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Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central California

EIN 94-1668376 · Fresno, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceGood84 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

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

Income
$2.7 million
Spending
$2.1 million
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
21.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 66%
Employees
33
Volunteers
458

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 21.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 22% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 58% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 84 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 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.

  • Independent check of accounts

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 September 30, 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 (3)
  1. $1.8 million spent. HIGH SCHOOL BIGS: MANY RURAL AND ECONOMICALLY DEPRESSED COMMUNITIES LACK AN ADEQUATE POOL OF VOLUNTEERS WHO HAVE THE TIME AND/OR RESOURCES TO SERVE AS A MENTOR. TO OVERCOME THIS OBSTACLE, WE OFFER A SITE BASED PROGRAM THAT UTILIZES HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO SERVE AS MENTORS (BIGS) TO ELEMENTARY AGED CHILDREN (LITTLES). THE HIGHSCHOOL BIGS PROGRAM OPERATES ONCE EACH WEEK FOR APPROXIMATELY 90 MINUTES ON AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SITE UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF A MATCH SUPPORT SPECIALIST FROM BBBS OF CENTRAL CALIFORNIA. BOTH THE HIGH SCHOOL AND ELEMENTARY STUDENTS ARE REFERRED TO SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS FROM AMONG STUDENTS THEY FEEL WOULD BENEFIT. WE OFFERED THIS PROGRAM AT 14 ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SITES, SERVING A TOTAL OF 560 STUDENTS. COMMUNITY BASED MATCHES: CHILDREN BETWEEN AGES OF 6 - 18 WHO ARE FACING ADVERSITY ARE PROVIDED ONE-TO-ONE MENTORING BY A RIGOROUSLY SCREENED, VETTED AND TRAINED ADULT VOLUNTEER. MATCHES ARE CAREFULLY MONITORED AND SUPPORTED BY PROFESSIONAL STAFF. MENTORS COMMIT TO SPEND A MINIMUM OF 3-4 HOURS PER WEEK FOR AT LEAST ONE YEAR. THE AVERAGE LENGTH OF A MATCH EXCEEDS 22 MONTHS; WHILE FOR SOME IT IS THE BEGINNING OF A LIFE LONG RELATIONSHIP. OUR EVIDENCE-BASED PROGRAM PRODUCES OVERWHELMING POSITIVE EFFECTS ON CHILDREN BY DEVELOPING IMPROVED ATTITUDES TOWARD SCHOOL, ACHIEVING HIGHER GRADES AND IMPROVING RELATIONSHIPS WITH ADULTS AND PEERS. THEY ARE LESS LIKELY TO SKIP SCHOOL, SKIP A CLASS, USE ILLEGAL DRUGS OR ALCOHOL OR HIT SOMEONE. MENTORS PROVIDE EMOTIONAL SUPPORT TO THEIR MENTEES BY COACHING THEM IN HOW TO BETTER COPE AND EXPRESS THEIR EMOTIONS IN A HEALTHY MANNER. DURING THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR, 107 CHILDREN WERE SERVED IN THIS PROGRAM. LUNCH BUDDY/SITE BASED MENTORING: ADULT SITE BASED MENTORS MEET THE SAME RIGOROUS BACKGROUND CHECKS AND STANDARDS AS DO THOSE PARTICIPATING IN OUR COMMUNITY BASED PROGRAM. THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE IS THAT THEY MEET AND SPEND TIME WITH THEIR MENTEE (LITTLE), TYPICALLY ONCE EACH WEEK FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE HOUR, AT A SCHOOL SITE OR COMMUNITY CENTER RATHER THAN