College Access Mentor

Would you like to change the narrative for youth from disadvantaged backgrounds?

Improve Your Tomorrow (IYT) is seeking passionate Mentors who believe in our Core Values: Teamwork, Character, Service, and Liberation. Join a national movement committed to transforming the lives of young people through education, mentorship, and leadership.

The Mentor Fellowship Program serves youth during the 2025-2026 school year, Summer Break and 2026–2027 school year, with service terms beginning February 2026, March 2026, August 2026, September 2026, October 2026, and January 2027.

What is Improve Your Tomorrow?

Founded in 2013, Improve Your Tomorrow (IYT) exists to increase the number of youth from disadvantaged backgrounds who attend and graduate from college.
We envision a world where men of color are:

• Overrepresented in higher education
• Underrepresented in the criminal justice system
• Leaders in their communities

We combat academic inequities and build a college to community pipeline through resilience, authenticity, and passion.

What is AmeriCorps?

AmeriCorps is a national service program that engages individuals in community service addressing education, public health, disaster response, environmental conservation, and more. IYT partners with AmeriCorps to provide service opportunities focused on increasing college access for disadvantaged youth. Through this partnership, IYT Mentors serve as role models, leaders, and advocates for students and families.

What Do College Access Mentors Do?

The Mentor Fellowship Program develops emerging leaders while supporting students on their journey to and through college. Mentors serve at middle schools, high schools, and college campuses, providing mentorship, academic support, and college readiness services.

Key Responsibilities

Middle School & High School Mentors:

• Deliver workshops (college advising, civic engagement, life skills, etc.)
• Manage a caseload of 25–30 students (part-time) or up to 50 (full-time)
• Provide academic, emotional, and mentorship support
• Review transcripts and advise on college requirements
• Communicate weekly with parents/guardians
• Support college applications, FAFSA, and parent nights
• Enter daily student data into Salesforce
• Participate in leadership training, IYT events, and Brotherhood activities (1–2 Saturdays/month)
• Attend college tours (2 times per semester)
• Support campus and community events
• Perform other duties as assigned

Benefits of Service

• Bi-weekly living stipend
• Medical benefits (if eligible)
• Student loan deferment (if eligible)
• Professional development & career advising
• Access to IYT Alumni Network
• Wellness and mental health workshops
• Guaranteed admissions (for former IYT students)
• Segal AmeriCorps Education Award upon successful completion

Education Award

• Earn between $1,565.08 and $10,000
• Amount depends on slot type
• Can be used for qualified student loans and college expenses

Living Stipend

Sacramento, CA and Central Valley, CA

• $1,250.21 Bi-weekly stipend for 40 hours per week commitment
• $882.50 Bi-weekly stipend for 25 hours per week commitment
• 700.82 Bi-weekly stipend for 20 hours per week commitment

Bay Area, CA

• $1,275.00  Bi-weekly stipend for 30 hours per week commitment

Length of Service

• Service terms 
  • February and March 2026 through October 2026
• This is an AmeriCorps service program, not an hourly job

Schedule Requirements

• Commit to 20, 30 or 40 hours per week
• Available Monday–Friday between 8:00am–5:30pm
• Mandatory monthly Friday professional development
• Required evenings and weekends (1–2 Saturdays/month)
• May travel up to 20 minutes to assigned site

Additional Requirements

• Must pass National Service Criminal History Check
  • FBI fingerprinting
  • National Sex Offender Registry
  • State background check
• Attend Pre-Service Orientation
• Attend Mentor Fellowship Training
• IYT provides reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities

Equal Opportunity Statement

IYT provides equal employment opportunities and prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability, genetics, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, or any other protected status

Salary : $1,250 - $2,550