Mentor Collective's Matching Philosophy

Mentor Collective’s matching process gives primacy to participants' needs and priorities. By identifying matches using a shared set of holistic characteristics, interests, and experiences, our algorithm allows you to optimize the potential of your mentorship pool. A data-driven and participant-focused approach leads to higher participant satisfaction and better program outcomes. 

There are three principles that guide Mentor Collective’s matching surveys and matching algorithm, in order to ensure the best possible participant experience. 

1. Mentees have agency in their match.
2. Mentors control their commitment level.
3. Mentorship looks different for everyone. 

Mentees Have Agency in Their Match

Each mentee will join a mentorship program with unique experiences, interests, and goals - not all mentees will be looking for the same thing in a mentor. Who better to say what is most important to mentees, then the mentees themselves? 

In Mentor Collective’s standard matching survey, mentees are asked the following question:

"Out of the preferences you just shared, which is most important to you?"

Mentor Collective’s matching algorithm not only acknowledges mentees’ preferences, but prioritizes what each individual mentee is looking for during the matching process.

Mentors Control Their Commitment Level

Volunteer mentors cannot all commit to the same level of support. Mentors know their schedule and capacity best - it’s important to give mentors a voice and agency in how they can give back to their community.

 In Mentor Collective’s standard matching survey, mentors are asked the following question: 

“What is the maximum number of mentees we can match you with?”

Mentor Collective’s matching algorithm will honor each mentors’ request and commitment level.

Worried about mentors overcommitting? That might not be necessary. In fact, mentors report being significantly more satisfied when they support more than one mentee. Mentor Collective’s data suggests this is because there is a higher likelihood of having one or more strong connections when mentors support multiple mentees. 

However, if a mentor ever does need to scale back, they can always request to adjust their support level.

Mentorship Looks Different for Everyone

Mentees and mentors will likely join a mentorship program with a vision for what their mentorship will look like - based on the support they need or can provide, respectively. Do they want to connect regularly? Occasionally? As-needed? The matching process strives to meet participants where they are, and avoid matching participants with mismatched expectations. 

In Mentor Collective’s standard matching survey, all participants are asked the following question:

"Different mentors and students prefer different communication frequencies. Would you be OK being in touch with your mentor..." (Select as many as you like.)

• Once per month or less
• Once or twice a month
• Once per week
• More than once per week

If either of the first two response options were selected, mentees are asked the following question:

"Got it. Sounds like you may be looking for more occasional support. Would you be interested in a lower-touch mentorship?"

Mentors are asked the following question: 

"Some students only have a few questions throughout the year and are looking for occasional support. Would you be interested in providing support to 10 such students instead of being a 1:1 mentor?"

Based on mentor and mentee responses to the questions above, they will be matched in one of two mentorship models:

• Standard Mentorship: a mentor is matched with up to their self-selected maximum number of mentees, who are seeking regular, 1-on-1 support
• Low Touch Mentorship: a mentor is matched with up to 10 mentees, who are seeking occasional support 

Utilizing a combination of mentorship models allows you to accommodate mentee and mentor preferences, and effectively allocate mentor resources to support more mentees.  

Customizing Your Matching Strategy

While Mentor Collective’s standard matching survey design is based on research about which criteria are essential to making good matches, you can address any program’s specific needs by taking advantage of a comprehensive suite of matching survey customizations.

If you would like any further customizations to the matching process, please discuss this with your Mentor Collective representative.