Annual Report 2025
Dear Friends of Student Leadership Network,
As we approach three decades of advancing educational access, we’re deeply grateful for your unwavering support.
Through our Girls’+ Education and College Access and Success services, Student Leadership Network has impacted nearly
80,000 students to date, building the confidence, skills, and knowledge they need to thrive. Our team creates a culture where college and career exposure starts early.
With our guidance, the Class of 2025 secured over $32 million in financial aid and scholarships to make their college dreams a reality. In addition, our College Persistence programs continue to support high school graduates long after they arrive on college campuses.
Beyond direct student programming, we’ve partnered with educators, counselors, principals, and district leaders across Atlanta, Baltimore, Buffalo, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, New York City, Rochester, and Wilmington, NC— providing professional development and building the capacity of the adults who are instrumental to student success.
I hope you’re inspired and energized as you go through the following sections, discovering innovations in our program models, new partnerships, and stories from students and alumni who are paying it forward.
Thank you for believing in our work and continuing to champion our mission of equalizing access to education for ALL students.
We couldn’t do it without you!
Always my best,
Yolonda B. Marshall, Chief Executive Officer
Network Highlights
In 2025, Student Leadership Network continued to deepen the impact of our Girls’+ Education and College Access programs. Here is a snapshot of the moments and milestones that defined this year!
Town & Country Philanthropy Issue Feature
Town & Country selected Yolonda Marshall, CEO of Student Leadership Network, for its philanthropy issue, highlighting visionary leaders driving meaningful change through their organizations.
More Network Highlights:
In October 2024 we hosted our annual (Em)Power Breakfast celebration, bringing together over 400 guests to honor notable alumni and raise funds for our programs.
“I would not be who I am without this organization. That kind of individualized care—rooted in love, expectation, and advocacy—is exactly what makes Student Leadership Network so powerful.”
TALIA SCOTT
Girls’+ Education
We partner with district, charter, and tuition-free schools to provide high-quality education for girls+. Using our WholeGirl+ Education model, we provide professional development for teachers and tailored coaching for school leaders to advance their success and satisfaction in their roles. Since the launch of The Young Women’s Leadership Schools (TYWLS) in 1996, we have grown to support a national network of 25 girls’+ schools in eight states impacting over 12,000 young women annually.
Expanded Los Angeles Programming
This year we brought our TYWLS at the Workplace career exploration model to our affiliate school, Girls Academic Leadership Academy (GALA) in Los Angeles, for a robust day of panel discussions, networking, and career mentorship in partnership with corporate donor Apollo Global Management.
More Girls’+ Education highlights:
Our annual teacher-led professional development day brought together 180+ TYWLS faculty members to participate in 36 workshops and share their expertise across the network.
142 educators and program practitioners from 18 states joined us for our 2025 WholeGirl+ Education National Conference, Future Pathways: Educating Girls+ in the Next Digital Age.
Our Girls’+ Education team offered customized coaching and support to school leadership at our affiliates in Baltimore, Las Vegas, and Rochester. We also offered professional development for teachers and curriculum support in Atlanta, Kansas City, and Rochester.
College Access & Success
We advance educational opportunity through our CollegeBound Initiative (CBI) model, providing comprehensive college and post-secondary counseling for all students and families, and professional learning and capacity building at the school and district levels. Data shows that working with Student Leadership Network resulted in students enrolling in four-year colleges at double the rate of their national peers. Our college access programs impact 43,000+ students annually.
CollegeBound Initiative Partners
We welcomed High School for Youth & Community Development in New York City and Math, Science, and Technology Academy in Buffalo to our CBI network, providing each school with a full-time Director of College Counseling and access to our network’s resources.
More College Access & Success highlights:
We partnered with two additional schools in Buffalo to provide workshops that increase the number of successful college applications. Five NYC schools signed on for counselor coaching and student workshops throughout the year.
Our CollegeJourney program tripled its reach from supporting 84 students to over 300 in FY25, boosting college persistence for participants by 10% across a growing cohort of students at CUNY campuses.
A Distinguished Scholarships Roundtable event introduced prestigious Posse Foundation and QuestBridge programs to 100 students across the network. The highly competitive programs partner with private colleges and universities to offer full-tuition scholarships.
Equalizing Education. Achieving Success.
Our Impact: Alumni Stories
Journey
The Young Women’s Leadership School (TYWLS) of Manhattan, Howard University
Whenever I was having a rough day, my teachers at TYWLS ensured that I was in the correct headspace to complete my schoolwork to the best of my ability. They encouraged my classmates and me to be kind to one another and assist others. Their academic guidance also prepared me for post- secondary schooling. I don’t find college coursework too hard to adapt to because TYWLS shaped my academic foundation.
“ I absolutely loved my time at TYWLS! The teachers are one of the best highlights of the whole experience.”
More TYWLS alumni stories:
Lizbeth
The Young Women’s Leadership School of Manhattan, QuestBridge Scholar at Wesleyan University
“Getting to learn at a woman-founded company was really meaningful, and it got be thinking about majoring in business or economics.”
LIZABETH
Mayisha
The Young Women’s Leadership School of Astoria, Hunter College, Teachers College, Columbia University
“TYWLS gave me the ability to be critical of the world we live in and realize my voice has power.”
MAYISHA
Rob
East Community High School,
University at Buffalo
My parents immigrated from Malaysia so that my siblings and I could have better educational opportunities. Doing well in school and attending college were always part of my plan. I loved exploring college options through all of the fairs, rep visits, and trips that Mrs. Monahan, our Director of College Counseling, organized. I was in her office almost every day, asking questions, and I attended every college fair in school.
“ I tried to go on as many college trips as possible. Seeing the campuses and what students are up to solidified what environment I want to be in.”
More CBI alumni stories:
Omar
Validus Preparatory Academy, Gates Scholar at Howard University
“I’m a first-generation student, and if I had to give advice to other first-gens, I’d say try to utilize any resources available to you.”
OMAR
Nuriely
The Laboratory School of Finance & Technology, Barnard College
“Some of the standout moments of my college search happened on the college trips organized by my Director of College Counseling.”
NURIELY
Our Financials: Fiscal Year 2025
Student Leadership Network is proud to report another year of strong support from our donors. Your generosity and commitment to educational access for all enabled us to focus on both expanding our programs and deepening our impact. As we continue to serve more students across the country, we remain committed to fiscal prudence and sustainability.
Thank you!
Thank you to our Board of Directors, volunteers, corporate partners, supporters, alumni, and staff for their dedication and commitment to our students. We couldn’t do this work without you!
