Looking for School Volunteer Sign Ups for your School District? Check out the School Volunteers Tab!
Interested in becoming a mentor?
Click on the banners below to be taken to an application page for that mentoring program. Apply, get a background check, and sign up for training all online.
Having trouble with the application process or connecting to your mentor dashboard? Contact help@beamentor.org for support.
Virtual Mentoring: From anywhere in the United States
In-Person Mentoring
Learn more about our In-Person Mentoring Programs HERE
Volunteering as a mentor for youth is challenging and rewarding. Most of our programs ask for a one-year commitment from mentors and provide on-going support and training. Volunteers come from all walks of life to share their experiences and perspective. The best mentors are compassionate, good listeners, and willing to share their thoughts and experiences with their mentee, while centering the mentee’s needs.
A mentor is a caring, trusted adult who is a positive influence and guide in a mentee’s life. They are committed and have an open mind, willing to learn and grow with their mentee.
Mentors should be:
- Good listeners, always having their ear open to allow their mentees to express themselves freely
- Be able to provide support. Many youth need help problem solving, overcoming obstacles, have trouble at home, or struggle with their mental health. Having a supportive mentor helps these teens feel that they are valued and that someone in the world cares about them.
- Be open minded, creating a judgment-free zone helps mentees problem-solve and work through deeper subjects.
- Able to give perspective, helping mentees see things with fresh eyes
- Able to instill confidence, often a mentee doesn’t have many people in their life reminding them of their capabilities, so a mentor should be able to encourage and empower their mentee.
All mentors are required to take a Mentor Training before being matched with a mentee. This training will provide mentors with things like communication building skills, mentee support skills, and brief study skills. Depending on the program, more specific training will be offered. Ongoing training and resources will be offered throughout your mentoring relationship.
Choosing a program will be hugely dependent on your location. We have many in-person programs around the San Francisco Bay Area and Los Angeles Metropolitan area, we also have a virtual program, Academic Mentoring.
Virtual mentoring can be done from anywhere in the United States as long as you have an internet connection. It reduces scheduling barriers and might be a good fit for a busy professional.
Each program has its own requirements, so be sure to do some research and choose a program that fits your abilities!
Virtual mentoring means meeting with your mentee via video chat from anywhere with an internet connection. To be a virtual mentor, you do not need to live in any one location.
In-person mentoring will mean meeting with your mentee face to face so this will require you to live within a close range of them.
You will be matched with a mentee based on a few factors like your availability, skill set, and scheduling in addition to the needs of the mentee. For example, if you are a Spanish speaker, you may be matched with a Spanish-speaking mentee.
A mentee is a youth (ages can range from 7-18 depending on program) looking for an adult to bring encouragement, guidance, and a positive influence to their lives. Many of our mentees cannot identify an adult outside of their immediate family who is there for them. This is where YOU, as a mentor, come in.