Enhancing Volunteer Connectedness within a Chapter Based Mentor Program

Abstract

College Mentors for Kids (CMFK), a mentoring program uniting university students with local elementary students, was established in 1996 and has grown to serve over 30 chapters in the Midwest and East Coast. CMFK desired to understand how they could better foster a sense of connectedness between mentors at the university level to address concerns with mentor retention. A mixed-methods approach was taken using a survey, interviews, focus groups, and document analysis. Overall, five primary findings highlighted key insights about College Mentors for Kids. Mentors prioritize contributing to the mission over connecting with other mentors, while all stakeholders value the mission and focus on enhancing the little buddies' experience. Mentors also seek more training and individualized support. University partners desire better communication from the national team and greater involvement on campus. Finally, the fundraising requirement was seen as a barrier to peer mentor connections.