This year marks a powerful milestone for Girls on the Run.
In 2026, we celebrate 30 years of empowering girls to recognize their strength, find their voice, and boldly pursue their dreams! As board members, your dedicated leadership has made this legacy possible. Our 30th anniversary is an opportunity for all of us to reflect on both what we have achieved and envision what comes next.
For me, this milestone is deeply personal as 2026 also marks my 20th year working for Girls on the Run. For two decades, I have had the privilege of witnessing firsthand the transformational power of our mission. Nothing inspires me more than the fact that during my tenure, we have served more than 2.7 million girls.
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As we begin our 30th year, I am particularly excited about two things that will be taking place in 2026:
This spring, we will be releasing the initial findings from our first-ever Girls on the Run Alums Study. The landmark, third-party external study is following girls who participated as fourth graders in 2019. It examines how they are using GOTR skills and strategies to navigate adolescence and young adulthood. Initial findings reaffirm the power of our program, with eighth graders reporting sustained confidence, strong relationship skills, and the continued use of strategies learned at GOTR. Alums are also conveying the lasting importance of trained coaches in helping them build healthy habits that support their mental and physical well-being. The national study will continue to follow this group of alums through 12th grade.
That same spirit of learning will come to life this summer at our 22nd Summit in Cleveland, Ohio. This three-day event brings staff and board leaders from across the GOTR network together to learn from industry experts, be inspired by distinguished keynote speakers, share ideas, and enjoy activities that spark gratitude. Whether attending on your own or with colleagues, it is our time to connect with and celebrate the people who fuel this movement. I hope to see you there!
Over the last twenty years, I have had the immense privilege of meeting so many brilliant, dedicated, and passionate people across the GOTR network. Thank you for the leadership you provide in your community. Your wisdom, passion, and expertise are ensuring that Girls on the Run remains strong, relevant, and responsive to the needs of girls today and for generations to come. It is an honor to serve alongside you as we celebrate this milestone year of building confidence, connection, and community.
With gratitude, |
Elizabeth Kunz
CEO, Girls on the Run International |
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Make plans today to join staff and board members at Summit 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio, from June 28-July 1.
Summit registration includes a dynamic mix of breakout sessions, general sessions, networking with sister councils, and shared experiences.
While every session offers meaningful value, several breakout sessions are specifically designed for board members, including board fundraising and board engagement. Summit also features a dedicated board networking session on Sunday afternoon and a meet and greet on Monday morning exclusively for council and HQ board members.
Registration also includes two Cleveland-specific experiences: -
Private event at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame — On Sunday, June 28, GOTR will take over the entire Hall, including the limited-time exhibit SNL: Ladies & Gentlemen … 50 Years of Music! For one evening only, experience a night surrounded by music legends and GOTR magic.
- Rock the Boat Dance Party on Lake Erie and the Cuyahoga River — On Tuesday, June 30, we will cap off Summit with an epic celebration on the water as we dance, laugh, and connect for an evening you won’t forget!
Find more information here. |
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Participate in Optional Excursions
We’re excited to offer the following optional excursions for attendees who want to explore more of Cleveland. Excursion sign-ups will open on a first-come, first-served basis the first week in March. - Historic walking tour in downtown Cleveland — Saturday, June 27, from 5 - 7 p.m.
- Explore Cuyahoga Valley National Park — Sunday, June 28, from 7:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.
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Cleveland Guardians baseball game with GOTR — Monday, June 29 at 5:30 p.m.
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We’re excited to share that the first Board Fundraising Cohort launched in January 2026, with board members from 18 councils participating. This initiative was created in response to the 2025 Board Survey, which identified board fundraising as the top area where boards wanted additional training and resources. This four-part live series equips board members to serve as confident ambassadors, active champions, and strong partners in advancing our mission. Sessions focus on sharing the organization’s story, expanding networks, strengthening the board’s role in revenue generation, and understanding the power of stewardship to build lasting donor and community relationships.
To date, council board members have participated in two of the four sessions and are already putting their learning into action with their boards! The next session will be offered in fall 2026. Participants shared helpful tips and early successes from the first session, Ambassadors in Action. |
(Board members at a Sneaker Soiree event. Front row, left to right: Dominique Samario, Ashley Leman, Ashley Tirona, Liz Aguillon, Yvonne Cortez. Back row, left to right: Cynthia Alcaraz, Heather Anderson, Eileen Harrison, Suzanne Beran, Dustin Arnette) |
Eileen Harrison, Girls on the Run Inland Empire board vice chair and cohort participant, shared, “My key takeaway from session one was the importance of the Ambassador Message. We each have a unique ‘why,’ and sharing it with passion makes it easier to talk about our work and invite others in. I saw this in action immediately during our first Sneaker Soirée in early February following the first session — its success was driven by the strong involvement and commitment of our board.”
