What Mentor Greater Milwaukee does

MENTOR Greater Milwaukee (MGM) is a Wisconsin-based nonprofit organization founded in 2016 as a public-private partnership between Milwaukee Public Schools, the Milwaukee Bucks, and the City of Milwaukee, following the Public Policy Forum's study 'Mentoring in Milwaukee: Developing a Regional Mentoring Network.' Operating as an official affiliate of MENTOR: The National Mentoring Partnership, MGM functions as a regional catalyst and convening body for youth mentoring in Greater Milwaukee, working to increase mentoring relationships by building the capacity of existing mentoring organizations and recruiting adult mentors for youth. The organization serves program partners (nonprofits, schools, faith communities, corporations, and civic groups), individual volunteer mentors, and youth in K-12 and young-adult cohorts.

MGM's core offerings span training, convening, and referral services rather than a unified software product. The training catalog includes Mentoring 101, Cultural Competence in Mentoring, Building Relationships, Mentor Relationship Closure, E-Mentoring, and Mentoring in the Workplace, all delivered at no cost to qualifying organizations. The organization also distributes MENTOR National's Elements of Effective Practice for Mentoring standards and routes organizations to the National Mentoring Resource Center. Signature events include the annual Mentoring Symposium (entering its 6th year in 2026, drawing 200+ practitioners), the Youth Voice Summit, and the Mentor of the Game recognition program run in conjunction with the Milwaukee Bucks.

MGM's business model is donation- and sponsorship-driven rather than revenue-generating. Cash inflows come from individual/organizational donations, foundation grants (a $75,000 Green Bay Packers Foundation grant was received in June 2024), corporate sponsorships at $1,000–$15,000 tiers, and event registration fees ($100 per Symposium attendee). The organization does not charge fees for training or technical assistance. Headcount is reported at 1-10 employees, led by Executive Director LaNelle Ramey. Geographic focus is limited to Greater Milwaukee, with no disclosed expansion plans beyond the region.

Name

Mentor Greater Milwaukee

Legal name

MENTOR Greater Milwaukee

Website

https://milwaukeementor.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

MENTOR Greater Milwaukee is a nonprofit regional affiliate of MENTOR National that builds capacity for youth mentoring organizations in Greater Milwaukee by providing no-cost training, convening practitioners through its annual Symposium, recruiting volunteer mentors, and connecting programs via the Mentoring Connector platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Mentoring Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Support Services (6117)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Mentoring & Positive Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Peer Support, Mentoring & Student Leadership (SEL) (EDAKAMAO), Coaching, Mentoring & Facilitation Services (BPACANAI), Alumni, Peer & Community Networking Programs (EDAMAKAM)

Keywords

• Youth mentoring programs
• Mentor training services
• Mentor recruitment support
• Nonprofit mentoring network
• Mentoring capacity building

Headquarters

HQ city

Milwaukee

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Event Registration and Sponsorships: The organization generates revenue through annual Mentoring Symposium event registrations ($100 per attendee) and corporate sponsorship packages at multiple tiers ($15,000 Presenting Sponsor, $10,000 Partnering Sponsor, $7,500 Supporting Sponsor, $5,000 Acknowledging Sponsor, $1,000 Full Table Sponsor).
2. Donations and Contributions: The organization accepts donations from individuals and organizations to support mentoring advocacy, quality training, program technical assistance, and mentor recruitment services throughout Wisconsin.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

MENTOR Greater Milwaukee is a nonprofit mentoring intermediary that builds the capacity of existing youth mentoring organizations in Greater Milwaukee. It delivers evidence-based training programs (Mentoring 101, Cultural Competence, Building Relationships, Mentor Relationship Closure, E-Mentoring, Mentoring in the Workplace), connects prospective mentors to programs through the Mentoring Connector platform, and convenes the local mentoring field through signature events such as the annual Mentoring Symposium and Youth Voice Summit.

