Declining self-worth: Confidence is falling at every grade level except 12th grade; girls’ self-worth and self-knowledge is down to just 55% (Girl Scouts Research Institute, Girls Speak Out (2025)).
Suicide crisis: Between 2010 and 2020, the suicide rate for girls aged 10–14 surged by 167%, reflecting the broader youth mental health crisis with rising rates of self-harm and depression (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Suicide Mortality in the United States, 1999–2020 (2021)).
Body image pressure: A Girl Scouts USA survey (August 2025) found 37% of girls overall—and 50% of those aged 11–13—wish to change their appearance, largely due to social media and negative messaging (Girl Scouts of the USA, The State of Girls 2025 Report (August 2025)).
Social media harms: A Pew (2025) survey reported that 25% of teen girls say social media hurts their mental health (versus 14% of boys). Girls are also more likely to report negative impacts on sleep, confidence, and feelings of exclusion (Pew Research Center, Teens, Social Media & Technology 2025 (December 2025)).
COVID-19 impact: During the pandemic, nearly 60% of adolescent girls reported persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness (CDC, Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data Summary & Trends Report: 2011–2021):
30% seriously considered suicide.
Nearly 20% experienced sexual violence in the past year.
Girls on the Mat is ready to grow — but only with the integrity that girls deserve. Every facilitator must be vetted and trained through our Yoga Alliance–approved curriculum. This ensures that the girls we serve are met with safety, consistency, and trauma-informed care. Funding allows us to train these facilitators, expand into additional Idaho locations, and provide the brick-and-mortar spaces where girls can return again and again — not just for camp, but for ongoing bi-monthly gatherings that sustain their growth.
To scale responsibly, we are also building a Train-the-Trainer program. This model will prepare senior leaders to mentor new facilitators, guarantee fidelity to our curriculum nationwide, and free the Founder to focus on fundraising, partnerships, and public advocacy. Over time, even GOTM graduates themselves will step into leadership roles, creating a movement of generational change.
Within five years, GOTM will be active in 15+ states, backed by national brand sponsorships and partnerships with youth mental health organizations. But this future begins now. With $150,000 in immediate funding, we can secure the facilitators, spaces, and structure that make this expansion possible — and ensure that girls everywhere step into adolescence with clarity, confidence, and resilience.
Every dollar given to Girls on the Mat turns into belonging, breath, and resilience for girls in our community. Here’s what your support makes possible:
$100 – provides healthy snacks for one camp session
$250 – covers t-shirts for an entire camp, so every girl feels she belongs
$300 – funds a full three-day Girls on the Mat camp for one participant
$400 – supplies yoga mats and camp equipment so girls can practice safely
$1,000 – supports two assistant facilitators in training
$2,500 – underwrites a bi-monthly GOTM gathering for 30 girls 💞
$5,000 – sponsors facilitator training for one leader in your community
Our full fundraising goal allows us to scale Girls on the Mat with integrity and longevity:
$60,000 – Program Delivery
Scholarships, facilitator stipends, journals, mats, and supplies for camps + ongoing gatherings
$40,000 – Training & Development
Facilitator certification, publication of the training manual, and technology for virtual learning
$25,000 – Community Growth
Marketing, school partnerships, and sponsorship outreach
$25,000 – Operations
Administrative support, insurance, nonprofit compliance, and infrastructure