I loved it! I was matched to the Lower East Side Business Improvement District (LES BID) for a summer internship. I was immediately given great responsibility and assigned a very interesting project which aimed to increase visitor-ship of LES. The Futures and Options mentors and my supervisor from the LES BID were very helpful and supportive; I really appreciate it. Eventually my summer internship lead to a weekend job and I am really grateful for this opportunity!
I worked with Futures and Options on a project this summer and it was clear the level of impact the organization has on its students’ outcomes. Futures and Options placed students with excellent companies and nonprofits that matched their interests, and helped them succeed at their internships. I was impressed by the organization’s professionalism and efficiency, and hope to work with them more in the future.
As a donor, I am incredibly impressed with the work of Futures and Options. Their programs give students the skills and training they need, plus offer great mentorship and career opportunities. Supporting this organization has been a rewarding experience, and I know that my donations are making a difference for so many bright young people.
For the past three summers, my department has had the pleasure of hosting Futures and Options interns. Working with these talented young individuals has been a truly rewarding experience. They have been an invaluable addition to our team, providing essential support and contributing creative solutions to our projects. I wholeheartedly recommend that other organizations participate in this unique and impactful program.
We have been partnering with Futures and Options for a few years now and cannot say enough good things about this organization. They truly care about the students they are working with and have a tremendous impact on their lives. We are going on 7+ year of partnership with this organization as they are dedicated, passionate, and a great team volunteer with.
I’ve been volunteering with Futures and Options for 3 years now, and I keep coming back because I believe it’s one of the most valuable and impactful organizations in NYC.
They are innovative and forward-thinking with their approach to connecting students to career exploration success. The team is driven & passionate about their work, which resonates with volunteers and students alike.
When I was younger, I wish I had something like Futures & Options. 10/10 recommend!
I have been a beneficiary of Futures and Options since being a NYC high school student. The organization provided me with my first internship out of college, which was foundational to guiding me towards an eventual career in the financial sector. The organization provides vital guidance and career advice to students like me that don't have the type of career guidance and opportunities from other sources in their lives (family, friends, school, etc.). F+O taught me how to leverage my college education and my own skills & talents to building an internship path through college, and eventually leveraging into a full time job. Additional support such as book scholarships, networking opportunities with alumni and partners, and a community of other students with similar backgrounds has continued to support me to this day. Thank you Futures and Options!!
Futures and Options is an incredible nonprofit that drives unparalleled impact on the lives of NYC youth. As an alumna of their internship program and a current junior board member, I can personally attest to the amazing work that Futures and Options does. From professional development workshops to mentorship programs, there are countless touch points for volunteers and alumni alike to get involved. The sense of community is the most remarkable part of the org- I’ve thoroughly loved getting to know fellow alum & fostering strong connections with everyone I’ve met so far.
Futures and Options is a wonderful organization! They guided me throughout high school and even college teaching me the importance of real life skills that are not taught in school. As a first-generation college student, I did not have family members who could help me with the college process and Futures and Options provided me with the guidance I needed to succeed.
As a former student who completed the Futures and Options Urban Leadership Fellows program, I am impressed by this organization's dedication to helping New York City youth lead a successful professional career. Not only are the workshops insightful and mentors motivating, the scholarships I received after my internship also relieved some financial burden from college tuition which I'm thankful for. Futures and Options is a great NPO that I hope can help more BIPOC students.
Futures and Options not only boasts a strong name but its actions mirror it. The ample opportunities that have been given to not only myself through this program, but to others as well is a testament to the fact that the work is being done. I was able to go into college with the confidence to punch above my weight because I had a Fortune 500 under my belt, thanks to Futures and Options. I am forever indebted to the program and would recommend it to anyone!
The East Village Community Coalition (EVCC) has successfully partnered with Futures and Options since 2018. Futures and Options' dedicated personnel consistently deliver a high-quality experience for both high school student interns from a wide variety of backgrounds and their host site supervisors.
Working with this program is a win-win for our tiny organization, helping us to make a big impact in our neighborhood, while keeping our organizational commitment to youth development. The Futures and Options intern program allows us to serve our community through civic engagement and data collection projects that we simply wouldn't be able to take on otherwise. Youth of color gain real world experience in how to make an impact in their communities, while we gain insights from the next generation of citizens and business leaders to inform our work. We're confident that they'll go on to create the changes they deserve to see, thanks to Futures and Options!
