Together, we can turn isolation into belonging.
Join us in Washington D.C. as mentoring leaders, staff, educators, and
advocates build a future grounded in connection and social capital for every youth.
35 Years of Relationships Powering Opportunities Gala Honored David Shapiro, Bill Russell, and Ray Lewis
Read MENTOR’s 2022 – 2024 Impact Report!
OUR WORK
We believe that potential is equally distributed, but opportunity is not. Every young person, regardless of their background, has inherent abilities and talents, but not everyone has equal access to the same resources and support systems they need. That’s why, 35 years ago, we started our mission to close this divide for all young people. We help grassroots organizations foster quality mentoring relationships by producing research for the field, shaping policy change through advocacy, and driving public awareness on the impact of mentoring for young people. We catalyze and convene a diverse, cross-sector movement that champions meaningful relationships and fuels opportunity for young people in every space they occupy— from classrooms to workplaces, and beyond.
MENTOR is Celebrating 35 Years of Relationships Powering Opportunities!
Think about the mentors who shaped your life—the people who believed in you, guided you, and opened doors you didn’t even know existed. Since 1990, MENTOR has worked to ensure every young person has access to those kinds of life-changing relationships. We’ve fueled a tenfold increase in mentoring across the country, helping millions of young people succeed in school, at work, and in life. As we celebrate this milestone, we invite you to join us in a special gala honoring the power of mentoring and the champions of the movement that makes it possible. Together, we can shape a future where every young person has relationships that power opportunity.
Advocating for civic leaders, employers, and individual stakeholders to prioritize youth by investing in efforts that foster access to mentoring relationships.
Helping educational, corporate, and youth-serving systems incorporate relationship-centered practices and policies that drive the adoption of a mentoring mindset.
Generating cutting-edge research and driving the implementation of evidence-based best practices at the grassroot level to increase the quality of mentoring relationships for young people.
Deepening the nationwide impact of the mentoring field by supporting a national network of 25 Affiliates through hands-on training, resource dissemination, and support in local advocacy and fundraising efforts. Our Affiliates serve as local leadership hubs that expand and deepen the mentoring community’s footprint.
Why Mentoring?
Youth With Mentors Are:
More likely to feel supported in their well-being – 58% of young people say that their mentor has supported their mental health.
22% more likely to have experienced a strong sense of belonging while growing up.
More prone to feeling confident in their ability to tackle academic challenges. 85% of young people with a mentor say this key relationship helped them with issues related to school and their education.
Why Now?
Systemic and growing inequity manifests as gaps in opportunity, networks, and access to supportive relationships outside of families. Mentoring unites us – it is a key response to these issues. At a time when research shows that loneliness and isolation are trending upwards, we know that relationships are powerful tools that bring us together and navigate us to greater connections and opportunities.
ADVOCATE
Advocating for youth at the federal and state levels plays a critical role in helping to close the mentoring gap. By engaging with Congress and community lawmakers, YOU can inspire policy change that prioritizes supportive relationships for young people. YOU can empower change by raising your voice and being an agent of change, and we have the advocacy tools to help you get there.
DONATE
More than 1 in 3 young people across the country are growing up without the support and guidance of a mentor. But every gift you make to MENTOR helps increase our ability to provide quality mentoring relationships to the 9 million+ youth who could thrive from having an adult in their corner. Your contribution fuels potential and opportunity – support young people by giving today!
ELEVATE
By elevating youth mentoring, we are investing in a brighter, more inclusive and supportive future for all. We strive to keep the conversation about youth mentoring at the forefront of public discourse. You can help us by amplifying our message by advocating for the importance of mentoring whenever possible. Individual action and involvement are crucial for elevating youth mentoring to a prominent place in national discussions.