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Big Brothers & Big Sisters of Colorado Inc

EIN 23-7161796 · Denver, CO

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood81 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF COLORADO IS TO CREATE AND SUPPORT MENTORING RELATIONSHIPS THAT IGNITE THE POWER AND PROMISE OF YOUTH.

Income
$3.7 million
Spending
$4.4 million
Spent on programs
67%
Reserves
13.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 55%
Employees
60
Volunteers
821
Highest pay
$205,375, ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 13.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 27% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 17% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 8% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    66% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 22 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, 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 25

    26 of 27 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 (1)
  1. $2.9 million spent. BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF COLORADO (BBBSC) DELIVERS HIGH-IMPACT MENTORING PROGRAMS THAT SUPPORT YOUTH ACROSS THE DENVER METRO AND PIKES PEAK REGIONS. THESE PROGRAMS RELY ON TRAINED VOLUNTEERS ("BIGS") AND ARE SUPPORTED BY PROFESSIONAL BBBSC STAFF. THESE VOLUNTEER CONTRIBUTIONS ARE ESSENTIAL TO BBBSC'S PROGRAM OPERATIONS. IN FY2025, VOLUNTEERS PROVIDED 46,416 HOURS OF MENTORING AND SUPPORT, VALUED AT 1.8 MILLION. WHEN THIS VOLUNTEER-PROVIDED VALUE IS CONSIDERED, PROGRAM-RELATED EXPENSES REPRESENT APPROXIMATELY 77% OF TOTAL ORGANIZATIONAL EXPENDITURES. DURING FY2025, BBBSC: -PROVIDED ONE-TO-ONE VOLUNTEER MENTORING, SCHOOL-BASED MENTORING,AND GROUP-BASED MENTORING EXPERIENCES TO 1,641 YOUTH AGES 9-18 ACROSS COMMUNITY-BASED, SPORTS BUDDIES, STARS PEER MENTORING, PROJECT AIM, AND BIG FUTURES PROGRAMMING. -SUPPORTED YOUTH ACADEMIC AND DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOMES, INCLUDING: O78% OF YOUTH MAINTAINING OR IMPROVING THEIR GRADES, OMENTORED YOUTH BEING 20% MORE LIKELY TO ENROLL IN COLLEGE, OYOUTH DEMONSTRATING HIGHER CONFIDENCE AND LEADERSHIP SKILLS, WITH 94% REPORTING CONFIDENCE IN ACHIEVING THEIR GOALS. -CELEBRATED HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES, MANY OF WHOM ARE THE FIRST IN THEIR FAMILIES TO GRADUATE, AND PROVIDED POST-SECONDARY PLANNING, CAREER EXPLORATION, AND FINANCIAL LITERACY THROUGH THE BIG FUTURES WRAPAROUND PROGRAM. -OFFERED ORIENTATIONS, WORKSHOPS, AND ONGOING TRAINING FOR VOLUNTEER MENTORS; DELIVERED SCHOOL-BASED SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL AND LEADERSHIP PROGRAMMING (STARS AND PROJECT AIM); AND PROVIDED RESOURCE REFERRALS FOR FAMILIES INCLUDING SCHOOL SUPPLIES, CLOTHING, HOLIDAY SUPPORT, MENTAL- HEALTH RESOURCES, AND COMMUNITY SERVICES-ENSURING MATCH STABILITY AND YOUTH WELL-BEING. -CREATED 159 NEW MENTORING MATCHES AND MAINTAINED AN AVERAGE MATCH LENGTH OF 3.6 YEARS, DEMONSTRATING HIGH RELATIONSHIP QUALITY AND RETENTION. -SERVED YOUTH EXPERIENCING SIGNIFICANT BARRIERS, INCLUDING THOSE FROM SINGLE-PARENT HOUSEHOLDS (70%), FAMILIES RECEIVING INCOME ASSISTANCE (41%), AND YOUTH WITH AN INCARCERATED PARENT (15%). RESEARCH CONTINUES TO SHOW THAT MENTORING REDUCES RISKY