Guides and commentary on mentoring that works.

Best Mentoring Software for Impact Tracking in 2026

Mentoring impact measurement means tracking whether matches last, whether pairs meet, and whether young people move toward outcomes such as GPA, retention and persistence, then reporting that to…

Best Mentoring Software for Impact Tracking in 2026

Mentoring impact measurement means tracking whether matches last, whether pairs meet, and whether young people move toward outcomes such as GPA, retention and persistence, then reporting that to…

Mentor Collective Alternatives for Universities in 2026

Mentor Collective Alternatives for Universities in 2026 Disclosure: we make MentorPRO. We have tried to describe every platform fairly, using each company's public website and review profiles as…

How Mid-Sized Nonprofits Choose Mentoring Software

Mid-sized nonprofits should choose mentoring software by testing how well it supports their program model, protects young people, and fits the time and resources available to staff and…

Best Nonprofit Mentoring Software Compared for 2026

The best mentoring software for nonprofits depends on who you serve. Youth-serving nonprofits that need safe messaging, volunteer training and funder reports should look at MentorPRO or MentorCity.

FERPA and Student Data Safety in Mentoring Software

FERPA is the federal law that protects the privacy of student education records, and any mentoring software that touches student data has to handle it correctly. For programs…

How Mentoring Improves First-Year Student Retention

Mentoring improves first-year retention by giving new students a consistent relationship, a sense of belonging, and early support when they struggle, all of which research links to staying…

Mentoring Software for TRIO and First-Gen Student Programs

The best mentoring software for TRIO and first-gen programs does three things: it tracks the participation and outcomes your grant requires, it supports equity-focused matching and belonging, and…

Mentoring Software for Grant Reporting and Outcome Tracking

If your mentoring program is grant-funded, reporting is not an afterthought. It is how you keep the funding. The right software captures the participation and outcome data your…

How Much Does Mentoring Software Cost?

Most mentoring software costs between $6,000 and $35,000 per year, depending on how many people you are supporting, how many programs you run, and whether training and support…

New study sets a higher bar for AI-powered mentoring support

A new study accepted for publication in Translational Issues in Psychological Science (Hersch et al., in press). raises questions about how AI should be used to support mentoring relationships.

Twelve Questions to Ask Before You Buy Mentoring Software for a Youth-Serving Program

If you are evaluating mentoring software for a youth-serving program, you already know that most of the buyer's guides available online are written for a different kind of…

Why Mentoring Matches Falter Early, and Five Things That Help Them Last

Most mentoring programs invest heavily in the early weeks of a match: careful intake, thoughtful matching, structured first meetings, and a training curriculum.

The Science of Mentor Matching: What Peer-Reviewed Research Actually Says

Matching mentors and mentees may be the single most consequential decision in the design of a mentoring program. It sets the tone of the first meeting, it shapes…

The Best Mentoring Platforms for Youth-Serving Programs in 2027: A Practical Guide

Choosing a mentoring platform for a youth-serving program is not the same as choosing one for a corporate learning and development team. The stakes are different. The compliance…

The State of Digital Mentoring in 2026: Trends Shaping the Future of Mentoring Programs

Digital mentoring has transitioned from experimental innovation to core institutional infrastructure across education, nonprofit, and workforce sectors.

Mentor-Mentee Matching: Evidence-Based Best Practices for Mentoring Programs

Most mentoring programs make their most important decision in the first five minutes of a relationship, and then never look at it again.

How to Measure Mentoring ROI: A Framework Institutions Can Actually Use

Mentoring programs are widely valued, yet many organizations struggle to demonstrate return on investment (ROI).

Best Mentoring Platforms in 2026: An Independent Guide for Universities and Organizations

Mentoring programs have become a central strategy for improving student success, workforce readiness, and participant engagement across sectors.

Evidence-Based Mentoring: What the Research Actually Show

Research across developmental psychology, education, and youth development consistently shows that mentoring effectiveness depends less on participation alone and more on how relationships are structured and supported.

Structured Mentoring vs Networking Platforms: What Institutions Should Know

Digital mentoring platforms generally fall into two categories: structured mentoring systems and networking-focused platforms. Understanding the distinction helps organizations align technology choices with program goals.

Best Mentoring Software for Universities in 2026: A Practical Evaluation Guide

As mentoring initiatives expand across campuses, selecting the right digital platform has become a strategic institutional decision rather than a purely operational one.

