Nonprofit Spotlight: Girls on the Run New Jersey East Chapter

The Deed team sat down with Girls on the Run New Jersey East Chapter to talk about their important mission, and how companies can help drive more impact.

As part of our ongoing nonprofit spotlight series, Deed had the pleasure of speaking with Suzanne Elliott, Executive Director of Girls on the Run NJ East Chapter, to learn more about her leadership and the chapter’s impactful work across New Jersey.

Girls on the Run NJ East is a volunteer-driven organization dedicated to empowering girls in Burlington, Essex, Hunterdon, Mercer, Morris, and Union counties through a fun, evidence-based curriculum that fosters confidence, social–emotional development, physical activity, and meaningful connections. Since its founding in 2000, the chapter has served more than 25,800 girls across the state.

Continue reading Suzanne Elliott’s insights on the chapter’s history, mission, and how Deed’s partnership is helping Girls on the Run NJ East to unlock even more potential among its participants.

What motivated the creation of your organization?

“Sydney Davis actually started Girls on the Run NJ East back in 2000 with our very first team in Millburn, NJ. She tells the story so beautifully herself. She was in grad school for her Master’s in Counseling and working at a domestic violence shelter at the time—and that work really stayed with her. She was deeply moved by the strength of the women she met there and by how long and hard the journey was to leave an abusive relationship.

Years later, right after she’d had her second daughter, she came across an article about Girls on the Run launching in Charlotte. And she just knew—this was something she had to bring to her own community. Not just for her daughters, but for all girls and women. She felt it was the perfect, proactive way to help build confidence, community, and strength at such a formative age.”

How has your organization changed since it was originally founded? 

“Since 2000, we’ve had the privilege of serving more than 25,000 girls. Today, we’re active in six counties across New Jersey—Burlington, Essex, Hunterdon, Mercer, Morris, and Union. Our cornerstone program is still for girls in third through fifth grade, but we’ve also added Heart & Sole, which is designed for girls in sixth through eighth grade.

What’s really striking, though, is how much has stayed the same after 25 years. We’re still delivering programs that build confidence and support both physical and mental wellness. We remain deeply committed to serving all girls. And our core values—the ones we started with—continue to guide everything we do.”

How can someone best support your organization? 

“There are so many ways people can support Girls on the Run NJ East. Our volunteers are truly the heart of what we do, because every program is led by trained, caring volunteer coaches. Coaching is a commitment—about two and a half hours a week for eight weeks during either our fall or spring season—but it’s incredibly rewarding.

Of course, coaching isn’t the only way to get involved. We also rely on volunteers for our big end-of-season 5K events. Those are such joyful days, and we need help with everything from registration and course marshaling to ‘sparkle running’ alongside the girls, handing out water, and giving medals at the finish line. Volunteer registration for those events opens on our website at the start of each season, so it’s easy to sign up.

Another meaningful way to support us is through our sliding-scale program fees. We operate on a model where families who can pay, do pay, and it’s all self-reported—no questions asked. That means donations directly help us cover the cost for girls whose families might not otherwise be able to afford the program. In that way, you’re not just supporting the organization—you’re ensuring every girl who wants to participate has that chance.”

Are there any specific programs you would like to highlight?

“In 2025, we’re celebrating our 25th anniversary, which is such a milestone for us. We’re so proud to have empowered an entire generation of girls here in New Jersey—and we’re not slowing down. We’re continuing to grow so we can reach even more girls and make an even bigger impact.

One of the ways we’re marking the anniversary is with our 25 Voices campaign. It’s a collection of stories from people who’ve been part of Girls on the Run NJ East over the years—alumni, coaches, parents, board members, and supporters. You can actually read those stories on the News page of our website. We also announced the two winners of our 25th Anniversary ‘Limitless Potential’ Alumni Grant Award, which was a really special moment for us.”

How has Deed helped with support for your organization?

“Deed has been such a great tool for us. We’ve used it to recruit volunteers for our 5K events, which has been a huge help in making those days run smoothly. We’re also excited to explore more of what Deed offers and see how we can use its other features to support our work in the future.”

Deed’s conversation with Suzanne Elliott was a great reminder that so many nonprofit organizations begin with a passion for making a difference. Girls on the Run New Jersey East has spent 25 years empowering girls through programs that build confidence, foster connection, and encourage healthy habits for life. By partnering with Deed, Girls on the Run NJ East has been able to connect with volunteers and expand its reach—but there’s always room for more people to get involved, whether by coaching, volunteering at a 5K, or supporting program scholarships. We invite you to visit Girls on the Run NJ East’s Deed profile to learn more and join in their mission.