What Our Future does

Our Future is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization headquartered in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, operating a paid fellowship program that equips emerging leaders (age 18+) with resources to pursue service and advocacy work in justice, sustainability, and equity. The organization was founded in 2020 by climate activists in the aftermath of the August 2020 derecho storm in Iowa, and in August 2022 its board voted to make the fellowship the organization's sole purpose. The core product is an approximately 8-month part-time fellowship in which emerging leaders — particularly those facing social and economic barriers — design and execute community projects with funding, mentorship, professional development training, and introductions to local organizations. Fellows receive an egalitarian hourly wage (currently $21.24/hour, adjusted quarterly for energy price inflation), paid at the same rate as staff.

Our Future's program portfolio includes three integrated pillars: Create (fellow-designed community projects with budget and outreach support), Network (mentorship from staff and local leaders), and Grow (skill-based trainings in grant writing, board service, and advocacy). Concrete initiatives led by current and former fellows include 24/7 Community Resource Cabinets, the Wellington Heights Community Fridge stocked weekly with fresh organic produce, and the Solar + Battery Resilience Hub at Wellington Heights Community Church. The organization operates from a single Cedar Rapids office and partners with 25+ local entities including Sunrise Movement Cedar Rapids, Feed Iowa First, Kirkwood Community College, McKinley STEAM Academy, and the City of Cedar Rapids.

The business model is donation-funded: Our Future is a registered 501(c)(3), all contributions are tax-deductible, and gifts fund fellows' community projects, existing programs, and the livable wage for staff and fellows. The go-to-market motion is community-led, recruiting fellows through social media and word-of-mouth via a website-based anonymous application process. One institutional grant has been publicly disclosed: $17,000 from the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation in May 2025. Revenue figures are not publicly disclosed. The organization is led by Co-Directors Angel Ramirez (Executive Director) and Ayla Boylen (President), with a volunteer Board of Directors.

Name

Our Future

Legal name

Our Future

Website

https://our-future-iowa.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Our Future is a Cedar Rapids, Iowa-based 501(c)(3) non-profit that runs a paid, ~8-month part-time fellowship equipping emerging leaders facing social and economic barriers to design community projects in justice, sustainability, and equity across Linn County.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Fellowship and Community Leadership Development

NAICS

Vocational Rehabilitation Services (624310), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139), Civic and Social Organizations (813410)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Employment Agencies (7361)

akta.pro primary industry

Apprenticeships, Internships & Work-Based Learning Programs (BPACANAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community College / Training Provider Workforce Pathways Programs (EDAAAOAO), Work-Based Learning Programs (Internships, Apprenticeships, Community-Based Instruction) (EDAKANAF), Alumni, Peer & Community Networking Programs (EDAMAKAM)

Keywords

• Paid fellowship program
• Community leadership development
• Nonprofit advocacy training
• Emerging leaders program
• Community project funding

Headquarters

HQ city

Cedar Rapids

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Our Future is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. All donations are tax-deductible. Gifts fund fellows' community projects, existing programs, and provide staff and fellows with a livable wage. Donations can be made online or by check to 3106 E Ave NE, Cedar Rapids IA 52402.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

Our Future operates a paid, approximately 8-month part-time fellowship program that equips emerging leaders (18+) with the tools, funding, mentorship, and professional development needed to design and implement community projects addressing justice, sustainability, and equity. Fellows receive a livable wage, skill-based training, networking opportunities, and connections to local Cedar Rapids/Iowa organizations to develop community projects based on their knowledge and advocacy goals.

Product overview

Our Future operates as a single, unified fellowship program rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture. The core offering is the paid fellowship program, through which emerging leaders receive funding, mentorship, professional development training, and connections to develop and implement their own community projects. The program combines three integrated components: community project development (where fellows design and execute initiatives addressing local needs), networking (attending community events and partnering with local organizations), and professional growth (skill-based workshops in grant writing, board service, and advocacy). Additional community initiatives led by current and former fellows include the Community Resource Cabinets, Community Fridge Program, and Solar + Battery Resilience Hub. The organization is structured as a 501(c)(3) non-profit with an egalitarian pay scale where all staff and fellows receive the same hourly wage.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Fellowship Program A paid, approximately 8-month part-time fellowship that equips emerging leaders (18+) facing social and economic barriers with tools for advocacy, community project development, professional mentorship, and connections to local Cedar Rapids organizations. Fellows receive a livable wage ($21.24/hour) and develop community projects based on their knowledge and advocacy goals.
• Community Projects Fellow-led community initiatives addressing barriers faced by underserved communities in Cedar Rapids/Linn County. Projects include neighborhood amenities, local services, education campaigns, and organizing efforts that offer unique services and can be completed within the fellowship term.
• Professional Development Training Skill-based workshops led by local professionals covering grant writing, board service, overcoming imposter syndrome, and other competencies needed for service and advocacy careers, provided to fellows throughout their term.

