A key centerpiece of Movement 2030 is a bold, shared goal: 70% of Spartanburg County high school graduates will enroll in a postsecondary program within one year of graduation leading to opportunities for career and life success. Achieving this requires removing long-standing barriers that prevent too many young people from transitioning successfully from high school to college or career pathways.
Across Spartanburg County, students report challenges such as limited exposure to careers, difficulty completing the FAFSA, financial uncertainty, lack of transportation, and not knowing where to start with applications or aid. National research confirms these challenges: students without guidance are significantly less likely to enroll in or persist through postsecondary education, even when they intend to.
That is why Movement 2030’s community-wide commitment to mentorship and college navigation through the Big Mo strategy is central to our goals. Guided relationships with caring adults, near-peer mentors, and trained navigators help students build confidence, set goals, complete complex financial aid steps, and stay on track through the transition to college, career, and life after graduation.
Launched in October, Big Mo is Spartanburg's College Access Program created to help every student take their next step after high school. From one-on-one support to financial and other resources, Big Mo makes the path forward clearer and more attainable.
Mentorship Matters
- Mentorship is a research-backed intervention that measurably improves educational and life outcomes.
- Mentorship increases high school graduation and college enrollment.
- Youth with a mentor are 55% more likely to enroll in college, according to a national study conducted by Big Brothers Big Sisters and Civic Enterprises (The Mentoring Effect, 2014).
- Students with strong non-parental adult support are significantly more likely to complete financial aid forms and college applications (U.S. Department of Education, 2020).
Mentorship improves academic performance and engagement.
- Students with mentors are 52% less likely to skip a day of school and report stronger motivation and academic confidence (MENTOR National, 2022).
- A study from the Search Institute found that developmental relationships, like those created through mentoring, correlate with higher GPAs, stronger social-emotional skills, and better attendance.
Near-peer mentoring is particularly effective for first-generation and low-income students.
- A randomized study of near-peer college advising (CollegePoint /Bloomberg Philanthropies) found mentored students were more likely to enroll in selective four-year colleges and navigate financial aid successfully.
- Research from the National College Attainment Network shows that near-peer mentors help students understand and complete the FAFSA at higher rates, removing a key barrier to enrollment.
Mentorship strengthens protective factors and reduces risk behaviors.
- Teens with mentors are 78% more likely to volunteer and 90% more interested in becoming mentors themselves (Mentoring Effect, 2014).
- Supportive relationships buffer the effects of adversity, improve mental well-being, and increase resilience (Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University, 2015).
How Movement 2030 Is Expanding Mentorship Across Spartanburg County
To strengthen the county’s mentorship ecosystem, Movement 2030 is investing a combined $378,750 in organizations that deliver high-quality, evidence-based mentorship, navigation, academic coaching, and postsecondary readiness supports for older students. The investments are for an 18-month period starting in January 2026. Each organization plays a unique role in helping students build the relationships and skills needed for the future.
2025 Investments and their Impact
Bloom Upstate
Bloom Upstate’s investment will be used to launch a new cohort in Spartanburg School District 6, offering tutoring, literacy mentoring, and college navigation to help students build strong relationships and prepare for college, career, and life after graduation.
Bruh Mentor
Bruh Mentor will use its investment to deepen our mentorship impact for older youth by expanding their Connected Scholars program through a new cohort focused on building social networks, academic success, and career readiness, enabling students to build strong relationships and prepare for college, career, and life after graduation.
Citizen Scholars
Citizen Scholars will use their investment to expand near-peer and community mentor support for Citizen Scholars students, building strong relationships, and preparing students for college, career, and life after graduation.
City of Spartanburg
The City of Spartanburg will use its investment to strengthen programming at the Thornton Activity Center in the Highland community, offering mentorship, FAFSA workshops, and hands-on career experiences like robotics and eGaming to help students build strong relationships and prepare for college, career, and life after graduation.
HALTER / Allen Blash Foundation / United Team Initiatives
HALTER will partner with the Allen Blash Foundation and United Team Initiatives on evidence-based programming with equine-assisted learning to help students build strong relationships and prepare for college, career, and life after graduation.
Spartanburg Housing
Spartanburg Housing’s investment will deepen their mentorship impact for older youth by partnering with My Brother’s Keeper and Bloom Upstate to expand mentorship opportunities for student-residents in two Spartanburg Housing communities.
Urban League of the Upstate
Urban League of the Upstate’s investment will support a Youth Career Development Program in Cinematic Arts and Sciences, including a mobile production unit to bring film and media training to students across Spartanburg County, helping them build strong relationships and prepare for college, career, and life after graduation.
World Relief
World Relief will use its investment to support older youth by strengthening our Youth Mentorship Program through expanding one-on-one mentoring and academic coaching for youth.
Looking Ahead
Movement 2030’s countywide mentorship strategy is not about single programs, it is about building a system where every student is known, supported, and connected to opportunities that pave the way for life success. With the support of local partners, funders, and community champions, Spartanburg is taking concrete steps toward ensuring that every young person has the guidance needed to thrive after graduation.