How Universities Measure Mentoring ROI: Moving Beyond Participation Metrics

Mentoring programs have long been valued for relationship building and student support. However, institutions increasingly face pressure to demonstrate measurable outcomes tied to strategic priorities such as retention,…

How to Compare Mentoring Platforms: A Practical Evaluation Framework for Institutions

This guide outlines a structured framework institutions can use to compare mentoring platforms objectively.

What Is an Evidence-Based Mentoring Operating System?

Modern mentoring programs require matching based on goals, interests, identity considerations, and availability. Effective systems also support rematching as participant needs change over time.

The Science Behind: MentorPRO Academy

A Randomized Trial of A Course That Teaches Students How to Build the Relationships That Open Doors

The Science Behind: Check-In

Check-Ins: A Simple Weekly Question That Turns Into Timely Support

The Science Behind: Flash Mentoring

Flash Mentoring: A New Model for Reaching Mentors Who Can Open Doors

The Science Behind: MentorAI

AI Should Empower Mentors, Not Replace Them. 

The Science Behind: MatchPRO

Making the Right Match in MentorPRO Makes a Real Difference and Leads to Relationships That Last 3X Longer

The Science Behind: Goal Setting

Setting Goals With MentorPRO Pays Off in Grades and Well-Being

The Science Behind: MentorPRO

Research shows that students Who Use MentorPRO Earn Higher Grades and Feel More Connected

The Science Behind: Messaging

The act of sending a message to your peer mentor may seem small, but research shows it matters.

What the World Can Teach Us About Mentoring in Schools

A new comparative study in Inovasi Kurikulum, an Indonesian peer-reviewed open-access journal,  offers one of the most comprehensive looks to date at how ten high-performing countries structure student…

MentorPRO Academy: Evidence-Based Mentoring Training and Workforce Certifications

Most mentoring programs want to do the right thing. They recruit caring adults, make thoughtful matches, and genuinely believe that a positive relationship will make a difference. And…

Mentoring Program Surveys: Collect, Customize, and Report With Confidence

Think about the last time you rated an Uber driver, confirmed an Instacart delivery, or gave feedback on an online order. You did not receive a separate email…

Why MentorPRO Chose Human-at-the-Helm AI — and Why It Matters for Students

There is a version of AI-enhanced student support that is spreading rapidly across higher education right now. It looks like this: a student types a question into a…

Mentoring Program Check-In Feature: How Weekly Self-Monitoring Drives Better Outcomes

Most mentoring programs wait for mentees to bring up problems. By the time a struggling young person speaks up, the situation has often already escalated.

Goal Setting in Mentoring Programs: Why It Matters and What the Research Says

If you have searched for goal setting in mentoring programs, you have likely found plenty of general advice — help mentees identify priorities, make a plan, stay accountable.…

Flash Mentoring: What It Is, How It Works, and Why Evidence Matters

If you have searched for flash mentoring, you have probably found plenty of descriptions — brief, flexible, low-commitment, accessible. All of that is true. But here is what…

Mentoring Matching: Why the Algorithm Behind Your Pairs Matters

Every mentoring program makes matches. The question is whether those matches are made by instinct, by spreadsheet, or by science.

MentorPRO at Bloomberg CityLab 2026

Alongside leading policymakers, innovators, creatives, and urban leaders from across the globe, MentorPRO is thrilled to join @BloombergDotOrg and the @AspenInstitute for Bloomberg CityLab 2026. 

The State of Digital Mentoring in 2026: Trends Shaping the Future of Mentoring Programs

Digital mentoring has transitioned from experimental innovation to core institutional infrastructure across education, nonprofit, and workforce sectors.

How to Measure Mentoring ROI: A Framework Institutions Can Actually Use

Mentoring programs are widely valued, yet many organizations struggle to demonstrate return on investment (ROI). Traditional evaluation methods often rely on participation numbers rather than measurable outcomes, making…

Mentoring Software for Juvenile Justice Programs

Juvenile justice mentoring programs face demands that general-purpose platforms were never designed to handle. You need thoughtful matching for youth with complex backgrounds, real-time visibility into relationship health,…

Best Mentoring Platforms in 2026: An Independent Guide for Universities and Organizations

Mentoring programs have become a central strategy for improving student success, workforce readiness, and participant engagement across sectors.

Evidence-Based Mentoring: What the Research Actually Shows

Evidence-based mentoring does not replace human relationships; it strengthens them through intentional design. Programs grounded in research principles are better positioned to scale while maintaining quality and impact.