BEHAVIORS, INCREASES ACADEMIC SUCCESS, AND STRENGTHENS LONG-TERM ECONOMIC OUTCOMES. BBBSC REMAINS COMMITTED TO CONTINUOUS EVALUATION AND IMPROVEMENT TO ENSURE HIGH-QUALITY, CONSISTENT, AND CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE SERVICES FOR COLORADO YOUTH AND FAMILIES. BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF COLORADO (BBBSC) DELIVERS HIGH-IMPACT MENTORING PROGRAMS THAT SUPPORT YOUTH ACROSS THE DENVER METRO AND PIKES PEAK REGIONS. THESE PROGRAMS RELY ON TRAINED VOLUNTEERS ("BIGS") AND ARE SUPPORTED BY PROFESSIONAL BBBSC STAFF. THESE VOLUNTEER CONTRIBUTIONS ARE ESSENTIAL TO BBBSC'S PROGRAM OPERATIONS. IN FY2025, VOLUNTEERS PROVIDED 46,416 HOURS OF MENTORING AND SUPPORT, VALUED AT 1.8 MILLION. WHEN THIS VOLUNTEER-PROVIDED VALUE IS CONSIDERED, PROGRAM-RELATED EXPENSES REPRESENT APPROXIMATELY 77% OF TOTAL ORGANIZATIONAL EXPENDITURES. DURING FY2025, BBBSC: -PROVIDED ONE-TO-ONE VOLUNTEER MENTORING, SCHOOL-BASED MENTORING,AND GROUP-BASED MENTORING EXPERIENCES TO 1,641 YOUTH AGES 9-18 ACROSS COMMUNITY-BASED, SPORTS BUDDIES, STARS PEER MENTORING, PROJECT AIM, AND BIG FUTURES PROGRAMMING. -SUPPORTED YOUTH ACADEMIC AND DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOMES, INCLUDING: O78% OF YOUTH MAINTAINING OR IMPROVING THEIR GRADES, OMENTORED YOUTH BEING 20% MORE LIKELY TO ENROLL IN COLLEGE, OYOUTH DEMONSTRATING HIGHER CONFIDENCE AND LEADERSHIP SKILLS, WITH 94% REPORTING CONFIDENCE IN ACHIEVING THEIR GOALS. -CELEBRATED HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES, MANY OF WHOM ARE THE FIRST IN THEIR FAMILIES TO GRADUATE, AND PROVIDED POST-SECONDARY PLANNING, CAREER EXPLORATION, AND FINANCIAL LITERACY THROUGH THE BIG FUTURES WRAPAROUND PROGRAM. -OFFERED ORIENTATIONS, WORKSHOPS, AND ONGOING TRAINING FOR VOLUNTEER MENTORS; DELIVERED SCHOOL-BASED SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL AND LEADERSHIP PROGRAMMING (STARS AND PROJECT AIM); AND PROVIDED RESOURCE REFERRALS FOR FAMILIES INCLUDING SCHOOL SUPPLIES, CLOTHING, HOLIDAY SUPPORT, MENTAL- HEALTH RESOURCES, AND COMMUNITY SERVICES-ENSURING MATCH STABILITY AND YOUTH WELL-BEING. -CREATED 159 NEW MENTORING MATCHES AND MAINTAINED AN AVERAGE MATCH LENGTH OF 3.6 YEARS, DEMONSTRATING HIGH RELATIONSHIP QUALITY AND RETENTION. -SERVED YOUTH EXPERIENCING SIGNIFICANT BARRIERS, INCLUDING THOSE FROM SINGLE-PARENT HOUSEHOLDS (70%), FAMILIES RECEIVING INCOME ASSISTANCE (41%), AND YOUTH WITH AN INCARCERATED PARENT (15%). RESEARCH CONTINUES TO SHOW THAT MENTORING REDUCES RISKY BEHAVIORS, INCREASES ACADEMIC SUCCESS, AND STRENGTHENS LONG-TERM ECONOMIC OUTCOMES. BBBSC REMAINS COMMITTED TO CONTINUOUS EVALUATION AND IMPROVEMENT TO ENSURE HIGH-QUALITY, CONSISTENT, AND CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE SERVICES FOR COLORADO YOUTH AND FAMILIES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. 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 September 7, 2026.

  2. 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 September 30, 2026.

  3. 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending September 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since May 1982.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. 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 7, 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.