Future Foundation has gone from serving under ten students to thousands of students over 22 years. It didn’t happen overnight, and it didn’t happen alone. The success we have seen is 100% graduation rates for middle and high school youth.
It has been through our staff empathy, solidarity, and unwavering belief in empowering every student who walks through our doors regardless of circumstances. Tremendous credit also goes to our community partners including schools and administrators for their partnership and willingness to lock arms with us to help support the education of our youth.
The importance of empowering local initiatives
While there are global nonprofits and incredible initiatives taking place, one of the most significant aspects of donating to local communities and nonprofits is the direct impact it creates.
Local nonprofits operate on a smaller scale, making their work more community-specific and tailored to the immediate needs of the area. Every single one of our donors can feel confident knowing their dollars are making an immediate difference in the lives of our students in underserved communities.
Our unrestricted dollars–dollars that support the overall mission of an organization and are not required for a specific use–are how we pay for student transportation and operating expenses such as bus transport, gas, bus driver wages, after-school snacks, and summer program meals.
The impact of donations doesn’t stop there. On top of the tangible difference donor dollars make for our students, such as feeding and transporting them, there’s a ripple effect that begins to happen with every dollar donated.
Student belief and trajectory
The bar becomes limitless when our students have the basic resources they need to learn. When our students are wondering where their next meal is coming from, they’re not able to think forward. They’re living day by day and with the educational backing of Future Foundation, we can provide students with educational support they may otherwise not receive to change the trajectory of their lives and we are able to help their parents support their growth.
Take it from one of our student ambassadors who said:
“I love Future Foundation because of the staff. They are fun. I also like Future Foundation because it gives my mommy time to pick me up after she gets off work and I don’t have to worry about where I will be after school. And the kids are fun.”
What child should have to worry about where they’re going to go after school? Students who do not have a place to go after school are not the ones who are thinking about picking up a textbook and doing their homework. That’s exactly where we come in.
Through our support, we also have students who said:
“What I really love about Future Foundation is that they are very kind teachers…[who] help us with our homework, and they teach different stuff like being careful in life and making sure you are doing the right thing in life.”
Giving to the Future Foundation does not just help our students now… It impacts them for years to come. When our students have the confidence to understand they are limitless, we know we have made a real impact on their lives.
Beyond student impact
While we aim to support students in every way we can, we also want the entire family to feel supported. One of our parent ambassadors said:
“At the time [my family and I were introduced to Future Foundation] I only thought that this was a no-cost after-school program that would assist with transportation and be a safe haven for my daughter while I worked late hours. However, we were introduced to something much larger than we expected; we met a second family!”
Parents are a pivotal part of our mission; when we can eliminate their worry, they can show up stronger for the whole family.
Fostering social cohesion
These small progressive steps we take can strengthen the social fabric of a community. It encourages a sense of collective responsibility and solidarity among residents. When we can come together as individuals to support a common cause, it fosters a sense of belonging and shared purpose.
This bond can even extend beyond financial contributions by creating networks of volunteers and advocates of our cause.
Future Foundation 2023 accomplishments
2023 has been an incredible year for us, and we are eager to share our wins.
- Growing summer programs
We’ve successfully increased the number of students who have participated in our five-week courses to 110. These students come from six different high schools and middle schools. Our summer program was enriched with 20 field trips on topics ranging from education to health and wellness to arts. These trips serve as a means to promote social and emotional engagement and expand our students’ curiosity.
- Strategic hiring and leadership
As our foundation grows, so does the support we need to successfully achieve our mission. We welcomed a Chief of Staff to facilitate operational restructuring, staff growth, and the enhancement of our human resource systems.
We also introduced three new Program Managers, which served as a strategic move to enhance the seamless delivery of our programs at Future Foundation.
- Revitalized fundraiser
Keep It 100 is our signature fundraiser, and this year, we were able to introduce its return post-pandemic! Not only were we able to bring together past donors but also new and present ones. It was an incredible testament to the power of collective effort and a passion for helping our students.
We continue to push forward and grow in every aspect of our organization; our team, our reach, our impact, and we hope you’ll join us. Once you’re part of Future Foundation, you’re not just a donor, you’re family.
If you feel inclined to donate, you can do so here:
