• Created by Unknown User (jmclean) on Oct 16, 2025 2 minute read

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1. What Mentoring Is

Mentoring is about guiding podlings toward independence, not managing them. You help the community learn how the ASF works and grow into a self-governing project.

Mentors:

  • Explain the ASF culture, such as consensus, community over code, and meritocracy.
  • Model good practice through transparent decision-making and collaboration.
  • Support rather than control. Mentors guide, the PPMC leads.

2. Who Can Be a Mentor

  • Incubator PMC (IPMC) members may mentor podlings.
  • Any ASF Member can ask to join the IPMC by emailing private@incubator.apache.org.
  • Active participation and familiarity with ASF processes are expected.

Before volunteering:

  • Make sure you have time to engage on the podling’s mailing lists.
  • Review key ASF policies, including releases, branding, privacy, and the Code of Conduct.

3. Joining a Podling

  1. Read the project’s Proposal on the Incubator Wiki.
  2. 2. Ask the PPMC or initial proposers if they would like you to join as a mentor. 
  3. Confirm your offer on the general@incubator.apache.org list.
  4. After the IPMC votes to accept the proposal, the podling is officially established.

4. Your First Steps as a Mentor

  • Welcome the community on their new dev@ list.
  • Check use of the “(incubating)” qualifier and the Incubator Disclaimer.
  • Encourage all discussion to stay public and archived.
  • Review the Podling Orientation Guide with them.

5. Ongoing Mentoring

  • Review and sign off on monthly podling reports.
  • Help with the first Apache release, an important learning milestone.
  • Encourage diverse and active contributors.
  • Watch for ASF culture alignment such as community decisions, respectful debate, and openness.
  • Step back gradually as the podling matures.

6. When You Need Help

You are not alone. Mentoring is a collaborative effort.

Ask on:

7. The Goal

Graduation readiness is not about perfection. It is about independence.

A successful podling can:

  • Make decisions openly.
  • Manage releases and governance without mentor intervention.
  • Maintain ASF culture on its own.

That is when you have succeeded as a mentor.

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