Volunteer With Us
Walk With Students. Expand Access. Change What’s Possible.
Barrier Breakers exists to increase access to, and success in, higher education for first-generation and low-income students. While academic advising opens doors, consistent relationships help students stay, persist, and thrive.
Volunteers play a critical role in that journey.
Whether you’re a professional looking to mentor the next generation or someone who wants to support students through regular check-ins, volunteering with Barrier Breakers is a meaningful way to walk alongside students as they navigate college and beyond.
Ways to Volunteer
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Industry Mentors
Career exposure. Professional insight. Encouragement.
Industry Mentors are matched one-on-one with a student for a 12-month commitment. Mentors meet with their student for one hour per month to share career paths, lessons learned, and encouragement as students explore life after college or graduate school.
Commitment
1 hour per month
12-month commitment
One student per mentor
What mentors do
Share professional experiences and industry insights
Encourage students as they navigate decisions and challenges
Help students reflect on goals and opportunities
What mentors are not
Therapists or counselors
Academic or admissions advisors
Financial or legal advisors
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Volunteer Case Managers
Consistency. Care. Connection to support.
Volunteer Case Managers support students throughout college or graduate school by serving as a consistent point of contact focused on persistence and well-being. Case managers are assigned a small group of students and check in regularly to encourage help-seeking and flag concerns when additional support is needed.
Commitment
12-month commitment
3–5 students per volunteer
College students: monthly check-ins
Graduate school students: quarterly check-ins
What case managers do
Conduct regular check-ins with assigned students
Listen, encourage, and normalize challenges
Connect students to staff support and resources
What case managers are not
Crisis responders
Mental health counselors
Financial or housing providers
Barrier Breakers is committed to ensuring that volunteers are supported and never asked to navigate challenging situations alone.
All volunteers receive:
A structured orientation
Clear role expectations and boundaries
Guidance on when and how to escalate concerns
Ongoing staff support
Volunteers are not expected to solve crises — our staff team handles escalation and resource coordination.
Support & Training
Questions? Email hello@barrier-breakers.org
Why Volunteer With Barrier Breakers®?
Make a tangible impact in a student’s educational journey
Build meaningful relationships across generations
Share knowledge, encouragement, and perspective
Join a community committed to educational equity and access
Many volunteers later choose to deepen their involvement through advocacy, referrals, or philanthropic support — but volunteering always stands on its own.
Who Should Volunteer?
We welcome volunteers who:
Believe in expanding access to education
Are dependable and willing to commit consistently
Enjoy listening, encouraging, and supporting others
Respect boundaries and confidentiality
Professional background matters less than care, consistency, and follow-through.
“I didn’t grow up around any lawyers. I’m a first-generation professional student. I knew having someone who would help me along that journey would be extremely helpful and Sydney did just that.”
Hear more from Aisha, one of our clients who is currently attending Notre Dame Law School!
Ready to Get Involved?
If you’re interested in volunteering with Barrier Breakers, we’d love to learn more about you. If now is not a good time to volunteer, we welcome you to stay involved, join our newsletter, and consider making a donation to support a student!
After submitting the form, our team will review your form and follow up with the next steps, including background screening and orientation. Any questions? Email hello@barrier-breakers.org.