Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Greater Twin Cities

What it reported doing in 2024

Big brothers big sisters twin cities partners with 2,400 youth and their families each year through mentorship programs, including community-based mentoring, school-based mentoring, our big futures program which offers career and future readiness for teens, and free arts. Programming is supported by professional staff and more than 1,400 volunteers.our latest data show that youth report strong results in key developmental areas that lead to long-term success including educational persistence, making healthy choices, and developing social emotional skills necessary for personal success. For surveyed youth in 2025 mentored at least one year: 85% reported maintaining and strengthening educational expectations including high school completion and going to college; 80% reported maintaining and strengthening academic performance and grades; 91% reported maintaining and strengthening emotional regulation skills; and 90% reported maintaining and strengthening social competence with their peers.big brothers big sisters twin cities stakeholders also report a high level of satisfaction. Young people value the program, with 98% affirming that the relationship with their big is very important to them. Parenting adults are also pleased with the mentoring programs 92% report that their child has had a positive and fun experience. Volunteers are positively impacted by mentorship 96% of bigs report that they would recommend the program to their friends.a recent harvard study reports that youth enrolled in big brothers big sisters mentoring programs across the nation have better high school graduation rates, higher college enrollment rates, and lower dropout rates. This leads to increases in life-time earnings of 15-20% compared to non-mentored youth. That's more than just money in their pockets it's a fundamental shift in their life-long path and community impact! Big brothers big sisters mentorship closes two-thirds of the socio-economic gap, demonstrating the power of mentorship to build social capital and foster upward mobility

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 72.8%; rating input score 73
• Program expense ratio: 65.8%; rating input score 66
• Fundraising efficiency: $3.73 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 11; 11th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 4 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 67
  • Compensation committee: Pass
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
  • Written employment contract: Pass
  • Compensation survey or study: Pass
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: 100%; rating input score 100; 72nd percentile among comparable filings
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 8 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 89
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: Fail
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: -5.3%; rating input score 20; 20th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 3.58; rating input score 78; 78th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.02; rating input score 79; 79th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 10.9%; rating input score 27; 27th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 4.1% per year; rating input score 100; 34th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 5.2% per year; rating input score 100; 42nd percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 15.6% per year; rating input score 100; 76th percentile among comparable filings