Futures and Options has been an amazing partner for our organization. We always know that when Futures and Options sends us an intern resume to review, they will be well-suited for the roles we have available, and that they will be there providing support during the entire internship experience. The entire team answers our questions and concerns, trains the interns, and makes sure to check in. I’m grateful to have a great partnership such as Futures and Options by our side.
We have worked with the amazing Futures & Options for four years. Each year the experience somehow gets better and better. The work they do has a tangible and noticeable impact for both students and businesses.
“Future and Options creates Future Leaders” since my introduction to them for at least a decade, I’ve been able to utilize their interns in rewarding activities yo explore careers, provide mentorship, and build necessary skills not only related to work, but also to career exploration and in college prep.
Their students are always prepared, and even during their internship that are provided workshops and Checkin to connect the dots to this experience.
In fact, many if their alums I’ve stayed in touch with, and am highly impressed with the adults that are becoming.
I wholeheartedly endorse this program, the leadership, the staff, and their mission.
Futures and Options is an amazing organization that enriches the lives of students and professionals through programming and mentorship. I’ve had a wonderful experience working with this organization!
I have been a member of the Futures and Options Junior Board since 2021 and it has been such an incredible and rewarding experience. I have been able to make a real impact in the lives of the individuals we seek to help either through a variety of channels such as company visits at my office or volunteering for alumni events. The organization has been so helpful throughout my tenure making it so easy to support them and their amazing work, while also achieving my goals within the nonprofit. They are constantly open to hearing feedback and new ideas and always trying to improve their work. I have loved working with the organization and hope to continue for many years to come!
People define success in many ways, based on personal experiences, uprisings, and socioeconomic status. As a young man from the Bronx raised in a single-parent household with little to no opportunities, Futures and Options served as that beacon of light and provided me with something worth more than gold, an opportunity. While in high school I had the opportunity to participate in Futures and Options' career essentials program where I developed the critical skills needed to succeed in the workforce, and through that program, I was able to secure an Internship at Morgan Stanley while in high school. Fast forward through Futures and Options, I was able to secure another role at Morgan Stanley while in college that was a year-long, all while obtaining good grades from the health college habits Futures and Options provided us with. Currently, I'm at UBS Financial Services and this was only possible through 1. Futures and Options network and 2. the skills I developed through all the amazing career workshops Futures and Options provided me. I am so passionate about the work Futures and Options is committed to that I've decided to join their Junior board of directors to help continue their efforts of helping inner-city young adults like myself gain the skills necessary in this dynamic and ever-changing market. To circle back, my definition of success is one's impact on another individual's life in a positive way, and I can wholeheartedly say Futures and Options is successful in elevating the life of every inner-city young adult who walks through the doors of Futures and Options, including my own.
I love volunteering with this organization and its mission! It's really inspiring to see how Futures and Options strive to provide NYC youths, particularly youths from underrepresented communities to received the resources and professional development they need to pursue higher education and meaningful careers in life. The staff works really hard to organize great events from resume review to financial literacy workshops to help students become well-rounded in today's economy. It's been a rewarding experience for me to volunteer for this organization and give back to the community.
I became involved with Futures and Options through my company's volunteer engagement page. Having had a background in volunteering in the past, I thought that this organization would have given me the perfect opportunity to continue that trend.
Now, over a year later, I could not be happier with the decision I made to become involved with F&O. Not only do I get the opportunity to engage with bright, driven, and motivated students in the NYC area, but I also have made a plethora of fantastic connections with the people in the F&O network. The programs created by the coordinators are always excellent (and incredibly well attended). The volunteers and junior board members are engaged and always bring enthusiasm and a willingness to help out. I think that F&O is an exemplary organization in the New York area that actively improves the lives of its students. I am glad to be associated with Futures and Options.
Futures and Options taught me various life skills, that can help me navigate my way through the real world. Such as teaching me to write my own resume, present myself in interviews, and in my new jobs. Moreover, the program helped me obtain my internship at the Hospital for Special Surgery, at a young age. Futures and Options believed in my potential when no one else did.
As a Futures and Options alum and junior board member, I've had first-hand experience of the impact the organization has had on my academic and professional career. The individual support, mentorship, and skill-building sessions helped me become more well-informed about potential career paths and contributed to my success at my current role. Since graduating from the program, I have been continuously impressed by the new initiatives and scaled impact the organization has had in the community and beyond. Futures and Options is a fantastic organization and I highly recommend it to anyone interested!
