Our Services

We know that operating a mentoring program is hard work and we’re here to support our members by offering a variety of services.

Training and Technical Assistance

We provide training and technical assistance in program development, operations and evaluation. In a typical year we deliver 30 training sessions covering topics such as effective mentor recruitment, fundraising and measuring outcomes. For members, the cost of attending is nominal—often less than $30.  Learn more about upcoming trainings and events.

Grants

Much of our work centers on generating funding for mentoring programs. Since 2004, we have granted almost $4 million to programs serving youth in Washington state. While grants range in size from $5,000 to $1 million, the majority of grants are less than $10,000. Learn more about our approach to giving.

Advocacy

Each year in January, we convene our members from across the state for Mentoring Advocacy Day at the state capitol. The purpose of the event is to raise awareness among state legislators about the importance of mentoring. Advocacy Day is the culmination of a yearlong effort by our Provider Council, which is made up of 12 member organizations and meets at our Issaquah office four times a year to generate and execute an advocacy campaign. To learn more about WSM Advocacy efforts, contact WSM Deputy Director, Tom Pennella.

Roundtables

The needs of a small mentoring program in Yakima differ from those of a large one in Seattle. For that reason, we support county-level mentoring coalitions, or “roundtables.” While these groups differ from region to region, they share the goal of identifying common solutions to local challenges. In some instances, we provide staff and funding to support a roundtable. In other cases, we respond to requests for support on a rolling basis. Click here for a list of active roundtables.

MentorPRO

This client management system helps mentoring organizations track and access data to better manage their Programs, manage mentoring Relationships and evaluate program Outcomes. The system was developed by our national partner, MENTOR, and is licensed to WSM for the exclusive use of our members.  To learn more about MentorPRO and how your organization can get involved, contact WSM Outreach Officer, Pamila Gant.