Boys to Men Mentoring

What Boys to Men Mentoring does

Boys to Men Mentoring Network is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1996 in San Diego, California, by Craig McClain, Herb Sigurdson, and Joe Sigurdson. The organization delivers group mentoring programs for fatherless and at-risk teenage boys (ages 11–17) across San Diego County, operating weekly in-school mentoring circles at 39 schools spanning 12 school districts, plus open community mentoring sessions and 48-hour Adventure Mountain Weekend retreats at its owned Legacy Ranch facility on Palomar Mountain. Programs are provided at no cost to schools, students, or families.

The core technology is a human-facilitated group mentoring model grounded in three principles — Listen, Accept, and Encourage — delivered by a trained volunteer mentor corps of more than 60 men using a proprietary curriculum refined over three decades. Supporting programmatic assets include the Journeyman leadership program (where program alumni mentor newer participants), a Virtual Mentoring Program delivered via video conferencing, and the Teen Pathways to Greatness Initiative extending services to young men beyond age 18. Mentors reportedly trained in 24+ states point to a franchise/affiliate distribution model, though program delivery remains concentrated in San Diego County.

The business model is event- and grant-driven: three signature fundraisers (100 Wave Challenge surf-a-thon, CaddyHack Golf Festival, and Rooted in Resiliency Gala) together accounted for an estimated 60–68% of annual operating budget, raising a combined ~$975K in 2024. The remaining funding mix includes foundation grants (Prebys Foundation $100K, Players Coalition $50K multi-year, David C. Copley Family Foundation, Legacy Foundation $100K), corporate sponsorships (Dr. Bronner's, Kaiser Permanente, Sycuan Casino Resort, Tower Construction, Austin Surf Club), and individual donations processed via DonorPerfect. The organization is led by Executive Director Rose Courtney (since 2019), with co-founder Joe Sigurdson serving as Community Development Director, and operates with a staff of 11–50 supported by an extensive volunteer mentor network.

Name

Boys to Men Mentoring

Legal name

Boys to Men Mentoring Network

Website

https://boystomen.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Boys to Men Mentoring is a San Diego-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit, founded in 1996, that delivers free weekly group mentoring circles to nearly 1,000 fatherless and at-risk teenage boys across 39 schools in 12 districts, funded primarily through signature surf and golf fundraisers and foundation grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Mentoring Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Child and Youth Services (624110), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Mentoring & Positive Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Student Mentoring & Peer Support Programs (EDAJALAL), Peer Support, Mentoring & Student Leadership (SEL) (EDAKAMAO), Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK), After-School, Tutoring & Academic Enrichment Nonprofits (BPAGADAC)

Keywords

• Youth mentoring services
• At-risk youth support
• Group mentoring programs
• Nonprofit youth development
• Teen mentorship circles

Headquarters

HQ city

Spring Valley

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization relying on private donations and foundation grants to fund operations. Receives grants from organizations like Players Coalition ($50,000 multi-year), Prebys Foundation ($100,000), and David C. Copley Family Foundation.
2. Annual Fundraising Events: Major events including 100 Wave Challenge surf-a-thon (60-68% of annual budget), CaddyHack Golf Festival ($225,000 raised in 2024), and Rooted in Resiliency Gala ($400,000 raised in 2024).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Boys to Men Mentoring is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that runs weekly group-mentoring circles for fatherless and at-risk teenage boys (ages 11-17) in San Diego County. Core programming comprises in-school mentoring at partner middle and high schools, open community mentoring circles at community centers, and 48-hour Adventure Mountain Weekend retreats at Legacy Ranch on Palomar Mountain, supplemented by a Teen Pathways to Greatness leadership initiative and a virtual mentoring program. The organization is funded through private donations, foundation grants, and three signature annual fundraising events (100 Wave Challenge, CaddyHack Golf Festival, Rooted in Resiliency Gala); all mentoring services are delivered at no cost to schools, students, or families.

Product overview

Boys to Men Mentoring is a non-profit youth mentoring organization offering a unified portfolio of group mentoring programs. The core offerings include in-school mentoring circles held at 34+ schools across San Diego County, open community mentoring groups, and Adventure Mountain Weekends at Legacy Ranch on Palomar Mountain. The organization supplements its direct programming with fundraising events including the 100 Wave Challenge surf-a-thon, CaddyHack Golf Festival, and Rooted in Resiliency Gala. A Teen Pathways to Greatness Initiative expands support for young men beyond age 18. A virtual mentoring program enables remote participation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• 100 Wave Challenge: Annual surf-a-thon fundraiser where participants attempt to catch 100 waves in one day to raise funds for BTM's mentoring programs.
• CaddyHack Golf Festival
• Rooted in Resiliency