Structured Mentoring vs Networking Platforms: What Institutions Should Know

Digital mentoring platforms generally fall into two categories: structured mentoring systems and networking-focused platforms. Understanding the distinction helps organizations align technology choices with program goals.

Best Mentoring Software for Universities in 2026: A Practical Evaluation Guide

Universities increasingly rely on mentoring programs to support student success, belonging, and retention. As mentoring initiatives expand across campuses, selecting the right digital platform has become a strategic…

A meta-analysis of the effects of after-school programmes among youth with marginalized identities

Christensen, K. M., Kremer, K. P., Poon, C. Y. S., & Rhodes, J. E. (2023). A meta-analysis of the effects of after-school programmes among youth with marginalized identities.…

How Universities Measure Mentoring ROI: Moving Beyond Participation Metrics

Mentoring programs have long been valued for relationship building and student support. However, institutions increasingly face pressure to demonstrate measurable outcomes tied to strategic priorities such as retention,…

How to Compare Mentoring Platforms: A Practical Evaluation Framework for Institutions

Selecting a mentoring platform has become a strategic decision for universities, nonprofits, and workforce programs seeking measurable outcomes from mentoring initiatives.

Flash Mentoring: What It Is, How It Works, and Why Evidence Matters

Flash Mentoring Works. And We Have the Published Research to Prove It.

What Sets MentorAI Apart from AI Chatbots? Let me count the ways

People ask us this question regularly, and it deserves a direct answer. As AI-powered tools proliferate in higher education, it can be tempting to group them together under…

Testing the effects of a social capital intervention on college student retention and academic success

Social capital, particularly in the form of supportive relationships and mentor ship, plays a crucial role in enhancing college students’ academic success and retention.

A scoping review of therapeutic mentoring for youth mental health

Werntz A, Rhodes JE, Brockstein H, Fallon L and Cook A (2025) A scoping review of therapeutic mentoring for youth mental health. 

Supporting OJJDP-Funded Mentoring Programs

Whether working with justice-involved youth or young people at risk of system involvement, programs funded by the OJJDP play a critical role in improving long-term outcomes.

A mixed methods evaluation of a pilot open trial of a mentor-guided digital intervention for youth anxiety

Digital mental health interventions (DMHIs), such as cognitive bias modification for  interpretations (CBM-I), offer promise for increasing access to anxiety treatment  among underserved adolescents, but data regarding their…

What Is an Evidence-Based Mentoring Operating System?

Digital mentoring programs have expanded rapidly across higher education, youth-serving nonprofits, workforce development initiatives, and military transition programs.

What Makes a Mentor Meaningful

What distinguishes a truly meaningful mentor? Survey research highlighted by Dr. Jean Rhodes points to consistency, emotional support, advocacy, and a genuine interest in the mentee’s growth as…

Becoming a Mentoring Champion with MentorPRO Academy

Great mentors don’t just show up—they show up prepared. Explore evidence-based mentor training from MentorPRO Academy.

Building Social Capital Through MentorPRO

Flash mentoring—short, focused mentoring interactions—has emerged as a promising way to build social capital, particularly for students and early-career professionals.

Preventing Mentor Burnout

Many mentoring professionals report deep fulfillment from their work—yet turnover remains high.

MentorPRO Academy: Supporting Mentee Goals Through Evidence-Based Learning

MentorPRO Academy offers self-paced, online research-based courses that help mentors and mentees work together toward outcomes that matter.

Why Mentor Expectations Matter

High-quality mentoring relationships are shaped not only by connection, but by expectations.

How Mentors Can Support Youth in AI Spaces

A recent article by Dr. Jean Rhodes highlights how mentors can serve as critical guides as young people navigate AI-driven tools and digital environments.

Academy Course Spotlight: Building Social Capital Through Mentoring

Career success is shaped not only by skills, but by relationships. The Connected Futures Flash Course helps mentoring programs support mentees in building the social capital they need…

The Science Behind Successful Mentoring Programs

Mentoring programs are widely valued for their impact on youth, students, and professionals—but sustaining high-quality mentoring requires more than good intentions.

Why MentorPRO Academy? Evidence-Based Training That Strengthens Mentoring

Strong mentoring programs don’t rely on good intentions alone.

Mentoring That Sparks Connection

Effective mentoring is more than pairing people—it’s about creating relationships that expand thinking and opportunity.

