Friends for Youth

Founded in 1979, Friends for Youth (FFY) is a nationally recognized, community-rooted nonprofit dedicated to empowering underserved youth through mentorship and meaningful relationships. With a vision to ensure every young person who needs a mentor has access to one, FFY has served over 4,500 youth from low-income BIPOC families across the San Francisco Peninsula, from South San Francisco to San Jose.

Grounded in values of equity, integrity, collaboration, and innovation, FFY delivers three core programs:

• 1-to-1 Mentoring, which pairs youth with caring adult mentors
• Group Mentoring, a school-based initiative supporting students from 5th to 12th grade
• Whole Health for Youth (WHY), a collaborative effort to improve youth mental health through coordinated, wraparound services

With over 90% of our matches successfully fulfilling their mentorship agreement – well above the national average – FFY has earned a reputation as a leader in the field. Our evidence-based approach, combined with deep community partnerships and a commitment to continuous improvement, ensures that youth receive the support they need to thrive.