Rachel Evans
Big Brothers Big Sisters of America (BBBSA) is a non-profit organization that has been providing youth mentoring for over a century. The movement began in 1904 when New York City court clerk Ernest Coulter noticed an increasing number of boys appearing before the court and theorized that mentorship could help prevent youth delinquency. Around the same time, the Catholic Ladies of Charity established Catholic Big Sisters to support young women through positive female role models. These groups worked independently until 1977 when they merged to form Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. Today, BBBSA operates in all 50 states and serves a quarter million children annually, providing one-to-one mentoring relationships to help youth reach their full potential. Independent studies have demonstrated the positive impact of BBBSA's programs on children's lives, including improved academic achievement, stronger relationships, and reduced involvement in violence and illegal activities.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of Establishment | 1925 |
| Type of Organization | 501(c)(3) non-profit organization |
| Mission | "Create and support one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth" |
| Adult Volunteer Age Range | N/A |
| Mentee Age Range | 5 to young adulthood |
| Mentee Households | Single-parent, low-income families, or households where a parent is incarcerated |
| Number of Agencies | Nearly 400 |
| Number of States | 50 |
| Number of Mentees | 250,000 |
| Average Match Length | 50.2 months |
| Awards | Designated a Blue Ribbon Social Enterprise by the Points of Light Foundation; received 8 consecutive annual National Big Brothers Big Sisters Quality Awards including a Gold Standard in 2016 |
| Notable Supporters | First Lady Laura Bush, President William J. Clinton, President George W. Bush |
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What You'll Learn
History of Catholic Big Brothers Big Sisters
The roots of the Catholic Big Brothers Big Sisters organization can be traced back to 1904, when a New York City court clerk named Ernest Coulter noticed an increasing number of boys appearing before the court. Coulter theorized that mentorship from positive adult role models could help prevent youth delinquency. He began recruiting volunteers from local civic organizations to serve as mentors to these boys, leading to the establishment of Big Brothers of New York City.
Around the same time, a similar effort focused on young women emerged. The Catholic Ladies of Charity, concerned about girls in the New York court system, established the Catholic Big Sisters organization. This group developed structured mentoring programs to support young women through positive female role models. Independently, businessman Irvin F. Westheimer in Cincinnati, Ohio, also introduced a mentoring initiative after noticing a young boy searching for food near his office.
These groups worked independently until 1977 when the Big Brothers Association and Big Sisters International (formerly Catholic Big Sisters) joined forces to become Big Brothers Big Sisters of America (BBBSA). The 1980s saw further growth, including the establishment of a national headquarters in Philadelphia. BBBSA marked its centennial in 2004 and entered a period of expanded outreach and public engagement.
Today, BBBSA is one of the oldest and largest youth mentoring organizations in the United States, serving a quarter million children annually across nearly 400 agencies in all 50 states. The organization matches adult volunteers ("Bigs") with children ("Littles") aged 5 through young adulthood from single-parent, low-income, or incarcerated households. The mentoring programs aim to help children reach their full potential in education, social skills, and personal development. Independent studies have shown positive outcomes for children involved in the program, including improved academic achievement and stronger relationships.
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Mentoring programs and their impact
Mentoring programs are designed to foster connections, drive skill growth, and enable knowledge transfer. They can have a significant impact on both the personal and professional lives of mentors and mentees, leading to improved job satisfaction, enhanced productivity, and career advancement.
The impact of mentoring programs is evident in various settings, including workplaces, academic institutions, and youth development initiatives. In the workplace, mentoring allows more experienced employees to share their knowledge, insights, and guidance with less experienced colleagues, fostering skill development and knowledge transfer. This not only benefits the mentees but also empowers mentors to positively impact their organizations and communities. Mentoring programs in academic institutions enable students to explore educational and career possibilities, make informed decisions about their future paths, and build connections for future employment.