Mentoring Science Meets AI

Mentoring programs are navigating a rapidly changing digital landscape as artificial intelligence becomes embedded in education and student support.

Expectations Matter in Effective Mentoring

Research consistently shows that mentoring quality matters as much as mentoring access. In a recent article, Dr. Jean Rhodes highlights how mentors’ expectations directly shape young people’s outcomes.

Evidence-Based Mentoring Starts With Quality Relationships

Strong mentoring outcomes depend less on frequency of meetings and more on the quality of the mentor–mentee relationship.

Research-backed mentor matching improves outcomes across mentoring programs.

Mentoring programs succeed when relationships are intentional, supported, and grounded in research.

Helper Therapy in Mentoring

Mentoring research consistently shows that effective programs benefit both mentors and mentees.

Evidence-Based Mentoring Software

Mentoring programs are most effective when they are grounded in research, not intuition alone. As demand grows for a robust mentoring platform in higher education and nonprofits, evidence-based…

Strengthen Mentoring Impact with Our Youth Mental Health Training

MentorPRO Academy’s Self-Paced Mentoring for Youth Mental Health course empowers mentors and staff with practical, research-backed tools to support youth with confidence and care.

Cross-Age Peer Mentoring Boosts Youth Outcomes

Mentoring research highlights the promise of cross-age peer mentoring, where older youth mentor younger peers in promoting positive developmental outcomes.

Meaningful Mentoring Starts With Evidence-Informed Design

Meaningful mentoring doesn’t happen by chance. A recent survey summarized by Dr. Jean Rhodes highlights the qualities that make mentors truly impactful for young people, emphasizing authenticity, reliability,…

Using AI Wisely in Modern Mentoring Platforms

Mentoring programs increasingly rely on digital tools, yet new technologies bring both promise and risk.

Social Capital Is Higher Ed’s Real Mentoring Advantage

Mentoring research increasingly shows that students thrive not from technology alone, but from strengthened social capital.

Evidence-Based Mentoring Software That Reduces Cognitive Bias

Cognitive bias can unintentionally shape mentor–mentee relationships, influencing everything from matching decisions to perceptions of progress.

Mentoring Software That Strengthens Youth Facing Economic Strain

Economic shocks—such as the recent government shutdown—intensify stress for children and adolescents, with measurable effects on academic performance, self-esteem, and mental health.

Structured Mentor Matching Boosts Student Success

In a recent article, Dr. Jean Rhodes highlights how brief, targeted interventions embedded within mentoring relationships can enhance help-seeking attitudes and build social capital.

Evidence-Based Mentoring: Science Meets MentorPRO

Dr. Jean Rhodes highlights in a recent article that not all mentoring programs yield the same results; effectiveness increases when best practices are applied, such as ongoing mentor…

What Research Reveals About Effective Mentoring Programs

Rigorous evaluations show that programs thrive when mentors receive ongoing training, supervision, and data-informed guidance—factors that strengthen relationships and outcomes.

Boost Mentor Growth with Evidence-Based Mentoring Software

A recent article by Dr. Jean Rhodes highlights a powerful truth: mentoring benefits mentors as much as mentees.

Expanding Equity Through Evidence-Based Mentoring Software

Mentoring programs often face a critical paradox: helping individual students while structural inequities persist.

Evidence-Based Ways to Strengthen Mentoring Relationships

Strong mentoring relationships depend on more than structure—they thrive on authenticity and trust.

Evidence-Based Matching in Student Mentoring Programs

Dr. Jean Rhodes highlights that while the quality of the mentor-mentee relationship remains essential, the use of goal-focused, targeted approaches (rather than purely friendship-based models) significantly enhances mentoring…

Mentor Matching Software for Authentic, Trusting Relationships

Mentoring science increasingly shows that vulnerability can deepen trust and connection when appropriately expressed.

Reimagining AI’s Role in Mentoring Programs

In a recent article, Dr. Jean Rhodes highlights the importance of keeping humans at the center of technology-driven mentoring. AI, she argues, should augment the mentoring relationship, and…

The Science of Consistent Mentoring Relationships

When mentors show up reliably over time, mentees develop stronger trust, emotional regulation, and academic engagement.

Flash Mentoring: A Scalable Model for Connection

Mentor Matching Software That Empowers Boys and Young Men

Recent research highlights a growing concern: America’s boys and men are falling behind in educational and social outcomes.

