Our History

Minds Matter connects driven and determined students from low-income families with the people, preparation, and possibilities to succeed in college, create their future, and change the world.

In 1991, six Wall Street professionals established Minds Matter in New York City to mentor high-achieving, low-income students who had the potential and ambition to pursue a college education, but who lacked the resources to achieve that dream. Since then, Minds Matter has grown into a national organization with fourteen chapters across the United States in the Bay Area, Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Colorado, Detroit, Houston, New York City, Philadelphia, Portland, the Twin Cities, Seattle, Southern California, and Washington, D.C.

The organization’s services have developed into a holistic four-year program for high school students. Each year students are guided through valuable lessons in Academic Preparedness, Writing & Critical Thinking, and ACT Preparation.

Today, Minds Matter is one of the largest volunteer-led organizations in the nation dedicated to promoting higher education.

Our Story

Minds Matter Boston is a chapter of the national Minds Matter organization. Since its founding in Boston in 2003, Minds Matter Boston has achieved remarkable and consistent success – 100% of its students have been accepted into a four-year college, and 97% of alumni are still enrolled or have graduated from college.

Minds Matter Boston is committed to making college education a reality for our students in the Greater Boston area. Students are paired with two mentors and spend time during weekly mentoring sessions working on summer and college applications, standardized test preparation, community service efforts, writing and speaking skills, and other life skills that benefit the student academically and personally. This year we are serving 225 students from over 20 schools across Greater Boston.