TeamMates Mentoring Program

The vision of TeamMates, is to be the premier school-based mentoring program by creating a culture of hope that leads to a positive ripple effect in our communities and beyond.

The mission of TeamMates, is to positively impact the world by inspiring students to reach their full potential through mentoring.

Our Core Values:
Commitment to Students - We are committed to serving youth with compassion and respect
Safety - The safety and protection of the mentee and mentor is our top priority
Integrity and Trust - We are committed to integrity and trust in all relationships
Inclusion - We are committed to the inclusion of mentees and mentors from diverse backgrounds
Strengths based - We focus on the innate talent and unique contribution of each individual

Strategic Initiative
Program Impact
1.Quality Engagement
2. Impact & Brand Awareness
3. Organizational Sustainability: Ensure the operational, program, and financial sustainability of TeamMates


Quality Engagement
1.Define, measure and enhance engagement of TeamMates constituents
2.Implement strategies to increase operating income and diversify our donor base
3.Develop a long term financial stability and growth plan for the TeamMates Foundation
4.Improve overall management of revenues, expenses and assets

Impact & Brand Awareness
1.Promote an inclusive brand that best represents TeamMates and its impact
2.Recruit a diverse pool of mentors that better reflect the students we serve
3. Increase marketing efforts with unique strategies for each state
4. Establish TeamMates+ as a recognized program across five states and beyond

Organizational Sustainability
1. Ensure the operational, program, and financial sustainability of TeamMates
2.Define quality engagement
3.Measure engagement of staff, local leaders and matches
4. Enhance engagement through Strengths-based learning, best practices, stewardship and ownership

TeamMates Mentoring Program has over 180 local chapters in communities throughout Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Wyoming. It's chapter structure engages local leaders and allows them to best meet the needs of youth in their community with support from the TeamMates Central Office, which ensures that each chapter meets national standards for safe, effective mentoring programs.

Data is gathered on each student to measure improvement in grades, attendance and behavior and both mentors and mentees are surveyed annually. For the students in TeamMates who are approaching high school graduation, a plan for post-secondary education and scholarship applications for students headed to college help to inform future success. Annually, we look for trends in the data to tell us where students likely need more support and training.

Since its inception in 1991, TeamMates Mentoring Program has provided a mentor to over 43,000 youth in communities across our five-state region. In the 2019-2020 school year, our program matched 10,949 youth with caring adult mentors in 180+ districts. TeamMates+ served 292 students at 39 colleges. With a 96% graduation rate, in May 728 students successfully completed high school. It was our largest class yet.