Friends of the Children

Friends of the Children is a national nonprofit organization that selects and invites youth to be paired with a paid, professional mentor called a Friend. Each child gets a dedicated, one-on-one Friend who listens to their hopes and dreams and creates meaningful experiences that involve building life skills, making healthy choices, and exploring the child’s diverse talents and interests.

• Ages: 4–18 years old
• Schedule: Friends support youth from as early as age 4 through high school graduation in a 12+ year mentoring relationship

Friends of the Children began in 1993. The program’s mission is impacting generational change by empowering youth who are facing the greatest obstacles through relationships with professional mentors, with the commitment of one child, one Friend, for 12+ years, no matter what. Each child is paired with a paid professional mentor called a Friend, and Friends are hired and trained to support youth over this long-term period. A Social Return on Investment Study determined that every dollar invested in Friends of the Children returns over $7 to the community. The program builds relationships within the communities of its youth and families to strengthen social networks and provide bridges to new opportunities. Reported outcomes include that 92% of youth go on to enroll in post-secondary education, serve in the military, or enter the workforce; 83% earn a high school diploma or GED; 93% remain free from juvenile justice system involvement; and 98% wait to parent until after their teen years.

Last updated April 14, 2026.