Scaling to Introduce One Million Girls to Stem by 2040

Founded in 2011, Black Girls Code (BGC) seeks to change the face of the technology industry by introducing girls of color to the STEM field from an early age. BGC’s multiple chapters reach over one thousand girls per year through nation-wide programming, helping girls develop hard skills in coding and computer science. To maximize its impact, BGC set a goal to reach one million girls by 2040, which will require rapid expansion of existing chapter operations and the opening of new chapters throughout the country. BGC brought in a Capstone team to conduct a rigorous literature review, internal scan, and external scan. The team examined best practices for rapidly scaling small nonprofits, analyzed program data and survey data collected from BGC volunteers and staff, and collated interviews from various members in the field. Based on its findings, the team proposed a set of recommendations and tools for BGC to consider as it seeks to grow its operations.