Big Brothers Big Sisters of America
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Big Brothers Big Sisters of America is the nation's premier mentoring organization. The Organization's vision is that all children achieve success in life. The Organization's mission is to provide children facing adversity with strong and enduring, professionally supported 1-to-1 relationships that change their lives for the better, forever. (continued on Schedule O)
- Income
- $69.2 million
- Spending
- $61.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 85%
- Reserves
- 0.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 70%
- Employees
- 139
- Volunteers
- 18
- Highest pay
- $723,520, ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 59 out of 100.
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.5 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 46% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 11% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 13% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1585% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2518 of 19 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 June 30, 2025, 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 (3)
- $29.4 million spent. Agency Service, Support and Technology BBBSA provides support to its Affiliates through grants, training, Board development, marketing, compliance, and technology. Grants are awarded to Affiliates from foundations, corporate partners, and federal sources. Grants from BBBSA support allow the Affiliates to expand programs, start new programs, serve more populations, and strengthen the services they provide. With more than 250 Affiliates across the country, providing training on best practices, leadership, program development, and Board development is key to ensuring quality service across the Federation. Marketing support helps Affiliates safeguard the brand so it can endure into the future. BBBSA uses a nationwide database system that manages Big-Little matches and measures the impact on the children we serve.
- $18.8 million spent. Program Implementation In collaboration with Affiliates, BBBSA develops programs that allow us to provide mentoring services to more children and to strengthen those services and tools to evaluate our impact on the children we serve.
- $4.3 million spent. Child Safety, Standards and Compliance BBBSA's top priority is to ensure child safety throughout the Big Brothers Big Sisters network of affiliated agencies. Each agency has independent and sole management responsibility of its safety procedures through adherence to nationally adopted standards of best practices in youth protection.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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 October 13, 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 June 2025.
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 October 21, 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.