Product overview

MENTOR Greater Milwaukee is a nonprofit organization that serves as an affiliate of MENTOR: The National Mentoring Partnership, functioning as both a mentoring advocacy organization and a resource hub. The organization operates a multi-faceted service model centered on the Mentoring Connector platform—a national database enabling mentor/mentee matching—augmented by evidence-based training programs (Mentoring 101, Cultural Competence in Mentoring, Building Relationships, Mentor Relationship Closure, E-Mentoring, Mentoring in the Workplace) and access to the Elements of Effective Practice for Mentoring standards and National Mentoring Resource Center. The portfolio also includes signature events (Mentoring Symposium, Youth Voice Summit), corporate recognition (MGM Corporate Honor Roll, Mentor of the Game), and technical assistance for program partners. This is not a unified software platform but rather an ecosystem of programs, resources, and events designed to build capacity among mentoring organizations and increase quality mentoring relationships throughout Greater Milwaukee.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Mentoring 101 Foundational no-cost training covering mentoring philosophy and best practices, including an introduction to the Mentoring Connector and volunteer mentoring opportunities; intended for organizations, schools, and groups starting or strengthening youth mentoring programs.
• Cultural Competence in Mentoring No-cost training on eliminating implicit and explicit biases when mentoring, covering cultural relevance, awareness, microaggressions, and crucial conversations; intended for mentoring program staff and volunteer mentors working with diverse youth.
• Building Relationships No-cost training on deepening mentor/mentee relationships using evidence-based best practices to improve overall mentoring program outcomes.
• Mentor Relationship Closure No-cost training and discussion on best practices to close mentoring relationships in a lasting, impactful way that does not harm youth; intended for program staff and mentors approaching match closure.
• E-Mentoring (Virtual Mentoring) No-cost training and discussion on strengthening or transitioning to virtual mentoring to expand program reach; intended for programs building or pivoting to remote mentoring models.
• Mentoring in the Workplace No-cost training for companies on adopting a mentoring mindset with youth interns and young employees; intended for corporate partners building workplace mentoring pipelines.
• Annual Mentoring Symposium Annual convening of mentoring practitioners, advocates and philanthropic partners featuring workshops, awards and networking; 6th annual event scheduled for 2026 with $100 per attendee registration and tiered corporate sponsorships.
• Youth Voice Summit Annual summit in which youth ambassadors (ages 14-18) research and engage with communities to contribute to workshops on community health, environmental wellness and educational systems improvement.
• MGM Corporate Honor Roll Recognition program for corporations that support the mentoring field through financial gifts, advocacy, mentoring opportunities for employees, and platforms for discussing mentoring benefits; includes brand elevation via social media, event recognition and exclusive networking.
• Mentor of the Game Program allowing Program Partners to nominate outstanding volunteer mentors during the NBA season for recognition, run in partnership with the Milwaukee Bucks.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 200 mentoring practitioners and advocates attend the annual Mentoring Symposium
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Milwaukee Public SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Key founding partner in establishing MENTOR Greater Milwaukee in 2016. Collaborated on the strategic planning process that engaged over 13 mentoring organizations to address unmet demand for quality mentors in Greater Milwaukee.
• Milwaukee BuckscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Founding partner and key corporate supporter, leading the creation of MENTOR Greater Milwaukee as a first-of-its-kind public-private partnership. Jack Snow from the Bucks led the creation of MGM and oversees the team's mentoring and sports-based youth development initiatives.
• City of MilwaukeecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Founding partner in the 2016 public-private partnership that established MENTOR Greater Milwaukee. Funded the initial study with Milwaukee Public Schools to explore developing a Mentor Affiliate.
• National Mentoring Resource Center (OJJDP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMGM connects organizations to the NMRC, which is funded by the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention and operated by MENTOR. NMRC provides free training and program improvement services nationwide.
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro MilwaukeemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProgram Partner featured in spotlight articles. MENTOR Greater Milwaukee supports their one-to-one mentoring programs through training, resources, and mentorship referrals to help them serve youth in Milwaukee and Waukesha counties.
• GLOW 414 Inc.majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProgram Partner specializing in at-risk youth and LGBTQ+ individuals. MGM partnership has been instrumental in boosting mentorship outreach through increased referrals and connecting dedicated mentors with GLOW 414's programs.
• Pathfinder CRAY (Collaborative Rapid Advocacy for Youth)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership providing specialized support for youth affected by commercial sexual exploitation in Milwaukee County. GLOW 414 Inc. works with CRAY to offer sanctuary and long-term advocacy.
• Urban Future CentersmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollective of community-led organizations focused on STEM education. MENTOR Greater Milwaukee collaborates with Urban Future Centers to engage Black male youth in STEM through mentorship, led by Nadiyah Johnson and Milky Way Tech Hub.
• Milky Way Tech HubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLed by Nadiyah Johnson, focuses on bridging the technological divide. Partnered with MGM to engage youth in STEM mentorship opportunities and career exploration.
• Sherman PhoenixminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity hub supporting STEM education and entrepreneurship in Milwaukee. Part of the Urban Future Centers initiative that MGM collaborates with.
• Young Enterprising Society (YES)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth-focused organization part of the Urban Future Centers initiative, providing STEM education opportunities in Milwaukee.
• Journey HouseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity organization part of the Urban Future Centers initiative focused on STEM education and youth development in Milwaukee.
• Northwestern MutualmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerFeatured on the MGM Corporate Honor Roll recognizing outstanding corporate supporters of mentoring. Listed as a champion of the mentoring field.
• Rockwell AutomationmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerFeatured on the MGM Corporate Honor Roll recognizing outstanding corporate supporters of mentoring.
• Goodwill Industries of Southeastern WisconsinmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerFeatured on the MGM Corporate Honor Roll. Angela Adams, Chief Communication and Diversity Officer, is quoted supporting the mentoring movement.
• Milwaukee BucksmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerFeatured on the MGM Corporate Honor Roll as a corporate champion supporting mentoring initiatives.
• MENTOR: The National Mentoring PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMGM is an official affiliate of MENTOR National, gaining access to the Elements of Effective Practice for Mentoring, Mentoring Connector platform, National Mentoring Resource Center resources, and the annual National Mentoring Summit.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• iCouldBe: National e-mentoring nonprofit for underserved high school students; comparable in target audience (disconnected youth) and emphasis on technology-enabled mentor matching, but operating nationally rather than as a local intermediary.

