Boys & Girls Clubs of America

Boys & Girls Clubs of America is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit youth development organisation founded in 1860, when the first Club opened in Hartford, Connecticut. It now operates the largest network of youth development facilities in the United States, with over 5,400 Club locations serving more than 4 million children and teens annually. Clubs are present in cities and towns, public housing communities, on Native lands and on military installations worldwide. The national headquarters is in Atlanta, Georgia.

The organisation runs after-school programmes in safe, supportive Club environments led by trained youth development professionals. Its programme areas span education and academic skill-building, STEM, character and leadership development, workforce readiness, health and wellness, and arts programming for young people aged 6 to 18. Work is delivered through a national movement built on a local Club model, with an emphasis on measurable outcomes.

Reported indicators of impact include the share of Club teens who expect to graduate high school (97%), the proportion of 12th-grade members pursuing STEM careers (52%), and the fact that one in four regularly attending teens volunteers in their communities. Employment spans a range of fields, including STEM education, workforce readiness, health and wellness programming, arts education, character development and youth development.