iMentor builds mentoring relationships that empower first-generation students to graduate high school, succeed in college and career, and achieve their ambitions.

We believe that all people deserve an equal chance to pursue their ambitions. We believe that our schools, communities, and workplaces are stronger when they include the full spectrum of talent in our country. Our commitment to fairness, opportunity, and access is embedded throughout our work, strengthening our impact in education and beyond.

Values

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    Educational opportunity opens up a world of possibility.

    At the heart of our work is the belief that education is the pathway to success. We commit to continuous learning and aspire to model this as champions of iMentor's mission.

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    Relationships have the power to transform.

    We foster high commitment relationships between our mentors and mentees, our partners, and our staff. We seek to build a culture of transparency, humility and trust.

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    Human potential inspires us.

    We operate from a growth mindset, believing that with hard work, dedication, and support, we can develop in ways that bring us closer to achieving our goals.

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    Collaboration increases our impact.

    Our guiding principle is that we are better and stronger together. We recognize that we are at our best when we leverage diverse backgrounds, unique contributions, and many perspectives.

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    Excellence is achievable.

    We strive to be strategic and resourceful, working with passion, integrity and urgency. We hold ourselves accountable to measurable outcomes as a foundation of our work.

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    Joy sustains us.

    We aim to cultivate a sense of happiness and purpose every day.


Our Commitment to Community, Educational Access, and Opportunity

iMentor demonstrates its commitment to community, educational access, and opportunity across the organization through the following initiatives.

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    Employee Resource Groups

    iMentor Employee Resource Groups are staff-led communities that bring together individuals with shared backgrounds and interests to foster connections, offer support, and encourage collaboration.

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    Student Advisory Council

    The regional Student Advisory Councils provide a platform for students to share their perspectives, contribute ideas, and help shape iMentor’s approach to supporting postsecondary success.

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    Mentor Education

    Our Mentor Education curriculum helps mentors develop the knowledge and skills to better understand the challenges students face and provide meaningful guidance in their mentoring relationships.

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    Manager Training and Resources

    People managers play a key role in employee engagement and satisfaction. To build a strong workplace culture, we equip our leaders with the tools and training needed to manage and support their teams effectively.

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    Integration into Organizational Goals

    Staff members incorporate key organizational priorities into their individual and departmental goals during our annual planning process, ensuring a focus on continuous improvement and long-term impact.


History

iMentor was created in 1999 by John Griffin, founder of Blue Ridge Capital, and two public-interest lawyers, Richard Buery and Matt Klein. We launched our inaugural program with just 49 students in a single school in the South Bronx. Today, iMentor serves more than 10,000 students through our direct-service programs in New York City, Chicago, the Bay Area and Baltimore, and through our partnerships with local non-profit organizations that implement our model in 51 schools.

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