Mentors
Mentors is a private foundation based in Incline Village, Nevada. Its 2025 filing describes grants, scholarships, and mentoring support for people seeking education or professional development who would otherwise lack access to financial or mentorship services.
Mentors at a glance
In short: Mentors gave $631K across 66 grants in 2025 (avg $10K), top state Nevada. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $631,465
- +28.2% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 66
- +65.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $9,568
- -22.3% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $8,000
- Total assets
- $26,491,997
- +16.6% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Nevada (18% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Mentors
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The filing says Mentors makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. It also describes an application and nomination process: applications are to be submitted through the Mentors website with the applicant’s name and address, nominator, reason for seeking funding, and plan to give back through volunteering and mentoring others. Both an application and a nomination from a mentor are required. Applicants must show that funding would help them become self-sufficient. Awards may go to an individual or to an educational institution for the applicant’s student account; education applicants must provide student ID information.
- Review Cycle
- Applications and nominations are accepted on a continual basis through December 15 each year.
- Deadline
- Applications and nominations are accepted on a continual basis through December 15 each year.
- Contact
Application contact: Marilyn Mecham
Mailing address: 774-10 May Blvd Suite 393, Incline Village, NV 89451
Phone: (402) 202-2005
Website: https://mentors.care
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Mentors funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Surf and Turf Therapy ($35K). Together the top 10 received $237K.
Organizations only. It also paid 14 individual scholarships ($114,203), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
217 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 217 grants of 217 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The filing states that Mentors has no restrictions based on geographical area. In 2025, the largest reported shares of grant dollars by recipient state were Nevada (18%), Nebraska (15%), California (10%), an unidentified state (10%), and Pennsylvania (9%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 66 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Mentors gives
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $276K (2019) to $631K (2025). In 2025 it made 66 grants totaling $631K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Surf and Turf Therapy San Juan Capistrano, CA | Jillian Stewart, Scholarship | $35,000 |
| English Language Learners at Home Port Orchard, WA | Florence Phillips, 100 $250 Scholarships | $25,000 |
| University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA | Madeline Pendleton, Scholarship | $20,000 |
| 11 individual scholarships Recipients not named | — | $104,865 |
| Inner City Arts Los Angeles, CA | Alma Villegas, 20 Internships | $20,000 |
| Dress for Success Reno, NV | Jessica Stack, 20 Scholarships | $20,000 |
| Children's Cabinet Reno, NV | Michael Brazier, 1000 Scholarships | $20,000 |
| University of Miami Miami, FL | Brayden King, Scholarship | $19,721 |
| Arizona State University Tempe, AZ | Samara Tello De Meneses Garduno, Scholarship | $16,813 |
| Shippensburg University Shippensburg, ME | Logan Lombardi, Scholarship | $16,500 |
Ready to take the next step with Mentors?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $26,491,997 | $1,737,028 | $1,074,533 | $631,465 | 66 | $919,039 | $1,550,674 |
| 2024 | $22,728,038 | $3,075,206 | $889,809 | $492,643 | 40 | $753,085 | $2,967,694 |
| 2023 | $17,505,361 | $-720,166 | $574,410 | $282,718 | 36 | $526,458 | $79,797 |
| 2022 | $13,189,742 | $334,430 | $698,160 | $340,106 | 32 | $558,342 | $208,766 |
| 2021 | $21,095,798 | $3,330,725 | $968,416 | $422,374 | 43 | $637,853 | $3,177,030 |
| 2020 | $16,068,795 | $1,346,600 | $499,677 | $307,488 | 35 | — | $291,686 |
| 2019 | $11,142,437 | $2,736,431 | $447,252 | $275,812 | 32 | — | $1,785,862 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
Mentors states that it provides grants, scholarships, and support and mentoring to help people pursue educational or professional development goals. Its 2025 grants included scholarships and internships, as well as support to educational institutions and other organizations.
Among the 2025 grantees, Surf and Turf Therapy describes its mission as “bettering lives through alternative therapeutic activities.” Echo Collective says it connects and empowers refugee and immigrant women through opportunities for personal growth and cross-cultural relationships. The Sewing Labs describes itself as an inclusive community teaching sewing for employment, entrepreneurship, and enrichment. These are the grantees’ stated missions, not Mentors’ own.
Grantmaking
In 2025, Mentors reported 66 grants totaling $631,465. Grants ranged from $138 to $35,000, with a median grant of $8,000.
Notable 2025 grants included $35,000 to Surf and Turf Therapy for a scholarship; $25,000 to an individual recipient at Home for scholarships; $20,000 to the University of Pennsylvania for a scholarship; $20,000 to an individual recipient Arts for internships; $20,000 to Dress for Success and $20,000 to Children’s Cabinet for scholarships; and $19,721 to the University of Miami for a scholarship. Other recipients included an individual recipient ($20,000), Johns Hopkins University ($15,000), Echo Collective ($15,000), The Sewing Labs ($15,000), and Berklee College of Music ($11,461).
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Annalee Burns as president, secretary, and treasurer. It lists Sarah Whitesage Newman, Junko Nishida, and Gabija Harnish as directors.
Mentors is led by Annalee Burns, President, Secretary & Treasurer on every filing since 2024; none of the 4 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Annalee Burns
President, Secretary & Treasurer
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Gabija Harnish
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Junko Nishida
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sarah Whitesage Newman
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Michael Whitesage President (2024) — Secretary & Treasurer
- Former: Michael Whitesage (2019–2023) — President, Secretary & Treasurer
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Mentors
How much does Mentors give each year?
Mentors gave $631K across 66 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $493K across 40 grants.
What is Mentors's typical grant size?
Mentors's median grant in 2025 was $8,000, and its average grant was $9,568, across 66 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Mentors give grants?
Mentors's top state is Nevada, with 18% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Nebraska (15%) and California (10%). The most frequent recipient cities were Lincoln, NE (8 grants), Elko, NV (3 grants), Reno, NV (2 grants) and Tempe, AZ (2 grants).
Does Mentors give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 66 grants with a stated purpose on Mentors's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Addison Doytal Keele, Scholarship" (3 grants).
Who are Mentors's largest grantees?
Mentors's largest 2025 grantees include Surf and Turf Therapy ($35,000), Capital Humane Society ($32,000 across 4 grants) and English Language Learners at Home ($25,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 14 individual scholarships ($114,203), which are not listed by name. Together they received 15% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Mentors?
Mentors reported $26.5M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Its revenue that year was $1.7M.
What does Mentors fund?
Mentors states that it provides grants, scholarships, and support and mentoring to help people pursue educational or professional development goals. Its 2025 grants included scholarships and internships, as well as support to educational institutions and other organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Mentors?
The filing says Mentors makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Mentors's EIN?
Mentors's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-1308435. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does Mentors accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 5, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS April 28, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS March 3, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS March 28, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 3, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS March 18, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 29, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Mentors's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Mentors funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/mentors-morg_924c6be0fa174b66877a1680ee52eae2
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_461308435_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Mentors funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/mentors-morg_924c6be0fa174b66877a1680ee52eae2},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Mentors's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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