Houston’s Black Girls Do Engineering Corporation, founded by Kara Branch, has been named one of the 2024 Black Girls Dream Fund recipients, presented by the Southern Black Girls and Women’s Consortium.
As the only organization from Texas to receive this honor this year, Branch’s nonprofit continues to make significant strides in exposing Black girls to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education and careers.
“We’ve always had a strong national demand since we started in 2019, but to receive this grant, especially for the second year in a row, is incredibly humbling,” says Branch. “It’s a testament to the importance of the work we do and the impact we’re having.”
Founded in 2019, the Black Girls Do Engineering Corporation was born out of Branch’s personal experiences as a Black woman in STEM. As a chemical engineer and mother of three daughters, Branch saw firsthand the need for representation in the STEM fields.
“My daughter said she wanted to become a software engineer at nine. I knew from my experiences that she would likely face the same obstacles I did—being the only Black woman in the room,” says Branch. “That’s why I created this organization, to build a space for girls who look like her to feel empowered and prepared to take on the STEM world.”
Today, Black Girls Do Engineering serves girls ages six to 21, offering membership programs, hands-on STEM activities, mentorship, and college prep. The organization operates under three core pillars: membership, community engagement, and educator support. Through these pillars, girls are exposed to cutting-edge projects and receive enrichment through financial literacy, certification programs, and mentorship opportunities.
The Impact of the Black Girls Dream Fund Grant
Winning the Black Girls Dream Fund grant for the second consecutive year is more than just a financial boost for Branch’s organization. The grant, which supports Black women-led initiatives across the South, allows her to expand the organization’s reach and infrastructure.
“The funding has been crucial for us, especially because it supports our operations side,” says Branch. “Many grants fund the programs we do, but not many fund operational needs. This grant allowed us to hire 10 new team members, which has been a game-changer in terms of running the organization more smoothly and reaching more girls.”
With the additional resources, Black Girls Do Engineering has hosted over 30 events this year alone, expanding its footprint beyond Houston to cities like New York and New Orleans. This broader reach has allowed the organization to expose more girls nationwide to the possibilities within STEM fields.
“Last year, we impacted 2,000 girls thanks to this funding,” Branch shares. “That’s the power of support—when people back you, you can expand your team and, in turn, expand your reach.”
Despite the successes, Branch acknowledges that operating a Black-owned, Black-led nonprofit in the STEM field comes with its share of challenges, particularly when it comes to securing funding.
“Many organizations don’t see the ROI (return on investment) in DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) initiatives anymore. But we’ve been fortunate that companies have stuck with us because they see the quality of talent we’re producing,” Branch explains. “Our girls go to Ivy League schools, get job offers right out of high school, and companies are coming to us because they know we’re building a strong pipeline of Black women in STEM.”
The Black Girls Dream Fund, however, has remained a crucial partner. “In today’s climate, where DEI is under fire, this grant gives us the momentum to keep going. It shows us that someone still cares about the work we’re doing for Black girls in this space,” Branch says.
The Southern Black Girls and Women’s Consortium is working to address the massive funding gap for Black women and girls. Research shows that Black women and girls receive less than 1% of the $4.8 billion in philanthropic investments made annually in the southern United States. The Southern Black Girls are determined to change that, with an ambitious goal to raise $100 million over the next decade. To date, they have awarded $5 million to 250 Black women-led organizations, supporting over 800 girls across the southern U.S.
With a long-term goal of training 2 million girls in STEM by 2050, Black Girls Do Engineering is just getting started. The organization boasts a 100% college success rate and a 100% job placement rate for its members—statistics that speak volumes about the quality of its programming.
But for Branch, the goal isn’t just about getting more Black girls into STEM—it’s about ensuring they feel comfortable and supported in those spaces. “I want my girls to be able to be themselves,” she says. “When I started in STEM, I felt like I had to change everything about myself to fit in. I don’t want that for them.”
