North Star Mentorship Program: Guiding the Next Generation of Albuquerque's Youth

Guiding the Next Generation of Albuquerque's Youth

The North Star Mentorship Program is a new initiative from Councilor Rogers dedicated to supporting community-based organizations that provide culturally responsive mentorship for youth in Albuquerque, with a particular focus on District 6. The program aims to empower and uplift Black, Indigenous, Latin, immigrant, LGBTQ+, and system-impacted youth by funding both emerging and established organizations committed to their mentorship and development.

Funding Information

A total of $200,000 is available in funding for eligible organizations. The funding is distributed across three tiers to accommodate organizations of varying sizes and capacities.

Tier A provides funding ranging from $40,000 to $60,000 for larger, more established programs with extensive reach and impact.
Tier B offers funding between $15,000 and $30,000 for mid-sized organizations looking to expand or strengthen their mentorship initiatives.
Tier C supports emerging programs with grants ranging from $5,000 to $10,000, helping newer organizations establish or enhance their mentorship services. 

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for the North Star Mentorship Program Grant, your organization must meet the following criteria.

First, you must serve youth in Albuquerque between the ages of 10 and 24. Your organization must be a registered LLC or a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization with proof of status. Additionally, you must have an existing mentorship programming already in place, as this grant is designed to support and enhance current efforts rather than launch entirely new programs. The program prioritizes organizations that serve specific populations, including Black, Indigenous, Latin, immigrant, LGBTQ+, and system-impacted youth. Finally, all applicants must be willing and able to comply with city reporting requirements, including interim and final reports on program outcomes and financial expenditures.

Application Process

The program prioritizes organizations that serve specific populations, including Black, Indigenous, Latin, immigrant, LGBTQ+, and system-impacted youth. Finally, all applicants must be willing and able to comply with city reporting requirements, including interim and final reports on program outcomes and financial expenditures.

Required Documents

Applicants must submit several key documents as part of their application. These include an Organizational Summary that provides an overview of your organization's mission, history, and current operations. A detailed Program Description should explain your mentorship program, including its structure, activities, and approach to serving youth.

You will also need to provide Annual Youth Reach Data that demonstrates the number and demographics of youth your organization serves each year. A comprehensive Budget and Budget Narrative must be included, detailing how grant funds will be used and calculating the cost per youth served. Proof of LLC or 501(c)(3) Status is required to verify your organization's legal standing.

One Letter of Support from a non-relative is necessary to demonstrate community endorsement of your work. Finally, you must provide documentation of safe youth practices, which includes background checks for all staff working with youth, a child protection policy, a data privacy plan, and a social media policy. 

Video Response: Applicants are to submit a 3-minute video on the topic: "Why your mentorship program matters." This is an opportunity to share your story with authenticity and clarity, allowing reviewers to see the passion and commitment behind your work. The video can be uploaded through the application portal or sent via email to the program contact. 

Important Dates

Applications opened on January 1, 2026. 
Informational Sessions: Three sessions will be held on January 8, 13, and 17, 2026, (See the flyer below for locations)

Application Deadline: Download the 2026 North Star Grant Application and complete it. All applications must be submitted by January 31, 2026.

Award Notifications: Successful applicants will be notified in February 2026.

Grant Distributions: Funds will be distributed to awarded organizations in mid-February 2026.

Information Sessions

We invite you to attend one of our information sessions to learn more about the grant and the application process. The sessions will be both in-person and virtual to ensure accessibility for all interested organizations. 

In-Person Sessions:

Heights Community Center is located at 823 Buena Vista Dr. SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106. We will host two sessions at this location: one on Thursday, January 8, 2026 from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM, and another on Tuesday, January 13, from 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM.

The Albuquerque City Council Conference Room is located at 1 Civic Plaza, 9th Floor, Albuquerque, NM 87103.  The last scheduled session will be held there on Saturday, January 17, from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM. 

Virtual Sessions:

For those who prefer to attend virtually or cannot make it to the in-person sessions, we are offering virtual option via Zoom. Join using the following link:

https://bit.ly/45xnYKv. The Meeting ID is 746 3870 2549 and the Passcode is CABQMentor. 

Scoring and Evaluation
Applications will be reviewed based on a comprehensive scoring rubric totaling 100 points. Organizational Capacity accounts for 25 points and assesses your organization's ability to effectively manage and implement the proposed program. Program Quality is worth 30 points and evaluates the design, structure, and effectiveness of your mentorship programming.

Equity and Cultural Responsiveness represents 25 points of the total score, measuring how well your program addresses the specific needs and cultural contexts of the priority populations you serve. Impact and Evaluation is worth 20 points and examines your plan for measuring outcomes and demonstrating the effectiveness of your mentorship program.

Successful applicants will be required to submit a simple interim report at 6 months, which includes attendance data, demographics, a short narrative, and budget spending percentages. A comprehensive final report is due at 12 months and should include outcomes versus targets, success stories, challenges faced, financial reconciliation, and lessons learned.

Evaluation measures will include the number of youth served, attendance rates, the duration of mentor-mentee matches, and pre/post surveys assessing self-efficacy and school engagement. Organizations should also be prepared to share at least one qualitative success story demonstrating the impact of their mentorship program.