Note: the mentorship program is currently suspended. Our current policy is to encourage those interested in the mentorship program to apply for membership instead.

It all started when…

One of the purposes of the IGDN, as stated in our bylaws, is that we seek out, support, and amplify undiscovered voices in the gaming industry so their stories and ideas can enrich and expand the larger gaming community.

To that end, the IGDN offers a mentorship program to new designers starting their journeys into the tabletop game industry. This is an excellent opportunity for creators to get guidance on their project(s) while potentially also preparing them for future IGDN membership.

The basics of the mentorship program work like this:

• Mentors from the IGDN apply to the program.

• Mentees apply to the program.

• Applications are read and volunteer mentors are chosen.

• A mentee receives an email with one or more mentor applications, if mentors are available, for them to choose from. This email also contains links to program documentation.

• Once a mentee has chosen to move forward, they are invoiced for $50 which goes towards the mentor's yearly dues. If that is an economic hardship, full and partial waivers to cover that cost are available.

• The mentor and mentee make contact and set tangible goals, communication expectations, and a schedule for one-on-one meetings.

• Mentor and mentee work together towards that goal(s) over a six month period. A minimum of four one-on-one mentoring meetings happen over this timeframe in parallel with electronic communication. One final 45-minute meeting to discuss the experience concludes the official portion of the mentorship.

The application is available here: Mentorship Application

If you have any questions, please reach out to our Diversity Coordinator at diversity@igdnonline.com.