Futures and Options empowers young individuals with the essential skills and opportunities required to excel in today's dynamic job market. As an alumnus of the program and a current volunteer, I've witnessed firsthand the profound positive impact it has on students embarking on their careers. This organization offers life-changing opportunities.
Futures and Options commitment to serving underserved youth to explore career in New York City is unparalleled relative to other nonprofits and private institutions in career development. The organization is wonderfully run and the real-time positive impact and change can be seen in the youths participating in the programs.
Been involved with the organization for the past three years - a true representation of top-down collective spirit in advocating for the welfare and growth of NYC’s most underserved youth communities. Honored to be part of the mission.
Futures and Options is a wonderful organization with a powerful mission to help underserved youth reach their full potential. The programs are truly exceptional, professionally managed and provide meaningful guidance to the students who participate. I’m proud to help support F&O and look forward to watching it continue to grow!
Being involved with Futures and Options means you will be getting to know the students involved in the program. I personally have experienced this in multiple ways including mentorships and various events. This aspect makes involvement with F&O extremely impactful and very unique. Through the pandemic, Futures and Options quickly adapted to continue to provide support and programming to students. Futures and Options has continued and tangible success supporting students with internships, college admission, career advice and beyond.
Futures and Options' incredible staff members are dedicated to the organization's mission and wore tirelessly to provide optimal services to employer partners and young people throughout New York City. The organization does an excellent job of introducing high school students to career paths they might not otherwise have know about, and its programs give students the confidence and skills needed to create paths of their own.
The people and the resources provided by Futures and Options far exceeded my expectation. As a high schooler, I was able to be connected to numerous opportunities in my area, and I was also able to attend workshops that were provided by Futures and Options.
Overall, their support defined my last year in high school, and their work has sincerely impacted my ability and confidence to go into the workforce.
Fantastic board and leadership. The work they are doing is so important in this movement towards equality and opportunity for all.
I am truly honored to be part of such a great organization. Futures and Options helps hundreds of underserved high school students each year prepare for work and college through paid internships. It's not easy to find and fund so many internships and to keep track and manage the students. F&O has built a great brand with employers who know that an F&O intern come ready and eager to work
I have been volunteering for several years and enjoy my interactions with the students. It is extremely rewarding to see the growth with the students and to see them do so many amazing things with their lives and see them give back!
I have attended and participated in many Futures and Options events with different cohorts of students and I have enjoyed these so much! I have been impressed by the maturity and the quality of interactions I got with the students both during mock interviews and career networking.
The Futures and Options team is impressive at coordinating these events and is always on the lookout for new ways to innovate and bring the best learning and experience to the students.
I truly believe in the work they are doing and the value they are delivering!
I have been involved with Futures and Options for almost four years now. They are an incredible organization that truly helps inspire the underserved youth in NYC. I started as a member of the Young Professionals Committee, then as chairman of the fundraising, and most recently as the co-chairman of the junior board.
Futures and Options does a remarkable job bringing equity into the next generation's workforce, and providing an abundance of opportunities to students in New York City they may not have had otherwise. Their attention to detail and dedication to each student is what sets them apart in this field. I am very proud to be associated with an organization that is doing such important and necessary work to change the lives of young people all over the city.
I am on the board of Futures and Options, and I remain a board member because of just how impactful the group is and how well run things are run for the organization.
I have looked at a number of similar groups and there is a 'secret sauce' to this group which creates just an amazing outcome for the students and supporting companies. The 'return rate' of companies seeking interns is extremely high and for a reason. The interest in students each year also continues to grow through word of mouth of prior participants. Futures & Options is a self-enabling success story that continues to grow for all the right reasons. In a time of strife, it is wonderful to be a part of such an effective group which is helping those who have need and to do so in a way that all can rally around its cause and purpose.
Futures and Options is a great space to learn more about yourself and also about you future options. It gives everyone a place to develop their interests and passions with the help of mentors and peers.
I definitely recommend Futures & Options to others. I joined F+O at the beginning of this year and it was a wonderful experience. The staff works very hard to ensure that students are placed in an internship site. I was placed at AMS in the summer and while interning there F+O provided workshops once a week to guide the interns on what's expected of them in the workplace and how we can better ourselves. I am still at AMS interning for the fall and the things I learnt from F+O is still helping me today. Another thing I like about F+O is that even after graduating from High School, they still plan different events for college students which helps us to remain in contact with them. Overall F+O is a great organization to get involved with.
