Quick Take
United Way of Santa Cruz County will take over the programs of Your Future Is Our Business beginning July 1, marking the end of the 34-year-old nonprofit that has connected local students with internships and mentorship opportunities.
Starting this summer, United Way of Santa Cruz County will take the reins of Your Future Is Our Business, a local nonprofit that has connected youth to career experiences such as internships and mentors for the past 34 years.
Your Future Is Our Business (YFIOB) Executive Director Deborah Lindsay announced the transition Friday in an email and news release.
“For more than three decades, Your Future Is Our Business has empowered students to explore their futures by connecting education with real-world career experiences,” Lindsay said in the release. “While this marks the conclusion of our organization, we are proud that our mission and programs will continue through United Way of Santa Cruz County.”
The nonprofit will wrap up its programs and contracts this year, and United Way will take over starting July 1. United Way CEO Yvette Brooks, a former YFIOB executive director, will oversee the continuation of programming. She left the YFIOB role in January 2025.
Brooks told Lookout that YFIOB came to United Way a few months ago asking if it would take on the programs to ensure its future sustainability in light of budget challenges.
“With admin fees and overhead costs for such a small organization, it becomes challenging to take the next step into growing the vision,” she said. “This was something that was in my mind when I transitioned a year ago to my current CEO role. But they came probably several months ago.”
In an email to partners about the transition, Lindsay said, “This decision was made thoughtfully to ensure that the vital work we’ve been doing together will continue and grow under United Way’s established infrastructure and broader network of resources.”
“This transition is deeply personal to me,” said Brooks. “I have seen firsthand how this organization has transformed lives by opening doors for young people, especially those who may not have otherwise had access to career exploration and mentorship.”
Brooks served as executive director of YFIOB from 2021 to January 2025, when she was hired on as United Way’s CEO. As part of that move, she also stepped down from the Capitola City Council after serving for six years.
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