Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada

About Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada:

Big Brothers Big Sisters Canada (BBBS) offers a mentorship program, with the goal of ensuring that “every child in Canada who needs a mentor, has a mentor.” Its mission is to provide Canada’s young people with the highest quality, volunteer-based mentoring programs. BBBS’s mentors serve as role models, teaching by example the importance of giving back, staying in school, and respecting family, peers and community. Big Brothers Big Sisters Canada has many mentoring programs, including individual, in-school, and group mentoring programs. BBBS operates through 108 agencies across Canada, serving over 1,100 local municipalities. In F2016, BBBS volunteers in its various mentoring programs contributed over 2,193,000 hours of their time to help over 41,700 children.

Big Brothers Big Sisters Canada is shifting its focus from Big Brothers and Big Sisters Mentoring programs towards Group Mentoring programs. In F2015, 23% of BBBS's kids participated in one-on-one programs, down from 45% in F2007. Meanwhile, in F2015, 50% of BBBS's kids participated in group programs, up from 15% in F2007. 

Big Brothers and Big Sisters Mentoring programs provide one-on-one mentoring sessions, with two regularly scheduled outings a month and a minimum of a 1 year commitment. In F2015, 3,926 boys (down 10% from F2012) and 5,211 girls (down 6% from F2012) participated in BBBS’s individual mentoring programs.

Big Brothers Big Sisters' In-School Mentoring program runs within school grounds, with mentors engaging mentees in board games, crafts and play. In F2015, 11,189 children (down 12% from F2012) participated in the In-School Mentoring program.

Big Brothers Big Sisters' Go Girls! Group Mentoring program offers girls aged 12 to 14 activities focused on physical activity, balanced eating and self-esteem. The program consists of 7 sessions held in school facilities over a 7 to 10 week period. BBBS’ Game On! Group Mentoring program offers boys and young men information and support to make informed choices about a range of healthy lifestyle practices. The program consists of 7 core sessions and 4 extension modules. In F2015, 20,191 children (up 20% from F2012 and 513% from F2007) participated in BBBS’ Group Mentoring program.

Financial Review:

Big Brothers Big Sisters Canada is a medium-sized charity with $1.4m in donations in F2016. Its administrative costs are 13% of revenues and its fundraising costs are 1% of donations. However, it should be noted that the F2016 fundraising costs are likely understated as BBBS’s F2016 CRA T3010 filing was unavailable at the time of this profile. For every $1 donated to the charity, 85 cents go towards its programs, falling within Ci’s reasonable range. The charity has funding reserves of $959k, which results in a program cost coverage ratio of 26%. This means that the charity can cover just over 3 months of its annual program costs using its existing reserves, indicating a need for funding.

Big Brothers Big Sisters Canada restated its F2016 and F2015 financial statements and separated government funding from other revenues. Charity Intelligence reported that BBBS did not receive any government funding in F2014 because the F2014 financial statements do not disclose any.

This charity report is an update that is being reviewed by Big Brothers Big Sisters Canada. Changes and edits may be forthcoming.

Updated on July 13, 2017 by Kevin Silberberg.