Big Brothers Big Sisters Independence Region
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO IGNITE THE POWER AND PROMISE OF YOUTH AND CLOSE THE MENTORING GAP, BY CREATING AND SUPPORTING ONE-TO-ONE MENTORING RELATIONSHIPS AND STRENGTHENING THE QUALITY OF THE MENTORING FIELD.
- Income
- $5.2 million
- Spending
- $6.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 71%
- Reserves
- 8.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 65%
- Employees
- 99
- Volunteers
- 1,087
- Highest pay
- $257,586, ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 74 out of 100. Higher than 49% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 8.6 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 29% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 32% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 1% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1571% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 20 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2525 of 25 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (2)
- $4.7 million spent. MENTORING SERVICES: THROUGH COMMUNITY-BASED AND SCHOOL-BASED YOUTH MENTORING PROGRAMS, MORE THAN 1,300 CHILDREN ARE SERVED ANNUALLY IN CHESTER, DELAWARE, MONTGOMERY AND PHILADELPHIA COUNTIES IN PENNSYLVANIA, AND BURLINGTON, CAMDEN AND GLOUCESTER COUNTIES IN NEW JERSEY. PROGRAM ACHIEVEMENTS INCLUDE A RATING OF THREE STARS BY CHARITY NAVIGATOR (THE NATION'S LARGEST AND MOST UTILIZED CHARITY EVALUATOR), GOLD STANDARD FOR TOP PERFORMING AGENCIES IN THE NATION, AND 1,387 CHILDREN AND MENTORS POSITIVELY IMPACTED DURING 2024. DURING 2024, OF THE CHILDREN IN YOUTH MENTORIING PROGRAMS FOR 12 MONTHS OR MORE, 98% OF LITTLES AVOIDED OR CEASED SUBSTANCE USE, 94% OF LITTLES STAYED ON TRACK WITH OR IMPROVED BEHAVIOR IN SCHOOL, 97% OF LITTLES KEPT OR CREATED PLANS FOR HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION AND BEYOND. ALSO PROVIDED CAPACITY BUILDING, TRAINING & QUALITY ASSURANCE TO 345 TO 350 ORGANIZATIONS IN THE REGION.
- $210,242 spent. AS AN AFFILIATED ORGANIZATION OF BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS INDEPENDENCE, MENTOR INDEPENDENCE REGION (MIR) WAS LAUNCHED IN 2015 TO EXPAND THE MENTORING FIELD'S REGIONAL CAPACITY TO REACH MORE YOUTH, AND TO PAIR THEM WITH CARING, COMMITTED ADULT MENTORS, MIR WORKS DIRECTLY WITH MENTORING PROGRAMS BY ASSISTING WITH TRAININGS, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, QUALITY ASSESSMENT, PROFESSIONAL NETWORKING, AND ADVOCACY. DURING 2024, 395 PROGRAMS WERE DIRECTLY SUPPORTED, 65 TRAININGS WERE DELIVERED, 1,452 ADULT PARTICIPANTS WERE TRAINED, 550 TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE HOURS WERE DELIVERED, 250 QUALITY ASSESSMENT REVIEWS WERE COMPLETED, AND APPROXIMATELY 179,000 YOUTH WERE POSITIVELY IMPACTED. MIR'S MISSION IS TO FUEL THE QUALITY AND QUANTITY OF MENTORING RELATIONSHIPS FOR GREATER PHILADELPHIA'S YOUNG PEOPLE AND TO CLOSE THE MENTORING GAP.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since May 1948.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated November 4, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.