I definitely recommend every youth in New York City to join Futures and Options. My experience with Futures and Options has been great, F+O prepared me for the future by making me experience what it is like to conduct myself in the professional world. I am currently part timing (while in college) for the same company that F+O helped me gain an internship from. Not to mention that the staff in F+O are very friendly! They really make the workshops fun and engaging. I love them! Keep it up Futures and Options!
Futures and Options is a great program. I recommend this program to anyone. I talk very highly about the staff and how well this program is. I'm very thankful for the opportunity they had given me the past year. I'm currently applying for my 3rd internship with futures and options, I'm looking forward to another wonderful learning experience with them. They have helped me in many ways that I couldn't have imagined and I'm very thankful for their help.
I am very appreciative and thankful of all the opportunities I have received from this amazing non profit that has workers who are very passionate and diligent! This summer, through the internship program, I had the great opportunity of interning at MetroNY Newspaper! My experience at MetroNY was productive and nurturing, and that is all because of FuturesandOptions! Thank you Rebecca, Claire, Jackie, Joanna, Janay, Tes, Patty and everyone at F+O for letting me into your world and developing me with positivity through my teenage years!
Future and options was awesome. I couldn't be more thankful of the opportunity I got. I wanted to gain experience from cooperate America and that is what they gave me. I learned a lot about what I wanted to do and they helped me answer my questions of my career. Another good thing about it is that they have an fun workshop which teaches you to improve better at your job. Also you get to put it on your resume and get ahead of others when applying for a job. All I have to say is that if your in high school and looking to get ahead of your future and career then please without any doubt, go to future and options!!!!!!
Like many teenagers my age, I was having trouble finding a program that would make my summer fulfilling and give me insights into the real world. I was puzzled by this dilemma for weeks until the program director of my leadership program introduced me to Futures and Options (F&O). Looking back, I feel so grateful to have found F&O because not only did F&O match me with an internship site that corresponded to my preferences , it also did an amazing job hosting weekly workshops for me and other interns. These workshops taught us professionalism and the norms of the workplace. I learned rudimentary office mannerism like the proper way to respond to emails. This might sound trivial to many working professionals, but as a teenager, this was all a learning experience for me. I didn't even know there was such thing called phone etiquette. They also brought us on career exploration trips. These memorable trips showed me a wide scope of career options. The trip to the NY County DA's office was extraordinarily memorable because it gave me a closer look at the court system and the criminal justice field, things that I wouldn't have been exposed to if it wasn't for F&O. Furthermore, my growth was catalyzed by the awe-inspiringly patient staff members. F&O's staff members were extremely patient and informative. They supported me constantly and answered all the questions I had. At first, I was a bit nervous about interning for the first time, but this worry was dismissed after the staff members guided and prepared me for the professional work place. Because of them, I felt confident at my internship site. I had a marvelous time interning at a LEGO robotics camp called Robofun. I never would have gotten the opportunity to experience this and expand my horizon if it wasn't for F&O. Like I've told many of my friends, if it wasn't for Futures and Options, I would have spent most of my days on Netflix. It's the truth.
Honestly, Futures and Options is one of the greatest platforms to gain the experience of a real job. Over the summer, Futures and Options provided me with an internship at CrowdsUnite. At first, I was unhappy because I wanted to do more of a Finance route and I had been placed in marketing. Gradually, I found a passion for Marketing and Press Release which I never knew I even had. Futures and Options even had workshops every thursday where you meet up with the wonderful staffs and talk about how work is going and how you can be more successful in your workplace. Thanks to Futures and Options, I had one of the greatest summers of my life, and I made tons of money doing so!!!
Futures and Options is an excellent program that provides the youth experience in the working world. It is an amazing program in which involves hard work, workshops, advice and snacks! I was an intern at Futures and Options and i applied again for the Fall season. I gained worked experience and has changed me in a way of become more mature and responsible. The staff there are friendly and very approachable. I recommend anyone who wants to gain work experience and also prepare for college.
Futures and Options provides a great opportunity for NYC youth to interact with nation-wide professionals through the Summer Internship Program. It also helps the youth mind to think about their prolong lives, college and careers they may dream of. My experience at Futures and Options has made me more aware of what the "outside world" expects from the youth in the workforce and the education field. Becoming a member of Futures and Options, I have grasped a lot of connections in the work industry and this program also function as my guideline to different opportunities that college will offer.