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Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Colorado

EIN 74-2333611 · Durango, CO

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

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

Income
$438,978
Spending
$387,355
Spent on programs
65%
Reserves
8.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 83%
Employees
9
Volunteers
108
Highest pay
$81,061, ceo

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

Strong: 93 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 7% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 12% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 15% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    65% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 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 25

    11 of 11 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, 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. $253,141 spent. BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF SOUTHWEST COLORADO CREATES AND SUPPORTS ONE- TO-ONE MENTORING RELATIONSHIPS THAT INSPIRE THE POWER AND PROMISE OF YOUTH. OUR VISION IS TO HELP ALL YOUTH IN OUR PROGRAM ACHIEVE THEIR FULL POTENTIAL AND BUILD AN INTRINSIC FEELING OF THE IMPACT OF POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS TO BE RECEIVED AND GIVEN THROUGHOUT THEIR LIFETIME. BY PARTNERING WITH PARENTS/GUARDIANS, EDUCATORS, VOLUNTEERS, AND OTHER ADVOCATES IN THE COMMUNITY, WE ARE ACCOUNTABLE FOR EACH YOUTH AND VOLUNTEER IN OUR PROGRAM, AGES 6 YEARS+, IN ACHIEVING HIGHER GRADUATION RATES, INCREASING A SENSE OF BELONGING AND CONFIDENCE, MITIGATE RISKY BEHAVIORS, AND INCREASE A DESIRE TO ACHIEVE THEIR OWN SUCCESS. OUR PROFESSIONALLY TRAINED STAFF ENGAGE YOUTH IN A MENTORING RELATIONSHIP WITHIN OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY. THESE RELATIONSHIPS ARE BUILT THROUGH TWO MAIN PROGRAM MODELS: COMMUNITY-BASED MENTORING AND HIGH SCHOOL BIGS MENTORING. COMMUNITY-BASED MATCHES INCLUDE A YOUTH AND ADULT THAT ENGAGE THROUGH INTENTIONAL ACTIVITIES TO STRENGTHEN THEIR RELATIONSHIP. HIGH SCHOOL BIG MATCHES ARE MATCHED IN A SUPERVISED SETTING THAT ALLOW HIGH SCHOOL-AGED MENTORS TO ENGAGE WITH A MENTEE ON A WEEKLY BASIS, THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR. ALL YOUTH OF ANY DEMOGRAPHIC AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS MAY BE SERVED IN OUR PROGRAM WITH THE AVAILABILITY OF VOLUNTEER MENTORS. BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF SOUTHWEST COLORADO CREATES AND SUPPORTS ONE- TO-ONE MENTORING RELATIONSHIPS THAT INSPIRE THE POWER AND PROMISE OF YOUTH. OUR VISION IS TO HELP ALL YOUTH IN OUR PROGRAM ACHIEVE THEIR FULL POTENTIAL AND BUILD AN INTRINSIC FEELING OF THE IMPACT OF POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS TO BE RECEIVED AND GIVEN THROUGHOUT THEIR LIFETIME. BY PARTNERING WITH PARENTS/GUARDIANS, EDUCATORS, VOLUNTEERS, AND OTHER ADVOCATES IN THE COMMUNITY, WE ARE ACCOUNTABLE FOR EACH YOUTH AND VOLUNTEER IN OUR PROGRAM, AGES 6 YEARS+, IN ACHIEVING HIGHER GRADUATION RATES, INCREASING A SENSE OF BELONGING AND CONFIDENCE, MITIGATE RISKY BEHAVIORS, AND INCREASE A DESIRE TO ACHIEVE THEIR OWN SUCCESS. OUR PROFESSIONALLY TRAINED STAFF ENGAGE YOUTH IN A MENTORING RELATIONSHIP WITHIN OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY. THESE RELATIONSHIPS ARE BUILT THROUGH TWO MAIN PROGRAM MODELS: COMMUNITY-BASED MENTORING AND HIGH SCHOOL BIGS MENTORING. COMMUNITY-BASED MATCHES INCLUDE A YOUTH AND ADULT THAT ENGAGE THROUGH INTENTIONAL ACTIVITIES TO STRENGTHEN THEIR RELATIONSHIP. HIGH SCHOOL BIG MATCHES ARE MATCHED IN A SUPERVISED SETTING THAT ALLOW HIGH SCHOOL-AGED MENTORS TO ENGAGE WITH A MENTEE ON A WEEKLY BASIS, THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR. ALL YOUTH OF ANY DEMOGRAPHIC AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS MAY BE SERVED IN OUR PROGRAM WITH THE AVAILABILITY OF VOLUNTEER MENTORS.

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 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 2024.

    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 March 1985.

    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.