Our Mission
SailFuture is a nationally acclaimed leader in education, foster care, and juvenile justice services.
Based in St. Petersburg, FL, we serve 150+ young people per year across 6 different integrated programs.
Who We Are
Our comprehensive continuum of care is designed to serve Florida’s highest-risk teens in foster care, meeting many, if not all, of their needs under one umbrella. As an organization, we offer a broad range of programs and services designed to holistically treat childhood trauma and equip teens with the skills and resources necessary to navigate life.
Our Outcomes
- Recidivism
- 80%
- On-Time High School Graduation
- 25%
- Students and Families Served Annually
- 40+
- Average Grade Level Increase in Reading & Math Scores Annually
- 0.2+
Our Funders and Partners
Funded by national organizations, foundations, and leaders in disruptive education and social services.
We are proud to be partnered with dozens of government, child welfare, and philanthropic partners who help us develop our mission.
Our Corporate and Philanthropic Partners
Google
Mountain View, California
Orlando Health
Orlando, Florida
LinkedIn
Sunnyvale, California
Center for Education Reform
Washington, D.C.
Drexel Fund
Washington, D.C.
Stand Together Foundation
Arlington, Virginia
YASS Foundation
Washington, D.C.
AT&T
Dallas, Texas
Department of Labor
Washington, D.C.
Government Partners
Florida Department of Juvenile Justice
Child Welfare & Recidivism Prevention
Florida Department of Education
Educational Services
Florida Department of Children and Families
Child Welfare Services
Department of Labor
Educational Services & Job Training
Career Source Tampa Bay
Educational Services & Job Training
Step Up For Students
Educational Services
Florida Medicaid
Mental Health Services
Sunshine Health
Mental Health Services
Child Welfare Partners
Family Support Services
Child Welfare
Florida Department of Education
Educational Services
ChildNet Foster Care Services
Child Welfare
Citrus Health
Child Welfare
Camelot
Extended Foster Care Services
Our History
Over a decade of serving families and transforming the lives of at-risk youth through sailing, education, and comprehensive support services.
Founded in 2013, SailFuture began as a sailing-based mentoring program aimed at increasing graduation rates for high-risk students at Booker High School in Sarasota.
By 2014, the organization expanded to include week-long expeditions for youth on felony juvenile probation. In 2015, SailFuture received the SV Defy the Odds, which sailed 20,000 miles from Turkey to Florida with some of the highest-risk juvenile offenders in the U.S., marking a significant turning point in the organization’s mission. The opening of the Waterfront House in St. Petersburg in 2016 provided 24/7 residential care for teens in foster care, further cementing SailFuture’s role in supporting vulnerable youth.
In the following years, SailFuture continued to grow, establishing a private technical school in 2017 and launching international sailing expeditions through the Caribbean by 2018. A specialized case management division and Life Skills Center were introduced in 2019 to serve high-risk teens, along with in-house mental health services. SailFuture expanded its residential care facilities with the opening of the Lakewood Estates group home in 2020. In 2021, the organization planned the launch of SailFuture Academy, a private vocational high school serving disengaged youth in St. Petersburg, Florida, providing new opportunities for academic and personal growth.
Our Guiding Principles
We Believe People Matter
Our work is emotionally exhausting and comes at a personal sacrifice. The only way we’ve found to go through it is to love the team you work with. As we become family to our kids, we become the same for each other.
We Take Ownership of Life Outcomes
We believe that the success of our kids and families rests on our shoulders. We take that responsibility to heart and it drives how and what we do.
We Find Innovation Solutions
We dont provide surface-level services. Our focus is ensuring that the depth of our programs meets the true needs of our kids and families.
We Do Whatever It Takes
Our kids and families deserve our best. We meet them where they’re at and when they’re ready, often leading us to find solutions that are outside the box and require personal sacrifice.
We Seek Excellence
Our kids and families deserve nothing short of excellence. We push ourselves to continuously improve, innovate, and deliver the highest quality of care and support. Excellence isn’t a destination, it’s a journey we commit to every day.
We're Hiring
Our work is powered by 30+ passionate educators, captains, mental health counselors, vocational teachers, foster parents, and more.
At SailFuture, our approach to social work is complex, requiring dynamic, passionate leaders who bring their full range of skills to the table. We're as committed to supporting each other as we are to transforming the lives of young people in poverty.
Through our innovative programs—spanning education, mental health, job training, foster care, and international sailing expeditions—we work to change life outcomes. Whether you're a teacher, captain, or counselor, there's a place for you to make a lasting impact at SailFuture.
