Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Newfoundland

What Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Newfoundland does

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Newfoundland (BBBSEN) is a registered Canadian nonprofit charity and local affiliate of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada, operating continuously since 1975 to deliver youth mentoring services in the metro St. John's area of Newfoundland and Labrador. The organization screens, trains, and matches adult volunteer mentors with young people facing adversity, and currently serves more than 450 children and youth annually through three core program lines: Community-Based Mentoring (traditional one-to-one matching), Between Generations Mentoring (seniors paired with youth), and PRISM Mentoring (supporting LGBTQ+/2SLGBTQ+ youth). A waitlist of more than 110 children seeking mentors indicates unmet demand relative to current program capacity.

The organization's service delivery is entirely human-mediated and community-based, with no proprietary technology stack, software products, or digital platform underpinning its programs. Core "products" are the mentoring relationships themselves, complemented by a diversified portfolio of fundraising events and campaigns, including Bowl for Kids Sake (the flagship annual bowling fundraiser, now in its 50+ year), Go Girls Golf Tournament, Big Poutine Fest NL, the Smile Cookie week partnership with Tim Hortons, and the newly launched Strike it BIG Raffle. The organization also runs the 75 Doors Campaign for awareness. All mentoring services are provided free of charge to children, families, and volunteer mentors.

BBBSEN operates with 1-10 employees and is headquartered at The Village Shopping Centre, 430 Topsail Road in St. John's. Its business model is a 100% donations-and-fundraising model, with no core Provincial or Federal Government funding; revenue is sourced from individual donations, corporate sponsorships, foundation grants (Cahill Foundation, MMB Foundation, AC Foundation), and event proceeds. The organization benefits from documented national outcome research showing mentored youth are 60% more likely to report consistent happiness, 17% more likely to be gainfully employed, and 50% more likely to volunteer. It is governed by a Board of Directors, led by an Executive Director (Kelly Leach), and is affiliated with but operationally independent from Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada.

Name

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Newfoundland

Legal name

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Newfoundland

Website

https://newfoundland.bigbrothersbigsisters.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Newfoundland is a registered Canadian nonprofit charity, founded in 1975, that delivers volunteer mentoring programs for children and youth facing adversity in the metro St. John's area. It operates Community-Based, Between Generations, and PRISM (LGBTQ+) mentoring, funded entirely by donations and community fundraising events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Mentoring Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Child and Youth Services (624110), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Mentoring & Positive Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Student Mentoring & Peer Support Programs (EDAJALAL)

Keywords

• Youth mentoring programs
• Community-based mentoring
• Nonprofit youth services
• Volunteer mentorship
• Child development support

Headquarters

HQ city

Dartmouth

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: The organization raises 100% of required revenue through donations and fundraising events. No core funding from Provincial or Federal Government. Main fundraising events include Bowl for Kids Sake, Smile Cookie week, Go Girls Golf Tournament, Big Poutine Fest NL, MEGABike (discontinued), Throw it Forward axe-throwing event, and direct donation appeals.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Newfoundland provides free, professionally supported youth mentoring programs that match screened and trained adult volunteer mentors (Bigs) with young people (Littles) facing adversity. The portfolio includes Community-Based Mentoring, Between Generations Mentoring (seniors paired with youth), and PRISM Mentoring for 2SLGBTQ+ youth, all delivered at no cost to participants and families across the metro St. John's region. The organization is funded entirely through donations, fundraising events, and corporate sponsorships.

Product overview

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Newfoundland operates a portfolio of mentorship programs and fundraising initiatives. The core programs include Community-Based Mentoring (traditional one-to-one mentoring), Between Generations Mentoring (senior-youth connections), and PRISM Mentoring (supporting LGBTQ+ youth). These are complemented by fundraising events including Bowl for Kids Sake, Go Girls Golf, Big Poutine Fest NL, and Smile Cookie Week partnerships. The organization also runs awareness campaigns like the 75 Doors Campaign. All programs aim to connect mentors with youth facing adversity in the metro St. John's area.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Bowl for Kids Sake: Annual bowling fundraiser event supporting mentorship programs
• Big Brothers Big Sisters

Products and services

• Community-Based Mentoring Traditional one-to-one mentoring program matching screened and trained adult volunteers (Bigs) with young people (Littles) for ongoing mentorship relationships, designed to build confidence, resilience, and life skills in youth facing adversity.
• Between Generations Mentoring Mentorship program connecting seniors with youth to foster meaningful cross-generational relationships.
• PRISM Mentoring Specialized mentorship program serving LGBTQ+ youth, providing supportive mentors for 2SLGBTQ+ young people.
• Bowl for Kids Sake Annual bowling fundraiser supporting BBBSEN mentorship programs, featuring corporate and community event days.
• Go Girls Golf Golf tournament fundraising event supporting girls' mentorship and development programs.
• Big Poutine Fest NL Culinary competition event where local restaurants create unique poutine dishes to raise funds for mentorship programs.
• Smile Cookie Week Annual campaign in partnership with Tim Hortons where smile-shaped cookies are sold to raise funds, with proceeds shared between BBBSEN and The Salvation Army.
• Strike it BIG Raffle Raffle ticket program supporting Bowl for Kids Sake, with tickets sold at $10 each or 3 for $20.

