Backrs

Backrs is a modern mentorship platform that makes it easy for adults to empower high-performing, under-resourced high school and college students with the social and financial capital they need to flourish. Our mission is to ensure that all of our nation's youth, regardless of birth circumstance, have the opportunity to pursue fulfilling careers. 

We've developed an app that offers 2 evidence-based, effective ways you can help young people achieve college and career success:

1. Virtual Mentoring: Get paired with 1-3 students based on your preferences and their needs. Spend 10 minutes/week or less using the Backrs app to share advice, connections, or funds with them. Since students are paired with multiple mentors, you can take a break if you need.

2. On-Demand Backing: After downloading the app, you’ll receive questions from the Backrs community you’re uniquely positioned to field. Examples include inquiries about your alma mater or your field of work. Respond when you can, pass when you can’t.

Want to give either of these options a try, commitment-free? Download our app to get started today!

Our Impact Model

Research shows that cross-class relationships are the biggest predictors of social mobility. And financial margin increases the odds of college persistence four-fold.

By removing the barriers the keep well-resourced adults from becoming mentors--lengthy training requirements, rigid time commitments, and inconvenient meeting locations--our technology builds bridges across socioeconomic strata, enabling people like you to empower students like Diego R.

Diego R. joined Backrs so he could pursue his dream of becoming a biomedical engineer. Thanks to his talent, hard work, and the support he's received from his mentors (we call them backrs), he's well on his way to making that dream a reality. As he explained:

"My brother was born with Chronic Kidney Disease. He’s the man who gives me the strength to pursue Biomedical Engineering and become an accomplished technician. I strive to make the lives of those who suffer like him better. I want to be the change he needs to be healthy."

All of the students in our community are driven to build a better world; when they're given the resources to do so, everyone around them benefits.

The Backrs Experience

Get background checked, paired with a student, and onboarded in 48 hours or less. Then, connect with your mentee (protege), answer their questions, and celebrate their successes on YOUR time. 

Empowering a student with Backrs looks like sending short in-app messages or hopping quick Zoom calls a few times a month. It feels like making a real difference in someone's life. Take it from some of our current backrs: 

"As a backr, I love the opportunity to support and mentor my three proteges as they grow and develop. I feel grateful to be able to guide and shape their future in a positive way. Through Backrs, I have been able to watch them grow into confident and capable individuals, and it has given me a sense of purpose and fulfillment that I can't put into words. It's made a tremendous difference in my life to see them achieve their goals and know that I played a role in helping them get there."

- Ahmed Dawood, Marketer at Apple

"Backrs gives me an opportunity to utilize my expertise to provide mentoring and support to students. Even though my students are a couple time zones away, I have the flexibility to connect with them on my time and have been dedicated to checking my app weekly at minimum to engage in conversations and answer questions. Its exciting to celebrate their wins and talk about future plans. Mentoring was very impactful in my life so it gives me joy to give back in this way."

- Lori Hunt, College Provost

Join the Movement for Social Mobility

Download the Backrs app, and start unlocking opportunity today.