The effectiveness of mentoring programs is supported by research and studies. For example, a 1995 study by Public/Private Ventures found favourable outcomes for the Big Brothers Big Sisters organization. Another study by Harris Interactive in 2009 showed that adults who had participated in Big Brothers Big Sisters programs as children were wealthier and better educated than their peers. Additionally, research has shown that mentoring can increase desirable behaviours and decrease undesirable ones. For instance, mentoring can improve academic performance, deter substance use, and encourage positive behaviours in youth.
The success of mentoring relationships is crucial to the overall effectiveness of mentoring programs. These relationships are built on trust, mutual respect, and a focus on individual goals. Mentors can help mentees set achievable goals, stay focused on tasks, and explore new opportunities. Providing structure, such as defined goals, mentor/mentee training, and a clear communication platform, enhances the impact of mentoring programs.
Catholic Big Brothers Big Sisters, a youth mentoring organization, is an example of a mentoring program with a positive impact. It serves youth from all beliefs and backgrounds, aiming to nurture their social and emotional development, improve academic achievement, build self-esteem, and empower at-risk young people to lead successful lives. The organization's programs have demonstrated measurable positive outcomes, helping youth succeed in school, work, and life.
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Studies on the effectiveness of the program
Several studies have been conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the Catholic Big Brothers Big Sisters program. The program's goal is to provide children from disadvantaged backgrounds with one-on-one mentoring relationships with responsible adults, fostering positive changes in their psychosocial well-being.
One notable study was conducted by Public/Private Ventures, an independent Philadelphia-based national research organization, from 1994 to 1995. This study monitored 950 boys and girls nationwide to assess the effects of the Big Brothers Big Sisters program. The findings, reported by CEO Karen J. Mathis, indicated favourable outcomes for the organization. A subsequent study by Public/Private Ventures in 2011 focused on the school-based Big Brothers Big Sisters Program and yielded similar positive results.
In 2025, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America released a comprehensive study conducted in collaboration with researchers from Harvard University and the U.S. Department of Treasury. This study analyzed three decades of data and demonstrated significant positive outcomes across educational, economic, and social dimensions. The research revealed substantial economic benefits for mentored youth, with a 15% increase in earnings between the ages of 20 and 25. Mentored youth also exhibited improved educational achievement, with a 20% higher college attendance rate and reduced absenteeism and school suspensions.
Additionally, a two-year pilot study assessed the feasibility of implementing a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness of the Big Brothers Big Sisters adult mentor community match programs at the national level. The study involved recruiting 71 intake families and 30 adult mentors over 12 months from two BBBS agencies. While some families dropped out before the post-test assessment, the results revealed beneficial program effects on several child self-reported outcomes, including symptoms of emotional problems and social anxiety.
The program's effectiveness has also been supported by independent research, demonstrating a measurable positive impact on children's lives. For example, adults who had a Big Brother or Big Sister were found to be wealthier and better educated than their peers (Harris Interactive, 2009). Furthermore, the program has been shown to help families by improving the odds that children will perform better in school, avoid violence and illegal activities, and have stronger relationships.
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Funding and awards
CBBBS is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization, which means it relies on donations and grants to operate. They are one of the oldest and most respected mentoring organizations in Southern California and have a reputation for high-quality service, exceeding national match retention rates. This is reflected in their average match length of 50.2 months for mentoring pairs, compared to the national average of 33.1 months.
The organization has been recognized for its superior management of volunteers, receiving the prestigious Blue Ribbon Social Enterprise award from the Points of Light Foundation. CBBBS has also consistently achieved high standards, earning eight consecutive annual National Big Brothers Big Sisters Quality Awards, including a Gold Standard in 2016. This placed them in the top 3% of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America agencies nationwide.
In addition to awards, CBBBS has gained recognition for its positive impact on youth development. Independent research has demonstrated the effectiveness of mentoring in helping at-risk youth succeed in school, work, and life. One notable study by Harris Interactive in 2009 showed that adults who had a Big Brother or Big Sister were wealthier and better educated than their peers. Furthermore, CBBBS's programs have been shown to improve academic achievement, build self-esteem, and empower at-risk youth, helping them lead successful and productive lives.
