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New Links - added 2026

New additions to Tutor/Mentor library - 2026

Since mid 2022 I've posted new additions to the Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC Library on a page like this. Each listing includes a link to the sub-section of the library where the link was posted. Those links are in alphabetical order. Learn to use the "find in this section" line below each entry to find a wide range of related information. New additions from 2025 are posted here. New additions from 2024 are posted here. New additions from 2023 are posted here. New additions from 2022 are posted here

1-5-2026 - Information Visualization MOOC at Indiana University. Read these articles to see new project from 2025 and past projects. Network building and network analysis will continue to be a focus in 2026.

1-19-2026 - NONPROFIT ECOSYSTEM MAPPING - SHEDS LIGHT ON THE INTERSECTIONS AND GAPS WITHIN THE US NONPROFIT ECOSYSTEM OVER TIME AND ACROSS DIMENSIONS
https://nonprofitecosystem.givingtuesday.org/
From the website: "The IRS regularly releases nonprofit tax filings each year, but the complexity of the data makes it difficult for most users to extract meaningful insight. The Nonprofit Ecosystem Mapping Project, a research project leveraging GivingTuesday’s 990 Data Infrastructure, is designed to change that. Developed in close collaboration with academic and industry researchers, this initiative explores new ways to examine relationships, patterns, and structures within the nonprofit ecosystem."
Find in this section

1-19-2026 - THE INVISIBLE JOB CRISIS: AMERICA'S THIRD-LARGEST EMPLOYER IS HEMORRAGING TALENT - FORBES 12-2025 ARTICLE
https://www.forbes.com/sites/aparnarae/2025/12/04/the-invisible-job-crisis-americas-third-largest-employer-is-hemorrhaging-talent/
This article "highlights an employment crisis that threatens not just individual livelihoods, but the nonprofit sector's foundational capacity to serve communities."
Find in this section

1-19-2026 - LANDSCAPE OF CONSCIOUNESS INTERACTIVE VISUALIZATION
https://loc.closertotruth.com/interactive
From the website: "This 4-map interactive visualizes theories of consciouness, showing category, scholarly/scientific interests, complexity, and connections with one another. It's valuable if this is a topic you're interested in and as a demonstration of what's possible using interactive visualization tools."
Find in this section

1-19-2026 - SHOULD YOUR NONPROFIT COMPETE, COLLABORATE OR BOTH? 2025 ARTICLE
https://www.sdmayer.com/resources/nonprofit-competition
From the website: "Navigating the nonprofit sector is no small feat. With limited resources and numerous organizations vying for donors, volunteers, and grants, nonprofit leaders often face a critical question—should you compete, collaborate, or a bit of both? The answer isn’t always straightforward, as success often lies in striking the right balance. Whether you’re a nonprofit leader, a social entrepreneur, or a community advocate, this guide will explore how competition and collaboration coexist in the nonprofit sector. We'll break down when to compete and when to collaborate effectively so you can maximize your impact."
Find in this section

1-19-2026 - GROWTH MINDSET FOR TUTORS. WHYIT MATTERS (AND 7 WAYS TO BUILD ONE)
https://practice.org/tutor_blog/growth-mindset-for-tutors/
This is one resource on the website of PRACTICE, which aims "to give every student a fair shot at success by providing academic and emotional support they deserve." If you lead a volunteer-based tutor and/or mentor program, or are a volunteer, this article offers valuable insight.
Find in this section

1-19-2026 - SOCIAL NETWORK ANALYSIS TOOLS - FREE AS OF 2026
https://www.rankred.com/free-social-network-analysis-tools/
This 1/26/2026 article describes the benefits of social network analysis tools and shares a list of software, "including network visualization tools, data collection and scraping tools, network analysis and metrics tools, and social media analytics tools."
Find in this section