OUT IN THE COMMUNITY. THIS IS AN ALTERNATIVE FOR THOSE WHO WISH TO PARTICIPATE BUT CAN'T MAKE THE TIME COMMITMENT REQUIRED OF THE COMMUNITY BASED MENTORS. DURING THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR, WE SUPPORTED 2 SITE BASED MATCHES. HIGH SCHOOL BIGS: MANY RURAL AND ECONOMICALLY DEPRESSED COMMUNITIES LACK AN ADEQUATE POOL OF VOLUNTEERS WHO HAVE THE TIME AND/OR RESOURCES TO SERVE AS A MENTOR. TO OVERCOME THIS OBSTACLE, WE OFFER A SITE BASED PROGRAM THAT UTILIZES HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO SERVE AS MENTORS (BIGS) TO ELEMENTARY AGED CHILDREN (LITTLES). THE HIGHSCHOOL BIGS PROGRAM OPERATES ONCE EACH WEEK FOR APPROXIMATELY 90 MINUTES ON AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SITE UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF A MATCH SUPPORT SPECIALIST FROM BBBS OF CENTRAL CALIFORNIA. BOTH THE HIGH SCHOOL AND ELEMENTARY STUDENTS ARE REFERRED TO SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS FROM AMONG STUDENTS THEY FEEL WOULD BENEFIT. WE OFFERED THIS PROGRAM AT 14 ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SITES, SERVING A TOTAL OF 560 STUDENTS. COMMUNITY BASED MATCHES: CHILDREN BETWEEN AGES OF 6 - 18 WHO ARE FACING ADVERSITY ARE PROVIDED ONE-TO-ONE MENTORING BY A RIGOROUSLY SCREENED, VETTED AND TRAINED ADULT VOLUNTEER. MATCHES ARE CAREFULLY MONITORED AND SUPPORTED BY PROFESSIONAL STAFF. MENTORS COMMIT TO SPEND A MINIMUM OF 3-4 HOURS PER WEEK FOR AT LEAST ONE YEAR. THE AVERAGE LENGTH OF A MATCH EXCEEDS 22 MONTHS; WHILE FOR SOME IT IS THE BEGINNING OF A LIFE LONG RELATIONSHIP. OUR EVIDENCE-BASED PROGRAM PRODUCES OVERWHELMING POSITIVE EFFECTS ON CHILDREN BY DEVELOPING IMPROVED ATTITUDES TOWARD SCHOOL, ACHIEVING HIGHER GRADES AND IMPROVING RELATIONSHIPS WITH ADULTS AND PEERS. THEY ARE LESS LIKELY TO SKIP SCHOOL, SKIP A CLASS, USE ILLEGAL DRUGS OR ALCOHOL OR HIT SOMEONE. MENTORS PROVIDE EMOTIONAL SUPPORT TO THEIR MENTEES BY COACHING THEM IN HOW TO BETTER COPE AND EXPRESS THEIR EMOTIONS IN A HEALTHY MANNER. DURING THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR, 107 CHILDREN WERE SERVED IN THIS PROGRAM. LUNCH BUDDY/SITE BASED MENTORING: ADULT SITE BASED MENTORS MEET THE SAME RIGOROUS BACKGROUND CHECKS AND STANDARDS AS DO THOSE PARTICIPATING IN OUR COMMUNITY BASED PROGRAM. THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE IS THAT THEY MEET AND SPEND TIME WITH THEIR MENTEE (LITTLE), TYPICALLY ONCE EACH WEEK FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE HOUR, AT A SCHOOL SITE OR COMMUNITY CENTER RATHER THAN OUT IN THE COMMUNITY. THIS IS AN ALTERNATIVE FOR THOSE WHO WISH TO PARTICIPATE BUT CAN'T MAKE THE TIME COMMITMENT REQUIRED OF THE COMMUNITY BASED MENTORS. DURING THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR, WE SUPPORTED 2 SITE BASED MATCHES.
  2. $22,717 spent. ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT IN PROVIDING MENTORS TO AT RISK CHILDRED IN THE CENTRAL VALLEY IN CALIFORNIA
  3. ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT IN PROVIDING MENTORS TO AT RISK CHILDRED IN THE CENTRAL VALLEY IN CALIFORNIA

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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 September 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 May 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.