Mentor applications for the 2024-25 school year are now closed.
Please see below to submit an interest form for 2025-26!
Thank you for your interest in volunteering as a Read Ahead mentor!
We expect the mentor application for the 2025-26 school year will become available in August, 2025. Please submit an interest form below to be added to our priority volunteer list.
Thank you for your interest in mentoring!
Read Ahead is dedicated to helping New York City youth strengthen the literacy and social-emotional skills they need to thrive in school and beyond.
Since 1991, Read Ahead has connected public elementary school students with caring mentors from leading corporate and community partners. During weekly sessions, mentors and mentees read together, discuss books and their lives, and engage in fun and educational games and activities. Read Ahead sessions are designed to help children grow their literacy skills, confidence, love of reading, and other skills essential for success.
Please note that we prioritize volunteers from our corporate & community partners. If you are not affiliated with one of our partners, you may submit an application as an unaffiliated mentor and we will consider your application as space allows.
If you would like to volunteer during the 2025-26 school year, please click below to fill out an interest form so that we may contact you when our mentor application becomes available in August, 2025. If you have any questions, please reach out to our team at volunteer@readahead.org.
About Read Ahead’s program
Combining our 30 years of experience with new technology platforms and an educator-designed curriculum, Read Ahead sessions are designed to help children grow their literacy skills, confidence, love of reading, and other skills essential for success.
- Mentors commit to 45 minute virtual sessions via Zoom every week OR every other week during the school year (October - June). We will work with you to find a session day / time that works for you
- Sessions are hosted by a Read Ahead Program Manager
- Mentor-mentee pairs spend most of the session one-on-one in a breakout room
- No prior experience is necessary. Read Ahead provides all of the training, logistical support, and resources you need to make a meaningful connection and lasting difference
Visit our FAQ page to learn more
See answers to some of the most common questions from new and returning volunteers by visiting our FAQ page! Topics covered include more details about:
- How our virtual program works, updated for 2024-25 (We expect the program to run similarly in 2025-26. Updates coming soon!)
- Time commitment for volunteers and logistical considerations
- Our application, onboarding, and matching processes
Attend a free virtual info session
This fall, we will be hosting a series of live virtual info sessions for prospective volunteers. During each session, a Read Ahead staff member will answer audience questions, and give a brief overview of our program, the volunteer commitment, and the application process.
We will post our info session schedule here as soon as it becomes available. In the meantime, please contact our team with any questions not answered on the FAQ page linked above.
Mentor Requirements
All Read Ahead mentors must be 18 years of age or older, pass a criminal background check, and sign a mentor agreement. More information about the time commitment and other expectations can be found on the first page of our application.
We prioritize volunteers from our corporate & community partners. If you are not affiliated with one of our partners, you may submit an application as an unaffiliated mentor and we will consider your application as space allows. If you are interested in learning more about how your company can become a Read Ahead partner, please contact us - we would love to speak with you!
Our 2024-25 application cycle is now closed. Please check this page in August, 2025 for updates on 2025-26 mentor applications.