1-19-2026 - BRITEBOUND - COMBINES FUNDING WITH CAPACITY BUILDING. SEEKS A FUTURE WHERE ALL YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY AND ACCESS TO CAREER-READINESS LEARNING.
https://www.britebound.org/
Britebound is an intermediary that helps parents, educators, partners, founders and fund managers and students. Explore the "What we do" categories of "Digital Experiences, Philanthropic Giving, Impact Investing and Advocacy. Learn how they work with subsidiaries "to create a powerful network that empowers students to gain confidence, find their path, and their purpose." Formerly known as "American Student Assistance"
Find in this section

1-19-2026 - CYESS - COLLECTIVE FOR YOUTH EMPOWERMENT IN STEM & SOCIETY
https://cyess.org/
https://cyess.org/resources/
From the website: "The Collective for Youth Empowerment in STEM & Society (CYESS), an initiative of the Afterschool Alliance, is leveraging the potential of afterschool programs for civic engagement and STEM learning. Our network of youth programs, researchers, and leaders is working to expand civic engagement opportunities in afterschool programs to help youth develop their voice and agency to make change. And since STEM skills and knowledge are now essential to solve community challenges, we’re helping youth in afterschool programs engage with STEM and connect it to tackling community challenges." The website has an extensive library of resources. Take a look.
Find in this section

1-19-2026 - INITIATIVE FOR LITERACY IN A DIGITAL AGE -BUILDING GLOBAL COMMUNITY
https://initiativeforliteracy.org/
From the website: "The Initiative for Literacy in a Digital Age (InitiatED) is a global community of educators, researchers, advocates, and learners building the critical digital literacy skills our communities need to thrive. We work to help empower individuals in complex, digital, and interconnected environments. Born from the recognition that traditional approaches to education often exclude the voices and wisdom of those most impacted by digital inequity, we organize as a cooperative network committed to transformative change through collective action."
Find in this section

1-6-2026 - IMPACT GARDEN - ONLINE COURSE
https://impactgardencourse.sutra.co/space/c807xjqx/content
From the website: "Most of us have an intuitive sense of the underlying conditions needed to make our work successful and impactful long-term. It’s about trust and compassion, enabling others, creating collaborative spaces, and building momentum. Yet most project planning and evaluation tools don't do justice to these relational and inner dimensions. Here comes the The Impact Garden framework: inspired by nature and living systems, it provides an intuitive framework. This course explores the Impact Garden framework and how it applies to your work."
Find in this section

1-5-2026 - INVESTIGATIVE PROJECT ON RACE & EQUITY
https://www.raceandequityproject.org/training-highlights/where-to-find-archives-for-reporting-on-systemic-racism
https://www.raceandequityproject.org/training-highlights/examples-how-journalists-use-history-to-reframe-stories-on-racial-inequities
https://www.raceandequityproject.org/training-highlights/using-history-to-report-on-systemic-racism
This site is a resource that aims to train journalists in data-driven reporting. It collaborates with news organizations to uncover systemic racism. Students could learn to be story-tellers using these resources. I show three links. 1) where to find archives; 2) examples of how journlists use these resources; 3) using history to report on systemic racism.
Find in this section

1-5-2026 - PROJECT 990 IS BUILDING COMPREHENSIVE DATA ANALYTICS PLATFORM TO SUPPORT THE NONPROFIT SECTOR, POLICYMAKERS AND THE PUBLIC
https://project990.org/
https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/fulton/vizzes
https://www.linkedin.com/company/smartcharityai/
Visit this site to learn how Project 990 is "building a comprehensive data analytics platform that integrates information from millions of tax filings, grants, and other sources related to philanthropic giving." See how Project 990 is visualizing the funding flow across the nonprofit sector. See examples of their work on the Smart Charity LinkedIn page and on this Tableau website.
Find in this section, and this section

1-5-2026 - TABLEAU SITE SHARES DATA COLLECTED FROM MILLIONS OF NONPROFIT 990 REPORTS
https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/fulton/vizzes
https://project990.org/
This site shows Tableau maps created by Brad R. Fulton, PhD, of Project 2025, which is "building a comprehensive data analytics platform that integrates information from millions of tax filings, grants, and other sources releated to philanthropic giving".
Find in this section

December 2025 T/MI News

Issue 247

institute newsletter

homework help

Support youth-serving organizations with year-end and on-going contributions!

