Youth Mentorship
Big Brothers, Big Sisters of the Central Carolinas
Counties: Statewide
Description: Makes meaningful, monitored matches between adult volunteers (“Bigs”) and children (“Littles”), ages 5 through young adulthood in communities across the country/North Carolina. This one-on-one mentoring is offered as community-based, school-based, children of military families, and children with incarcerated parents. Read about their different program options here.
Eligibility: Child must be 5 – 18 years old.
Contact: Fill out the “Enroll a Child” form to request a mentor. Phone number for their central office in North Carolina: 704-910-1301
Cities/Counties/Regions: Alamance, Bertie, Brunswick, Buncombe, Cabarrus, Cape Fear, Charlotte-Mechlenburg, Chatham, Cleveland, Cumberland, Davidson, Duplin, Durham, Edgecombe, Gaston, Granville, Greater Greensboro, Halifax, Henderson, Hertford, High Point, Jackson, Lexington, Lincoln, Montgomery, Northampton, Pamlico, Randolph, Robeson, Rockingham, Rocky Mount Region, Rowan, Thomasville, Transylvania, Wake, Warren, & Wilkes
Description: 90 percent of Communities In Schools affiliates provide mentors who offer encouragement and academic support. They can also provides one-on-one tutoring.
Eligibility: Each local CIS office might have different eligibility criteria for their programs; call your local CIS office to see if they have a mentoring program and to understand eligibility.
Contact: Call your local CIS office. Phone number for their central office in Raleigh: 919-832-2700
Counties: Statewide
Description: Mentors offer youth guidance, support, and encouragement to help cultivate positive and healthy development. Mentors can help encourage positive choices, promote high self-esteem, support academic achievement and introduce new ideas.
Eligibility: Different programs in the database will have varying eligibility requirements.
Contact: Search the Statewide database and contact the individual programs.
Statewide & Counties for certain services: Anson, Davidson, Eastern NC, Harnett, Guilford, Hoke, Lee, Montgomery, Moore, Randolph, Richmond, Rockingham
Description: NC Families United is a family-run organization created by dedicated parents to create policy change in schools and communities, that will support children and community members who struggle with emotional and behavioral issues. NC Families United provides family support and advocacy, in addition to opportunities for youth mentorship and leadership development.
Services: Mentoring services (RENEW) for youth (ages 14-26) that may be struggling with mental health diagnosis or trauma-based experiences. Eligible youth might include those who have mental health issues, broken family ties, have been suspended or dropped out of school, have a history of drug abuse, etc.
Eligibility: All youth, though some specific programs geared towards youth with emotional/behavioral struggles
Contact: Main office: (980)-349-5333; For referrals, contact the Director of Programs, Dr. Angela Thorpe- Moss, amoss@ncfamiliesunited.org, or 980-771-2173
Currently there are Family Partners for the following counties: Anson, Davidson, Eastern NC, Harnett, Guilford, Hoke, Lee, Montgomery, Moore, Randolph, Richmond, Rockingham
Counties: Statewide
Description: Many YMCA locations offer a mentorship programs and some have a mentorship/literacy combination programs. Some locations also offer Leaders Club where young people ages 12-18 connect with adult advisors to develop their leadership potential while fostering a culture of service. Look up your local YMCA here to see what mentorship programs they offer.
Eligibility: Eligibility dependent on local program.
Contact: Find your local YMCA and contact them to ask about programming
Youth Tutoring – Statewide
Counties: Statewide
Description: Many YMCA locations offer tutoring and literacy programs. Some locations also offer Y Achievers program that promotes academic support and college and career readiness for students of color grades 6-12. Look up your local YMCA here to see what programs they offer.
Eligibility: Eligibility dependent on local program.
Contact: Find your local YMCA and contact them to ask about programming
Cities/Counties/Regions: Alamance, Bertie, Brunswick, Buncombe, Cabarrus, Cape Fear, Charlotte-Mechlenburg, Chatham, Cleveland, Cumberland, Davidson, Duplin, Durham, Edgecombe, Gaston, Granville, Greater Greensboro, Halifax, Henderson, Hertford, High Point, Jackson, Lexington, Lincoln, Montgomery, Northampton, Pamlico, Randolph, Robeson, Rockingham, Rocky Mount Region, Rowan, Thomasville, Transylvania, Wake, Warren, & Wilkes
Description: 90 percent of Communities In Schools affiliates provide mentors who offer encouragement and academic support. They can also provides one-on-one tutoring.