The organization also engages in various fundraising activities throughout the year, creating exciting events that bring fun to the process of raising funds. These events not only generate financial support but also foster a sense of community and engagement among those involved with CBBBS.
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Non-discrimination policy
Big Brothers Big Sisters of America (BBBSA) is a non-profit organisation that provides one-to-one mentoring for children aged 5 to young adulthood. The organisation was founded in 1904 by Ernest Coulter, a New York City court clerk who recognised that positive adult mentorship could help prevent youth delinquency. Over the years, BBBSA has received recognition and support from various US presidents and First Ladies, including Laura Bush, who publicly supported the organisation's mission.
Catholic Big Brothers Big Sisters (CBBBS) is a member of the National Big Brothers Big Sisters Network and is one of the oldest and most respected mentoring organisations in Southern California. CBBBS was founded in 1925 and has a long history of working with youth facing adversity. The organisation serves people of all beliefs and backgrounds, providing one-to-one mentoring matches to approximately 300 young people annually. CBBBS has received numerous awards for its superior management of volunteers and service quality.
As a member of the National Big Brothers Big Sisters Network, CBBBS adheres to the network's non-discrimination policy. BBBSA's non-discrimination policy states that the organisation values program participants as unique individuals and welcomes the variety of experiences they bring. This policy is reflected in CBBBS's mission to work with people of all beliefs and backgrounds to nurture social and emotional development, improve academic achievement, build self-esteem, and empower at-risk youth.
CBBBS's non-discrimination policy ensures that all individuals, regardless of their background, are given equal opportunities to participate in the organisation's programs and services. This includes equal access to mentoring opportunities, resources, and support, regardless of race, colour, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, or any other protected characteristic. The policy also ensures that CBBBS's staff and volunteers adhere to non-discriminatory practices in their interactions with the children and families they serve.
CBBBS's commitment to non-discrimination is evident in its diverse range of programs and services. The organisation serves children from a variety of backgrounds, including those from single-parent, low-income, and incarcerated-parent households. By providing mentoring and additional services to these children, CBBBS helps to break the cycle of poverty and improve their chances of success in school and life. The organisation's non-discrimination policy is integral to its mission of empowering youth and helping them reach their full potential.
Overall, CBBBS's non-discrimination policy aligns with the values and mission of the National Big Brothers Big Sisters Network. By welcoming individuals of all backgrounds and providing equal opportunities for participation, CBBBS ensures that all youth have the chance to benefit from the organisation's mentoring programs and achieve their goals. This commitment to inclusivity and equality is a key aspect of the organisation's work in supporting and empowering young people.
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Frequently asked questions
Catholic Big Brothers Big Sisters is a member of the National Big Brothers Big Sisters Network. It was founded in 1925 and is one of the oldest and most respected mentoring organizations in Southern California.
The Catholic Big Sisters organization was started by the Catholic Ladies of Charity in New York to address concerns about girls in the New York court system. They developed structured mentoring programs aimed at supporting young women through positive female role models. In 1977, the Big Brothers Association and Big Sisters International joined forces and became Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.
Independent research shows that Catholic Big Brothers Big Sisters has a measurable, positive impact on children's lives. Research studies have demonstrated that “mentoring helps at-risk youth succeed in school, work, and life.” Catholic Big Brothers Big Sisters of Los Angeles serves approximately 300 young people annually with one-to-one mentoring matches.
Catholic Big Brothers Big Sisters matches adult volunteers ("Bigs") with children ("Littles") from age 5 to young adulthood. The adult volunteers serve as mentors and role models for the children for 4 to 8 hours a month.
Catholic Big Brothers Big Sisters operates in Southern California, specifically in Los Angeles. There are nearly 400 Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies across the United States, serving a quarter million children annually in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and Guam.
