Menu

Privacy Policy & Terms © 2025 Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.

Become a Big
defender of potential

Become a big
Apply
Interview & Safety
Get Matched

Be a big

Start

You can start a young person on the path to big things. We’re looking for people eager to positively impact a youth's life and improve their community at the same time. Let's start something together.

Mentoring

Mentoring is about inspiring positive change to empower youth to believe they can achieve what they never dreamed possible. For a few hours, a couple times a month, you can give a Little the invaluable gift of your time and friendship. Anyone can be a mentor - you don't have to be perfect.

incorporate

You can simply incorporate your Little into your everyday life: play sports together, picnic in the park, take your dog for a hike or visit a museum. Being a Big will be one of the most enjoyable and fulfilling things you do, while also being a force of change in our community.

Apply Here

How it works

We want to work together to keep your young person safe. To do so, we start by thoroughly screening potential Bigs and Littles. Each volunteer must complete a screening process that includes:

1) Applicationand Orientation

  • Apply here
  • You will receive a phone call that gives you an Orientation
  • The Orientation takes about 15 - 30 minutes
  • Both BBBS and you determine if it's a good fit

2) Backgroundand Interview

  • A national, state and local background check is conducted 

  • References are checked

  • A level one fingerprint clearance card is obtained 

  • A home interview (in-person/virtual) is completed

3) Pre-Match Training

  • Ground Rules 
  • Obligations and Appropriate Roles
  • Child safety/youth protection
  • What Match Support is and why we do it

4) Matching & Match Support

  • We match you with a little who is best suited 
  • We present the Match to Big and Little 
  • If accepted, we then schedule a Match meeting 
  • All parties receive regular contact support from staff

Frequently Questions

Apply here

It's an easy process and we'll walk you through each step! Check out How to Be a Big here.

Our Bigs come from diverse backgrounds just like our Littles. They are regular people, just like you. You don’t need any special degrees or job skills. You just have to want to positively impact a young person. Role models come in all shapes and sizes, and you could be a perfect fit. 
As a Big/Little team, you decide together what you want to do and then your Little gets approval from his or her parent. We recommend that you keep a consistent schedule of outings and get together on a regular basis. Your local agency will provide more guidance on this. The outings will also depend on the comfort level of your Little’s parents, your Little, and you. 
The quality of the time you invest with your Little is more important than the amount of money you spend. That’s why we don’t encourage spending a lot of money on your outings. The goal of the relationship is to help your Little see the world through a different lens so you can inspire your Little to become something they never thought possible. If you are going to spend money, we encourage you to seek out low-cost activities, especially in the beginning. Play a game together, or share that pizza that you were going to have for lunch anyway. Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies offer donor-supported group activities that are a great way to meet other Bigs and Littles. As a Big, you may also receive notices for free tickets to cultural and sports activities for you both to enjoy. 
Share an activity that gives you something in common to talk about. Go to the library, check out a book and read together. Buy a comic book to read together. Play a board game. Go on a nature walk. Hit a bucket of golf balls at the local driving range. Take a ride in the car with the radio on and talk about the music you like. You want to select activities that give each of you a chance to learn more about one another. For children, playing can be learning. Most important: keep it simple and enjoy yourselves! 
In the beginning it’s most important for you and your Little to get to know each other. This can happen best on a one-to-one basis. However, over time it’s also valuable for your Little to get to know the people who are important to you. Just keep in mind that if you’re spending lots of time with others, your Little may begin to feel jealous or neglected. The main focus is the friendship you develop with your Little. 
Once you are matched with your Little, a Match Support Specialist from the agency will be in regular contact with you to provide assistance and give feedback. Any time you are unsure about what to do or how to handle a situation, you will have a Match Support Specialist there to help. They’ll help you with ideas for activities, guidance for handling possible difficult situations, and feedback on how you are making a difference.
No, Littles have a parent or guardian in their life already. What they need is a Big to spend quality, one-on-one time with them. Someone to have fun with, someone they can confide in, someone like you!
Make a donation