Nonprofit report calls for new youth mentorship program in New York City

New York City should launch a new initiative to work with local organizations to create mentorship opportunities for youth citywide, according to a new report from Big Brothers Big Sisters of New York City.

The report urges the New York City Council to authorize business associations and Business Improvement Districts to fund a pilot program for at least three years that would help young adults develop career goals. 

Mentorship programs provide a key approach to boosting learning, especially for youth from underresourced communities, according to the organization. A survey of participants in its Workplace Mentoring Program over two years found that  92% of respondents felt that the program helped them learn how to start a successful career. 

“The private sector in New York City must take a step forward, in partnership with the local policymakers, education leaders and nonprofit organizations, and invest through intentional, mutually beneficial action and direct connection to its future workforce, (New York City’s) youth,” the report reads. 

To incentivize business participation in the initiative, the report proposes allowing stipends for youth participants to be tax-deductible and creating a program to transform employee volunteer hours at nonprofits into tax-deductible general operating support grants for the organizations.