Future Plans Launches 17,000 Futures Campaign to Help Thousands of Ohioans Take the First Step Toward a Brighter Future

Across rural communities in Ohio, thousands of people are ready to build a brighter future if they are given a place to start. Right now, roughly 17,000 Ohioans are waiting for that first step.

Future Plans has launched the 17,000 Futures Campaign to help close that gap and expand access to the Future Plans Assessment, the starting point for an individualized journey toward education, coaching, training and meaningful employment. The demand for Future Plans’ 5-step process has grown faster than the organization’s capacity to meet it, leaving thousands waiting for the opportunity to begin.

For many, the challenge is not a lack of potential, but a lack of a starting point. The Future Plans Assessment helps individuals uncover their strengths, interests, values and natural abilities so they can better understand what they are capable of and where they can go next.

“Seventeen thousand isn’t just a number. It represents 17,000 individuals with strengths, potential, and a future ahead of them. Talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not. This campaign is about putting that first step within reach.”

- Denise Reading, CEO, Future Plans

The assessment opens the door to Future Plans’ five-step process: Assess, Coach, Discover, Prepare and Place. Participants begin by identifying their unique abilities and interests, work one-on-one with a career coach to develop a personalized plan, explore career possibilities and real-world opportunities, prepare with the skills, credentials and experiences they need, and ultimately pursue employment, education or training.

The impact can extend far beyond finding a career path. By helping individuals recognize their potential, find direction and take meaningful steps toward their future, Future Plans can help change the trajectory of lives while strengthening schools, workplaces and communities.

“I’ve seen firsthand how Future Plans helps students discover their strengths, find direction, and build brighter futures. The impact is changing lives in our schools, strengthening our workforce, and creating new opportunities across Ohio.”

- Brock Brewster, Superintendent

Through the 17,000 Futures Campaign, Future Plans is asking individuals, businesses, foundations and community partners to help put that first step within reach. Support gives individuals access to the tools that begin their career discovery journey, including the assessment, the coaching that follows and connections to workforce opportunities.

17,000 people. One waitlist. One chance to help change a life.

Across rural Ohio and now in West Virginia, Future Plans works alongside schools, employers, healthcare providers, workforce partners, nonprofits and community leaders to build this pipeline together.

Future Plans’ vision is to end poverty one individual at a time by helping people recognize their potential, identify a path forward and connect to meaningful opportunities that can create stronger futures for individuals, families and communities.

To learn more or support the 17,000 Futures Campaign, visit the 17,000 Futures Campaign.

About Future Plans

Future Plans is a nonprofit organization helping individuals identify personalized pathways to education, employment, and economic mobility. Through career assessment, coaching and connections to opportunity, Future Plans works alongside schools, employers and communities to help individuals understand their potential and take meaningful steps toward their futures, with a particular focus on expanding opportunity in rural communities. Learn more at futureplans.org

Future Plans is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. EIN: 87-4152153.

Contact Information

Lindsy Swift

EVP, Marketing, Communications & PR

Future Plans

(1) 9142625273

lindsys@futureplans.org