At the U-District Mentoring Program, we match volunteer mentors with youth ages 8–12 in the Spokane community. Rather than maintaining a waitlist, we take time to get to know each new mentor — their personality, life experiences, hobbies, and preferences — and then partner with a school counselor at a Title I school to nominate the student who would be the best fit.

We offer two program tracks:

Community Mentoring — Once matched, the pair spends four hours a month together over eighteen months. That time is theirs to shape however they choose, creating space for fun, trust-building, and working toward individualized goals. Both the mentor and family receive support from our program director and are welcome to join group activities with other matches.

School-Based Mentoring — Mentors visit their mentee at school for 30 minutes each week throughout the school year. This format offers a consistent, convenient way to build a meaningful relationship right within the school setting. Like the community-based program, the time is theirs to spend how they would like as long as it can be done on the school campus. Mentors and families receive support from our program director and the counselor throughout the match.

Getting started is simple. Reach out through our contact form or schedule a call—we’ll walk you through the next steps and answer any questions along the way.

Community-Based Time Commitment: 4 hours a month for 18 months

School-Based Time Commitment: 30 mins a week for the school year

We understand and expect that our mentors and families will miss sessions from time to time due to travel or sickness. We simply ask that mentors and families communicate openly with each other and make up missed time when possible.

The program holds roughly one group event a month for the community-based matches to enjoy. These are not mandatory, but do offer a wonderful opportunity to form connections with folks who are on the same path.

Mentors are always welcome to exchange contact information and connect with fellow mentors! The program holds regular mentor get-togethers where volunteers can share advice, celebrate wins, and simply enjoy the company of others who understand the journey. Mentors can also reach out to the program director at any time with questions or for guidance.