About Us
Ignite, Empower and Defend Potential
For more than 100 years, Big Brothers Big Sisters has operated under the belief that inherent in every child is the ability to succeed and thrive in life. As the nation’s largest donor and volunteer-supported mentoring network, Big Brothers Big Sisters makes meaningful, monitored matches between adult volunteers (“Bigs”) and children (“Littles”), ages 4 through 18, in communities across the country. We develop positive relationships that have a direct and lasting effect on the lives of young people.
Big Brothers Big Sisters Mission
Create and support one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth.
Big Brothers Big Sisters Vision
All youth achieve their full potential.
Our Programs Start Something
Here’s the proof. National research has shown that positive relationships between Littles and their Bigs have a direct and measurable impact on children’s lives.
By participating in our programs, Little Brothers and Sisters are:
- more confident in their schoolwork performance
- able to get along better with their families
- improve conduct and behavior
- improve grades and attendance
Littles in 2022-2023 achieved
The Big Brothers Big Sisters Match
According to a nationwide study, our one-to-one matches are the driving force behind making an impact on children. A Big Brothers Big Sisters’ match is carefully administered and held to the strictest standards. Agency staff strives for matches that are not only safe and well suited to each child’s needs, but also harmonious and built to last. The entire matching process, from the initial screening to the final pairing and beyond, is made possible by your financial support.
But don’t just think of us as simply matchmakers. We provide ongoing support and supervision to the Big, the Little, and the Little’s family. We offer training and advice to help ensure that the match is working for everyone involved. Our local agencies even receive their own ongoing training and consulting from the Big Brothers Big Sisters national office. It is this web of support that helps maximize the likelihood that a Big Brothers Big Sisters relationship will thrive.
The study found that Big Brothers Big Sisters’ matches consistently spend more time together, and continue as a match for longer periods, than those in other mentoring programs which Public/Private Ventures has studied.
In mentoring programs without this infrastructure, we have found that relationships evaporate too soon for effects to be possible”, said Walker.
We Care Accountability Statement
Big Brothers Big Sisters has been making a positive difference in the lives of children and communities across the country for more than 100 years. We are motivated by our mission and bound by our values. We CARE highlights some of those values and underlines our dedication to the 200,000 children in our network today.
Commitment…helping children reach their full potential through one-to-one mentoring.
Accountability…promoting a culture of transparency and governance.
Responsibility…doing the right thing, always.
Excellence…holding ourselves to the highest standards and striving for continuous improvement.
Organization Policy Statements
(Whistleblower, Conflict of Interest, Records Retention and Destruction Policies)