During the Holiday Season youth serving organizations are reaching out for financial support. Please use my lists to find and choose programs to aid with your contributions.

I wish you all a safe, healthy, happy and HOPE-filled holiday season.

Visit https://tutormentorexchange.net/

The ideas and resources shared in this monthly newsletter are intended to help you build and sustain mentor-rich, school and non-school, tutor, mentor and learning programs that reach K-12 youth in all areas of persistent poverty. Use these in Chicago, or anywhere in the world.

Please share this so others in your city can find and use these resources!

homework help

Are you thinking about accepting donations in crypto currencies?

I don't yet accept contributions in Bitcoin or other crypto currencies but this article from Mercy Home for Boys and Girls offers valuable insight from any who are considering this option.

open link

Do you have resources to share about using Bitcoin?

Mercy Home is one of the Chicago youth serving organizations that I include on the lists hosted on the Tutor/Mentor website.

Old Ideas. Same Problems. New Solutions Needed.

I created this graphic in the 1990s to show that I understood there were many issues that needed the attention of policy makers and donors. I just wanted support for youth in high poverty areas, via organized, on-going, volunteer-based tutor/mentor programs to be a slice of their giving strategies.

View it in this 2009 article.

Navigate the Tutor/Mentor Library.
The graphic below shows topics that I focus on in the Tutor/Mentor library and weekly blog articles.

In this blog article I list websites, concept maps, visual essays, etc. that I point to over-and-over, often using Tiny ULR addresses. It's another way for you to find ideas to use to help kids and help your community.

homework help

Below are resources to help you start 2026.

* Give feedback on new federal education tax credit. Read this article in YOUTH TODAY.

* The National Mentoring Summit will be held in Washington, DC on February 4 to 6, 2026 - click here for details

* MENTOR Greater Milwaukee is hosting a symposium on January 26, 2026 - click here for details

* Alberta Mentoring Partnership tips for Mentoring Month celebrations - click here

* AfterSchool Alliance resources - click here

* Chicago Mentoring Collaborative - click here

* South Side STEM Asset maps - read about using maps - click here

* Incarceration Reform Resource Center - click here

* Prison Policy Initiative - click here

These are just a few of the resources you'll find in the Tutor/Mentor library!

Thank you for reading this month's newsletter.

Please share this with people you know who work in non-school youth serving programs, or in sectors that should be strategically supporting such programs, such as business, philanthropy, education and public policy. If they are not receiving these newsletters then we have no way of engaging them. Also encourage friends, family, co-workers to sign up to receive this newsletter.

I encourage others to duplicate what I'm doing. Write a blog and share your own vision, strategy and challenges. Share your link and I'll add it to this list in the Tutor/Mentor library.

View current and past newsletters at this link.

To subscribe, just Click here.
(If you subscribe, don't forget to respond to the confirmation email).

Please help fund the Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC

Visit this page to help me celebrate my 79th birthday.

Visit this page and add your support so I can keep this information available to you and the world.

Tutor/Mentor Connection (1993-present)
Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC (2011-present)

Serving Chicago and the world since 1993. Connect with Dan Bassill, founder and leader on one of the social media platforms.

eMail Dan at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to schedule a ZOOM call and learn more about the strategies and resources he is sharing.

Social Media Connections

Do a web search for "tutor mentor" and you'll find us on many platforms.

Connect with Dan at

BlueSky - https://bsky.app/profile/tutormentor.bsky.social

Dan Bassill on LinkedIn

Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLCon Facebook group

Dan Bassill on Facebook Page

Dan Bassill on Mastodon - https://mastodon.social/@tutormentor1,
https://mastodon.garden/@tutormentor1 and @This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Dan Bassill on Instagram and on Twitter (X)

Dan Bassill on Medium - https://medium.com/@danielfbassill

Dan Bassill on Substack.com - https://substack.com/@danielbassill319958?

November 2025 T/MI News

Issue 246

institute newsletter

Plan for year-end holiday giving!

