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Big Brothers & Big Sisters of Greater Cincinnati, Inc

EIN 31-0577668 · Cincinnati, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF GREATER CINCINNATI (BBBSGC) PROVIDES EVIDENCE-BASED MENTORING PROGRAMS THAT MATCH YOUTH FACING ADVERSITY WITH TRAINED, CARING ADULT MENTORS. THROUGH BOTH COMMUNITY-BASED AND SITE-BASED PROGRAMMING, BBBSGC DELIVERS PROFESSIONALLY SUPPORTED RELATIONSHIPS THAT PROMOTE POSITIVE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, IMPROVE ACADEMIC OUTCOMES, AND STRENGTHEN SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL SKILLS. SERVING YOUTH ACROSS THE 13-COUNTY GREATER CINCINNATI REGION, BBBSGC REMAINS FOCUSED ON EXPANDING ACCESS TO HIGH-QUALITY MENTORING OPPORTUNITIES AND ENSURING MEASURABLE, LONG-TERM IMPACT FOR EVERY CHILD SERVED.

Income
$3.3 million
Spending
$2.4 million
Spent on programs
76%
Reserves
9.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 80%
Employees
29
Volunteers
1,103
Highest pay
$138,944, president & ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 93 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 9.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 6% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 28% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 62% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    76% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    26 of 26 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 December 31, 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. $1.8 million spent. BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF GREATER CINCINNATI (BBBSGC) PROVIDES PROFESSIONALLY SUPPORTED, ONE-TO-ONE MENTORING PROGRAMS THAT MATCH YOUTH FACING ADVERSITY WITH TRAINED ADULT MENTORS (BIGS). SERVICES ARE DELIVERED THROUGH COMMUNITY-BASED AND SITE-BASED MODELS, INCLUDING SCHOOL-DAY AND AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMMING, WORKPLACE-BASED MENTORING, AND GROUP MENTORING EXPERIENCES. KEY PROGRAMMATIC INITIATIVES INCLUDE SCHOOL-BASED MENTORING PROGRAMS SUCH AS LUNCH BUDDIES AND AFTER-SCHOOL MENTORING, WORKPLACE EXPOSURE PROGRAMS LIKE BEYOND SCHOOL WALLS, AND TARGETED INTERVENTIONS SUCH AS GAMECHANGERS, WHICH SUPPORTS YOUTH INVOLVED IN OR AT RISK OF INVOLVEMENT WITH THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM. BBBSGC ALSO EXTENDS IMPACT BEYOND THE MATCH THROUGH BIG FUTURES, A POST-SECONDARY READINESS AND SUCCESS INITIATIVE THAT SUPPORTS YOUTH IN ACHIEVING EDUCATIONAL AND CAREER GOALS. EACH MENTORING MATCH IS SUPPORTED BY PROFESSIONAL STAFF WHO PROVIDE ONGOING COACHING, SAFETY MONITORING, AND EVIDENCE-BASED GUIDANCE TO ENSURE QUALITY AND LONGEVITY. YOUTH IN BBBSGC PROGRAMS DEMONSTRATE IMPROVED ACADEMIC ENGAGEMENT, STRONGER SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL SKILLS, AND REDUCED ENGAGEMENT IN RISKY BEHAVIORS. SERVICES ARE DELIVERED ACROSS THE 13-COUNTY GREATER CINCINNATI REGION, WITH A STRATEGIC FOCUS ON EXPANDING ACCESS AND DRIVING EQUITABLE OUTCOMES FOR UNDERSERVED YOUTH. BBBSGCS MENTORING PROGRAMS ARE GROUNDED IN RESEARCH DEMONSTRATING THAT CONSISTENT, SUPPORTIVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH CARING ADULTS SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE RISKY BEHAVIORS AND IMPROVE LIFE OUTCOMES FOR YOUTH. PARTICIPANTS IN OUR PROGRAMS SHOW MEASURABLE GAINS IN ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE, SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT, AND DECISION-MAKING SKILLS. NOTABLY, ONLY 4% OF YOUTH SERVED REPORT TEEN PREGNANCY, SIGNIFICANTLY BELOW THE NATIONAL AVERAGE. WITH DEEP ROOTS IN THE GREATER CINCINNATI COMMUNITY AND A FORWARD-LOOKING STRATEGIC VISION, BBBSGC IS COMMITTED TO SCALING INNOVATIVE PROGRAM MODELS, EXPANDING ACCESS TO UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS, AND STRENGTHENING PARTNERSHIPS THAT ADVANCE EQUITY AND OPPORTUNITY. BY CONTINUOUSLY EVOLVING TO MEET THE NEEDS OF TODAYS YOUTH, BBBSGC IS POSITIONED TO DRIVE TRANSFORMATIVE OUTCOMES AND DEFEND THE POTENTIAL OF EVERY YOUNG PERSON WE SERVE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

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

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

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since June 1969.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.