Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Nevada
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Nevada (BBBSN) is a non-profit 501(c) 3 corporation that is a leader in youth mentoring services. Since 1971, BBBSN has been developing positive relationships that have a direct and lasting impact on the lives of youth in our community, ages six through 18. Our mission is to help children reach their full potential through professionally supported one-to-one mentor relationships. BBBSN is the local agency of a national organization with over 100 years of history in providing mentors to youth who need them the most. All children are born with potential and the role of their mentor is to defend that potential and ignite their future towards educational, social and career achievements.
- Income
- $1.0 million
- Spending
- $665,126
- Spent on programs
- 61%
- Reserves
- 4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 76%
- Employees
- 11
- Volunteers
- 450
- Highest pay
- $132,139, chief executive officer
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
Fair: 68 out of 100.
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 4.0 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 40% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 34% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 2% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1561% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 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.
Independent board
25 of 2511 of 11 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 (4)
- The Community Based program is the more traditional mentoring program of BBBSN. Carefully screened and trained mentors are matched with children in the community who can benefit from an additional caring and positive adult in their life. Over 90% of these children and youth are being raised in a single parent household or, by grandparents - a growing population. These friend matches engage in activities in the community and on a schedule arranged between the Big, Little and parent or guardian. Matches meet several times a month, doing activities in the community that the Big and Little enjoy. We strive to support these matches so they stay together for years, or for life. Special populations who we are targeting based on high need include children involved in the foster care system and juvenile justice involved youth. Research indicates that these youth are at high risk of challenges and need additional adult support in their lives.
- BBBSN's Site Based Mentoring program works directly in schools, with school principals, counselors and teachers to enhance a child's ability to learn, interact with their peers and reduce questionable behavior and negative influences. Typically, the youth are ages six to 10, and are from low income and at-risk environments. We partner closely with eight elementary school sites within the Clark County School District. The Site Based Mentors are caring adults and high school students from the community who go through rigorous background checks and training prior to being matched. Program staff from BBBSN are continuously and actively involved in every mentoring experience. Staff provide liaison with the school, support for mentors and families. BBBSN also has site based programs at East Las Vegas Community Center during after school hours. Site meetings are scheduled Monday through Friday between 1:00 and 6:00 PM. All matches at a site meet together on the same day and time for one hour per week. We ask for a minimum of a one year commitment to the program. The Bigs become very important in the life of their Littles and consistency in a long lived relationship is critical.
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of America ("BBBSA") has been awarded funding from The National Football League Foundation under the NFL Inspire Change Social Justice Grant to further BBBSA's youth mentoring initiatives. The National Football League's Inspire Change program demonstrates their commitment to their communities with an emphasis on educational success, economic advancement, social justice, and healthy relationships. The NFL Foundation funding in Southern Nevada is deployed towards engaging and matching Children With Incarcerated Family Members. The research indicates that a quality mentoring relationship can reduce the likelihood that a youth will also be engaged in the justice system, unlike their parent or sibling. Additionally, children of color are disproportionately represented in the juvenile justice system.
- $405,836 spent. BBBSN Match Support Specialists (MSS) are responsible for program delivery, outcome measurement and evaluation activities, including gathering data from CCSD, reporting program results, and maintaining program quality. All of our MSS are required to have at least a Bachelor's degree; over 50% have advanced degrees. MSS provide case management, provide referrals and resources, advocate for foster youth at Child Family Team Meetings, work with probation and judges for youth who are involved with the juvenile justice system and provide ongoing training for mentors in both group and individual platforms. The Match Support Specialists are managed by our Chief Executive Officer who has more than 15 years of youth development experience and our Director of Programs, who has more than 15 years of youth development experience. Our Controller has a bachelors degree in business/accounting with extensive experience managing federal, state and local municipality funding as well as private contributions.
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 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 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 February 1997.
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.
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