Nonprofit Supplies Sports Bras to Underserved Girls
The Bras for Girls organization provides athletic gear and body-positive education to support youth sports participation.
Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Philanthropy
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Bras for Girls provides sports bras and educational materials to girls aged 8 to 18 to overcome physical barriers to exercise. The organization partners with community groups and Title 1 schools to distribute gear and promote confidence.
Why it matters
The organization works to address the trend where teenage girls are two times more likely to quit sports than boys by age 14. By providing proper support and education, the nonprofit aims to keep girls active and engaged in competitive sports.
The nonprofit has distributed more than 270,000 sports bras across all 50 U.S. states with the support of 35 inventory-donating brands. Research indicates 47% of young girls feel their breasts impact their participation in sports.
The players
Bras for Girls
This nonprofit organization provides athletic gear and educational materials to support sports participation for girls in underserved communities.
Oiselle
This is an athletic apparel company that founded the Bras for Girls program in 2017 before it transitioned to an independent entity.
The details
Bras for Girls distributes athletic wear through partnerships with schools and teams while hosting in-person fitting events. The organization also emphasizes the connection between athletics and leadership, citing that 94% of women in C-suite roles played competitive sports.
Timeline
2017: Bras for Girls launched as a program under Oiselle.
2021: The organization became an independent nonprofit.
2025: A total of 88,000 girls received sports bras.
November 1, 2026: Bras for Girls participates in the New York City Marathon.
2027: The group plans to release a standards-based curriculum and reach 5,000 classrooms.
Market Landscape
The organization prioritizes access to gear for youth in Title 1 schools, directly aligning its distribution strategy with federal initiatives for low-income education funding. This model highlights a growing focus on addressing systemic barriers that cause young girls to abandon organized sports.
The organization lowers the barrier to entry for youth participation by providing free equipment where costs might otherwise be prohibitive. Families and local teams can access these resources to ensure young athletes have the supportive gear necessary to stay active.
The takeaway
Addressing physical comfort and body confidence is a key factor in keeping adolescent girls in competitive athletics. Supporters and families can look to these resources to help mitigate the high attrition rates seen in girls' sports by age 14.
What happens next
Bras for Girls is scheduled to release a new sports bra fit curriculum in 2027 with a target of reaching 5,000 teams and classrooms.
Further reading
Learn more about the charitable efforts supporting youth engagement in the Philanthropy section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Sports Illustrated Swimsuit.
Live Poll
Should local communities prioritize better access to sports equipment to support youth participation?
