Boys and Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) is a nonprofit based in Atlanta, Georgia, that provides programs for underprivileged youth and advocates for changes to educational and youth outreach policy at the federal, state, and local levels. The organization was founded in 1906 after 53 boys’ clubs in Boston formed the Federated Boys Club, which later became the Boys Clubs of America. The organization changed its name to the Boys and Girls Clubs of America in 1990. ¹

The organization has argued that parents should affirm the identity of their children who identify as LGBT even if it makes them uncomfortable and should support the gender expression of their children. ² BGCA also promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion principles into its work, and it has said that Native Americans suffer from “historical trauma” due to historical conflicts with Europeans. ^{3 4}

BGCA has partnerships with many of the biggest companies in America, including Apple, Toyota, and UPS. ⁵ Alumni of BGCA programming include several elected officials, actor Denzel Washington, and sports figures such as Lee Corso, DeShaun Watson, Terrell Davis, and Frank DeVito. ⁶

History

Boys and Girls Clubs of America began in 1860 when Mary Goodwin, Alice Goodwin, Elizabeth Hammersley, and Louisa Bushnell founded a club to help underprivileged boys in Hartford, Connecticut. ⁷ In 1906, 53 clubs in Boston formed the Federated Boys Club, which later became the Boys Clubs of America in 1931. ⁸ In 1956, the organization received a congressional charter which defined the organization’s mission of promoting youth development and the organization’s bylaws. ⁹ Boys Clubs of America changed its name to Boys and Girls Clubs of America in 1990 to recognize the importance of youth developments in girls and boys. ¹⁰

Mission

Boys and Girls Clubs of America runs programs to help underprivileged youth. The organization provides programming in sports, the arts, health and wellness, education, and leadership to help young people develop skills necessary for becoming adults and having an impact in their communities. ¹¹ BGCA says 52% of high school seniors in its programs are interested in STEM careers compared to 27% of seniors nationally. ¹² The organization also says that 97% of youth in its programs expect to graduate from high school, and 76% of its low-income students receive mostly A’s and B’s in their schoolwork. ¹³

The organization also advocates for policy changes to impact youth at the federal and local levels. BGCA says its policy priorities at the federal level include mentorship and meal programs for students and educational initiatives as well. ¹⁴ The organization also administers the National Youth Outcomes Initiative, which it says is the largest privately held dataset on youth in America. ¹⁵

Positions

LGBT Issues

Boys and Girls Clubs of America supports the left-of-center position that a person can change his or her gender. Members of the organization have said that the organization promotes the motto “You are who you are, and you are the only one who truly knows that.” ¹⁶ BGCA says on its website that people should learn about the “rich history and diversity of the LGBTQ community” and affirm the identity of LGBT children. ¹⁷

BGCA says parents with children who identify as LGBT should support “your child’s LGBTQ identity, even if you feel uncomfortable, in order to demonstrate that you still love and support your child no matter what.” ¹⁸ The organization also says parents should learn and use left-of-center identity terminology. ¹⁹ Finally, BGCA states that parents should support their child’s gender expression and connect their child “with an LGBTQ community organization, youth mentor or adult role model to show them options for the future.” ²⁰

Indigenous people

BGCA has programs on many tribal reservations in the United States and claims that Indians have historical trauma, which continues to impact tribes today. ²¹ A vice president of the organization wrote, “Native young people and their communities face inequities and hardships that started from the first day European ships arrived on this continent in 1492. Poverty has been built into our history as a people, from stolen lands and new diseases, to policies that would go on to devastate our Native economies and deny our rights. Culturally, our historical trauma stays with us and is very real in present-day.” ²²

BGCA says it partners with 150 out of 574 tribal nations in the United States. ²³

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Boys and Girls Clubs of America says that it is committed to upholding left-of-center principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). ²⁴ BGCA says that children should be taught about equity and inclusion, and the organization says it tries to create a “culture of belonging.” ²⁵

Finances

In 2021, Boys and Girls Clubs of America had $217,713,685 in revenue and total expenses of $200,944,382. ²⁶ The organization received $22,202,808 from government grants, $176,561,685 from other sources, and $9,193,066 from fundraising events. ²⁷ In 2020, Boys and Girls Clubs of America had $211,974,946 in total revenue and $168,528,592 in total expenses. ²⁸ In 2022, the organization received part of the more than $3.8 million that MacKenzie Scott gave to various nonprofit organizations. ²⁹

Boys and Girls Clubs of America lists many well-known corporations as partners and donors on its website, including Coca-Cola, Major League Baseball, UPS, Toyota, Amazon, Comcast, Apple, Microsoft, Panda Express, Bank of America, and Dell. ³⁰

