WHO WE ARE
Non-Profit organization expanding access to meaningful mentoring and leadership opportunities; preparing youth for college, career & life readiness.
25 YEARS | 1,200 SCHOOLS | 200,000 MENTORS | 1.2 MILLION STUDENTS IMPACTED |
25 YEARS | 1,200 SCHOOLS | 200,000 MENTORS | 1.2 MILLION STUDENTS IMPACTED |
25 YEARS | 1,200 SCHOOLS | 200,000 MENTORS | 1.2 MILLION STUDENTS IMPACTED |
25 YEARS | 1,200 SCHOOLS | 200,000 MENTORS | 1.2 MILLION STUDENTS IMPACTED |
35%
increase in graduation
93%
or higher attendance with summer training
or higher attendance with summer training
27%
attendance
increase in
9th graders
40%
increase in
retention
53%
decrease in
9th graders
failing a
class
24%
increase in
staff morale
❝
Results in the first semester! Hassle free!
Results in the first semester! Hassle free!
❝
Ignite Spark is easy for my teachers to lead.
Ignite Spark is easy for my teachers to lead.
❝
The interns connect well with our kids!
The interns connect well with our kids!
❝
So easy to get started. Seeing results in the first month!
So easy to get started. Seeing results in the first month!
❝
Your speakers are inspiring our students.
Your speakers are inspiring our students.
❝
It’s the perfect tool for advocacy.
It’s the perfect tool for advocacy.
Ignite was Founded on One Belief
Every young person deserves the interpersonal skills, relationships, and opportunities needed to thrive in life.
For nearly three decades, we’ve worked alongside schools and communities to help students build confidence, connection, leadership, and purpose through near-peer mentoring and student leadership development.
What began as a passion for empowering youth has grown into a nationally implemented mentoring and leadership system serving students ages 5-18 across schools, districts, and nonprofit organizations throughout the country.
Over time, our mission became even clearer: This work is about people. It’s about helping young people discover their voice. Developing students who know how to build relationships, support others, solve problems and lead with purpose is the solution. Let’s make sure those opportunities are not limited by geography, circumstance, or a school’s budget.
That clarity led to the creation of Ignite Nation, a nonprofit organization built to expand the reach and accessibility of this work through community partnerships, sponsorships, grants, philanthropy organizations, and donor-supported opportunities.
Today, we partner with schools, districts, universities and community organizations to build sustainable student-led systems that strengthen belonging, leadership, mentorship, and school culture from the inside out.
Built on Experience. Growing through Community.
Looking Forward.
Ignite has always been bigger than one person or one program.
Over two decades, educators, student leaders, mentors, school administrators, community partners and families have helped shape the work into what it is today. Our team brings decades of experience in education, student and adult leadership, mentoring, school culture, workforce readiness, and youth development, united by a shared belief in the capacity of youth!
Our Founders
Ignite was founded by a young team who believed students could become one the greatest resources within a school when they are intentionally trained, supported, and trusted to lead.
That belief continues to guide the work.
Our Team Today
Our team works alongside schools, districts and communities to design mentoring and CTE ambassador systems around their unique students, culture, goals and existing structures.
We don’t simply deliver a program and leave. We can’t. Their Family!
We help build the people, system, tools and capacity necessary for the work to continue long after the initial training.
The Next Generation of Ignite
As Ignite Nation grows we are building opportunities for former mentors, student ambassadors, alumni educators and community partners to stay connected, give back, mentor the next generation and carry the work forward.
Leadership doesn’t end when a student graduates…it should multiply!
ignite forward initiative
Expanding Access. Removing Barriers. Developing the Next Generation of Leaders.
The Ignite Forward Initiative exists to expand access the mentoring leadership development and student support systems for schools and communities facing financial barriers.
When students discover their voice. Communities change with them.⚡
When students discover their voice. Communities change with them.⚡
When students discover their voice. Communities change with them.⚡
When students discover their voice. Communities change with them.⚡
Support the Ignite Impact Fund
The Ignite Forward Initiative exists to expand access to mentoring, leadership development, and student support systems for schools and communities facing financial barriers.
Through community partnerships, grants, sponsorships, and donor-supported opportunities, Ignite Forward helps schools and youth-serving organizations bring mentoring and leadership development to young people who might not otherwise have access.
At the heart of the initiative is the Ignite Impact Fund — dedicated funding that helps make training, mentoring systems, student leadership opportunities, and scholarships possible in communities where resources are limited.
We believe leadership development should never be reserved for the students or schools with the most resources.
Every young person deserves the opportunity to be seen, supported, challenged, and trusted to lead.
25+ Years of Impact
2200
Schools served
1
Students Empowered
4
Lives Touched
Ignite Young Leaders Everywhere
Let’s Expand What’s Possible Together
Join the 1700+ organizations proving that student peer mentoring changes everything.
That's why Ignite partners with communities to
- Explore scholarship and sponsorship opportunities
- Identify potential community and corporate patterns
- Co-write grants and funding applications
- Build sustainable mentoring systems
- Expand access to leadership development for more students
Whether you’re just beginning to explore ideas or actively looking for support, we’d love to learn about your vision and what’s possible for your community.