Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Big Brothers-Big Sisters of San Luis Obispo County

EIN 77-0348487 · Sn Luis Obisp, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair56 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

PROVIDE CHILDREN FACING ADVERSITY WITH STRONG AND ENDURING, PROFESSIONALLY SUPPORTED ONE-ON-ONE RELATIONSHIPS THAT CHANGE THEIR LIVES FOR THE BETTER, FOREVER.

Income
$728,291
Spending
$758,999
Spent on programs
51%
Reserves
3.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 92%
Employees
12
Volunteers
200
Highest pay
$108,430, executive director

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

Fair: 56 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 39% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 4% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    51% 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

    14 of 14 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. $390,419 spent. OUR COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAM CREATES STRONG AND ENDURING RELATIONSHIPS BY CONNECTING VULNERABLE LOCAL YOUTH WITH VOLUNTEER ADULT FRIENDS. VOLUNTEERS ARE THOROUGHLY SCREENED AND PROFESSIONALLY TRAINED IN ORDER TO ENSURE CHILD SAFETY. VOLUNTEERS AND CHILDREN SPEND AT LEAST SIX HOURS A MONTH EXPLORING SHARED INTERESTS AND DEVELOPING POSITIVE STABLE RELATIONSHIPS. VOLUNTEERS ENRICH CHILDREN'S LIVES BY MODELING HEALTHY CHOICES AND PROVIDING CONNECTION WITH THEIR COMMUNITY. OUR PROFESSIONAL STAFF PROVIDES INDIVIDUALIZED CASE MANAGEMENT TO EACH MATCH RELATIONSHIP AND HOSTS EDUCATIONAL AND ENRICHING GROUP ACTIVITIES FOR ALL PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS. THE AGENCY CONDUCTS REGULAR BASELINE AND FOLLOW UP SURVEYS TO ENSURE LONG-TERM POSITIVE RESULTS.

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 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 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 March 1994.

    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.