Foundation for Young Women's Leadership Academy

The Foundation for the Young Women’s Leadership Academy of Fort Worth (FYWLA) secures resources that help YWLA students achieve success in college, career, and life. Through donor investment, strategic partnerships, and mission-driven programs, the Foundation expands opportunities for academic achievement, leadership development, college readiness, and experiences that reach beyond the classroom. Every investment in FYWLA is an investment in the potential of the next generation of women leaders.

At YWLA, our students are GEMS—Girls Excelling in Math and Science. STEM education gives young women opportunities to build the knowledge, confidence, creativity, and problem-solving skills needed to succeed in fields that are shaping our future. It opens pathways to high-demand careers and helps ensure that women bring their talents and perspectives to the innovations and solutions of tomorrow. When donors invest in girls in STEM, they invest in innovation, economic opportunity, and a stronger future for our entire community.

YWLA’s all-girls learning environment is intentionally designed to encourage students to take intellectual risks, discover their strengths, pursue challenging coursework, and see themselves as leaders. In classrooms, STEM programs, leadership opportunities, and extracurricular activities, young women have the opportunity to occupy every role—from scientist and engineer to team captain, student leader, and future CEO.

For students who may be the first in their families to attend college or who face financial and systemic barriers to higher education, access to opportunity can be transformative. YWLA combines academic rigor with early college preparation, leadership development, mentorship, and exposure to colleges, careers, and professional networks. This comprehensive approach helps students develop not only the academic preparation to enter college, but also the confidence, relationships, and skills to persist, graduate, build meaningful careers, and create lasting impact in their families and communities.

The results demonstrate what is possible when high expectations are matched with meaningful opportunity. In the 2022 U.S. News & World Report Best High Schools rankings, YWLA was ranked #1 in Fort Worth ISD, #8 in the Dallas–Fort Worth area, #21 in Texas, and #130 nationally. For 11 years and counting, 100% of GEMS have been accepted into a four-year college or university. 

Behind those outcomes are individual young women with extraordinary potential. Donor support provides the experiences, resources, and connections that can change the trajectory of a student’s life.