Girl Up Logo./ PHOTO ;Courtesy
Girl Up and Global Fund for Children (GFC) have announced a significant new partnership that ushers in the next chapter of Girl Up’s evolution as a global movement led by youth advancing gender justice.
After 15 years operating under the United Nations Foundation, Girl Up has transitioned to GFC as its new fiscal host, a shift that reflects the growing ambition and scale of its work around the world.
The move underscores the shared vision of both organizations: a world where young people, especially girls and gender-expansive youth, are trusted with leadership, provided with resources, and supported to drive transformative change in their communities and beyond.
For Girl Up, this marks a moment of reflection and renewal as it looks ahead to its long-term goals.
Founded in 2010 within the UN Foundation, Girl Up grew from a small initiative into a global movement that today includes more than 345,000 youth leaders across 155 countries.
Over the past decade and a half, these young leaders have driven cultural and policy change, challenged gender inequalities, and established networks of activism that span the globe.
That legacy is central to how Girl Up understands this transition.
“The United Nations Foundation has been Girl Up’s proud founding home for 15 years. Together, we built something extraordinary, an enduring movement led by girls and youth around the world,” said Julie Willig, Co-Chief Executive Officer of Girl Up.
“As we take this next bold step, we do so with deep gratitude for the UN Foundation’s partnership, confidence in our shared legacy, and excitement for all that lies ahead.”
Even as Girl Up shifts organizationally, the UN Foundation emphasized that its partnership with the movement remains strong.
Both institutions intend to continue collaborating to ensure young people’s perspectives remain visible in global decision-making spaces.
As Elizabeth Cousens, President and CEO of the United Nations Foundation, noted:
“The UN Foundation will always be Girl Up’s first home. We are so proud to have incubated and nurtured this program into a youth-led global force for good. This transition is an important next step in their evolution, and we will continue to cheer on Girl Up in their vital mission to champion youth leaders around the world.”
Before the transition, Girl Up undertook a yearlong strategic visioning process involving its youth leaders, staff, and partners.
This reflection clarified a collective aspiration: to strengthen regional influence, increase direct support to youth-led work, and reinforce global solidarity within the movement.
GFC emerged as the ideal institutional match to support this direction.
The Global Fund for Children, founded over 30 years ago by Maya Ajmera, has partnered with more than 1,300 community-based organizations and supported over 11 million children and youth across 90 countries.
Known for its trust-based philanthropy, feminist principles, and commitment to community-rooted leadership, GFC’s model aligns closely with Girl Up’s evolving mission.
“We are honoured to welcome Girl Up into the Global Fund for Children community,” said John Hecklinger, Co-CEO of Global Fund for Children.
“Girl Up’s bold vision for a more just and equitable world where every girl can lead and shape their future resonates deeply with our mission. Together, we’re building a global movement that amplifies young people’s voices, unlocks their leadership, and drives transformative change for generations to come.”
This transition also coincides with Girl Up’s 15th anniversary and a renewed commitment to its ambitious 2030 target: training 1 million girls and youth leaders to champion gender justice.
Within GFC’s collaborative global structure, Girl Up plans to reach more young people, expand regional hubs, and increase its ability to provide direct financial and programmatic support to youth-led initiatives.
“This partnership represents the best of what radical collaboration can achieve,” said My Lo Cook, Co-CEO of Girl Up.
“Together with GFC, we are ensuring Girl Up’s sustainability for the long term, so that our youth leaders can continue shaping the more just and equitable world we all believe in.”
With this new chapter, both Girl Up and GFC reaffirm their shared purpose: to uplift, resource, and champion young changemakers who are redefining gender justice and advancing a more equitable world for all.
About Girl Up
Girl Up drives a global movement of youth leaders advancing gender justice.
Through its pillars, Youth Leadership, Convenings, Youth-Led Action, and Partnership,s it provides training, funding, and a supportive global community for gender equality advocacy.
The movement includes more than 345,000 youth across 155 countries. More information: www.GirlUp.org.
About Global Fund for Children
Since 1994, Global Fund for Children has partnered with grassroots organizations worldwide to advance the rights and well-being of children and youth.
GFC has invested over $79 million in more than 1,300 organizations across 90 countries, reaching 11 million young people.