Keep Bigs and Littles Engaged. Give Staff Clarity.

Supporting matches takes heart—and time. MentorPRO helps BBBS staff do both better, giving chapters the tools to keep Bigs and Littles connected and thriving through evidence-based mentoring.

Single-Session Interventions: A Breakthrough in Mentoring Practice

Emerging research is reshaping how mentoring programs can deliver meaningful change efficiently.

Mentoring Software that Sparks New Ideas

Research shows that mentoring not only supports personal growth but can also ignite creativity and collaboration.

Mentoring Software That Expands Access and Reduces Stigma

Recent research highlights the unique value of paraprofessionals in mentoring.

Happy Mentors Build Stronger Mentoring Programs

Mentor satisfaction is not just a “nice to have”, but a critical factor in program effectiveness.

Evidence-Based Mentoring Software for Purposeful Growth

Mentoring relationships flourish when they move beyond immediate goals to foster broader meaning and purpose.

Defining Evidence in Mentoring Programs

The mentoring field increasingly emphasizes “evidence,” but what counts as valid evidence is often misunderstood.

Belonging Matters: Evidence-Based Mentoring Insights

A new meta-analysis underscores a critical truth: the need to belong is fundamental to youth development.

Advancing Equity Through Evidence-Based Mentoring Software

Equity remains a pressing challenge in the mentoring field, with traditional mentoring frameworks often failing to address systemic barriers faced by marginalized youth. The new equity model emphasizes…

Why Mentor Well-Being Strengthens Every Mentoring Program

Mentor satisfaction is not only good for volunteers—it’s critical for program outcomes.

Evidence-Based Mentoring: Validation That Builds Trust

Validation is a cornerstone of effective mentoring relationships, as Dr. Jean Rhodes highlights in a recent article.

Single-Session Interventions in Evidence-Based Mentoring Software

Single-session interventions (SSIs) are gaining attention for their potential to transform how mentoring programs deliver impact.

Evidence-Based Mentoring Insights: Why Gratitude Matters

Gratitude is more than a positive feeling—it’s a scientifically supported tool for strengthening mentoring relationships.

Program Managers: The Driving Force of Mentoring

In mentoring programs, the dedication of Program Managers shapes culture, engagement, and impact. Their alignment with a program’s mission transforms mentoring from transactional to inspiring.

How AI and Evidence-Based Mentoring Can Transform Student Advising

While human advisors excel at asking the right questions and tailoring guidance, new research suggests AI could play a supportive role.

Balancing Engagement and Goal Achievement: Key Insights for Mentoring Platforms

The success of a mentoring program depends not only on who is matched, but also on what they do together.

Supporting Youth Mental Health Through Innovative Mentoring Software

The mental health needs of today’s youth are at a crisis point, with rising rates of anxiety, depression, and trauma-related challenges leaving many without timely access to care.

Mentoring Software for Marginalized Youth: Best Practices from Research

Mentoring has the power to transform lives, particularly for youth navigating systemic inequities.

How Social Capital Improves Outcomes: Utilizing Mentoring Software to Strengthen Networks

High-quality matches are the foundation of any successful mentoring relationship. However, many programs still rely on surface-level similarities—like shared interests or career goals—when pairing mentors and mentees.

Why Mentor Empathy Matters: Leveraging Mentoring Software for Relationship Success

Empathy isn’t just a soft skill—it’s a cornerstone of mentoring effectiveness.

Ethical Considerations in Mentoring Software Implementation

A recent article by the Chronicle of Evidence-Based Mentoring explores how the growing use of AI in mentoring raises important ethical questions—especially around autonomy, data transparency, equity, and…

Mentoring Software as a Tool for Improving Academic Retention

Structured mentoring has a measurable impact on student retention and academic performance—especially when programs are intentional, evidence-based, and data-informed.

Mentor Training Software: How Ongoing Education Improves Outcomes

Too often, mentors are recruited and deployed with minimal preparation. But the research is clear: mentor training isn’t a nice-to-have—it’s a must.

Choosing the Right Mentor Matching Software: What Research Says

The success of a mentoring program starts with the match.

The Essential Features of an Evidence-Based Mentoring Platform

Mentoring is more than a match—it’s a method. An evidence-based platform ensures every interaction moves participants closer to their goals.

Smarter Goal-Setting in Mentoring

Research consistently shows that how goals are set in mentoring relationships matters as much as the goals themselves.