EIN: 82-1408294
Mission Statement
The mission of Boolean Girl is to diversify STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) by teaching and inspiring girls, low-income students, and underrepresented youth in grades three to eight through meaningful, hands-on instruction and sustained exposure to computer science and engineering in a collaborative and welcoming environment.
Program Summary
At Boolean Girl, we work to diversify STEM by teaching and inspiring girls, under-represented groups and low-income kids to code, build, invent and animate. Primarily serving the greater Washington, DC, area, we provide girls-only and co-ed classes, camps and online education, teaching coding and engineering in an inclusive, welcoming environment.
With separate camps and classes for elementary and middle school students, children learn computer science and engineering fundamentals through a series of unique projects, hands-on challenges, and play. Our students learn coding, robotics, AI, engineering, teamwork, and digital citizenship while making new friends and having fun. With a robust curriculum and hands-on projects, we educate and empower the next generation of technologists. In addition, we hire rockstar instructors, many of whom are high school and college students who complete paid internships or workforce development programs and are excellent mentors for our younger students.
With our micro:bit for All program, Boolean Girl provides micro:bit kits to schools and students to teach coding, along with lesson plans integrated into core curriculum such as math and science, as well as supplemental lessons in computer science or specials.
At Clubhouse, students excited to continue learning coding and engineering join small groups in after-school or weekend sessions to develop their own STEM projects, share their learnings, and get inspired to continue their STEM journey. Our curriculum incorporates programming and engineering including robotics, mechanics, and circuits, along with art and creativity.
At week-long Boolean Girl camps, girls learn computer science and engineering fundamentals from our rockstar instructors through a series of unique projects. Younger students begin with Scratch coding, starting with Storytelling in Scratch and progressing through Building Games and AI. Beginning in sixth grade, we teach more advanced coding with Python, in addition to Web Development and Artificial Intelligence. We also offer two types of engineering classes for students in grades five through nine: traditional robotics (things that move), and wearable machines.
Impact Statement
Women make up half of the total U.S. college-educated workforce, but less than one third of the science and engineering workforce. Latinx and African-American women make up less than 3%. The gender gap among Gen Z men and women pursuing careers in engineering and computer science is 28%. Boolean Girl was founded to address this by fostering inclusive, creative, and collaborative environments in which girls can learn and grow confidence in STEM subjects at a pace equal to that of their male peers.
Ten years ago, we started our journey teaching 49 girls in one elementary school in Arlington, Virginia. We have now reached over 44,800 girls and underrepresented youth throughout the greater Washington, DC area, in addition to online students across the country.
In 2024, we reached over 10,000 students through Summer Camps, after-school Clubhouses, micro:bit for All, and other online and in-person events. We worked with 75 schools (72% of which were Title 1) to get 4,199 micro:bit Kits to 5th grade students, training older students as instructors for the younger students. In addition, 20% of our students come from low income households and receive scholarships.
What ways can the public get involved?
The public can help through donations, sponsorships, volunteering at our events, or even teaching.
Our partners and sponsors help us fund and run our programs through financial support, providing space for events, volunteers, technical support and other resources, and through offering guidance.
How are charitable dollars spent? Where does my donation go?
$10 – Online hour of code for one student
$25 – Saturday coding Clubhouse for one child
$40 – Micro:bit kit for a child
$120 – Badge-earning class online for a scout troop
$250 – Teacher training for after-school Clubhouse
$400 – Full week of coding camp for one child
$5000 – Micro:bit kits and teacher training for a typical 5th grade class
We run revenue generating summer camps that are open to all youth. This revenue covers our overhead costs which have been less than 10% of our overall costs for 10 years. This means that 100% of your donations go to programs that impact the community.
Information provided March 2025