Mentor Interest Guide & FAQ

This guide outlines what it means to be a mentor, how the matching process works, the expected commitment, and how to navigate mentorship across different identities. It also answers common questions and provides support to ensure mentors feel prepared.

Interested in becoming a mentor? Fill out our secure mentor interest form to help us match you with a mentee and start making an impact!

Apply to be a Mentor

What Does It Mean to Be a Mentor?

As a mentor with Future Leaders Movement (FLM), you play a crucial role in supporting emerging professionals from historically excluded communities. You’ll share your experiences, offer guidance, and help mentees navigate career and leadership challenges—without the expectation that they follow every piece of advice.

Mentorship is about listening, encouraging, and helping mentees build confidence in their path forward. While coaches are trained practitioners, mentors contribute by offering real-world insights and personal stories.

How Does the Matching Process Work?

We match mentors and mentees based on the information you provide through a secure and confidential form. Your data is protected, and all questions are optional—only share what you’re comfortable with.

We consider factors such as:

Lived experiences and identity factors that shape career navigation (e.g., race, gender identity, socioeconomic background, disability, sexual orientation)
Cultural and linguistic background (e.g., native country, languages spoken)
Professional experience (e.g., industry, role, stage of company)
Education and academic background (e.g., field of study, certifications)
Areas of expertise and topics you’d like to support

Our goal is to create meaningful connections where mentees can see parts of themselves reflected in their mentors, while also gaining valuable perspectives from different lived experiences.

Is This a Paid Opportunity?

Yes, mentorship with FLM is a paid position as a 1099 contractor. We believe in compensating mentors for their time, especially as many come from traditionally overlooked backgrounds where access to compensated opportunities has not always been equitable. Your insights and lived experience are valuable, and we recognize that mentorship requires a real time investment.

If you’d like, there is an optional opportunity to donate a portion of your earnings back to the grant that funds mentees, but this is completely voluntary and there is absolutely no expectation or pressure to do so. If you participate in programs like Pledge 1% and need documentation of any volunteer mentorship hours you provide, we can also provide verification.

What Kind of Commitment Is Involved?

Mentorship is typically a 3-6 month commitment with at least one 60 minute conversation per month.
Pairs set their own schedules based on availability.
Some mentors may choose to stay connected with their mentees informally after the initial period.

If you’re not ready for a long-term commitment, you can also participate in:

One-time mentorship calls for mentees seeking quick insights.
Industry panels or fireside chats to share broader career advice.

What Training or Onboarding Is Required?

Mentors are required to complete a light onboarding that includes best practices for effective mentorship. This ensures you feel prepared to support your mentee while maintaining boundaries and offering guidance in an impactful way. Topics include:

How to ask the right questions & provide guidance
Setting expectations for your first 1:1 conversation
Supporting mentees across different identities
When to refer a mentee to FLM for additional support

Additionally, we encourage mentors to take DEIB (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging) training on their own time to advance their knowledge. The same DEIB resources provided to our coaches are available for mentors who want to deepen their understanding of identity, bias, and inclusive leadership.

What If I Haven’t Mentored Before?

That’s okay! We welcome first-time mentors who are committed to learning. Mentorship is not about having all the answers—it’s about being present, supportive, and willing to share experiences.

What If My Mentee Has a Different Background Than Me?

FLM’s mentorship program is designed to support professionals from marginalized backgrounds, and we encourage cross-identity mentorship when aligned with mentee goals.

If you're mentoring someone from a different background:

Acknowledge differences without making assumptions about their experiences.
Use your privilege to open doors—advocate, connect, and share resources.
Avoid generalizing advice—instead, ask about the mentee’s lived experience.
Know when to refer—if the mentee would benefit from a mentor with shared experiences, FLM can help.

What Happens If the Match Isn’t a Good Fit?

Mentorship should feel mutually beneficial and aligned. If the match isn’t working, FLM can:

Adjust expectations to ensure a better structure for the relationship.
Rematch you with another mentee if needed.

What Do You Need From Me to Get Started?

If you apply and are selected, you will go through a short qualification verification process.

We ask all mentors to become ambassadors of FLM, and it’s important to note that you may not be immediately matched with a mentee or grant recipient. This is dependent on match availability and grant funding at any given time.

If you’re interested in becoming a mentor, we ask you to:

Complete our secure mentor interest form (all info is optional).
Let us know your availability and commitment preferences.
Read the Mentor Readiness Guide before your first 1:1 session.
Keep FLM updated if you encounter concerns or barriers in your mentorship.

Ready to Explore?

If this sounds like something you'd like to be a part of, submit a mentor interest questionnaire. Due to the influx of applications, you may only hear from us if you are selected—we try to get back to mentors within two weeks of receiving an application.