Help students across Metro Detroit succeed through one-on-one tutoring and mentorship. Your knowledge can change a life.
Motown Mercy's tutoring program gives high school and college students the opportunity to serve as volunteer tutors and make a direct impact on younger students who need academic support, encouragement, and guidance. As a Motown Mercy tutor, you will help students build confidence, understand school material, complete assignments, and develop stronger study habits.
Our tutoring program is primarily supported by high school and college student volunteers. College tutors may be matched with high school, middle school, or elementary students depending on the tutor's subject strengths, experience, availability, and comfort level. High school tutors may be matched with students in 1st through 8th grade for general academic support, homework help, reading, writing, math, science, organization, and study skills.
Tutors do not need to be professional teachers. We are looking for responsible, patient, respectful, and committed volunteers who care about helping students succeed. Whether you are strong in math, science, English, reading, writing, or general homework support, your time can make a meaningful difference for a student and family.
All Motown Mercy tutors are required to meet the expectations below. Both the weekly commitment and background check are mandatory, not optional.
Tutors are required to meet with their assigned student at least once every week. Tutors should only apply if they can maintain a dependable weekly schedule and communicate in advance if they need to reschedule a session.
Every tutor must successfully complete a background check before they can be approved and matched with a student. This requirement helps Motown Mercy maintain a safe and trusted tutoring environment for all students and families.
Based on the contact information provided in your tutoring portal, Motown Mercy may contact you by email to schedule a short interview if additional information is needed during the tutor review and matching process.
Motown Mercy tutors are expected to provide academic support in a respectful, encouraging, and professional way. Tutors should come prepared for sessions, communicate clearly, be patient with students, and focus on helping students better understand the material rather than simply giving them answers.
Tutors may help students with homework, studying for quizzes or tests, reading comprehension, writing assignments, math practice, science concepts, organization, and confidence-building. Tutors should keep sessions focused on schoolwork, learning, and positive encouragement.
Because this is a volunteer-based program, tutors should only apply if they are willing to be consistent, dependable, and honest about their availability. If your schedule changes, you should communicate with Motown Mercy as soon as possible so we can keep families informed and supported.
After you create your portal account, select Tutor during onboarding, and complete your information and waiver, the Motown Mercy team will review your profile — including your grade level or year in school, subjects you can tutor, preferred student grade levels, availability, tutoring format preference, and any experience you have with tutoring, mentoring, coaching, or volunteering.
Tutors are not automatically approved or matched. First, Motown Mercy reviews each tutor profile. If approved, your profile may become eligible for matching. Our matching system then helps identify students who may be a good fit based on shared availability, subject needs, grade level, and tutoring preferences.
When a possible match is found, it is first marked as pending confirmation. Motown Mercy will review the match before it becomes active. Once the match is confirmed, you will see the tutoring session details through the Motown Mercy Tutoring Portal.
All tutoring will be organized through the Motown Mercy Tutoring Portal. Through the portal, tutors will be able to view match details, tutoring session information, meeting details, and important updates from Motown Mercy.
Tutoring sessions will take place virtually through Zoom or another approved online meeting platform. Tutors should have access to a reliable device, internet connection, and a quiet environment where they can focus on helping the student. Tutors may be asked to provide or use a Zoom link depending on the tutoring setup.
Motown Mercy takes student safety seriously. Tutors must communicate respectfully and appropriately at all times. Tutoring should stay focused on academics, encouragement, and school-related support.
Tutors must not use inappropriate language, discuss unsafe or inappropriate topics, share personal or unrelated content, or communicate with students outside approved tutoring channels unless specifically permitted by Motown Mercy and the student's parent or guardian.
Tutors may be required to complete onboarding, agree to program expectations, receive approval from Motown Mercy leadership, and complete a background check or additional safety step if required. If a tutor is under 18, parent or guardian permission may be required before participating.
By creating a portal account to become a Motown Mercy tutor, you are offering your time to serve students and families in a meaningful way. This program is built on responsibility, respect, consistency, and care. Motown Mercy believes that tutors can be more than academic helpers — they can be positive role models who encourage students to believe in themselves and keep growing.
Create a portal account, select Tutor during onboarding, complete your information and waiver, and check your portal for approval and matching updates.
Create Your Portal AccountTracking volunteer hours helps us measure our collective impact and recognize the incredible contributions of our community. Please log your service below.