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Our Programs

Our one-on-one Mentoring Programs are designed to be flexible and can adapt to a variety of individual personalities, situations and schedules.

Looking to get involved? Whether you’re interested in donating, volunteering or enrolling your child, Big Brothers Big Sisters offers several types of programs in communities across the country.

Community-Based Mentor

Volunteer mentors (Bigs) and their mentees (Littles) meet on weekends or after school to enjoy match activities, play sports, visit museums or just talk. Spending time together out in the local community is how Bigs and Littles develop a solid relationship.

Bigs and Littles engage in one-to-one outings and activities they both enjoy between two and four times a month.

For additional details about the community-based program, click here.

Site-Based Mentor

Sometimes the best place for a mentoring match to enjoy activities together is at the Little’s school or in the Big’s workplace. We are proud to offer three types of Site-Based Mentoring Programs.

  • Beyond School Walls: Littles visit their Bigs during the week at their workplace, giving children an opportunity to experience the corporate world first-hand and to set goals for the future.
  • College Bigs: College students are matched with elementary and middle school students and spend time together at the Little’s school during lunchtime or after school.
  • Corporate Bigs: Professionals in Center City Philadelphia mentor children at Independence Charter School and Russell Byers Charter School once a week during lunchtime throughout the school year.
  • Mentor 2.0: A school-based, hybrid online/in-school mentoring program focused on college and career readiness that matches high school students one-to-one with a mentor experienced in one of the 4 E’s (Enrollment, Employment, Enlistment, Entrepreneurship).

For additional details about the site-base program, click here.

LGBTQ Programs

Research has consistently demonstrated that LGBTQ youth are at higher risks in a number of areas that impede healthy and safe development. We are partnering with local schools to support our LGBTQ youth by recruiting safe, responsible, and compassionate LGBTQ Volunteers to be group mentors to high school Gender and Sexuality Alliances – a safe/brave space for queer and questioning youth. Volunteers attend regular after-school meetings for 12 months and work to help their mentees achieve their goals and realize their full potential.

For additional details about our LGBTQ programs, click here.