In 2000, the Women's Fund started a program designed to teach philanthropy to young girls. Girls Outreach (GO) jumpstarts a young girl's lifelong commitment of donating time, financial resources and talent. In this program, an adult establishes a donor-advised fund within the Women's Fund in the name of the young girl - as early as birth. The adult then determines at what age she can begin offering grants from her fund. Girls age six to 18 years old participate in educational programming and discuss various age-appropriate issues regarding community needs.

While other Women's Funds within the nation have similar programs, GO is the only program that uniquely combines the capability to disburse grants with the opportunity to participate in educational programming.

Girls participating in the educational programming of GO meet twice each year and instructional packets will be sent home to their families twice each year. According to Jennifer Pletcher, consultant for GO programming, the four educational components will all consist of preparation, action and reflection. The elementary aged girls will focus on caring, sharing, saving and giving while the Jr. High/High School girls will focus on philanthropy, charity, action and investments. The family packets may include such items as a book list with suggested reading, service projects, volunteer opportunities, or discussion questions for the family related to philanthropy.

Wendy Yerkes, a Women's Fund Board member, established a GO Fund in December 2000 to honor her seven year-old daughter, Samantha. "I hope that this fund starts my daughter on a long road to learning how to actively give back to the community. I want to pass on the tradition my parents taught me about giving with time, efforts and resources. I also hope Samantha will learn about what organizations are here to assist people and then find her own niche in helping others," stated Yerkes.

To enroll a girl in the GO program, an adult establishes a donor-advised fund for the child within the Women's Fund with a minimum of $1,000. As the girl matures, it is expected that the fund will grow, too, as the founding adult, other adults and even the girl contribute to it. The fund must reach $10,000 by the girl's eighteenth birthday. Once the girl reaches 18, the fund officially transfers to her name, becoming hers to use as a charitable vehicle for the rest of her life.

Lucy and Robert Riegel hope that philanthropy will be an important goal for their 4 ½ year old granddaughter, Nora Rose Klemm. The Riegels established a GO Fund to share their charitable values with her as she matures. "I would like my granddaughter to grow up knowing that she has to share any resources that she may have. I would also like her to have the experience of determining how individuals or organizations can benefit from her gift, regardless of the amount," stated Lucy.