Michelle Obama’s Girls Opportunity Alliance announced more than $1 million in support for organizations serving adolescent girls around the world Oct. 11, adding to a separate $500,000 commitment to groups helping girls in Chicago.
Together, the two announcements represent more than $1.5 million in funding and organizational support. The Chicago commitment, announced in September, supports 10 organizations working across the city’s South and West Sides, with programming expected to reach more than 2,200 girls ages 10 to 19. The Obama Foundation
The new announcement, timed to International Day of the Girl, supports 25 organizations in 15 countries. Their work includes scholarships, mentorship, after-school activities, leadership development and helping girls remain in school.
“I’ve always believed that every girl holds a unique promise—a special way that she can change the lives of those around her, maybe even the world,” Obama said in a video accompanying the announcement.
“And that’s why investing in girls isn’t just the right thing to do. It’s an investment in our shared future.”
American Organizations Share in the Support
The September recipients include A Long Walk Home, Box United, Cent(HER)ed Collective Girls Inc., Coalition on Urban Girls, First Ladies Health Initiative, GirlForward, HEART Women & Girls, Praize Productions Inc., Sista Afya Community Care and Youth Guidance’s Working on Womanhood program.
The $500,000 is the combined commitment to those organizations, rather than $500,000 for each.
Among the recipients, Box United will expand Fight Like a Girl, a 20-week program combining boxing with mentorship and lessons on stress and mindfulness. Its expansion into five additional South Side schools is expected to reach up to 125 more students.
Praize Productions, a Bronzeville arts collective serving Black girls, will add health and wellness workshops, strengthen its Big Sis/Little Sis mentorship program and develop additional teen classes. The Obama Foundation
The Chicago funding is separate from the more than $1 million announced in October, allowing the Alliance to support girls in American neighborhoods alongside its international work.
Where the Money Comes From
The Alliance is an initiative of the nonprofit Obama Foundation. Its Girls Opportunity Alliance Fund raises charitable donations to support projects, including contributions collected through GoFundMe and community fundraising efforts.
According to the Foundation’s fundraising materials, GoFundMe.org manages the fund and directs donations to adolescent girls’ education projects. Supporters can donate or organize fundraisers benefiting the work. obama.org
Neither the September nor October announcement identifies a personal contribution from Michelle or Barack Obama toward these commitments. The announcements describe support provided through the Alliance, rather than a personal gift from the former first lady. They also do not provide a donor-by-donor breakdown of the money financing this year’s awards.
Education, Safety and Leadership
International recipients include Girls First Initiative in Tanzania, which will establish leadership clubs in four secondary schools. Weekly activities will help 200 teenage girls build confidence, communication skills and leadership abilities, while engaging parents and teachers.
In Jordan, Squash Dreamers will provide refugee and underserved girls with academic enrichment, squash and fitness lessons, and mental health support.
The Haiti Adolescent Girls Network will train community mentors and establish 10 safe spaces offering weekly sessions on health, leadership, violence prevention and financial literacy. Its project is expected to reach 700 adolescent girls.
Other recipients include Asociación Soy Niña in Costa Rica, which provides after-school clubs and mentorship, and Hamro Palo in Nepal, which supports girls through school sessions, mentorship and public speaking activities.
Beyond financial assistance, recipient leaders join the Alliance’s network to exchange resources and strengthen their organizations. According to the Foundation, the Alliance has supported more than 265 grassroots projects across 50 countries, reaching more than 190,000 girls.