Quantifiable outcome

• Youth who receive mentoring are 60% more likely to report consistent happiness
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.

• Cahill FoundationcoreOthersFoundation supporter of the organization, appearing in the partners and supporters section of the website.
• Cal LegrowcoreOthersLocal supporter and sponsor of BBBSEN programs.
• Harveys HomeHeatingminorOthersCorporate sponsor appearing in the partners section.
• MMB FoundationcoreOthersFoundation supporter of youth mentoring programs.
• North AtlanticminorOthersCorporate partner and supporter.
• Tim HortonscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerParticipating restaurants in St. Johns, Mount Pearl and Paradise raised $227,266 during Smile Cookie week 2025, shared equally between BBBSEN and The Salvation Army Ches Penney Centre of Hope.
• Horizon MaritimeflagshipOthersPresenting sponsor for the 2026 Bowl for Kids Sake event.
• Holiday LanescoreOthersVenue partner for Bowl for Kids Sake bowling event, located on Elizabeth Avenue.
• AC FoundationcoreOthersBowl for Kids Sake event sponsor.
• Nasdaq VerafincoreOthersEvent sponsor and team sponsor for Bowl for Kids Sake, as well as MEGABike partner.
• 3Points AviationminorOthersTeam sponsor for Bowl for Kids Sake 2026.
• Avalon MallminorOthersTeam sponsor for Bowl for Kids Sake 2026.
• Hickman Automotive GroupminorOthersTeam sponsor for Bowl for Kids Sake 2026.
• Stewart McKelveyminorOthersTeam sponsor for Bowl for Kids Sake 2026.
• Wedgwood InsuranceminorOthersTeam sponsor for Bowl for Kids Sake 2026.
• CrosbieminorOthersMEGABike 2023 partner (event has since concluded).
• DF-BarnescoreOthersMEGABike 2023 partner and Throw it Forward axe-throwing event sponsor.
• EquinorminorOthersMEGABike 2023 partner (event has since concluded).
• FortisminorOthersMEGABike 2023 partner (event has since concluded).
• Jack AxescoreOthersVenue partner for Throw it Forward axe-throwing fundraising event.
• The Salvation Army Ches Penney Centre of HopecoreOthersEqual recipient of $227,266 raised during Tim Hortons Smile Cookie week 2025, shared between BBBSEN and this organization.
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of CanadaflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational parent organization that sets standards, provides program frameworks, and supports the local affiliate network across Canada.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada: National parent federation of BBBSEN and all other Canadian affiliates. Operates the same youth mentoring model, shares program IP and trademarks, and provides the framework within which the Eastern Newfoundland affiliate delivers its services.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of Canada: National youth development nonprofit offering after-school and mentorship-style programming for Canadian youth facing adversity. Operates local clubs in Newfoundland and competes for the same donor, volunteer, and youth populations as BBBSEN.
• YMCA Newfoundland and Labrador: Regional YMCA serving the same Eastern Newfoundland communities with youth development, childcare, and healthy living programs. Competes for local donors, corporate sponsorships, and volunteer mentors in the same geography.
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Toronto: A larger urban BBBS affiliate in Ontario operating the same one-to-one mentoring model with similar fundraising event infrastructure (Bowl for Kids Sake, etc.). A useful comparable for scale and operating metrics within the BBBS network.
• Salvation Army Ches Penney Centre of Hope: Co-recipient of the $227,266 Smile Cookie Week 2025 proceeds with BBBSEN. Operates complementary social services and youth/family support programs in St. Johns, competing for donor attention in the same fundraising campaign and local nonprofit ecosystem.

Broad incumbents

• Big Brothers Big Sisters of America: The largest and original Big Brothers Big Sisters organization, founded in 1904. Operates the same one-to-one youth mentoring model across the United States with similar outcome research and brand recognition, making it a direct conceptual peer.
• Kids Help Phone: National Canadian nonprofit providing e-mental health support, counseling, and resource navigation to youth. While the delivery model differs, Kids Help Phone shares the youth-wellbeing donor base and competes for charitable dollars across Canada.

Regional players

• John Howard Society of Newfoundland and Labrador: Regional nonprofit serving at-risk youth and adults in Newfoundland and Labrador. While focused more broadly on justice-involved populations, it competes for similar youth-focused donor and volunteer support in the same province.

Others

• Community Sector Council of Newfoundland and Labrador: Provincial umbrella organization supporting nonprofits across Newfoundland and Labrador. While not a direct competitor, it influences the funding and policy environment in which BBBSEN operates and serves as an ecosystem peer.

Emerging players

• Junior Achievement Canada: National youth-focused nonprofit delivering education and mentorship programming on financial literacy, work readiness, and entrepreneurship. Shares the youth-mentor matching model and competes for corporate sponsors and school-based delivery partners.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/BBBSEasternNL
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bbbseasternnl
• Instagraminstagram.com/bbbseasternnl

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Newfoundland