Broad incumbents

• Big Brothers Big Sisters of America: National youth-mentoring incumbent operating across all 50 states; comparable in mission and methodology, with substantially larger scale and direct-delivery service (versus MGM's intermediary/convener role).

Regional players

• Outagamie County Mentoring Program: Wisconsin county-government youth mentoring program (youth 6–17, including Child Welfare and Juvenile Justice referrals) featured by MGM as a Program Partner; comparable in volunteer model and regional scope.
• United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County: Regional umbrella funder in the same Greater Milwaukee/Waukesha geography that often co-funds mentoring and youth-development agencies; comparable in convener role and corporate partnership model.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee: Long-standing Milwaukee-area youth-development network whose senior leadership path produced MGM's Executive Director; provides adjacent mentoring, STEM, and out-of-school programming to a comparable youth population.

Direct peers

• MENTOR: The National Mentoring Partnership: National umbrella organization of which MGM is an official affiliate; sets the Elements of Effective Practice, runs the Mentoring Connector platform that drives 80,000+ annual volunteer searches, and provides the curriculum MGM distributes locally.
• GLOW 414 Inc. Milwaukee-based nonprofit delivering mentoring and counseling to at-risk and LGBTQ+ youth through its Credible Messenger Program; operates as an MGM Program Partner addressing the same cohort MGM convenes around.
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Milwaukee: Largest one-to-one youth mentoring program in the Greater Milwaukee market and a featured MGM Program Partner; directly comparable in target population (youth ages 6–17), volunteer-based delivery model, and reported outcome metrics.
• MENTOR Maryland: State-level MENTOR affiliate structurally identical to MGM, providing training, mentor recruitment, and convening for Maryland mentoring organizations; the cleanest functional comparability with MGM.

Others

• National Mentoring Resource Center: OJJDP-funded national resource hub operated by MENTOR that MGM connects local programs into; provides free training and program-improvement services and is effectively an upstream enabler rather than a competitor.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/MENTORMilwaukee
• Facebookfacebook.com/MentorMilwaukee

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Mentor Greater Milwaukee