The Quick Version
- Youth mentoring programs report long waitlists for Black boys in particular, even as research keeps showing mentors improve school attendance, grades, and college enrollment.
- Here is how to find a legitimate mentoring program near you, what the actual enrollment process looks like, and what to expect once your child is matched.
Ask almost any youth mentoring organization what their biggest problem is and you will get the same answer: not enough mentors, especially men willing to commit to mentoring boys. Big Brothers Big Sisters of America has reported waitlists that stretch well over a year in some chapters, and Black boys make up a large share of the young people waiting. That gap matters, because the research behind mentoring is not soft. It shows up in attendance records, grade point averages, and college enrollment numbers.
What the Research Actually Shows
A well known study from Public/Private Ventures, later confirmed by follow up research, found that youth matched with a mentor through Big Brothers Big Sisters were less likely to start using drugs or alcohol, skipped fewer days of school, and felt more confident in their schoolwork compared to youth on the waitlist. More recent studies focused specifically on mentoring for Black youth have found similar effects on high school graduation rates and college aspirations, particularly when the mentor shares the young person’s racial or cultural background.
Where to Actually Look
National organizations with local chapters
Big Brothers Big Sisters of America matches kids ages 6 to 18 with adult volunteers and operates in most metro areas. 100 Black Men of America runs mentoring specifically for Black youth through more than 100 chapters nationwide, with a strong focus on academic achievement and leadership. The My Brother’s Keeper Alliance, launched out of the Obama Foundation, connects communities to local mentoring and workforce programs built around closing opportunity gaps for boys and young men of color.
School based and community options
Many school districts run their own mentoring programs through counseling offices, and some require no outside application at all beyond a form sent home. Local YMCA branches, Boys and Girls Clubs, and Black fraternities and sororities often run mentoring initiatives too, sometimes with shorter waitlists than the larger national groups because they serve a smaller geographic area.
What the Enrollment Process Looks Like
Most programs follow a similar sequence, even though the paperwork varies by organization.
- Application: A short form asking about your child’s interests, schedule, and what you hope a mentor relationship will provide.
- Interview or intake call: A staff member talks with the parent and sometimes the child to understand needs and personality before matching.
- Matching period: This is where waitlists happen. Programs try to pair mentors and mentees thoughtfully rather than quickly, which can take weeks or, in high demand areas, over a year.
- Ongoing check ins: Legitimate programs check in regularly with both the mentor and the family, not just at the start of the match.
If You Are Willing to Become a Mentor Yourself
Every organization mentioned above is actively recruiting adult volunteers, and the shortage of Black male mentors specifically is a recurring theme across nearly all of them. Requirements typically include a background check, a short training session, and a time commitment of at least one year, since research consistently shows relationships shorter than that produce weaker results for the child. If your schedule cannot support a year long weekly commitment, ask about shorter group mentoring formats, which many organizations now offer as an alternative to one on one matches.
How to Choose a Legitimate Program
Before enrolling your child or signing up to mentor, confirm the organization runs background checks on every volunteer, has a clear point of contact for concerns, and can describe what ongoing support looks like once a match is made. A program that cannot answer basic safety questions in writing is not one to trust with your child’s time. Reach out directly through each organization’s official website rather than a social media post or flyer, since verified contact information is the easiest way to confirm a program is real before you hand over any personal information.
