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Big Brothers-Big Sisters of Fond Du Lac County Inc

EIN 39-1330971 · Fond Du Lac, WI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak35 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 48% of its spending went to programs.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

CREATE AND SUPPORT ONE-TO-ONE MENTORING RELATIONSHIPS THAT IGNITE THE POWER AND PROMISE OF YOUTH.

Income
$641,706
Spending
$606,811
Spent on programs
48%
Reserves
-4.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 78%
Employees
9
Volunteers
290
Highest pay
$81,067, executive di

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

Weak: 35 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 51% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 34% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    48% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 40 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: 90 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 15 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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, 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 (1)
  1. $291,492 spent. ASSISTING YOUNG CHILDREN THROUGH MENTORSHIP. IN 2024 THERE WERE 324 CHILDREN SERVED, 119 MATCHES OF BIGS & LITTLES AND 30 GROUP MENTORING. WE FIND OUR COMMUNITY FACING UNPRECEDENTED PROBLEMS. GROWING UP IS A CHALLENGE FOR FAR TOO MANY CHILDREN. AS THE NATION'S OLDEST AND LARGEST MENTORING ORGANIZATION AND THE ONLY EVIDENCE-BASED PROGRAM OF ITS KIND, WE HAVE A CRITICAL ROLE IN HELPING OUR YOUTH. BBBS HOLDS OURSELVES ACCOUNTABLE FOR EACH CHILD IN OUR PROGRAM ACHIEVING RESULTS IN THREE OUTCOME AREAS: (1) HIGHER ASPIRATIONS, GREATER CONFIDENCE AND BETTER RELATIONSHIPS, (2) AVOIDANCE OF RISKY BEHAVIORS AND (3) EDUCATIONAL SUCCESS. LOCALLY, BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY HAS BEEN ASSISTING AT RISK CHILDREN WITH SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL AND CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT THROUGH ONE-TO-ONE MENTORING RELATIONSHIPS WITH CARING ADULTS SINCE 1967. OUR PROGRAM INCREASES A LITTLE'S SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING AS WELL AS THEIR SUCCESS AT SCHOOL. IT ALSO DECREASES THEIR TENDENCY TO ENGAGE IN RISKY BEHAVIORS. IT IS PROVEN THAT CHILDREN THAT HAVE A MENTOR ARE: OLESS LIKELY TO BEGIN USING ILLEGAL DRUGS OR ALCOHOL OLESS LIKELY TO SKIP SCHOOL OR CLASS AND ARE MORE CONFIDENT IN THEIR SCHOOLWORK PERFORMANCE OABLE TO GET ALONG BETTER WITH THEIR FAMILIES ASSISTING YOUNG CHILDREN THROUGH MENTORSHIP. IN 2024 THERE WERE 324 CHILDREN SERVED, 119 MATCHES OF BIGS & LITTLES AND 30 GROUP MENTORING. WE FIND OUR COMMUNITY FACING UNPRECEDENTED PROBLEMS. GROWING UP IS A CHALLENGE FOR FAR TOO MANY CHILDREN. AS THE NATION'S OLDEST AND LARGEST MENTORING ORGANIZATION AND THE ONLY EVIDENCE-BASED PROGRAM OF ITS KIND, WE HAVE A CRITICAL ROLE IN HELPING OUR YOUTH. BBBS HOLDS OURSELVES ACCOUNTABLE FOR EACH CHILD IN OUR PROGRAM ACHIEVING RESULTS IN THREE OUTCOME AREAS: (1) HIGHER ASPIRATIONS, GREATER CONFIDENCE AND BETTER RELATIONSHIPS, (2) AVOIDANCE OF RISKY BEHAVIORS AND (3) EDUCATIONAL SUCCESS. LOCALLY, BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY HAS BEEN ASSISTING AT RISK CHILDREN WITH SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL AND CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT THROUGH ONE-TO-ONE MENTORING RELATIONSHIPS WITH CARING ADULTS SINCE 1967. OUR PROGRAM INCREASES A LITTLE'S SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING AS WELL AS THEIR SUCCESS AT SCHOOL. IT ALSO DECREASES THEIR TENDENCY TO ENGAGE IN RISKY BEHAVIORS. IT IS PROVEN THAT CHILDREN THAT HAVE A MENTOR ARE: OLESS LIKELY TO BEGIN USING ILLEGAL DRUGS OR ALCOHOL OLESS LIKELY TO SKIP SCHOOL OR CLASS AND ARE MORE CONFIDENT IN THEIR SCHOOLWORK PERFORMANCE OABLE TO GET ALONG BETTER WITH THEIR FAMILIES

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

  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 December 2024.

    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 July 1998.

    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.