Results of a National Mentoring Poll

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The AOL-Time Warner Foundation recently sponsored a National Mentoring Poll of 2,000 adults in the USA. The poll found that:

* A projected 57 million adults would seriously consider being a mentor to youth.

* 99 percent of all mentors already in a formal mentoring relationship would recommend mentoring
to others.

Potential Mentors Tend to:

• be between the ages of 18 to 44
• have household incomes of $50,000 or more
• have some college education or more
• have access to the Internet
• have a child in their household.

Of These Potential Mentors:

• 88% would like to have a choice among mentoring options (depending on their schedule and interests)
• 84% want access to expert help
• 84% want orientation and training before mentoring
• 67% would like their employer to provide time off
• 47% would be willing to mentor a youth online.

Comments & Interpretation of These Data:

These findings indicate that:

• The potential of mentoring remains largely untapped
• Mentors feel willing but somewhat unprepared to be effective as mentors
• Mentors expect to be supported in becoming effective as mentors
• The support mentors expect is an excellent model:
  • Orientation
  • Training
  • Follow up, expert support and guidance (MENTORING of mentors)
• Are concerned that the time mentoring may take will be in excess of what they can give without added consideration regarding their own work expectations
• Are flexible in the means they would use to support proteges.

(These conclusions have big implications for mentoring programs and are the thinking of the IMA, not Time-Warner)

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