Advised Funds
Recommend a gift to Girls First through your donor-advised fund! For simplicity, tax efficiency, and powerful support to Girls First, direct a gift through your account at the Philadelphia Foundation, Fidelity, Schwab, Vanguard, or other philanthropic advisor. Our EIN number is 45-5367662. Contact your financial institution to get started!
Planned Giving & IRA Distributions
Contact our development team at cheri@girlsfirst.org to learn more.
Payroll Deductions & Matching Gifts
Support Girls First through payroll deduction or see if your workplace matches your donation - it is a great way to double or triple your tax-deductible donation to Girls First! Thousands of companies match charitable contributions made by their employees. Find out if your company will match your donation to Girls First. Contact your human resources department to get started.
PA Educational Improvement Tax Credit
The Pennsylvania Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program allows businesses and individuals to earn a tax credit of between 75% and 90% toward certain Pennsylvania taxes which then allows them to make a donation to an Educational Improvement Organization (EIO). Girls First is an approved EIO organization and is eligible to receive EITC contributions.
Tribute / Memorial Gifts
Honor someone special with a gift in their name. If you have a loved one who has impacted or been impacted by Girls First, establishing a memorial or tribute gift is a meaningful way to honor them or celebrate a special occasion while supporting our mission. Your memorial or tribute gift will extend the legacy of your loved one and will make a lasting difference for our girls. To make a gift, please call Girls First at 484-808-4417.
Amazon Wish List
Girls First continues to collect in-kind donations all year long, and you can view our Amazon Wishlist of art supplies. Our EIN number is the following: 45-5367662, and we would greatly appreciate, and welcome, any donations that you are able to make on our behalf.
Fund Ongoing Needs
Your support will directly impact Girls First's ability to provide enriching experiences and educational support for girls in need by helping to cover the cost of ongoing needs like art supplies, meals and programming logistics. If you would rather make your gift by phone, please call 610-453-2281 and our staff will be happy to help. Or, download our
mail-in donation form.
Art supplies
$25-Per Month
Art Supplies for One Student
programming
$100-Per Month
Tuition Scholarship for One Student
meals & snacks
$500
Provides After School Meals for 10 Students
full attendance
$1,000
Annual Scholarship for One Student
Become A Monthly Donor
Girls First is transforming the lives of young girls, but we can’t do it without you. Your donation helps us meet the ongoing needs of our programs, from providing supplies for STEM and arts activities to ensuring every girl has access to mentorship, leadership workshops, and a supportive community.
Every contribution makes a difference—whether it’s funding materials for hands-on learning, covering program costs for families in need, or supporting the dedicated mentors who inspire our girls to succeed. With your help, we can continue empowering the next generation of leaders, innovators, and change-makers.
Donate today and be part of the movement to build confident, resilient girls ready to change the world.