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GOTR WestSound New Board Member Orientation. L-R: Stacey Rodriguez, Angelique Van Houten, Sam Quigle, Kayla Stewart, Melissa Shaub. |
From GOTR WestSound, cohort participants Melissa Shaub, board chair, and Kayla Stewart, board member, said, “During our recent board retreat, we introduced several activities from Ambassadors in Action. Our board completed the GOTR “Why” exercise and the Ambassador Network Map, and we also shared Ambassador Bingo to spark connection.
We selected these activities because we recently welcomed many new members, and this felt like an energizing way to help everyone get to know one another while grounding them in what it truly means to serve on the GOTR board.
The impact was immediate. Reflecting on each person’s GOTR ‘Why’ set a positive tone for our retreat and reinforced our shared mission. The Ambassador Network Map helped members — especially those newer to GOTR — see the collective strength of our connections and how our networks position us for success moving forward.” |
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Join us for the State of Our Boards webinar as we reflect on where our boards are today and where we’re headed next. We’ll share key findings from the 2025 Board Survey, celebrate the progress made since our last survey was administered in 2021, highlight what’s working well across our network, and showcase council-wide priority areas — along with preliminary tactics to address them as we continue strengthening our work together.
Whether you’re a longtime leader or newly engaged, this webinar offers valuable insights and a forward-looking roadmap for continued impact. Click here to register! |
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The 2025 Candid Nonprofit Compensation Report, formerly known as the GuideStar report, is now available on the Council Portal. This annual publication remains the most comprehensive source of nonprofit executive and key employee compensation data and is the only large-scale analysis of its kind. Whether you’re assessing pay information for current employees, budgeting for the upcoming year, or planning for organizational growth, this report is an important resource to help guide compensation decisions.
Now in its 25th edition, the report draws from compensation data reported on more than 130,000 Form 990s filed by 501(c) organizations for fiscal year 2023. Information is organized by state, metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs), organization type, and budget size.
To strengthen successful and sustainable nonprofit organizations, it is important to attract and retain exceptional leaders through fair and equitable compensation practices. All Girls on the Run council leaders and boards are strongly encouraged to utilize this report, along with other localized data, as a research tool and guide. To access the report and for support with compensation planning, please email your regional director.
As council leaders and boards prepare for budgets and compensation planning, review the organization’s Mission Advancement Markers and the Competitive Council Director Salary category, which assesses the council director's compensation utilizing the National Candid Report and Living Wage data to ensure council leadership is paid at or above the median salary or living wage (whichever is greater) for the local council. It is the board’s responsibility to annually assess the performance of the council director and set and evaluate their compensation. Please refer to page 6 of the FY24-26 Mission Advancement Markers Guidebook for more information on this category, indicator, and target.
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This webinar series, available on GOTR Learning Academy, is designed for council directors and board members who play a critical role in ensuring a smooth, successful leadership transition. Board members in particular will benefit from understanding how to stay actively engaged throughout the process—from planning to implementation—to safeguard continuity and organizational stability.
Whether your council is anticipating an upcoming leadership change or simply wants to be prepared for an unexpected or emergency transition, this series offers valuable guidance at any stage. Participants will learn practical strategies, proactive planning tools, and governance best practices to strengthen leadership readiness and support long-term organizational resilience. |
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As a reminder, the Board Resources Page is the online organizational hub for board members that requires no login. The page includes position descriptions, recruitment resources, board training supports, performance management tools, hiring resources, and more.
New additions, including board-specific fundraising resources and affiliate advisory board resources, will be added later in 2026. |
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Each council is assigned a regional director on the Girls on the Run HQ council development team. Regional directors are a critical resource and support system for council staff and boards. The regional team provides a wide range of supports to help councils thrive. These include team development and leadership training, organizational support, and guidance for succession planning and strategic growth. The team also offers specialized consultant expertise—from fund development and communications to volunteer support and risk management. Together, these services ensure councils have the tools and guidance needed for long term success.
If you have not yet established contact, consider reaching out today! |
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