Frequently Asked Questions

Elevate Indianapolis is a youth mentoring nonprofit building long-term, life-changing relationships with Indianapolis urban youth, equipping them to thrive and contribute to their community. Teacher-mentors encourage, guide and advocate for 1,500+ students across Indianapolis, with four partner high schools: Arsenal Tech, Shortridge, George Washington, and Purdue Polytechnic High School (Broad Ripple and Lab School).

Holistic mentoring is a youth mentoring approach that supports the whole student through a long-term relationship with a trusted adult. At Elevate Indianapolis, teacher-mentors encourage, guide and advocate for students 24/7/365, supporting their physical, emotional, vocational, spiritual, intellectual, financial and social well-being.

Elevate Indianapolis employs full-time teacher-mentors and other staff who are the mentors for its students. Teacher-mentors build long-term, life-on-life relationships with students all year, while volunteers serve students through one-time or ongoing opportunities. Elevate prioritizes hiring staff with shared lived experience, which builds authentic trust with students.

Mentoring helps students graduate because a trusted adult keeps them engaged and on track. At Elevate Indianapolis, 139 of 141 seniors graduated with their cohort in 2025-26 (99%), and 94.3% of students with 3+ semesters in Elevate were on track to graduate.

Elevate Indianapolis, a youth mentoring nonprofit, helps first-generation college students prepare for life after high school through its Pathways to Purpose college and career program. An estimated 80% of Elevate seniors each year are first-generation college students. Seniors complete a Two-Year Action Plan, and 99.6% of students with 3+ semesters in Elevate have a college, training or career plan.

Elevate Indianapolis works in four Indianapolis high schools: Arsenal Tech, Shortridge, George Washington, and Purdue Polytechnic High School (Broad Ripple and Lab School). The youth mentoring nonprofit serves students in grades 3 to 12, plus alumni, through in-school classes and out-of-school programs.

Elevate Indianapolis helps students graduate and prepare for college by pairing mentors with state-accredited in-school classes, college and career preparation, and sports and adventure experiences. In 2025-26 it served 1,500+ students, graduated 139 seniors (99%) and supported 198 active alumni.

Yes. Elevate Indianapolis is a 501(c)(3) youth mentoring nonprofit (EIN 81-0807405) with a 4-star Charity Navigator rating, and 99% of its 2025-26 seniors graduated. It publishes its results on its Metrics & Impact page.

No, but they are connected. Elevate Indianapolis is a local affiliate of Elevate USA, the national organization whose model has guided Elevate affiliates in cities across the country for more than 40 years. Elevate Indianapolis Inc. is its own registered nonprofit with its own local board, based in Indianapolis.

You can volunteer with Elevate Indianapolis at one-time events such as the In-Class Speaking Series, Turkey Bowl, site visits and the Alumni Packing Party, or through ongoing mentoring. Every volunteer who works directly with students completes a background check before serving. See current opportunities on Elevate's Eventbrite page (eventbrite.com/o/elevate-indianapolis-34188460635) or email Heather@elevateindy.org.

You can donate to Elevate Indianapolis online at elevateindy.org/donate with a one-time or ongoing gift. Elevate also accepts donor-advised fund gifts, non-cash gifts such as stock, and planned gifts. Email Heather@elevateindy.org to talk through any of these.

Yes. Elevate Indianapolis Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN 81-0807405), so donations are tax-deductible to the extent the law allows. Please check with your tax advisor about your own situation.

Your donation to Elevate Indianapolis supports life-on-life mentoring with teacher-mentors, state-accredited in-school classes, college and career preparation, sports and adventure experiences, and family and alumni support for Indianapolis students. The annual estimated cost is about $1,750 per student.

Companies partner with Elevate Indianapolis by volunteering their people's time and talents or by investing financially. See elevateindy.org/corporate-partners, or email Heather@elevateindy.org to talk with the team.

Your child can join Elevate Indianapolis if they are a current student at one of its partner high schools. Middle school students can join through DREAM Alive, Elevate's middle school partner. To learn more, email info@elevateindy.org.