BraveStrides vs spreadsheets for running a mentoring program
Most mentoring programs start on spreadsheets, email and calendars. BraveStrides replaces that with one place for applications, matching, booking, hours and reports, so coordinators stop rebuilding the same numbers by hand. It is free during early access for organizations of up to 100 users.
| Task | With spreadsheets and email | With BraveStrides |
|---|---|---|
| Collecting applications | A form feeding a sheet; someone copies people into a tracking tab. | Application campaigns for mentors and mentees, plus bulk invites by pasting a list. |
| Matching | Coordinators compare rows by hand and email each pair. | Suggested pairs scored on skills, goals, experience, time zone, meeting preferences and capacity; admins approve each one. |
| Scheduling | Back-and-forth emails to find a time, then a calendar invite sent by hand. | Mentees book from the mentor's availability; calendar invites, Zoom links for online sessions and reminders are automatic. |
| Tracking hours | Mentors self-report hours in a form or sheet, often weeks late. | Hours come from booked and logged sessions; a session counts as verified when both mentor and mentee confirm it. |
| Spotting pairs that stall | Noticed when someone remembers to check in. | Match health alerts flag pairs that have gone quiet. |
| Reporting to funders or leadership | Hours and headcounts rebuilt from several sheets before each report. | A funder report for any date range with reach, hours, attendance, verified hours and goals; CSV export or print to PDF. |
| Privacy | Shared sheets with participants' details, often widely accessible. | A private workspace per organization with admin, mentor and mentee roles; reports leave out mentee identities. |
Common questions
When is a spreadsheet enough for a mentoring program?
For a handful of pairs that one coordinator can keep track of, a spreadsheet works. It gets harder once you have more pairs than you can check on each week, several programs or cohorts, or a funder asking for verified hours.
Can we import our existing participants?
Yes. You can invite mentors and mentees in bulk by pasting a list, and we can help with larger imports.
Can we still export data to a spreadsheet?
Yes. Reports export as CSV, so you can keep using spreadsheets for your own analysis.
What does it cost?
Nothing during early access, for organizations of up to 100 users and for solo mentors, with no credit card needed.