When Krystall Lee King, CFP®, APMA™, Private Wealth Advisor and Managing Director of The 365 Group, a financial advisory practice of Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC, nominated Cool Girls for an Invest in Others Grant for Change in 2022, she was investing in a simple but powerful idea: when girls have the support, resources and encouragement to believe in themselves, they can change their world.
Three years later, Cool Girls continues to demonstrate just how powerful that investment can be.
Founded on the mission to inspire girls to change their world through mentoring, personal development and educational opportunities, Cool Girls provides girls across Atlanta with opportunities to build confidence, develop leadership skills, explore new interests and envision their futures.
The 2022 Invest in Others grant supported the organization’s Girls Club Program, an evidence-based afterschool program that provided 166 girls at seven Atlanta-area school sites with 25 weeks of empowerment-focused programming.
Girls participated in workshops focused on self-esteem, leadership, conflict resolution, health and wellness, social media responsibility and STEAM. The results were striking.
89% of participating girls reported increased feelings of self-confidence and self-worth, while 90% said Cool Girls was a safe place where they could be themselves without judgment.
An investment that keeps growing
In its recently shared 2025–26 Impact Report, Cool Girls reported another year of significant accomplishments—and a continued commitment to helping girls build the skills and confidence they need to thrive.
During the 2025–26 school year, the organization’s award-winning Girls Club program operated for 26 weeks, including at its newest partner school, Dresden Elementary. Girls participated in evidence-based programming designed to build confidence, leadership skills and academic success.
The program also continued to expand girls’ experiences beyond the classroom. Participants took enriching field trips to Zoo Atlanta, Midtown Bowl and the Atlanta Science Festival, while 15 STEAM workshops introduced them to science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics.
The organization’s broader programming is helping girls prepare not only for the challenges of today, but for opportunities well into the future.
Helping girls see what’s possible
Cool Girls’ recent results show a continued emphasis on social-emotional learning and STEM education.
According to the 2025–26 Impact Report, 90% of Girls Club participants completed social-emotional learning workshops, developing skills in coping and emotional regulation through activities such as mindfulness, breathwork and cognitive reframing.
And 91% of participants completed interactive, hands-on STEAM workshops, giving girls opportunities to explore STEM fields while building confidence and envisioning themselves pursuing careers in STEM and beyond.
That work is particularly meaningful at a time when girls continue to face social pressures and stereotypes that can influence whether they see STEM careers as an option for themselves. Cool Girls is working to change that narrative by giving girls hands-on experiences—and the encouragement to see themselves as future innovators and changemakers.
The impact extends into the future
Cool Girls’ commitment to girls’ long-term success also reaches beyond its afterschool programming.
In 2025–26, $77,000 in college scholarships was awarded to 22 Cool Scholars pursuing higher education. Among high school seniors in the program, 100% completed high school and are expected to attend college the following school year.
High school participants also took part in workshops focused on financial literacy, career and college readiness, reproductive health and SAT/ACT preparation. Sixteen students participated in an Extreme College Road Trip to New Orleans, where they toured four colleges and universities, while job-shadowing opportunities introduced students to careers in hospitality and HVAC.
These opportunities demonstrate the evolution of Cool Girls’ work: from helping girls build confidence and discover their voices to helping them navigate the path toward college, careers and independence.
More than a program. A place to belong.
At the heart of the work is something that can be difficult to measure but easy to recognize: belonging.
Cool Girls’ programming is designed to give girls a consistent community where they can develop social-emotional skills, form relationships and learn how to navigate the complexities of life. The organization notes that evidence-based social-emotional learning can strengthen self-esteem, emotional regulation and peer relationships while helping girls communicate effectively and handle challenges with resilience.
A recent testimonial from a Cool Girls alum illustrates what that can look like years later. Now a third-year college student, she reflected that the program helped her understand that leadership isn’t simply about being in charge, it is about showing up, supporting others and setting a positive example. She credited Cool Girls with teaching her to speak up for herself, encourage others and carry herself with confidence, skills that have continued to help her in school, at work and in everyday life.
That is the kind of impact that extends well beyond 25 weeks of programming.
Investing in what’s possible
The 2022 Invest in Others Grant for Change helped Cool Girls provide girls with opportunities to grow in confidence, explore new areas of learning and develop skills that could serve them for years to come.
Today, the organization is continuing that work, reaching girls at additional school sites, expanding STEAM opportunities, supporting social-emotional development and investing in the next generation through college scholarships and career exploration.
And the impact is being made possible by a community of supporters who believe in the potential of girls.
In its latest Impact Report, Cool Girls celebrated 110 dedicated volunteers, including volunteers from 11 corporate and community groups, who helped make its programs successful.
For Invest in Others, Cool Girls is a powerful reminder of why supporting the charitable work championed by financial advisors matters. A grant can help fund a program today, but its impact can continue to grow as girls carry the confidence, skills and experiences they gain into school, careers, communities and their own futures.
Krystall Lee King saw that potential in Cool Girls in 2022. The organization’s continued growth shows that potential is becoming reality.
Girls are finding their voices. They’re building confidence. They’re exploring what’s possible. And they’re becoming the changemakers Cool Girls has always believed they could be.
Invest in Others is proud to have played a part in that journey!
