03/05/2026
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Applications are now open for Volunteer Mentorship Initiative (VMI) Implementation Partners.
https://www.mentortn.org/ip
The Governor's Faith-Based and Community Initiative, in partnership with the Tennessee Department of Correction, is seeking community-based organizations to recruit, onboard, and manage volunteer mentors inside Tennessee’s fourteen state prisons.
At any given time, nearly 20,000 men and women are incarcerated in Tennessee, and more than 6,000 return home each year. The months following release are among the most vulnerable. Consistent, trusted relationships can make the difference between instability and a successful transition home.
VMI is a relationship-centered reentry strategy designed to ensure that every returning citizen who desires a mentor has access to one. Implementation Partners serve as the backbone of this work by recruiting mentors, supporting relationships, and coordinating with prison staff and community partners.
Selected organizations will receive:
• Up to $100,000 per facility in grant funding
• Training curriculum and onboarding resources
• Technical assistance and statewide coordination
• Recognition as an official VMI partner organization
Community-based and faith-based organizations with strong volunteer networks are encouraged to apply.
Applications close April 15.
Together we can build the relationships that help returning citizens move toward stability, dignity, and renewed purpose.
Apply today! https://www.mentortn.org/ip
The Governor's Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives
Tennessee Department of Correction