Quantifiable outcome

• Fellows complete community projects addressing local needs within 8-month fellowship terms
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• The McMickle FamilyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Community Resource Cabinets project led by fellow Jaydin McMickle. The McMickle Family contributed to creating, stocking, and maintaining the 24/7 access community resource cabinets providing basic goods to Cedar Rapids communities.
• 237 CollectiveminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Community Resource Cabinets project. Mariam Daoud serves as Board President for 237 Collective and is also on Our Future's Board of Directors, creating direct organizational linkage.
• Saving UsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSaving Us was created by Tony Chapman, a former Our Future fellow. Our Future assisted Tony in establishing a board, applying for 501(c)(3) status, rebranding, and other organizational development. Saving Us provides safe spaces for community members through Community-Building Block Parties.
• HugahatminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Community Resource Cabinets project providing basic goods to underserved Cedar Rapids communities.
• Bgood2allminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Community Resource Cabinets project providing basic goods to underserved Cedar Rapids communities.
• McKinley STEAM AcademyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner school for the 'Diverse Dialogues' Mentorship Program (connecting ELL students with mentors) and the 'Cleanse Your Mind' Mental Health Initiative for Youth of Color.
• Catherine McAuley CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the 'Diverse Dialogues' Mentorship Program Framework that connects middle school English Language Learners with young adult mentors.
• Wellington Heights Community ChurchminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost site for the Community Fridge (stocked with fresh organic produce weekly) and the Solar + Battery Resilience Hub project. The church provides 24/7 access to food resources for community members.
• Feed Iowa FirstminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides fresh organic produce at least once weekly to stock the Wellington Heights Community Fridge during summer months. Also recipient of produce from the Farm to Pantry program.
• Rainbow Roots FarmminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIowa City farm supplying produce for the Farm to Pantry program. Farm uses regenerative farming methods that sequester carbon and sustain healthy soil.
• Sunrise Movement Cedar RapidscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-founded by Scott Roland, who is now Vice President of Our Future's Board. Sunrise Movement Cedar Rapids financed and operated the Farm to Pantry program. Organizations share overlapping leadership and mission alignment around climate activism.
• Paul Engle CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Solar + Battery Resilience Hub project, providing support for the solar and battery system installation at Wellington Heights Community Church.
• Wellington Heights Neighborhood AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Solar + Battery Resilience Hub project, representing the neighborhood most affected by the 2020 derecho storm power outages.
• Kirkwood Community CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational institution partner in the Solar + Battery Resilience Hub project and a source of fellowship applicants.
• Linn County SustainabilityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLed by Tamara Marcus (Sustainability Director), who later joined Our Future's Board. Our Future helped Linn County carry out their Tree Equity program for post-derecho tree replanting.
• Academy for Scholastic and Personal SuccessminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Reclaiming Gardening Course led by former fellow Ta'sjé Carrasco. Organization focuses on serving people of color through education and community building.
• Advocates for Social JusticeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal nonprofit focused on racial justice. Executive Director Angel Ramirez serves as President of Advocates for Social Justice. Partner in the Wellington Heights Basketball Court project.
• City of Cedar RapidsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal partner for the Wellington Heights Basketball Court project, engaging with residents to identify locations for community amenities.
• Leaders Believers Achievers (LBA) FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the 'Know Your Rights as a Student' program. Tiaja Butler, former Our Future fellow, currently holds a teaching position with LBA Foundation.
• Metro High SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner school for the REBEL Readers Book Club for Minority Women program led by former fellow Tiaja Butler.
• Roosevelt Middle SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner school for the 'Know Your Rights as a Student: Criminal Justice and Miranda Rights Course' program led by former fellow Daisy Garcia Barrientos.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Sunrise Movement: National youth climate organization with local hubs including Sunrise Movement Cedar Rapids, whose co-founder Scott Roland sits on Our Future's board. Shared leadership overlap and climate-justice mission make it a peer, though Sunrise mobilizes rather than runs paid fellowships.
• New America Foundation: Large think tank running multiple paid fellowship programs across policy areas including equity, climate, and social justice. Overlaps with Our Future's mission of placing paid fellows in social-impact work but operates at much broader national scale.

Direct peers

• Atlas Corps: International fellowship placing emerging leaders at mission-driven organizations for 12-18 month terms. Comparable paid-fellowship model targeting emerging social-sector leaders, though with a global rather than hyper-local geographic focus.
• Echoing Green: Global fellowship program for emerging social-impact leaders with paid two-year fellowships. Comparable focus on identifying and investing in early-career leaders tackling equity and justice issues, though oriented toward social entrepreneurs launching organizations.
• AmeriCorps VISTA: Federal national service program placing paid members at nonprofits to build capacity in underserved communities. Comparable stipend-based fellowship structure serving similar poverty/equity-focused use cases, though funded through federal appropriations rather than donations.
• Public Allies: National nonprofit operating paid service fellowships for emerging leaders from underrepresented backgrounds. Closely comparable operating model — paid cohort-based fellowship with community project placements and professional development — though at substantially larger scale.

Regional players

• Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement: Iowa-based grassroots organizing group developing local leaders on social and economic justice issues. Comparable mission of building grassroots leadership capacity in Iowa, though structured as a membership-driven advocacy org rather than a paid fellowship.
• NewBo City Market (Cedar Rapids nonprofit ecosystem): Cedar Rapids nonprofit and community space supporting local entrepreneurs and equity initiatives. Comparable Cedar Rapids community-development orientation and overlapping local partner network, though focused on market/economic development rather than fellowship programming.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Our Future