Our Mission & Vision

Who We Are

MENTOR Nebraska is an Affiliate of MENTOR, the unifying champion of youth mentoring across the United States. Our mission is to increase both the quality and quantity of mentoring in Nebraska and close the mentoring gap for the one in three young people growing up without a mentor.

MENTOR Nebraska is a non-partisan, 501 (C)(3) nonprofit organization that unites our statewide mentoring movement. We serve as a clearinghouse for training, resources, public awareness, and advocacy, providing the critical link between national efforts and local Nebraska organizations. We ensure mentoring programs have access to research-informed and evidence-based practices, tools, and resources so young people in their programs are in supportive relationships that meet quality standards and are safe and effective. We collaborate with a vast number of mentoring programs, youth-serving organizations, schools, nonprofits, and government organizations to increase their capacity and effectiveness.

How We Do the Work

We elevate our state’s mentoring movement by focusing on four core functional areas of work:

• Training mentoring professionals, mentors, and educators in evidence-based practices and emerging issues in the sector
• Providing individualized, no-cost technical assistance for mentoring and youth-serving organizations, facilitated by National Mentoring Resource Center (NMRC) approved consultants
• Coordinating advocacy efforts for increased local, state and federal investment in mentoring
• Leading statewide mentor recruitment campaigns and educating Nebraskans about the volunteer needs of programs and benefits of mentoring

Our 2023-2025 Strategic Plan

How We Improve Mentoring Quality

We advance the quality of Nebraska's mentoring field through:

• National Quality Mentoring System: Our members undergo a comprehensive assessment every three years using a research-based tool that gauges their adherence to the best practices in mentoring and provides a process for continuous program improvement.
• Best Practice Adherence: We adhere to the Elements of Effective Practice for Mentoring, a set of foundational guiding principles established by leading mentoring researchers, to ensure the uniform application of high-quality mentoring practices.
• Data Collection: Our annual data collection survey serves to amplify the impact of mentoring within the broader community. It also helps us identify gaps in the range of services needed, enabling us to continually refine and improve mentoring programs.
• Leadership: In 2021, MENTOR Nebraska led a statewide mapping initiative, identifying program challenges and uncovering opportunities for future growth, significantly advancing mentoring practices in the state.

Why Now?

Systemic and growing inequity manifests as gaps in opportunity, networks, and access to adult 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. They bring us together, navigate us to greater connection and opportunity.

MENTOR Nebraska's groundbreaking State of Mentoring in Nebraska Report identifies ways various stakeholders can support mentoring across Nebraska in meaningful and responsive ways. When you invest in MENTOR Nebraska, you invest in a coordinated effort that brings diverse stakeholders together to achieve the common goal of quality mentoring for young people in our state.

Commitment to Diversity

MENTOR Nebraska is committed to fostering an environment of diversity and inclusion for all. We embrace our differences and celebrate our common humanity in advancing awareness of the need for a transformative power of supportive relationships for our young people. We believe that varied perspectives, experiences, and opinions are central assets in our mission to close the mentoring gap.

Mission & Impact

Our mission is to increase both the quality and quantity of mentoring in Nebraska and close the mentoring gap for the one in three young people growing up without a mentor.