Fostering bright futures,
one relationship
at a time
When young people in foster care have a committed volunteer mentor and a caring community beside them, they don't just navigate steep barriers — they build genuine trust, discover their passions, and thrive.
as the national benchmark for youth mentoring programs.
Providing support so young people can climb
We provide the ladder — the resources, mentoring, and wraparound support — while empowering young people to do the climbing on their own terms.
What is a match? At Silver Lining Mentoring (SLM), a match is one young person paired with one volunteer mentor, supported together by a dedicated program coordinator.
A mentor who stays
One volunteer mentor, carefully trained, matched and committed for the long term.
A dedicated program coordinator
A skilled, clinically trained staff member who supports both the young person and the mentor throughout their relationship.
Learn & Earn
Young people earn incentives as they build the financial, career and life skills they need for independence.
Financial assistance
Direct help with emergency needs, from housing and utilities to phone and transportation.
Explore our impact
Life skill milestones
The life skill areas where our mentees ages 16+ demonstrated accomplishments, from a first job to finishing school to a stable home.
Evidence-based relationship health
Scored independently by mentees, mentors, and dedicated program coordinators, across the five measures research says make a mentoring relationship last.
All five scored in the “very strong” range, and 70% of matches grew stronger over time, giving young people a trusted anchor through life's changes.
How our mentees compare nationally
Young people leaving foster care face steep structural barriers. With a consistent mentor beside them, SLM mentees consistently outpace their peers in foster care nationally, and in areas like part-time work and housing stability, they match or exceed the general population.
Part-time employment
Entering the workforce at a rate that outpaces even their general population peers.
Full-time employment
Nearly 1.5 times the national rate for young people in foster care.
Finishing high school
Within a few points of young people who have never been in foster care.
Education beyond high school
Nationally, fewer than 5% of young people in foster care earn a college degree (NFYI, 2025).
Experiencing homelessness
Nationwide, one in three foster care alumni experience homelessness. Among our mentees, it's closer to one in thirty.
How long a match lasts
Numbers like these start with one person saying yes
80% of mentees said they're better able to overcome barriers because of their mentor and SLM. Mentor or give, and help build the ladder for the next young person.
In their own words
Each year, we ask mentees and mentors to describe the most significant change in their lives. These are some of their answers, and the themes that came up most often.
Realizing I'm not alone anymore. No matter what, she will always answer when I need her.
My enthusiasm to keep pushing forward. I was at a point of just not wanting to show up for myself. Silver Lining Mentoring changed that.
I'm a more patient person. My mentee has taught me so much about how to be really present and actively listen.
How mentees said their lives changed
The changes young people described most often:
How mentors said their lives changed
The changes volunteer mentors described most often:
National reach
e-Mentoring
Mentoring that meets young adults where they are. e-Mentoring pairs young adults 18 to 26 who have recently left foster care with trained volunteer mentors virtually, to work on goals and grow their support network.
Explore e-Mentoring →Silver Lining Mentoring Institute
Since 2019, the Institute has trained and advised mentoring and child welfare organizations in 40 states, spreading best practices for mentoring youth impacted by foster care.
Explore the Institute →Colby Swettberg's TEDx Talk
Why consistent, positive relationships matter so much for young people in foster care.
Stand with our youth
Make a donation
Provide direct funding for vital mentor matches, emergency financial assistance, and life skills training.
Become a mentor
Show up consistently for a young person. We provide comprehensive training and one-on-one support from a dedicated program coordinator every step of the way.
Get involved
Explore corporate partnerships, host events, or join our community of advocates championing young people in foster care.
Silver Lining Mentoring figures reflect the 2025 program year unless noted; average match length is drawn from SLM program data. National comparison figures are published estimates from the Annie E. Casey Foundation's KIDS COUNT and Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative, Chapin Hall, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the National Foster Youth Institute, and MENTOR. Comparison groups differ in age range and definition, so figures are indicative rather than like-for-like.