Products and services

• In-School Mentoring Weekly group mentoring circles held at middle schools and high schools where trained volunteer male mentors meet with at-risk and fatherless teenage boys during school hours to provide guidance, accountability, and consistent adult connection. Delivered free of charge to schools and students.
• Open Community Mentoring After-school and community-based mentoring circles held at community centers across San Diego County, providing the same group mentoring experience for teenage boys who cannot or do not participate through a school channel. Free to participants.
• Adventure Mountain Weekends 48-hour experiential rite-of-passage retreats at Legacy Ranch on Palomar Mountain for program participants, combining team-building, rites-of-passage activities, and deeper exploration of the journey to healthy manhood. Free to participants; serves as the program's signature immersive experience.
• Virtual Mentoring Program Online group mentoring circles conducted via video conferencing that replicate the in-person group mentoring experience for teenage boys who cannot attend in-person sessions. Free to participants.
• Teen Pathways to Greatness Initiative Programmatic expansion designed to extend mentoring and development activities to program alumni beyond age 18, creating a long-term solution to the "Boy Crisis" and a sustained support continuum from middle school into young adulthood.
• 100 Wave Challenge Annual surf-a-thon fundraiser in which participants aim to catch 100 waves in a single day to raise funds for Boys to Men's mentoring programs. Title sponsored by Dr. Bronner's, Kaiser Permanente, Austin Surf Club, Tower Construction, and Molly's Angels; contributes a majority share of the annual operating budget.
• CaddyHack Golf Festival Annual golf tournament fundraiser featuring live music, food, and community entertainment to support Boys to Men's mentoring programs. Title sponsored by Sycuan Casino Resort in its 8th annual iteration.
• Rooted in Resiliency Gala Annual gala celebration honoring mentors, supporters, and community members while raising funds for the organization's mentoring initiatives.

Quantifiable outcome

• 57% improvement in GPA for program participants
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Dr. Bronner'sflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerTitle sponsor for 100 Wave Challenge and 1 Wave Challenge events since 2011. Family-owned natural soap company based in Vista, California, with commitment to ethical sourcing and social justice causes. Has helped BTM triple in size, raising over $25,000 in individual years and significant annual contributions.
• Kaiser PermanentecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerTitle sponsor for the 16th Annual 100 Wave Challenge event, supporting mental health initiatives and youth mentorship programs.
• Austin Surf ClubcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerTitle sponsor for 100 Wave Challenge surf-a-thon, part of the San Diego surf community supporting BTM's mission.
• Tower ConstructioncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerTitle sponsor for 100 Wave Challenge, contributing to annual fundraising efforts.
• Molly's AngelscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerTitle sponsor for 100 Wave Challenge, supporting youth mentorship programs.
• The Century Club of San DiegocoreGTM or Marketing PartnerChampions for Youth campaign partnership - one of 12 elite nonprofits selected. Received nearly $26,000 bonus pool in addition to funds raised through 1 Wave Challenge. Partnership with Farmers Insurance Open.
• Farmers InsurancecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerThrough Champions for Youth campaign, provides generous donation bonus pool supporting BTM and other elite nonprofits.
• Cohn Restaurant GroupcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity Catalyst Partner and Menus with Meaning charity dining series beneficiary. Donated 20% of proceeds from dining events across multiple restaurants including BO beau Kitchen + Garden, Vintana Wine + Dine, and Blue Point Coastal Cuisine.
• Sycuan Casino ResortflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerTitle sponsor for 8th Annual CaddyHack Golf Festival, supporting expansion of BTM programs to reach more middle and high school students.
• Degree 33 SurfboardsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProvides high-quality surfboards for Summer Surf Nights and 100 Wave Challenge participants.
• PB Surf ShopminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProvides surfing lessons and safety tips during Summer Surf Nights events.
• National Conflict Resolution CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAwarded as Community Partner of the Year during Night of Gratitude event, recognizing community impact contributions.
• San Diego County Office of EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPilot program partnership to run mentoring programs in continuation high schools, expanding reach to additional at-risk youth.
• Shaun TomsoncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFormer World Champion surfer and motivational speaker who has teamed with BTM for multiple 100 Wave Challenge events as a prominent supporter and advocate.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Big Brothers Big Sisters of America: The largest U.S. youth mentoring nonprofit, operating one-to-one mentoring programs for at-risk youth. Highly comparable mission and beneficiary segment, although B2M's group-mentoring and male-only focus is a meaningful differentiator.
• 100 Black Men of America: National mentoring and education organization focused on African American youth, with mentoring, scholarship, and leadership programs. Comparable as a demographic-focused youth mentoring organization with structured mentorship delivery.
• National CARES Mentoring Movement: National nonprofit recruiting and training mentors for African American and other at-risk youth. Directly comparable mission targeting at-risk youth through volunteer mentors, with a similar community-based delivery model.

Broad incumbents

• MENTOR (National Mentoring Partnership): National umbrella organization for youth mentoring, convening affiliates and setting quality standards. Comparable in sector leadership but is a membership/advocacy body rather than a direct service provider like B2M.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of America: National youth-development nonprofit serving millions of kids at club locations. Comparable in serving at-risk youth but operates broad programming (academic, athletic, arts) rather than the focused male-mentoring model B2M delivers.
• Boys Town: Long-established nonprofit providing residential and community-based services for at-risk youth and families. Comparable in serving at-risk boys but operates at much larger scale and with residential care as a core offering.
• National Fatherhood Initiative: National nonprofit focused on father absence and responsible fatherhood. Highly comparable thematic framing around the fatherlessness crisis B2M addresses, though primarily advocacy and resource-based rather than direct mentoring delivery.
• Junior Achievement: Large youth education and workforce-readiness nonprofit with school-delivered programs. Comparable in using school-district partnerships and volunteer mentors to deliver in-school programs, though focused on financial literacy/careers rather than emotional mentoring.
• Year Up: Workforce-development nonprofit serving young adults from under-resourced communities. Comparable in serving opportunity-youth populations but focused on older youth and job placement rather than middle/high school mentoring.

Regional players

• AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination): School-district-implemented college-readiness system serving middle and high school students, with strong presence in San Diego-area schools. Comparable as a school-based student-success intervention delivered via district partnerships, though focused on academic readiness rather than male mentoring specifically.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/boystomenmentoring
• Instagraminstagram.com/boystomen_sd
• Xx.com/boystomen_sd
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/boys-to-men

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Boys to Men Mentoring