Eligibility: Each local CIS office might have different eligibility criteria for their programs; call your local CIS office to see if they have a mentoring program and to understand eligibility.
Contact: Call your local CIS office. Phone number for their central office in Raleigh: 919-832-2700
Description: Boys & Girls Clubs provide safe places where kids can be themselves and participate in fun programs that build their skills for school, the workforce and life. Clubs are located across the state, and most clubs offer homework help and tutoring programs for participants. In some locations, the Power Hour program provides one-on-one tutoring.
Eligibility: Programming, hours, and eligibility may vary by location. Find your local club here.
Contact: Find your local club here. Contact your local club to ask about programming.
Description: Smart Start provides programs that develop early literacy skills needed for success in school, work and life. Smart Start brings proven, national programs to the children and families of North Carolina. These programs assist parents in developing habits of daily reading with their children and assist children in discovering an early love of reading.
In 1993, The North Carolina Partnership for Children was created to lead Smart Start. Today, 75 partnerships use public and private funds to serve all 100 counties. Each country is served by a nonprofit organization, so services and programs will vary. Many partner organizations provide child literacy support.
Eligibility: Services and eligibility will vary by local partner organizations, but all services are for children age 5 and under. Find your local partner organization that provides SmartStart services here.
Contact: Find the local partner organization that provides SmartStart services in your county here. Use the contact information on this website to inquire about literacy programs in your area.
Local Public Libraries
Description: Many public libraries offer homework help, tutoring, and academic resources. The two main free online tutoring programs through the library are Tutor.com & Brainfuse. Ask your library if they have these tutoring programs available.
Eligibility: Programming, hours, and eligibility will vary by location. Find your local public library here.
Contact: Find your local public library here. Contact your local library to ask if they offer in-person or online tutoring programs.
Youth Tutoring – Online
Description: UPchieve is a mobile app that provides free, online tutoring and college counseling to low-income high school students across the country.
Services: One-on-one tutoring in math (6th grade to calculus), science, English, and social studies. Support with standardized test preparation and college counseling.
Eligibility: Any student who attends an eligible middle school, or high school or lives in an eligible zip code can use UPchieve. If you’re a student from a public high school in the United States, you’re likely eligible!
Contact: Check out FAQ here. Sign up here. Email hello@upchieve.org with any additional questions.
Description: Learn To Be provides free, online tutoring for underserved youth who qualify in around the United States.
Services: Students are matched with a tutor for weekly one-on-one sessions for reading and math.
Contact: Enroll your student using the form here. FAQ and contact form can be found here.
Description: The NCVPS Edvantage Tutoring Program offers virtual statewide wraparound support to middle and high school students in high-needs NC public and private schools, as well as homeschool coalitions. As of June 2024, the NC County middle and high Schools participating in the program are: Alamance, Brunswick, Granville, Johnston and Perquimans County Schools, & Lakeside Charter Academy, Mattamuskeet School, and Vance Charter Schools.
Services: Tutoring is available in Math, Science and ELA, and is offered via a personalized partnership with district/school leadership to best meet the needs of selected students each semester. Each tutoring session runs 30 minutes of the desired subject.
Contact: Students can schedule a session by going to clicking their participating district or school here.
Description: Smart Start provides programs that develop early literacy skills needed for success in school, work and life. Smart Start brings proven, national programs to the children and families of North Carolina. These programs assist parents in developing habits of daily reading with their children and assist children in discovering an early love of reading.
In 1993, The North Carolina Partnership for Children was created to lead Smart Start. Today, 75 partnerships use public and private funds to serve all 100 counties. Each country is served by a nonprofit organization, so services and programs will vary. Many partner organizations provide child literacy support.
Eligibility: Services and eligibility will vary by local partner organizations, but all services are for children age 5 and under. Find your local partner organization that provides SmartStart services here.
Contact: Find the local partner organization that provides SmartStart services in your county here. Use the contact information on this website to inquire about literacy programs in your area.