1502 Chestnut St, Columbus, IN 47201 • contact@utare-foundation.space
501(c)(3) Nonprofit • EIN #99-2876072 • Established 2021
We connect kids aged 12-24 from underserved communities with mentors who've been in their shoes. Not corporate volunteers doing community service hours - real people who grew up facing similar challenges and made it through.
Our mentors teach practical life skills: how to open a bank account, navigate job interviews, resolve conflicts without violence, advocate for yourself in school or work situations. The stuff that makes the difference between surviving and thriving.
• 500+ youth participants since 2021
• 52 active mentors
• 85% of participants still in school/work/training after 2 years
• Average mentor commitment: 2 hours per month
• Monthly life skills workshops: 12-15 attendees average
Three years ago, a group of young adults in Columbus realized they wished they'd had someone to show them the ropes when they were teenagers. Not a guidance counselor with a college degree and good intentions, but someone who actually understood what it was like to worry about rent money, navigate family drama, or figure out how to get a job when you don't know anyone who works in an office.
So they started meeting with local teenagers once a week. Word spread. More mentors joined. More kids showed up. Now we're a registered nonprofit with structured programs, but we've kept the same grassroots approach.
"My mentor Maria taught me how to budget and save money. I'm 17 and I already have $800 saved up for when I graduate. None of my friends know how to do that." - Alex
"When I was having problems at school, my mentor helped me figure out how to talk to my teachers instead of just getting angry. My grades went from D's to B's." - Jordan
"I got my first job through a connection my mentor made. Now I'm working part-time and saving for community college." - Sam
We match each participant with a mentor based on shared experiences, interests, or career goals. Mentors commit to meeting twice a month for at least six months.
Group sessions covering practical topics: financial literacy, job interview skills, conflict resolution, digital literacy, self-advocacy, and navigating systems (healthcare, education, employment).
Our mentors and community partners share job openings, internship opportunities, scholarship information, and educational programs directly with participants.
Become a Mentor: If you're 18+ and have overcome challenges similar to what our participants face, we want to talk to you. Email us at contact@utare-foundation.space with "MENTOR" in the subject line.
Donate: We operate on a shoestring budget. $50 covers workshop materials for a month. $200 covers background checks for new mentors. Every dollar goes directly to programs.
Spread the Word: Know a teenager who could benefit? Know an adult who'd be a good mentor? Tell them about us.
We're not going to solve systemic poverty or fix broken schools. We can't guarantee every participant will go to college or get their dream job. What we can do is make sure young people have at least one adult in their corner who believes in them and can teach them practical skills for navigating the world.
Sometimes that's enough to make the difference between a kid dropping out and graduating. Between staying in a bad situation and finding a way out. Between feeling hopeless and feeling like they have options.
Utare Foundation
1502 Chestnut St
Columbus, IN 47201
contact@utare-foundation.space
501(c)(3) Nonprofit Organization • EIN #99-2876072 • All donations are tax deductible
© 2025 Utare Foundation Inc