Frequently Asked Questions

  • Where do I find a mentor for my child?

    MENTOR has a database of mentoring programs called the Mentoring Connector that is searchable by zip code. The Mentoring Connector will provide contact information for mentoring programs, volunteer centers and MENTOR Affiliates in your area.

    Click here to search

  • How do I list my program in the Mentoring Connector?

    Please visit connect.mentoring.org/admin and click the “Add a New Program” button to submit your listing info. Programs are reviewed using MENTOR’s Elements of Effective Practice for Mentoring™ prior to activation in the database. The Elements are research-based and evidence-based guidelines for operating a safe, effective youth mentoring program. The review process for newly submitted programs takes approximately one week, and you will receive an email with the results of the review and further information.

  • How do we update our program information in the Mentoring Connector?

    Log in to your account on the Mentoring Connector. If you don’t know the email address used to register your program, email connector@mentoring.org for assistance.

  • Why can’t I see a volunteer’s contact information in the Mentoring Connector?

    We ask that you respond to volunteers through the Mentoring Connector so we can track which volunteers haven’t received responses and follow up accordingly. You can respond to a volunteer by clicking “email volunteer” and editing the template.

  • The administrator and/or public contact listed for our program in the Mentoring Connector has changed. How can we update this information?

    Please contact us for further assistance. Be sure to include in the email the name of your program, city and state, as it appears in the search results.

  • Can your organization provide training and information resources for our mentoring program?

    Mentoring programs may apply for no-cost training and technical assistance through the National Mentoring Resource Center (NMRC). This training and technical assistance is provided by MENTOR and its Affiliates and supported by the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. You may also contact the MENTOR Affiliate in your state, or contact us if there isn’t an Affiliate near you.

  • Where can we find additional information about criminal background checks?

    For information on criminal background checks, click here. You can also learn how you can support our federal advocacy efforts to pass legislation that would provide all youth-serving organizations with access to national FBI fingerprint checks.

  • Is there a MENTOR Affiliate in my state? What is their website?

    Find the MENTOR Affiliate in your state.

  • How do we engage with the My Brother’s Keeper initiative?

    The My Brother’s Keeper initiative and allies have put an emphasis on calling on people to become mentors to support young men and boys of color. You can ensure your program is a part of these calls-to-action by registering your program in MENTOR’s national database of mentoring programs, the Mentoring Connector. You can also read more about the My Brother’s Keeper initiative and how to get involved on MBK’s website.

  • How do I start a new mentoring program?

    Visit our Start a Program page for more information on how to start a new mentoring program.

  • Where can I find funding for my mentoring program?

    Make sure you are signed up to receive our e-newsletter, the MENTOR Minute. We share funding opportunities in this communication. Our Affiliates serve as regional, state and local catalysts for mentoring. In addition to providing training, technical assistance, and leading public awareness efforts, they are able to provide local knowledge about funding opportunities. You might also consider reaching out to your local United Way, which works to advance the “common good,” with youth as a key focus area. Another excellent resource for researching funding opportunities is the Foundation Center.

  • Where can I find research on the field of mentoring?

    The Chronicle of Evidence-Based Mentoring, established by the Center for Evidence-Based Mentoring, which is a partnership of MENTOR and the University of Massachusetts-Boston is an excellent resource with a wealth of information about mentoring. The Chronicle is run by mentoring research pioneer Dr. Jean Rhodes and is updated regularly with emerging research on different topics in mentoring and also provides a forum for you to engage in dialogue with researchers and practitioners in the field.

Have a question not covered above? Contact us!

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  • MENTOR National and Affiliates will use the information you provide to better inform future publications and keep you up to date with advancements in the mentoring field. For more information, check out our privacy policy.