Mentors For Change

What Mentors For Change does

Mentors For Change is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization founded in 2013 in the Lincoln Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles (Federal Tax ID: 46-3912101). The organization provides career-based mentoring, college-access support, and youth development programs targeted at first-generation, low-income youth in Los Angeles. It is led by Executive Director Steven Yu with Director of Programs Esther Yim and a small staff (1-10 employees) supported by a nine-member Board of Directors and a two-member Advisory Board, with offices at 2241 N. Eastern Avenue, Los Angeles.

The organization's core offerings are delivered through a portfolio of programs: DreamMentor (a nine-month career-based mentoring program pairing youth with working professionals), CollegeMentor (college admissions and financial aid application support), HopeMentor (STEAM activities and personal development workshops for housing-insecure youth at the Union Rescue Mission in DTLA and South LA), PeaceMentor (social-emotional support and career development workshops for justice-involved youth at Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall), and the ChangeMaker Paid Internship (workforce development in partnership with Spring Cafe). A Youth Advisory Board composed of DreamMentor graduates provides youth-led governance. Programs are delivered free to participants, and mentees receive scholarships of $1,000 or $2,000 upon completion. The organization reports 120+ youth served annually, over 1,800 mentor volunteer hours, 1,280 internship hours, $20,000+ in scholarships, 260 people served through community impact projects, a 100% high-school graduation/GED rate, and 93%+ postsecondary matriculation.

Mentors For Change operates a community-led, donation- and grant-funded nonprofit model rather than a commercial technology or services business. Revenue derives from individual donations (monthly recurring and one-time gifts, which are 100% tax-deductible) and foundation and corporate grants from supporters including the Ahmanson Foundation, Conrad Hilton Foundation, Qualcomm, U.S. Bank, Nicholas B. Ottaway Foundation, DSYF, Goldhirsch Foundation, and California Jobs First. Outreach is community-based, with mentor/mentee applications through the organization's Squarespace-hosted website, social media, an email newsletter, community partner referrals (including a "Refer a Youth!" program), and direct on-site delivery at partner locations. There is no proprietary technology platform, no disclosed revenue or financial statements, and no AI/ML capability.

Name

Mentors For Change

Legal name

Mentor For Change

Website

https://mentorforchange.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Mentors For Change is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2013 in Los Angeles that delivers career-based mentoring, college-access support, and youth development programs to first-generation, low-income youth through DreamMentor, CollegeMentor, HopeMentor, PeaceMentor, and a paid internship program, funded by donations and foundation grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Mentorship and Education Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Educational Support Services (6117)

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)

Keywords

• Youth mentoring programs
• College access support
• Career readiness services
• Nonprofit youth development
• Workforce development scholarships

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: The organization operates as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt charity relying on public donations. Donations are 100% tax-deductible. Monthly recurring donor program and one-time gift options available. Funds support youth mentoring programs, scholarships, and operational costs.
2. Foundation and Corporate Grants: Partnerships with foundations (Ahmanson Foundation) and corporate sponsors (Conrad Hilton, Qualcomm, U.S. Bank) provide grant funding for programs and scholarships.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Mentors For Change is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers free, career-based mentoring, college-access support, and youth development programs to underserved youth in Los Angeles. Its program portfolio (DreamMentor, CollegeMentor, HopeMentor, PeaceMentor, and ChangeMaker Paid Internship) pairs working-professional mentors with youth to provide workshops, one-on-one mentoring, paid internships, and $1,000–$2,000 completion scholarships.

Product overview

Mentors For Change is a nonprofit organization offering a suite of youth mentorship programs focused on career readiness, college access, and personal development for LA youth. The portfolio includes DreamMentor (core 9-month career-based mentoring connecting youth with professional mentors), CollegeMentor (college admissions and financial aid application support), HopeMentor (services for housing-insecure youth), PeaceMentor (services for justice-involved youth), and ChangeMaker Internship (workforce development through paid café operations and media internships). The Youth Advisory Board, composed of DreamMentor graduates, provides youth-led governance and advocacy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• DreamMentor: Career-based mentoring program connecting youth with experienced professionals in their desired career fields through a nine-month program period with workshops for college and career readiness.
• CollegeMentor
• HopeMentor
• PeaceMentor
• ChangeMaker Internship
• Youth Advisory Board (YAB)

Products and services

• DreamMentor A nine-month career-based mentoring program that connects underserved LA youth with experienced professional mentors who provide resources, experiential learning opportunities, and workshops for college and career readiness; participants are eligible for a $1,000 or $2,000 scholarship upon program completion.
• CollegeMentor

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% of mentees complete high school or obtain a GED
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• HillsideLAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner supporting youth initiatives in the Los Angeles area.
• Union Rescue MissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost site for HopeMentor program serving youth residing at the Union Rescue Mission in DTLA and South LA (Angeles House). MFC hosts STEAM activities and personal development workshops.
• SoCal CANcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSouthern California Community Action Network partnership for community impact and youth development initiatives.
• Amity FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation supporting youth development and community programs.
• California Jobs FirstminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState initiative supporting youth employment and economic mobility programs.
• Spring CafecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoffee shop partner for the ChangeMaker Paid Internship program. MFC interns learn the operations of the coffee shop as part of workforce development.
• ConvoyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization supporting logistics and workforce development programs.
• New StoryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner supporting youth housing and development initiatives.
• DYD (Do You Dream)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth development partner organization.
• CitizenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization supporting community initiatives.
• Didomi TribeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner supporting youth development and cultural programs.
• Tree of Life Law FirmminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLaw firm partner supporting organizational operations and youth programs.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• iMentor: National nonprofit pairing underserved high school students with adult mentors focused on college access and career readiness. Closely comparable model to DreamMentor and CollegeMentor.
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Los Angeles: Direct youth-mentoring peer operating in the same Los Angeles market with a relationship-based one-to-one model serving underserved youth. Highly comparable target population and program structure to Mentors For Change.
• KIPP LA Public Schools: LA-based charter network serving low-income students with college-prep focus, alumni support, and career exposure. Comparable college-access mission and target demographic for first-generation students.
• College Track: College-access nonprofit supporting first-generation and low-income students from high school through college completion. Strong functional overlap with CollegeMentor's college admissions and persistence work.
• The Right Way Foundation: LA nonprofit providing mentorship and re-entry support for justice-involved and foster youth. Closely mirrors PeaceMentor's work with juvenile-justice populations.

Emerging players

• Year Up: Workforce-development program for low-income young adults offering career training, mentorship, and paid internships. Comparable to ChangeMaker Paid Internship in workforce-readiness focus, though serves an older cohort.
• Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA) — Youth Programs: LA-based nonprofit with youth programming offering leadership development, mentoring, and college access for immigrant and first-generation youth — overlapping demographic and LA footprint.

Others

• MENTOR (The National Mentoring Partnership): National umbrella organization advancing youth mentoring through advocacy, research, and resource provision. Ecosystem enabler comparable to Mentors For Change's relationship-oriented mentoring methodology.

Regional players

• After-School All-Stars (ASAS) Los Angeles: LA-based after-school program providing academic support, career exposure, and mentoring for underserved middle and high school students. Comparable target population and LA geographic focus.

Broad incumbents

• Boys & Girls Clubs of Los Angeles: Large established youth-development organization in LA offering mentoring, academic support, and career programs. Broader portfolio but overlaps significantly with Mentors For Change's youth-development mission.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mentor-for-change

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Mentors For Change