JOURNAL OF COMMUNITY PSYCHOLOGY, Vol. 34, No. 6, 781–799 (2006) Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. DOI: 10.1002/jcop.20129 COMMUNITY ORGANIZING AND ADVOCACY: INCREASING THE QUALITY AND QUANTITY OF MENTORING PROGRAMS Abraham Wandersman University of South Carolina E. Gil Clary College of St. Catherine Janet Forbush Information Technology International Susan G. Weinberger Mentor Consulting Group Shawn M. Coyne and Jennifer L. Duffy University of South Carolina Although youth mentoring programs are widespread, it is clear that there is a great need to increase their quality and quantity. This article provides background on funding initiatives in mentoring, and the role of community organizing and advocacy in influencing the demand for programs. A model that examines the community’s role in influencing and coordinating key stakeholder groups in planning, implementing, and sustaining programs is proposed. The need for more effective programs is examined in a second model, which relates the capacity of organizations, staff, and programs for training and technical assistance to the quality and efficacy of their programs. Recommendations for future research are made. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Mentoring programs have the potential to contribute to positive youth development, yet that potential is not always realized (DuBois, Holloway, Valentine & Cooper, 2002). One estimate suggests that 2.5 million young people are being formally mentored, but at the same time, another 15 million youth could benefit from or do, in fact, need a mentor ARTICLE Correspondence to: Abraham Wandersman, Department of Psychology, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208. E-mail: WanderAH@gwm.sc.edu