Every November for the past 50 years I've organized holiday events at the tutor/mentor programs I led and through the Tutor/Mentor Connection, which I formed in 1993.

The goal was to build activities that supported volunteer and student engagement, that connected programs to share ideas, and to build visibility that drew donors to the fund raising campaigns of our own program, and of others throughout Chicago.

It's mid November, which means volunteer-based tutor/mentor programs should already have campaigns in place.

Visit https://tutormentorexchange.net/

While the primary focus of this newsletter and my website and blogs is to help volunteer-based tutor, mentor and learning programs reach more youth in areas of persistent poverty, many of the sections have information that can be applied to any issue that needs support from many people, for many years.

These resources can be used by anyone, in Chicago, or around the world.

Please share this so others in your city can find and use these resources!

homework help

Every year since 2012 a global #GivingTuesday campaign has attempted to build greater awareness for nonprofit organizations and help them raise dollars to fund their programs. This year the date is December 2, 2025.

Is your organization ready for this? Are your volunteers, students, alumni and donors involved? Take a look at my Tutor/Mentor article and see how it draws attention to volunteer-based tutor/mentor programs throughout the Chicago region.

While this event is important it should only be a part of your year end campaigns.

I maintain lists of Chicago tutor/mentor program accounts on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, and follow all of the programs on these lists. Thus I see what they are posting. I boost most that I see and encourage others to do the same.

Above are images from two campaigns that I think do a great job.

At the left is an image from the Tutoring Chicago "Celebrating 60th Years" campaign. If you visit their LinkedIn feed you'll see several short videos that show archives from past years (including the 1975-1992 years when I led the program, when it was hosted at the Montgomery Ward headquarters in Chicago). You'll also see videos showing kids and volunteers in their weekly tutoring sessions. Some of these are already on their website. You can also find them on Instagram.

At the right is an image from the PEAK (Partnership to Educate and Advance Kids) Chicago campaign. It's a series of photos that I've seen on LinkedIn and Instagram. One of those is a map showing where they provide services and where their students live, emphasizing how "over 60% of PEAK Scholars live in Chicago's most vulnerable neighborhoods". I've been trying to educate donors to seek programs that support kids in those neighborhoods. By including this map in their campaign, PEAK Chicago is emphasizing this. See more on their website.

Other programs are also doing great work at showcasing there services. Browse my lists and look at websites and social media. Use your own blog to highlight campaigns that you feel are effective. Share them with me on social media so I can share them with others.

Long-term funding needed

I've included these images on many blog article and visual essays, to emphasize the need for multi-year funding that helps kids in economically disadvantaged neighborhoods get extra tutor, mentor and learning support that helps them move safely through school and into adult lives. When I say "multi year" I don't me 3-5 years. I mean 10 to 20 years!

In the current political crisis, those organizations that are dependent on Federal funding, are facing even greater challenges than in the past.

I encourage you to read some of my philanthropy articles on the Tutor/Mentor blog, and in my web library. Then look at the Role of Leaders article that I posted on Substack.

Volunteers in on-going tutor/mentor programs can do more than serve as tutors and mentors. They can help open doors to funding. They can even dig deeper and learn why traditional philanthropy is inadequate and organize campaigns to change donor practices. They can even help raise money to fund a Tutor/Mentor Connection-type program at an area university, that trains students to lead programs, and lead efforts to provide necessary operating dollars.

Read some of my Tipping Point articles, too. Share with others.

homework help

This is a view of the home page of the www.tutormentorexchange.net site. I highlighted a message I've shared for over 50 years with our students, volunteers, donors and peers. None of us have million dollar advertising budgets so that means we need more people using their own media to help tell our stories and draw volunteers and donors to us.

At the right I show links to four pages.

1 - volunteer at a Chicago area tutor/mentor program
2 - connect with me on one of many social media platforms
3 - help fund the Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC
4 - help me celebrate my 79th birthday!

As you enjoy your Thanksgiving and Year-end holidays I hope you'll look at these ways to support youth in organized tutor/mentor programs throughout Chicagoland. If you're in another city, share these ideas and help them form a similar strategy.

