How does your organization accomplish that mission?

TLT prepares emerging leaders through a comprehensive leadership development model that combines education, mentorship, experiential learning, and meaningful professional opportunities. Rather than relying solely on classroom instruction, our programs immerse participants in collaborative cohorts that mirror today’s workplace, helping them build confidence, leadership capacity, and career readiness.

Our signature programs include:

TLT Leading Leaders Internship Program
A structured, remote leadership internship that combines meaningful work experience with a comprehensive leadership curriculum, executive mentorship, professional networking, and career coaching. Since June 2020, 728 participants have developed transferable leadership competencies while supporting nonprofit and community initiatives across Texas.

TLT Youth Leadership Academy
A leadership development program for students in grades 5–12 that strengthens communication, teamwork, financial literacy, civic engagement, problem-solving, and personal responsibility through interactive, project-based learning.

TLT Online Learning Library
A free digital learning platform providing self-paced courses in leadership, career readiness, financial literacy, higher education preparation, and life skills. The library has expanded educational access to learners in more than 148 Texas ZIP codes, helping remove geographic and financial barriers.

Veterans Gateway & Adult Leadership Programs
These programs are designed to help veterans and adult learners translate existing skills into meaningful career pathways, civic leadership, and community engagement through mentoring, workforce development, and leadership training.

Together, these programs create a leadership pipeline that equips participants to become confident professionals, engaged citizens, mentors, and future community leaders.

When was your organization founded and why?

TLT – Tomorrow’s Leaders Today was founded in 2019 by Elaine Smith-Poyourow after witnessing firsthand how access—or lack of access—to mentorship and professional experiences can dramatically shape a young person’s future.

Although her two children earned similar college degrees, their career outcomes were vastly different. One benefited from internships, professional mentors, and networking opportunities that accelerated his career. The other, despite equal talent and education, struggled to find those same opportunities.

Recognizing that success should never depend on who someone knows or the opportunities available in their ZIP code, Elaine created TLT to close that gap. What began as a mission to increase access to mentorship has grown into a statewide leadership development organization serving young adults, youth, veterans, and adult learners throughout Texas.

Today, TLT partners with employers, colleges, volunteers, and community leaders to ensure that individuals—especially those from low-to-moderate-income communities—have equitable access to leadership development, career preparation, and transformational learning experiences.

Is there a specific event or accomplishment that you would like us to highlight?

One of TLT’s greatest accomplishments has been scaling our impact while remaining committed to accessibility and affordability.

Since launching in 2019, TLT has expanded its reach across Texas, partnering with more than 60 colleges and universities while delivering leadership development programs that remove financial barriers for participants.

Recent milestones include:

• Serving 1,792 individuals across Texas in 2025 through leadership, workforce, and educational programming.
• Increasing participation from low-to-moderate-income communities from 59.26% in 2023 to 98% by the end of 2025, ensuring our programs reach those who need them most.
• Mobilizing 23,893 volunteer, intern, and board service hours during 2025, representing more than $831,000 in community value, allowing us to keep programs available at little or no cost.
• Continuing to expand our free Online Learning Library and remote leadership internship opportunities, making high-quality leadership development accessible regardless of location.

Perhaps our proudest achievement is watching participants grow into confident leaders who return as mentors, volunteers, employers, and advocates—creating a leadership pipeline where today’s participants become tomorrow’s leaders who invest in the next generation.

Why is North Texas Giving Day important to your organization?

North Texas Giving Day is one of the most important opportunities each year for TLT to invest directly in the future workforce and community leaders of North Texas.

Every dollar raised helps remove financial barriers that often prevent students from participating in career-building experiences. Contributions fund intern stipends, leadership curriculum, technology, learning materials, mentorship programming, and professional development opportunities that allow participants to gain valuable experience without financial hardship.

Because nearly all of our participants come from low-to-moderate-income households, these resources often determine whether a student can accept an internship, complete a leadership program, or gain the skills needed to launch a successful career.

North Texas Giving Day doesn’t simply support a program—it helps create a stronger workforce, develops future civic leaders, and expands opportunity for young people who may not otherwise have access to these life-changing experiences.

When you invest in TLT, you’re investing in the next generation of leaders who will strengthen businesses, nonprofits, schools, and communities throughout North Texas and across our state.

For more information visit www.tltleaders.org or email info@tltleaders.org