Big Brothers Big Sisters of America

Big Brothers Big Sisters of America

Founded	1904 (1904) Cincinnati, Ohio New York
Founder	Ernest Kent Coulter
Type	Non-governmental organization
Focus	Mentorship, education
Headquarters	Tampa, Florida, United States
Area served	United States
Key people	Artis Stevens, President and CEO
Revenue (2019)	US$21 million
Website	https://www.bbbs.org

Big Brothers Big Sisters of America is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that serves as the national agency overseeing local Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) affiliates across the United States. Founded by Ernest Coulter, BBBSA's mission is to "create and support one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth".

As one of the oldest and largest youth mentoring organizations in the United States, BBBSA provides guidance, resources, and support to its network of local BBBS agencies.

Local Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) Agencies

Local BBBS agencies operate under the umbrella of BBBSA, implementing mentoring programs in their respective communities. These agencies match adult volunteers (Bigs) with children (Littles) ages 5 through young adulthood. The specific age range of children and youth served may vary by affiliate.

The mentoring programs offered by local BBBS agencies are designed to help children reach their full potential and thrive in various aspects of their lives, including education, social skills, and personal development.  

Congressional charter

The group holds a congressional charter under Title 36 of the United States Code.

Impact

Public/Private Ventures, an independent Philadelphia-based national research organization, conducted a study from 1994 to 1995, monitoring 950 boys and girls nationwide to study the effects of Big Brothers Big Sisters. CEO Karen J. Mathis reported that the study found favorable outcomes to the organization.

Public/Private Ventures conducted another study in 2011 that evaluated the school-based Big Brothers Big Sisters Program. This program also found favorable outcomes.

History

1902 – 1948  

In the early 1900s, a series of events laid the foundation for what would become the Big Brothers Big Sisters organization. Ernest Coulter, a court clerk, initiated the New York Children's Court and the organized Big Brothers movement, while the Ladies of Charity began supporting girls in the court system. Simultaneously, businessman Irvin F. Westheimer's friendship with a young boy in Cincinnati sparked a similar initiative. The movement gained momentum rapidly, with Big Brothers activities reported in 26 cities by 1912. National conferences, widespread lectures, and the involvement of prominent figures like Theodore Roosevelt Jr., President Calvin Coolidge, and President Franklin D. Roosevelt helped solidify the organization's importance. By 1948, Norman Rockwell's iconic sketch had become a symbol for the Big Brothers Association, marking nearly half a century of growth and impact in mentoring youth across the United States.  

1951– 2003  

From 1951 to 2003, Big Brothers Big Sisters experienced significant growth and recognition. The organization initiated the Big Brothers of the Year program in 1951, honoring figures like Supreme Court Justice Tom Clark and J. Edgar Hoover. In 1958, the Big Brothers Association was chartered by Congress, followed by the incorporation of Big Sisters International in 1970. Two organizations merged to form Big Brothers Big Sisters of America in 1977. The 1980s saw the establishment of a national headquarters in Philadelphia and recognition with a commemorative stamp. A landmark 1995 study demonstrated the positive impact of mentoring, solidifying the organization's importance. The late 1990s and early 2000s brought international expansion and increased government support, including a mentoring initiative announced by President George W. Bush in 2003.  

2004 – 2020

The organization celebrated its centennial in 2004. In 2007, Big Brothers Big Sisters was featured in a Super Bowl PSA with competing coaches, reaching millions of viewers. The organization participated in a National Mentoring Month ceremony at the White House in 2010. In 2012, BBBSA released the first Youth Outcomes Survey, a nationwide survey on the program's positive impact in key areas of children's lives.  

In 2013, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America (BBBSA) found itself at the center of a scandal involving grant funding, which led to sweeping changes at the organization. On June 24, 2013, the United States Department of Justice issued an Audit Report stating it was freezing the disbursement of all grant funds to BBBSA, noting that the organization was "in material non-compliance with the majority of the grant requirements" that were tested by the audit. "As a result of these weaknesses," the audit noted, the agency "questioned $19,462,448 in funding that the grantee has received and recommended the $3,714,838 in funds not yet disbursed be put to better use". The audit further stated that "most significantly", it "found that BBBSA's practices for recording and supporting grant-related expenditures were inadequate to safeguard grant funds and ensure compliance with the terms and conditions of the grants".

In the wake of the 2013 audit, Big Brothers replaced its management team and implemented policies governing the use of federal grant funds to bring the organization back into compliance. As part of a settlement with the Justice Department, BBBSA paid $1.6 million and agreed to institute a strict compliance program that requires the organization to engage in regular audits, establish a compliance team, an employee code of conduct, whistleblower policies and a disciplinary policy for employees who engage in or fail to disclose abuses of federal grant funds. The organization also provides regular employee training on these policies and employs risk assessment tools to detect abuses that might otherwise go undetected.

The claims resolved by this settlement are allegations only; there has been no determination of liability. BBBSA and many of its affiliates remain partnered with OJJDP today.

The organization relocated its headquarters to Tampa, Florida in 2015.  

2020 – present

In November 2020, Artis Stevens became the first Black CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America (BBBSA). Stevens previously worked with organizations such as Boys & Girls Clubs of America, the National 4-H Council, and the Atlanta Public Housing Agency. His appointment came at a time where the organization faced a waiting list of over 30,000 children, predominantly boys of color, seeking mentorship.  

Campaigns

It Takes Little to Be Big

In September 2023, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America (BBBSA) launched a brand campaign called "It Takes Little to Be Big" on common misconceptions about mentoring. The campaign utilizes various media channels, including TV, digital platforms, and social media, to share how small moments of mentorship can impact young lives. The campaign also includes a digital storytelling initiative called “A Million Little Moments,”. a collaboration with singer-songwriter Aloe Blacc, on a song titled, "Never Let You Down." The campaign seeks to engage one million volunteers through support from partners including Clear Channel Outdoor, iHeartMedia, and Comcast NBCUniversal.

Inspire Change

Big Brothers Big Sisters of America (BBBSA) partnered with NFL's Inspire Change platform in January 2019. T BBBSA was one of the recipients of the NFL's social justice grants, focused on three priority areas: education and economic development, community and police relations, and the criminal justice system. The grant provided supports agencies in creating long-term mentoring relationships.  

BBBSA launched "The Big Draft" campaign with NFL Inspire Change, adapting the concept of the NFL Draft to mentorship. The Big Draft aims to recruit volunteer mentors (or "Bigs"). and explain becoming a "Big" doesn't require special skills or extensive time commitments.  In 2024, BBBSA recruited 14, 981 Bigs in 60 days.  

External links

• BBBS of America
• Charity Navigator
• Foundation Guide