Movement Makers:
A report on the state of the youth mentoring workforce
In 2025, MENTOR conducted a first-of-its-kind survey focused on the experiences and career paths of the nation’s mentoring professionals, with over 1000 program leaders and front-line staff taking part. Their journeys, day-to-day realities, and hopes for the mentoring movement and their own careers illuminate many strengths of the mentoring field, as well as potential challenges that will need to be addressed in the years ahead.
The report and executive summary highlight the findings from responses of almost a thousand mentoring professionals across America, from those working in urban centers to those who bring mentoring services to rural spaces. The report highlights their pathways to the mentoring field, their job duties and compensation, the joys and challenges of their jobs, the supports they need, and their hopes and dreams for the mentoring movement.
Suggested citation:
Garringer, M., Bennett, R., Seeley, A., Benning, C., & Issa, D. (2026). Movement Makers: A report on the state of the youth mentoring workforce. Boston, MA: MENTOR.
Acknowledgments:
MENTOR thanks the following supporters and contributors for their contributions to this project:
- Altria for their generous support of this research project.
- The team at Olympic Research and Strategy for their expertise in data collection, analysis, and reporting.
