named programs · 2 · from sources
What they call their work
One-on-One Mentoring Program
Recruits, screens, trains, and supports adult volunteers to form long-term, supportive mentoring relationships with young people aged 15–25 who have had contact with the child welfare or juvenile justice systems. Matches are supported for a minimum of one year and include coordination with clinical treatment teams.
Youth Leadership Council (YLC)
A youth-led initiative that engages current and former mentees in leadership, advocacy, and organizational input. Members include young people from across NYC and Westchester County who contribute to program development and peer support.
activities · 2 groups
What they do
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Youth One-on-One Mentoring 3 activities
- Long-term mentoring for youth in the child welfare and juvenile justice systemsProvides long-term, one-on-one mentoring relationships lasting at least one year for young people with past, current, or peripheral involvement in the child welfare or juvenile justice systems, including those transitioning out of foster care or who are victims of sex trafficking in New York City. Matches are supported by ongoing staff coordination and often continue beyond the minimum commitment, with 39% of relationships lasting longer than one year.
- Recruitment, training, and support of volunteer mentorsRecruits, screens, trains, and supports adult volunteers to serve as mentors, requiring a minimum one-year commitment with at least two in-person meetings per month. Mentors are expected to embody authenticity, genuine care, and consistent presence, with bilingual mentors also available to serve diverse youth populations.
- Staff coaching and youth leadership supportProvides coaching and frontline support to mentees and includes staff liaison roles for the Youth Leadership Council, contributing to youth development and programmatic engagement.
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Student Milestone Ceremonies & Events 1 activity
- Celebration and closure of mentoring relationshipsHosts closing celebrations for mentor-mentee pairs to reflect on their experiences and mark the completion of the mentoring program.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$594K
Contributions & grants$492K83%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$24K4%
Other revenue$79K
expenses
Total expenses$537K
Program expenses67%
Admin / overhead16%
Fundraising17%
Salaries & benefits$454K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$791K
Cash$791K
Investments$0
Liabilities$0
Net assets$791K
Liquid reserves17.7 mo
2 years on record · 2023–2024 · YoY revenue +29.6%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| LIA HARPER | SENIOR EMPLO | 40 | $135K |
board members · 4
- ASMAA SWIDAN — DIRECTOR
- JON FEINBERG — DIRECTOR
- MICHELLE MCMAHON — DIRECTOR
- MONA SHAH — DIRECTOR
relationships · 13
Who they work with
- Annie E. Casey Foundation Partner — Hosted Chandler Brossard for two summer internships, indicating a professional development or talent pipeline relationship.
- Candid Government — Displays Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency and links to its Candid profile for public accountability.
- Dear Irving On Hudson Partner — Venue host for the "Connect for a Cause" fundraising event.
- Families Partner — Collaborates with families of youth in mentoring program
- New York City’s foster care agencies Partner — Collaborates with foster care agencies to support youth in the child welfare system.
- Organizations Partner — Partners with organizations to support mentoring initiatives
- Parthian Watch Company Partner — Fundraising partner for Connections Mentoring
- Paul Muratore Partner — Founder of Connections Mentoring
- The Children’s Village Partner — Paul Muratore, founder of Connections Mentor Inc, began mentoring at The Children’s Village in 1985.
- The People’s Institute for Survival and Beyond Partner — Trained in racial equity work through collaboration with The People’s Institute for Survival and Beyond.
- Volunteers Partner — Engages volunteers in curating mentoring relationships
- Young people with past, current, or peripheral contact with the child welfare or juvenile justice systems Partner — Youth population served through mentoring relationships
- child welfare agencies throughout NYC and Westchester County Partner — Partners with child welfare agencies to refer young people into the mentoring program at no cost to the agencies.
strategies · 5
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Barrier-Free Mentor Access and Supportmethodology: barrier_free_mentorshipBy removing structural barriers to becoming a mentor—such as financial means, formal education, or vehicle ownership—and providing comprehensive training with 24/7 support, the organization increases mentor diversity and retention, because lowering entry requirements and ensuring ongoing support enables broader community participation and sustained mentor effectiveness.
- Continuous Support Through Transitionsmethodology: continuous_support_through_transitionBy providing uninterrupted mentoring support through critical life changes—including shifts in living situations or aging out of foster care—the organization fosters stability and successful integration into adulthood, because sustained relationships buffer the risks associated with systemic disconnection during high-vulnerability periods.
- Equity-Centered, Antiracist Mentoring Practicemethodology: antiracist_frameworkBy integrating antiracist principles, bilingual capacity, and staff with lived experience in the foster care system, the organization strengthens cultural responsiveness and trust in mentoring relationships, because representation, racial equity, and shared experience enhance relational authenticity and reduce systemic barriers for marginalized youth.
- Flexible, Community-Based Mentoring Modelmethodology: community-based-flexible-mentoringBy using flexible, community-based activities chosen collaboratively by mentor and mentee, the organization builds authentic relationships rooted in everyday experiences, because shared, real-world interactions strengthen engagement and relational depth more effectively than structured or formal settings.
- Relational Mentoring for Self-Worth and Belongingmethodology: relational-mentoring-for-self-worthBy building long-term, supportive mentoring relationships grounded in trust and emotional connection, the organization improves self-worth and fosters belonging among youth in the child welfare or juvenile justice systems who have experienced disrupted adult relationships, because consistent, authentic adult connections counteract trauma and isolation.