Our Funders
Research and partnerships that strengthen mentoring programs.
Mentoring Central develops practical, research-informed resources that help mentoring programs prepare participants, support strong relationships, and improve outcomes for young people.
Our work is made possible through research grants, contracts, organizational partnerships, and revenue from our training, products, and services. This support allows us to translate research into accessible, engaging, and affordable tools that mentoring programs can put into practice.
Organizations That Have Supported Our Work
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
- Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP)
- National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
- National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
We also partner with mentoring organizations, government agencies, and other youth-serving organizations to provide:
- Program evaluation
- Training and curriculum development
- Program quality assessment
- Technical assistance
- Customized learning solutions
Selected Projects and Partnerships
Mentoring USA Evaluation Project
Through the project, Mentoring Central worked closely with Mentoring USA to strengthen the organization’s ability to evaluate the effectiveness of Mentoring USA’s mentoring program on youth outcomes.
The project included developing measures of youth outcomes, assisting in conducting the evaluation, analyzing the resulting data, and preparing a final report of the findings.
Partner: Mentoring USA
Mentoring for Achievement: Mentoring Program Quality Assessment
Mentoring Central conducted a program quality assessment of mentoring programs funded through New York City’s Young Men’s Initiative.
Program managers participated in a certification process that prepared them to assess program practices, monitor quality, and guide continuous improvement. Participating programs also examined how closely their practices aligned with the Elements of Effective Practice for Mentoring and developed plans for strengthening program quality.
Customized Mentor Training for Big Brothers Big Sisters of America
Mentoring Central developed a customized version of its web-based mentor training program for use by Big Brothers Big Sisters of America (BBBS).
The training was designed for use by BBBS agencies across the U.S., making it available to up to 100,000 mentors each year. The project also included the development of an instructor-led version for in-person delivery.
Partner: Big Brothers Big Sisters of America
National Urban League Project Ready: Mentor
Mentoring Central supported the National Urban League’s expansion of Project Ready, a college-access initiative for middle and high school students, to include a formal mentoring component.
The partnership included development of the Project Ready: Mentor Program Guide, with practical guidance on topics such as mentor and mentee recruitment, program implementation, and relationship monitoring. Mentoring Central training courses were also made available to participating National Urban League affiliates across the country.
Partner: National Urban League
Partner With Us
Whether you need to evaluate your program, strengthen program practices, develop customized training, or translate research into practical resources, our team can help.
Contact us to discuss your organization’s goals and explore opportunities to work together.
