Here for the Girls Inc

What it reported doing in 2024

4a ongoing support for young women diagnosed with breast cancer under age 50 what and why here for the girls provides young women diagnosed with breast cancer under age 50 with social-emotional support that positively impacts their overall physical and emotional well-being. Studies show that social support is key; those with low social support show higher symptoms of anxiety and depression, increased rates of mortality, cardiovascular disease, inflammation, and less effective immune systems, among many other negatives. Such support is especially critical for this age group because breast cancer has a significantly greater impact on young women and their families and for a longer time than for older women. The challenges young women face are unique: more aggressive cancers often found at later stages, higher death rates, premature menopause, and raising young children, holding down jobs, and dating or being a spouse while in treatment and afterward. Yet specific resources are few and peers can be difficult to find. Here for the girls exists to ensure that no young woman has to make this journey without all the love, encouragement, and information they need from peers who understand. Since 2006 when two young women with breast cancer started a support group just for young women in their hometown of williamsburg, Virginia, here for the girls (h4tg) has been providing its unique, in-depth, type of support to young women whose lives have been turned upside down by a breast cancer diagnosis - the ones facing the disease right now and those beyond who are just trying to get through one more day. From the inception of our organization to now reaching nationwide, we have witnessed the profound impact of shared journeys and connections that transcend words; where a simple smile conveys, "i understand." we recognize the emotional complexity of navigating a breast cancer diagnosis and the critical role of social-emotional support in fostering resilience. H4tg's support system emphasizes self-determination, empowering our members with voice, choice, and hope no matter what the future may hold. How our members receive support through a variety of services that encourage emotional, physical, and social healing including monthly support groups and peer gatherings, a series of workshops on topics such as self-care, grief, trauma, bereavement, and acceptance, along with educational resources and live webinars with partnering physicians and subject matter experts. Members are also offered events and activities that promote empowerment and resiliency along with opportunities to reflect, renew, and restore clarity in their lives after cancer. All these offerings are available at no cost to the young women we serve. Our research-based support program focuses on the overall well-being of our members through three distinct but complementary approaches: social engagement support, psychosocial support, and educational support, each briefly described below: social engagement support | hope inspiration power peer gatherings members receive monthly social and emotional support led by trained peer facilitators in non-clinical settings, both in-person and virtual, designed to uplift their social and emotional well-being. Building connections members attend activities and events that promote bonding with peers and encourage emotional healing through a safe and inclusive environment that promotes connectedness. Life experiences members participate in a host of activities and experiences designed to encourage healing, personal growth, and building confidence. Psychosocial support | leaning in caring conversations designed to complement our peer-led gatherings, our social work team leads support groups for our members along with topic specific groups for those with a metastatic diagnosis, those newly diagnosed, and those with long- time survivorship needs. Workshops carefully curated workshops and wellness days offered to meet the needs of our diverse member ba

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 57.2%; rating input score 57
• Program expense ratio: 79.8%; rating input score 80
• Fundraising efficiency: $7.59 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 29; 29th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: Limited
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: Limited
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 5 of 7 controls in place; rating input score 71
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Missing
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Fail

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 29%; rating input score 84; 84th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 1.36; rating input score 53; 53rd percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.3; rating input score 24; 24th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 0%; rating input score 81; 81st percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 6.2% per year; rating input score 100; 48th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 7.8% per year; rating input score 100; 58th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 10.7% per year; rating input score 100; 61st percentile among comparable filings