ANY volunteers create transformative change for first-generation college students and their communities by helping them build the relationships and skills they need to launch great careers.
As a Mentor Coach, you’ll make a lasting difference for a first-generation college student, while developing your own career. Mentor Coaches help first-gen Fellows cultivate their own strengths, understand workplaces, grow their networks, build resilience, and launch great careers. At the same time, Mentor Coaches build their own leadership skills and networks and find purpose and community alongside like-minded and driven professionals.
COMMITMENT: We pair Fellows and Mentor Coaches in a two-year, deep mentoring relationship. In the first year, Mentor Coaches join their Fellows in monthly learning and networking workshops. In the second year, Mentor Coaches and Fellows engage in flexible and hybrid mentorship.
LOCATIONS: NYC, New Jersey, and Chicago
DATES: September-May
Mentoring starts in the fall, but committing early is something you can do today! Apply by April 30, 2026 to support a first-generation college student.
Engage in virtual sessions that cover topics like mock interviews, informational interviews, pitch training, and resume reviews. These sessions offer a chance to network with our Fellows across our sites in New York, New Jersey, and Illinois, sharing your career insights, feedback, and tips to develop career skills and support our students on their college journeys.
COMMITMENT: 1.5 hours
MODALITY: Virtual
LOCATION: Zoom
We are looking for college graduates with 1+ years of work experience post-graduation that are willing to share their industry expertise and network with first-generation college students to help build the relationships and skills they need to launch great careers. We offer both virtual and in-person volunteer opportunities.
To view and sign up for any of our volunteer opportunities, log in to ANY’s volunteer portal using your existing account information, or select “create an account” if you are a first-time volunteer.
Mentor Coaches are matched one-on-one with an ANY Fellow and work with that same Fellow for their two-year participation in the program. Mentor Coaches participate in one Saturday workshop a month from 9:30am-12:30pm and provide individualized support to their Fellow outside of workshops.
Single day volunteers can sign up for any of our virtual volunteer opportunities where you will meet with several of our Fellows, offering support on a specific topic (i.e. informational interviews, mock interviews).
The Fellows program currently operates in Illinois (Chicago), New Jersey, and New York (NYC).
If you are interested in volunteering as a Mentor Coach, you must reside within commuting distance to one of our site locations as you will be expected to attend Saturday workshops once a month, from 9:30am-12:30pm in the site’s respective time zone.
If you are interested in volunteering as a Single–day Volunteer for one of our Virtual Volunteer Opportunities, you may participate from anywhere!
Mentor Coaches will be trained and onboarded before the start of the program and receive ongoing support from ANY staff throughout their volunteer term.
Virtual Volunteers will receive instructions via e-mail ahead of the virtual volunteer event they sign up for, and a brief overview of their role during the event.
As a volunteer, you will have the opportunity to network with highly accomplished professionals from a variety of industries and gain access to exclusive professional development opportunities.
91% of volunteers say partnering with ANY has provided more personal fulfillment compared to other volunteer opportunities.
85% say they’ve expanded their professional networks through ANY.
84% say volunteering with ANY has made them a better leader or manager.
In addition to the above, there are countless intangible benefits to joining ANY; you will make lifelong friends (we’ve even had married couples meet through ANY!), be exposed to new perspectives, and equip the next generation with knowledge you wish you’d had in college.
You can learn more about our eligibility requirements for Fellows here.
Fellows receive extensive career development training, one-on-one mentorship, opportunities to interact with robust professional networks, and holistic support to overcome personal and academic challenges, such as transferring from a community college.
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