Mentorship Program

Learn From Your Peers

The Goal of the Mentorship Program is to grow the capacity of gleaning organizations by connecting gleaners to each other to share ideas and expertise. This is not technical assistance but a chance for someone newish to this work to learn from someone with more experience in the field. We have an outstanding group of mentors for the 2027 Mentor Program.

You can read more about them here.

The application period is now open for Mentee applications. Applications due December 1, 2026

As one mentee shared, “We were able to learn from each other, it wasn’t just a one-way street.”

Formal Mentorship

Mentees will spend 8 hrs throughout the course of the Mentorship program in one on one sessions with their Mentor. Mentees should also expect to spend time outside of meetings preparing and following through with action items.

Peer Cohort

Mentees with meet with fellow Mentees one hour each week to discuss struggles, successes, and new ideas. As always there is an additional goal of building connections and network weaving. For 2026, Mentee Cohort meetings will be on Tuesdays at 11 am PT/Noon MT/1pm CT/2 pm ET beginning January 13, 2026.

What to Expect

Mentees

There is no cost to participate in this program.
If you are paired with a mentor, you’ll be asked to send them information about yourself and your work.
Mentees are responsible for coordinating with their Mentor. They should contact their mentor to schedule a call.
Mentoring will take place online through video calls, phone calls, and e-mails.
Each Mentee should expect 8 hours of one on one time with their Mentor over the course of the program.
Mentees should come up with the topic, goals, and content of the calls.
All Mentees are required to participate in once a week peer Cohort meetings.
Mentees are expected to be available during business hours for scheduled calls.
Remember we are all busy, the Mentors are making time to talk to you. You should make time for the calls and be present, and focused on each call.

Mentors

If you are paired with a Mentee, they will reach out to you to schedule the calls and set the agenda for the meetings.
Mentoring will take place online through video calls, phone calls, and e-mails.
Each Mentee should expect 8 hours of one-on-one time with their Mentor over the course of the program. If, as a Mentor, you can’t meet this obligation please do not volunteer to Mentor.
If your Mentees withdral, you will still be reimbursed for your time.
If you want to offer more then 8 hr of your time to the Mentee, that is amazing. We can NOT offer additional compensation for your time.
Mentors are expected to be available during business hours for scheduled calls.
You will be given $400 for 8 hrs worth of Mentorship.
Remember we are all busy, the Mentees are making time to talk to you. You should make time for the calls and be present, and focused on each call.