Mentors Driving Change for Boys Men and Dads
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
MENtors provides educational programs, supportive networks, system navigation, access to resources and services, and self-awareness groups for boys, young men, men, and fathers. Through a focus on social-emotional learning and the 41 Developmental Assets, we help participants strengthen their relationships with themselves, their families, and their communities while building confidence, resilience, accountability, communication skills, and a stronger sense of purpose. Our programs create safe and supportive spaces where participants can reflect on their lived experiences, develop healthy relationship skills, increase emotional awareness, access positive mentorship, and receive guidance navigating systems such as schools, child support, family court, child welfare, probation, workforce development, and community-based services. These supports help participants build the tools needed to thrive at home, in school, at work, and in the community.
- Income
- $238,062
- Spending
- $200,995
- Spent on programs
- 84%
- Reserves
- 5.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 80%
- Employees
- 2
- Volunteers
- 15
- Highest pay
- $82,499, program director/group facilitator
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 70% of charities in its peer group (human services, under $250k).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 5.1 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 16% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 62% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1584% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 74 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (human services, under $250k).
Independent board
18 of 254 of 4 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (3)
- $95,828 spent. MENtors provides father involvement and co-parenting groups for fathers in Santa Cruz County who are involved with the Probation, Child Welfare, and Family Court systems. The program is designed to support fathers in strengthening their role as parents, improving their relationships with their children and co-parents, and increasing their ability to navigate complex systems that impact their families. Through weekly group sessions and individual consultations, fathers receive education, guidance, and practical tools related to fatherhood, parent-child relationships, co-parenting, communication, accountability, emotional awareness, and family engagement. The program creates a supportive and structured space where fathers can reflect on their experiences, identify barriers to healthy involvement, build parenting confidence, and develop skills that promote safety, stability, and connection within their families. In addition to group-based learning, MENtors provides individualized support to help fathers better understand expectations and requirements connected to probation, child welfare, family court, visitation, case plans, child support, and reunification or co-parenting goals. This system navigation support helps fathers stay informed, engaged, and proactive while working toward improved outcomes for themselves and their children. To date, the program has served more than 130 fathers. Of those served, 86% have demonstrated significant positive changes in behavior, attitude, and engagement with their children and families. These outcomes reflect the program's commitment to helping fathers move from isolation, confusion, or system involvement toward greater accountability, connection, and active participation in their children's lives.
- $41,777 spent. MENtors provides boys and young men's groups for middle and high school students in Santa Cruz County. The program offers weekly group sessions and individual consultations focused on boyhood, healthy manhood, parent-child relationships, family connection, social-emotional learning, and positive identity development. To date, the program has served more than 50 youth, with 80% demonstrating significant positive changes in behavior, attitude, and engagement with their families. The program uses the 41 Developmental Assets framework and The Mask You Live In curriculum to help boys and young men explore identity, emotions, relationships, communication, respect, accountability, and the pressures connected to boyhood and manhood. In each session, boys and young men are invited to participate in pre- and post-reflective assessments that support mindfulness, emotional awareness, and self-reflection. These reflections help participants identify the state of their emotions and feelings, engage in introspective conversations connected to key developmental assets, and strengthen their social and emotional regulation and development. Through this process, participants build greater self-awareness, healthier coping skills, and a deeper understanding of themselves, their relationships, and their role within their families and communities.
- $30,551 spent. MENtors provides community engagement activities, including conferences, trainings, presentations, workshops, and collaborative learning opportunities for organizations, agencies, schools, and community partners serving boys, young men, men, fathers, and families. These activities are designed to increase awareness, strengthen professional knowledge, and promote more effective, father-friendly, youth-centered, and culturally responsive practices across systems and communities.** **In addition to community education and training, MENtors offers organizational technical support to agencies that serve or interact with boys, young men, men, and dads. This support may include consultation, program design guidance, father-friendly organizational assessments, staff training, curriculum development, referral pathway support, and strategies for improving engagement with fathers, male caregivers, and young men.** **Through these efforts, MENtors helps organizations build their capacity to create welcoming, inclusive, and responsive environments that recognize the important role of fathers, father figures, mentors, and positive male relationships in the lives of children, youth, families, and communities.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since January 2018.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.