1. Boys and Girls Clubs of America. “Our Great Past.” https://www.bgca.org/about-us/our-mission-story. Accessed April 10, 2023.
2. ^[1] Boys and Girls Clubs of America. “Parenting LGBTQ Youth: Resources for Parents.” March 28, 2022. https://bgca.org/news-stories/2022/March/parenting-lgbtq-youth-resources-for-parents.
3. Walker, H. “Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for Youth.” August 16, 2021. https://bgca.org/news-stories/2021/August/diversity-equity-and-inclusion-for-youth?_ga=2.259924234.1642430775.1681088164-174835527.1681088160.
4. Knapp, Carla. “Reclaiming Our Story for Native Youth.” Boys and Girls Clubs of America, October 4, 2021. https://bgca.org/news-stories/2021/October/reclaiming-our-story-for-native-youth?_ga=2.170714144.1642430775.1681088164-174835527.1681088160.
5. Boys and Girls Clubs of America. “Our Partners.” https://www.bgca.org/about-us/our-partners. Accessed April 10, 2023.
6. Boys and Girls Clubs of America. “Alumni Hall of Fame.” https://www.bgca.org/about-us/alumni-hall-of-fame. Accessed April 10, 2023.
7. Boys and Girls Clubs of America. “Our Great Past.” https://www.bgca.org/about-us/our-mission-story. Accessed April 10, 2023.
8. Boys and Girls Clubs of America. “Our Great Past.” https://www.bgca.org/about-us/our-mission-story. Accessed April 10, 2023.
9. Boys and Girls Clubs of America. “Structure of the Boys and Girls Clubs of America.” https://www.bgca.org/-/media/Documents/AboutUs/Structure_of_BoysGirlsClubsofAmericav2.ashx#:~:text=The%20Congressional%20charter%20was%20issued,%E2%80%9CGirls%E2%80%9D%20in%20the%20name.. Accessed April 10, 2023.
10. Boys and Girls Clubs of America. “Our Great Past.” https://www.bgca.org/about-us/our-mission-story. Accessed April 10, 2023.
11. Boys and Girls Clubs of America. “Programs.” https://www.bgca.org/programs#about. Accessed April 10, 2023.
12. Boys and Girls Clubs of America. “Club Impact.” https://www.bgca.org/about-us/club-impact. Accessed April 10, 2023.
13. Boys and Girls Clubs of America. “Club Impact.” https://www.bgca.org/about-us/club-impact. Accessed April 10, 2023.
14. Boys and Girls Clubs of America. “Federal Priorities.” https://www.bgca.org/get-involved/advocacy/federal-priorities. Accessed April 10, 2023.
15. Boys and Girls Clubs of America. “Advocacy.” https://www.bgca.org/get-involved/advocacy. Accessed April 10, 2023.
16. Kate H. “Growing Up Kate (She/Her/Hers).” Boys and Girls Clubs of America, March 30, 2022. https://bgca.org/news-stories/2022/March/growing-up-kate-she-her-hers.
17. Bateman, Jennifer. “Empower LGBTQ Youth Through Inclusive Practices.” Boys and Girls Clubs of America, May 12, 2022. https://bgca.org/news-stories/2022/May/Empower-LGBTQ-Youth-Through-Inclusive-Practices?_ga=2.261851149.1642430775.1681088164-174835527.1681088160.
18. Boys and Girls Clubs of America. “Parenting LGBTQ Youth: Resources for Parents.” March 28, 2022. https://bgca.org/news-stories/2022/March/parenting-lgbtq-youth-resources-for-parents.
19. Boys and Girls Clubs of America. “Parenting LGBTQ Youth: Resources for Parents.” March 28, 2022. https://bgca.org/news-stories/2022/March/parenting-lgbtq-youth-resources-for-parents.
20. Boys and Girls Clubs of America. “Parenting LGBTQ Youth: Resources for Parents.” March 28, 2022. https://bgca.org/news-stories/2022/March/parenting-lgbtq-youth-resources-for-parents.
21. Knapp, Carla. “Reclaiming Our Story for Native Youth.” Boys and Girls Clubs of America, October 4, 2021. https://bgca.org/news-stories/2021/October/reclaiming-our-story-for-native-youth?_ga=2.170714144.1642430775.1681088164-174835527.1681088160.
22. Knapp, Carla. “Reclaiming Our Story for Native Youth.” Boys and Girls Clubs of America, October 4, 2021. https://bgca.org/news-stories/2021/October/reclaiming-our-story-for-native-youth?_ga=2.170714144.1642430775.1681088164-174835527.1681088160.
23. Knapp, Carla. “Reclaiming Our Story for Native Youth.” Boys and Girls Clubs of America, October 4, 2021. https://bgca.org/news-stories/2021/October/reclaiming-our-story-for-native-youth?_ga=2.170714144.1642430775.1681088164-174835527.1681088160.
24. Walker, H. “Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for Youth.” August 16, 2021. https://bgca.org/news-stories/2021/August/diversity-equity-and-inclusion-for-youth?_ga=2.259924234.1642430775.1681088164-174835527.1681088160.
25. Walker, H. “Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for Youth.” August 16, 2021. https://bgca.org/news-stories/2021/August/diversity-equity-and-inclusion-for-youth?_ga=2.259924234.1642430775.1681088164-174835527.1681088160.
26. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Boys and Girls Clubs of America. 2021. Part I. https://www.bgca.org/about-us/annual-report/-/media/44C86193F2A949268EFB22C2A2C7C9F1.ashx. Accessed April 10, 2023.
27. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Boys and Girls Clubs of America. 2021. Part VIII. https://www.bgca.org/about-us/annual-report/-/media/44C86193F2A949268EFB22C2A2C7C9F1.ashx. Accessed April 10, 2023.
28. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Boys and Girls Clubs of America. 2021. Part I. https://www.bgca.org/about-us/annual-report/-/media/44C86193F2A949268EFB22C2A2C7C9F1.ashx. Accessed April 10, 2023.
29. Scott, MacKenzie. “Helping Any of Us Can Help Us All.” Medium, March 23, 2022. https://mackenzie-scott.medium.com/helping-any-of-us-can-help-us-all-f4c7487818d9.
30. Boys and Girls Clubs of America. “Our Partners.” https://www.bgca.org/about-us/our-partners. Accessed April 10, 2023.