Mentoring Agreement: What to Include and Why It Matters

Article Updated: September 5, 2025

Since 2009, there has been an increase in the number of Fortune 500 organisations that have implemented a mentoring program as part of their efforts to increase employment engagement.

The number jumped from 70% (2009) to 98% of Fortune 500 companies in 2024, which proves how valuable mentoring has become. A strong mentoring agreement ensures both parties start the relationship with shared expectations and clear boundaries. 

Despite this increase, not all organisations have successfully launched a mentoring program. There are plenty of reasons why mentoring programs fail and part of it has to do with poor expectations from the mentor and mentee.

For the program to be effective, the program administrator needs to properly structure a mentoring program with the help of a Mentoring Agreement. 

In this article, we’ll be talking about what a Mentoring Agreement is, how it can help mentors and mentees, and what is included in the agreement. Plus, feel free to download our free template by filling out the form below.

TL;DR:

• Meeting cadence and preferred scheduling method
• Communication channels (email, video, in-person)
• Agreed-upon confidentiality terms
• Roles, responsibilities and boundaries
• Goal-setting expectations and how progress will be reviewed
• Duration and review checkpoints of the relationship
  
  

Table of Contents

• What Is a Mentoring Agreement? Why Is It Important?
• What’s Included in a Mentoring Agreement?
  • 1. Schedule
  • 2. Communication Channels
  • 3. Expectations
  • 4. Honesty and Confidentiality 
  • 5. Goals
• How to Create a Mentoring Agreement?
• Frequently Asked Questions

What Is a Mentoring Agreement? Why Is It Important?

For some, a Mentoring Agreement might seem unnecessary, but it’s an important tool that clarifies expectations and helps to minimise the chance of any relationship issues.

A Mentoring Agreement is a formal document that establishes the mentoring relationship between a mentor and a mentee. The document contains valuable information, including the roles and responsibilities of each party throughout the mentoring relationship. 

Without a Mentoring Agreement, a mentor and mentee can easily have misunderstandings; especially when their expectations are not met. This is why having a written agreement at the start of the mentoring relationship is crucial as it clearly lays out the terms between the mentor and mentee. 

The Mentoring Agreement also serves as a contract between the mentor and mentee since they need to affix their signature onto the document. Program administrators also have access to the document so they can mediate whenever necessary. 

What’s Included in a Mentoring Agreement?

An effective Mentoring Agreement needs to include the necessary information related to the mentoring relationship. It should set clear expectations, define meeting schedules, lay out the desired goals, establish confidentiality protocols, and create communication channels for both the mentor and mentee. 

Some of the information found in Brancher’s Mentoring Agreement template includes the following: 

1. Schedule 

The first thing being asked is how often and when the pair will meet so they can allocate their schedule for the mentoring session. If the pair is working from different time zones, they can discuss further arrangements on which timezone to follow. 

The key to a successful mentoring relationship is to have a regular schedule for meetings. In certain situations, participants need to be flexible with their meeting times, which requires giving the other party a heads-up beforehand.

It’s also good to establish a fixed period on how long the mentoring relationship should last. This allows the mentor and mentee to have a clear picture so they can focus on their goals. If needed, the timeframe of the relationship may be extended. 

Wondering How Long Should a Mentorship Program Last? Read our guide.

2. Communication Channels

The Mentoring Agreement also needs to include communication protocols that both parties can use to stay in touch with each other. When making such arrangements, the following needs to be answered:

• How will you lock in and confirm meetings?
• How will you stay in touch between meetings?
• How much contact is “too much” - what are your boundaries?
• What happens if circumstances change (e.g. extended travel)?

3. Expectations

Every relationship succeeds once both parties have clear expectations from each other. This is the same in a mentoring relationship– the mentor and mentee need to set clear and realistic expectations from the start. 

Some questions that need to be answered in a Mentoring Agreement include: 

• Who will own each meeting agenda?
• What do you expect from each other? 
• How will you both hold yourself accountable and smash your goals?

4. Honesty and Confidentiality 

A mentoring relationship is built on trust and understanding. There are some things that a mentee will share with the mentor with pure confidence that the conversation remains between the two of them.

Although not all Mentoring Agreements require outlining what happens in the event of a confidentiality breach, it would be good to include this information since sessions can include personal issues that may need to be kept private.

It can either involve legal consequences or just a simple understanding between the mentor and mentee. 

5. Goals

Everyone has goals they want to achieve. The main purpose of the mentoring program is to help both the mentor and mentee achieve their goals. From the start of the relationship, it is best to establish what these goals are.

This way, they can keep track of their progress and know whether they are working towards achieving these goals with the help of their mentor or mentee. 

Upon the first meeting of the mentor and the mentee, the contents of the Mentoring Agreement needs to be discussed and established as part of the ground rules of the mentoring relationship.

How to Create a Mentoring Agreement?

Brancher does not require you to come up with your own Mentoring Agreement. Instead of creating one from scratch or following a template, this is prepared right away on Brancher’s mentoring software. It is part of the six mentoring tools we’ve prepared to help make your mentoring program run smoothly. 

You can book a demo to see the Mentoring Agreement in place. A mentoring agreement isn’t just paperwork. It’s a foundation for accountability, trust, and shared success. If you’re serious about getting mentoring right, make the mentoring agreement the first thing on your checklist.

If you don't yet have our Mentoring Software but want a Mentoring Agreement template, download a free template today by filling in this form:

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a mentoring agreement?

A mentoring agreement is a written or verbal understanding that outlines expectations, communication preferences, goals, and boundaries between mentor and mentee.

Why is a mentoring agreement important?

It prevents misunderstandings, sets clear expectations, and helps build trust from the outset.

Should a mentoring agreement be signed?

It can be formal or informal. Signing can reinforce commitment, especially in structured workplace mentoring programs.

How often should a mentoring agreement be reviewed?

Review it at least midway through the relationship or during formal check-ins.

Sources:

1. Cook, Sam. (2024, February 2). mentorcliQ. 40+ Definitive Mentorship Statistics and Research for 2024. https://www.mentorcliq.com/blog/mentoring-stats