The Political Impact on Girl and Gender-Expansive Youth-Serving Organizations

Research overview:

This report outlines the urgent realities facing the girl and gender-expansive youth-serving sector in California. Organizations serving girls and gender-expansive youth are not merely service providers — they are support systems, lifelines, sanctuaries, and catalysts for social change. Yet today, with 91% facing funding uncertainty and safety emerging as the top concern for 82% of organizations, they are operating at the intersection of multiple rights under attack. Drawing from Alliance for Girls’ rapid response survey and expert interviews that reached 73 people representing 63 organizations, the report outlines the structural threats confronting this ecosystem, the community-driven solutions emerging in response, and actionable ways to support.

Key findings:

Organizations serving girls and gender-expansive youth are caught in a triple bind — their services are urgently needed by the populations they serve, yet they are unsure which programs they can legally offer, and they are facing uncertainty about whether they will have the funding to support their work.

• 91% of organizations may or are already facing an impact on their funding.

• 83% of organizations say they may or are already facing policy restrictions.

• More than 8 in 10 organizations prioritize safety for their girls and gender-expansive youth.

Despite these challenges, organizations are adapting and continuing to implement strategies that support how the organization functions and the young people they serve, centering community, collaboration, and care.

• More than half of organizations are preparing for more funding uncertainties, youth mental health concerns, and increased advocacy needs.

• Organizations are primarily supporting young people by providing safe spaces and leadership development.

• Organizations are uplifting lessons learned from past major events and crises, noting that community partnerships and shared resources build resilience during challenging times.

Recommendations:

Funder and donor support can make a significant difference in the lives of girls and gender-expansive youth:

• Provide flexible, unrestricted funding and make multi-year commitments, providing stability during uncertainty.

• Work with existing grantees to create a transition plan when a reduction of funding is expected or funding strategies change.

• Support collaborative initiatives, networks, and coalitions that strengthen the eco-system of organizations serving girls and gender-expansive youth.

• Invest in mental health and wellness resources for both young people and staff of organizations.

• Fund advocacy and movement-building that protects vulnerable young people, particularly people of color.

• Invest in intersectional research that centers youth and their voices.

• Establish rapid response funds to meet urgent moments head-on.