Mass Mentoring Partnership’s Quality-Based Membership program, formally launched in 2009, was created to promote high-quality best practices among youth mentoring programs.  As of March 2010, there are more than 100 member programs at the Affiliate, Associate Partner or Partner member levels.

Our goal in 2010 is to continue to reach out to Massachusetts programs to become members, and longer-term, have every program we interact with become a member of MMP -- with all of our services and resources targeted to those programs.

What is Quality-Based Membership?

Quality-Based Membership (QBM) with MMP is a free, nationally studied process for Massachusetts youth mentoring programs to acknowledge and receive recognition for what they are doing well.

Membership:

• Provides a meaningful “indicator of quality” for youth mentoring programs
• Benchmarks program practices against national standards of excellence
• Demonstrates program commitment to excellence to potential mentors, funders, parents, and community partners

Created in part because programs and funders requested an objective way to assess program quality, QBM also helps youth mentoring programs identify practice areas that could be more effective. MMP provides support throughout the process to help programs achieve the highest partner level.

Benefits of Membership

Benefits vary depending on the level of membership, and may include eligibility for MMP mini-grants, mentor referrals, discounts on registration for MMP trainings and workshops, priority for in-kind donations of admissions, tickets and match activities, a listing in MMP’s online program directory, and access to an exclusive section of the web site.

As of January 2010, some benefits previously available to most programs in our data base shifted exclusively to programs in membership, including the basic Affiliate Member level. Benefit changes for programs include:

• Mentor referrals – Programs must be at least an Affiliate Member in order to participate in mentor recruitment campaigns and receive mentor referrals
• Match activities – Programs must be at least an Affiliate Member in order to receive match activity tickets (such as for Mentoring Night at Fenway, Patriots “Match of the Game,” Celtics games, etc.) and special opportunities connected to match activity events.  Associate Partners or Partner Members may receive priority in some instances.
• AmeriCorps Ambassadors of Mentoring – Programs must be at least an Affiliate Member in order to be awarded a placement of an Ambassador of Mentoring.

MMP is excited to promote high-quality standards in Quality-Based Membership and identify even more resources available to programs in membership.

Levels of Membership

Mentoring programs can pursue three different levels of Quality-Based Membership:

• Partner: Partner members are formal youth mentoring programs and organizations that have completed a program self-assessment to benchmark their program practices. Partners demonstrate adherence to designated standards, have completed all other requirements for membership and MMP support is completed.
• Associate Partner: Associate Partner members are formal youth mentoring programs and organizations that have been in operation for at least one year. In addition, they are either in the process of conducting a program self-assessment, or have completed the self-assessment and are actively working to meet designated standards. MMP provides training and customized technical assistance to support programs throughout the process.
• Affiliate: Affiliate members represent a broad range of program models, including those that are newly established within a larger non-profit agency or school, small and/or grassroots mentoring initiatives, or more formal programs that simply need an entry point for membership with MMP.  

Membership process

 MMP has made the membership process straightforward and easy to follow. Here are the three steps for getting started:

1. Before you submit an application, preview it here or request a copy from MMP (see contact information below).
2. Complete and submit the application online. All programs start with the application regardless of desired membership level. (Hard copy of the application is available.)
3. Receive email instructions from MMP on next steps, including completion of the self-assessment.

For more information, please contact Linda Peterson, manager of training and technical assistance, at 617-695-2436 or lpeterson@massmentors.org.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I start the process?
All programs start by completing the online membership application or ask for a hard copy from MMP staff.

Is there a cost?
Every level of membership is free. MMP’s services to help you through membership are free.

What if I only want to be an Affiliate member?
Some programs may be eligible for Associate Partner level, but choose to remain as an Affiliate. The choice is yours and you can change your mind at any time.

What if I want to be a Partner member?
Programs must complete the “road to membership” to become a partner member.  The first step is to complete the online application with the Associate Partner box checked.  If MMP approves the application, a self-assessment will be sent to the program to complete. Once completed, MMP staff and the program staff will meet to discuss any work plan that will be required to satisfy the requirements listed in the self-assessment.

What if I only want to be an Associate member?
Programs are not allowed to stay as an Associate member – this level is considered the stepping stone to becoming a Partner member and is only used for programs that are working on the self-assessment or work plan.

What if I am turned down for membership?
If you are turned down for any level of membership, MMP staff will provide you with detailed information on what you need to do to become eligible.

What if I have questions about my program’s eligibility for any of the levels of membership?
Programs are encouraged to contact MMP staff for assistance.  Questions are welcome! Support is available at each phase of membership.