January is National Mentoring Month - be prepared

National Mentoring Month is celebrated in the USA and in Canada. While I have links below to USA mentoring resources this tip sheet was shared by the Alberta Mentoring Partnership. Visit their website and you'll find a wealth of resources that can be used throughout the year.

At the end of January will be the annual Mentoring Summit. I've attended in the past and have written a few blog articles to share some of my own thoughts. Click here to read them.

Then take a look at this article urging event organizations to use network analysis tools like NODEXL to map participation and show connections between participants.

Then look at this article where I show a use of KUMU to show connections within a university. If you have examples of organizations doing this type of mapping, please share them.

Below are resources to use.

(I repeate many of these each month. That does not mean the information is old. These websites keep adding new resources to their own sites!)

* Building Trust and Security while enabling large-scale collaboration - click here

* Policy Link - A National Research and Action Institute - click here

* Extensive tutoring resources on Educate. Radiate. Elevate website - click here

* Meaning and action in a time of democratic crisis - Fighting Forward Series 2025 - click here

* Grantmakers for Education - click here

* AfterSchool Alliance resources - click here

* Why nonprofits struggle to network -- and how that's holding us back - click here

* MENTOR celebrates 35 years of support for mentoring in the USA and the world - click here

* National Mentoring Resource Center - click here

* UCLA Center resources - click here; Guide to Learning Supports pdf - click here

* Every Hour Counts - network of intermediaries building after school systems - click here

* MyChiMyFuture - Chicago youth programs map and directory. click here; visit the website - click here

* Chicago Mentoring Collaborative - click here

* Chicago Learning Exchange supports Out-of-School-Time community in Chicago - click here

* ACT Now - Championing Quality Afterschool Programs in Illinois - click here

* To & Through Project website - click here

* Center for Effective Philanthropy - click here

* Forefront -Illinois' statewide association of nonprofits, foundations and advisors. click here

* YouthToday online magazine - click here

* South Side STEM Asset maps - read about using maps - click here

* Incarceration Reform Resource Center - click here

* Prison Policy Initiative - click here

Read These Tutor/Mentor blog articles

(Do you have a blog? Share it on social media.)

Engaging Universities. Who's Connected? - click here

Engage Youth in Writing Activities - click here

After the March, Do the Planning - click here

"Enough Is Enough" on Substack.com - click here

Reaching Youth in High Poverty Areas - click here

Drawing from My Archives - click here

Tipping Point articles - add Vu Le to your reading. - click here

How tp Use the Tutor/Mentor Blog - click here

Bookmark these Tutor/Mentor Resources

* Lists of Chicago area, volunteer-based tutor, mentor programs - click here

* Homework help and volunteer training resources - click here

* Resource Library - click here

* Strategy essays by Tutor/Mentor - click here

* Work done by interns in past - click here

* Maps and Map-Stories from past 30 years - click here

* Political Action resources - click here, and click here

* Featured collections on Wakelet - click here

* Tutor/Mentor Institute Videos - click here

* About T/MI articles on blog - click here

* History of T/MC - T/MI articles - click here

* Create a New Tutor/Mentor Connection - click here

* Reaching out to Universities to adopt the Tutor/Mentor Connection strategy - click here

* Chicago Youth Serving Organizations in Intermediary Roles - click here to view a concept map showing many organizations working to help improve the lives of Chicago area youth. Follow the links. If you know of other intermediaries that should be added please share that information with Dan Bassill.

Thank you for reading this month's newsletter.

I encourage others to duplicate what I'm doing. Write a blog and share your own vision, strategy and challenges. Share your link and I'll add it to this list in the Tutor/Mentor library.

View current and past newsletters at this link.

To subscribe, just Click here.
(If you subscribe, don't forget to respond to the confirmation email).

Please help fund the Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC

Visit this page to help me celebrate my 79th birthday.
Visit this page and add your support so I can keep this information available to you and the world.

Tutor/Mentor Connection (1993-present)
Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC (2011-present)