Advancing Evidence-Based Mentoring at the 2026 National Mentoring Summit

The 2026 National Mentoring Summit, hosted by MENTOR in Washington, D.C. from February 4 through 6, brought together mentoring practitioners, researchers, philanthropic investors, youth leaders, and government and civic leaders from across the country to explore best practices for strengthening and expanding the youth mentoring movement. Held annually at the conclusion of National Mentoring Month, the Summit offered over 80 competitively selected workshops, three main stage plenary sessions, and extensive networking opportunities. This year’s gathering also featured a reimagined Emerging Leaders Track, formerly known as the Youth Track, which provided a tailored experience for young adults ages 18 to 24 working in the mentoring field to sharpen their skills, broaden their perspectives, and build essential relationships.

Pre-Summit sessions included a full-day workshop on program evaluation, designed to help practitioners identify the right data, collect and analyze it, and translate findings into compelling stories for stakeholders. A separate session offered MENTOR’s Mentoring Program Leadership Certificate, which focused on strengthening program operations and communicating impact. Capitol Hill Day, held on February 4, gave participants the chance to advocate directly with legislators on behalf of youth mentoring.
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The Summit also recognized outstanding contributions to the mentoring field through the 2026 Excellence in Mentoring Awards, honoring individuals and entities that have had a significant impact in the field. MENTOR’s Karina Nova Scholars Program provided scholarship support for a new class of diverse young leaders to attend the Summit and bring resources back to their communities. Over the last six years, more than 80 mentoring practitioners from across the country have taken part in this program.

Workshop themes spanned a wide range of topics, including advocacy and public policy, the Elements of Effective Practice for Mentoring, mentoring and systems change, serving specific youth populations, nonprofit management, philanthropic partnerships, and research and evaluation. Presenters were encouraged to offer interactive and experiential learning activities, incorporate lived experience from youth panelists, and provide concrete strategies and action items grounded in data.
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Representatives from the Center for Evidence-Based Mentoring and MentorPRO were glad to participate in this year’s gathering and engage in conversations with colleagues working across diverse mentoring contexts. A highlight was a workshop presented by Megyn Jasman, M.A., and Kyle Mann, titled “Implementing an Anchor and Web Mentoring Model to Support Youth Development in Alternative Education Programs.” Developed in partnership with the Keystone State ChalleNGe Academy, the session explored a layered mentoring approach that combines consistent, long-term relationships with targeted, short-term supports, designed to expand access to social capital for youth in alternative education settings.
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We left the Summit energized by the ideas shared, the partnerships strengthened, and the collective commitment to evidence-based mentoring that continues to move the field forward. We are grateful to MENTOR and to everyone who made this year’s Summit such a thoughtful and engaging experience.

See photos and highlights from the Summit on our Instagram and LinkedIn.