This article synthesizes research on social capital, school outcomes, internet use, and volunteering to argue that e-mentoring--which is commonly practiced over long distances--could become a powerful way to build greater cohesiveness in local communities. Realizing this potential will require a larger-scale and more coordinated approach to research and program design, as well as a change in e-mentoring researchers' methods. The payoff for these changes would be greater opportunity for e-mentoring research to contribute to social policy and school effectiveness initiatives.