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Big Brothers-Big Sisters Agency of Santa Cruz County Inc

EIN 94-2826754 · Santa Cruz, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair60 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Create and support mentoring matches that ignite the power and promise of youth.

Income
$307,563
Spending
$329,514
Spent on programs
90%
Reserves
3.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 49%
Employees
5
Volunteers
104
Highest pay
$97,500, executive dir.

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

Financial health

Fair: 60 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 17% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 23% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    90% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 91 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 8 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

    6 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 June 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 (1)
  1. $297,560 spent. The mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Santa Cruz County is to provide childrenfacing adversity with strong and enduring, professionally supported, one-to-onerelationships that change their lives for the better,forever. Since 1982, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Santa Cruz County has served over 7,500 at-risk youth by creating mentoring relationships between these children and carefully screened adultvolunteers, who provide consistent guidance, friendship and appropriate rolemodeling. The vision statement of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Santa Cruz County is:"All youth achieve their potential."Last fiscal year the Agency provided mentoring services to 150 ethnically diverseclients throughout Santa Cruz County. Big Brothers Big Sisters recruits volunteers to mentor those children at greatest risk of school truancy, drop-out, drug use, teen pregnancy and/or criminal activity. Over 80% of Agency clients live below the federal poverty level, the majority are living in single-parent homes, and many are struggling due to cultural and language barriers. Big Brothers Big Sisters' mentoring services help these children to believe in and achieve their potential in addition to making healthier decisions for their futures.The Agency has one primary program, the One-To-One Program. Volunteers serve asmentors in one-to-one relationships with children between the ages of 7 and 18.Potential volunteers go through a rigorous intake process, which includes anapplication, references, DMV report, criminal history check, interviews and training. Volunteers meet a minimum of twice a month with their Little and spend 6 to 10 hours each month with the children they are matched to, for a minimum of one year. The average match at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Santa Cruz County lasts over two and a half years. The agency served 55 youth in mentoring last year.Big Brothers Big Sisters of Santa Cruz County conducts ongoing outcome evaluation ofits programs. Recent outcome evaluation of surveyed parents in the One-To-One Program found a 88% improvement in participating children's self-confidence; a 90%improvement in youth's ability to avoid delinquency; and a 87% improvement in thechildren's attitude toward school. Results from a recent evaluation of children andparents in the Enrichment and Mentoring Program found that 80% percent of the youthbelieved that their interest in school had improved, while 100% of surveyed parentssaw an improvement in their children's school grades.Big Brothers Big Sisters strives to find a place for all who want to be a part of the solution, whether as mentors, Board Members, tutors, special event fundraisers, or office volunteers. Last fiscal year, over 140 volunteers channeled their efforts to help Big Brothers Big Sisters achieve its goals and objectives. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Santa Cruz County's organizational efficiency is key to its programmatic success.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 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 June 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 September 1982.

    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.