Boys & Girls Clubs Big Brothers Big Sisters of Edmonton & Area

About Boys & Girls Clubs Big Brothers Big Sisters of Edmonton & Area:

Founded in 2011, Boys & Girls Clubs Big Brothers Big Sisters of Edmonton & Area (BGCBigs) supports children in the Edmonton area through mentoring and after school programs. By combining the Boys & Girls Clubs model with that of Big Brothers Big Sisters, the charity claims that it can provide programs that encourage physical, emotional, and academic success. In F2017, BGCBigs programs worked with over 5,300 kids.

BGCBigs’ community mentoring program pairs each child with an adult mentor based on common interests. The pair meet for one hour per week, doing activities such as riding bikes, skating, reading, working on homework, cooking, and playing video games. The mentor serves as a positive role model and provides support for the child. BGCBigs runs a variation of the program where a child is matched with two mentors, an adult couple. The Queer Youth Mentoring program specifically matches youth who identify as LGBTQ+ with an adult who will understand the unique challenges faced by the youth.

BGCBigs operates nine community clubs and five school-based clubs which run drop-in programs for kids between 6 and 18 years old. The clubs give out snacks or hot meals, providing a safe place for kids to go after school. Adult mentors also volunteer their time during school hours, helping elementary students with reading and homework, or guiding high school students to reach their academic goals.  

Results and Impact: Boys & Girls Clubs Big Brothers Big Sisters of Edmonton & Area reports that kids with a mentor are 80% more likely to graduate high school and 78% less likely to rely on social services as an adult.

Financial Review:

Boys & Girls Clubs Big Brothers Big Sisters of Edmonton & Area is a medium-sized charity, with donations and special events revenue of $3.6m in F2017. The charity received $2.8m in government funding, representing 36% of total revenues. Administrative costs are 15% of revenues and fundraising costs are 4% of donations. For every $1 donated, 81 cents go to the cause, falling well within Ci’s reasonable range. BGCBigs has $7.3m in funding reserves, of which $32k is donor-endowed. Funding reserves could cover 1.4 years of program costs.

This charity report is an update that has been sent to Boys & Girls Clubs Big Brothers Big Sisters of Edmonton & Area for review. Changes and edits may be forthcoming.

Updated on July 24, 2018 by Madison Kerr.