Mentor Program FAQs

Learn more about the logistics of AL!VE's Emerging Leaders Mentor Program, which engages industry experts to provide emerging leaders in volunteer engagement with guidance, support, and career development opportunities through one-on-one mentorship.

Participation Requirements

The program is open to both mentors and mentees. To ensure a meaningful experience for all participants, everyone is expected to commit to the full six-month program. Shared expectations for all participants include:

Complete the program application
Commitment to the full six-month program
Participation in orientation
Monthly mentor meetings
Complete the program midpoint check-in
Attendance at the final mentor program webinar
Completion of the final program evaluation

How Matching Works

Mentors and mentees are matched through a thoughtful process designed to support strong, mutually beneficial partnerships.

Mentors complete a questionnaire outlining their background, experience, and the competencies they feel comfortable coaching. Mentees complete an application describing their professional history, current experience, and the competencies they hope to strengthen through the program.

Interested participants will receive a Meet the Mentors guide to learn more about participating mentors, and mentors will also have the opportunity to review mentee applications. During orientation, mentors and mentees will introduce themselves, share their experience, and discuss the goals they hope to accomplish through the mentorship. After orientation, both parties will share their preferred match with the program facilitator, who will make the final matches and notify participants by email.

If either participant has a concern about the match, AL!VE will work with them to address it. If a match does not move forward, there will not be a replacement for that program round.

The Mentorship Experience

There is no one-size-fits-all model for this program. Each mentorship is tailored to the goals of the mentee and the approach the mentor feels best supports those goals.

Over the six-month period, each mentor-mentee pair will:

Meet once per month by phone or video conference
Spend up to one hour per monthly session
Maintain light correspondence between meetings, typically 1–2 hours per month as needed

Examples of what a mentor may offer include:

Helping a mentee discover talents and interests and define goals
Connecting mentees with helpful professional and personal contacts
Encouraging curiosity and problem-solving around challenges
Providing feedback in an open, supportive environment
Sharing perspective and lessons learned through personal experience

Program Timeline

Milestone	Description	Audience	Spring Cohort	Fall Cohort
Mentees/Mentors Application Period	AL!VE members interested in becoming mentees complete an application outlining their current experience and future development goals. Members interested in becoming mentors complete a questionnaire about their experience, knowledge, and skills.	All Participants	February	August
Goal Setting Webinar	Optional session for potential mentees to receive tips and advice on goal setting.	Mentees	February	August
Program Orientation	Mentors and mentees come together for introductions and goal-setting discussion ahead of matching.	All Participants	March	September
Matching Process	AL!VE program facilitators finalize mentor-mentee pairings and confirm matches by email.	All Participants	March	September
Mentoring Tips Webinar	Optional session for mentors to receive advice and guidance on mentoring.	Mentors	March	September
Mentoring Meetings	Mentors and mentees connect monthly by phone or video conference over the six-month mentorship period.	All Participants	April - September	October - March
Mentee/Mentor Midpoint Check-In	Program facilitators check in with participants and offer support as needed.	All Participants	July	January
Celebration & Closure Webinar	Participants come together to celebrate successes and officially close the program.	All Participants	October	April
Final Evaluation Survey	Participants complete a final survey to provide feedback on their experience in the program. The flyer lists the end date as 10/16/25, which appears inconsistent with the rest of the 2026 timeline and may need correction before publication.	All Participants	October	April

How to Get Started

AL!VE will notify members when the application process opens for both mentors and mentees, along with details about the selection process and full program timeline. Mentors may take on more than one mentee if they have the capacity to do so, while each mentee will be matched with one mentor. Thank you for considering participation in the Emerging Leaders Mentor Program. AL!VE looks forward to supporting members’ career growth and development through this pilot initiative and hopes to make it a lasting member benefit in the future.