Mentor, Youth Development, Non-Profit ​/ Outreach

Foster Progress is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering youth in Illinois who are currently or formerly in foster care. This mission is achieved through providing personalized mentorship, advocacy, and access to educational opportunities. Foster Progress focuses on helping these youths achieve a college degree and successfully transition into adulthood. The organization creates a supportive community to encourage personal and academic growth.

We are located in Chicago and mostly serve the Chicagoland area, although we do support mentor/youth pairs all over the state of Illinois.

We are looking for college-educated, optimistic people who want to support Illinois youth in care in this volunteer role. Students from foster care are eager to pursue college and career goals, and they need caring adults like you to walk alongside them.

• Mentors are thoughtfully matched with students.
• Location, background, and goals are considered.
• Training and extensive support are provided to mentors.
• Mentors meet with their mentees about 3 times per month.
• We reimburse costs and mileage.

Mentors help students with things like:

• Homework or ACT prep
• Exploring college options and completing applications
• Life skills such as opening a bank account or getting a drivers license

We especially need male mentors and people of color, but mentors of all backgrounds are needed. Take the first step ter-progress.org/interest.