Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Ohio

What Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Ohio does

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Ohio (BBBSCO) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit youth mentoring organization founded in 1933 and headquartered at 555 S Front St., Suite 200, Columbus, Ohio. The organization operates as an affiliate of the national Big Brothers Big Sisters network and delivers one-to-one mentoring matches between adult volunteer mentors ("Bigs") and youth in grades 1–9 ("Littles") across Franklin, Delaware, Morrow, Union, Clark, and Madison counties in Ohio. Programs include community-based mentoring (meetings 2–3 times monthly), school-based mentoring (weekly sessions at partner schools such as Windsor STEM Academy), and a site-based plus hybrid model. All program participation is free to youth and volunteer mentors.

The organization's secondary operating asset is Camp Oty'Okwa, a nearly 800-acre residential camp in the Hocking Hills region (in operation since 1942) that runs year-round programming including Adventure Camp, Teen Empowerment Camp, Little Explorers Camp, the Youth Empowerment Institute, environmental education for schools, and a facility rental business accommodating 13–281 overnight guests. Supporting programs include Big Futures (post-secondary transition support), the Hispanic Mentoring program, and specialized camps such as Camp Lionheart. BBBSCO operates with 11–50 employees, supports over 1,000 active mentor-mentee matches, and maintains a waitlist of more than 500 youth awaiting a mentor.

Revenue is generated entirely through donations and grants, with no fees charged to participants. Revenue streams include individual donations (via the OneCause/p2p online platform), corporate and event sponsorship (signature events include Big Night of Bourbon, which raised $164,195 in 2025, and Bowl for Kids' Sake, in its 42nd year), government and foundation grants (including a service contract with the Delaware-Morrow Mental Health and Recovery Services Board), planned giving through the Defender of Futures Fund, and camp and facility rentals. The organization does not rely on proprietary technology; its technology stack consists of standard nonprofit SaaS tools (OneCause, Paylocity, UltraCamp, FormStack).

Name

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Ohio

Legal name

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Ohio

Website

https://bbbscentralohio.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1933

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Ohio is a nonprofit youth mentoring organization founded in 1933 that matches adult volunteer mentors with at-risk youth across six Central Ohio counties, and operates the 800-acre Camp Oty'Okwa facility, serving over 1,000 active matches at no cost to participants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Mentoring Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Mentoring & Positive Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK), K–12 Support & School Improvement Nonprofits (BPAGADAB), Student Mentoring & Peer Support Programs (EDAJALAL), Family & Parent Support Services (Parent Coaching, Advocacy) (EDAJALAK)

Keywords

• Youth mentoring services
• Nonprofit youth programs
• Volunteer mentor matching
• Residential youth camp
• Environmental education programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Columbus

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: The organization raises funds from individual donors through its website donation portal (powered by OneCause/p2p platform). One-time and monthly giving options are available on the Invest page.
2. Corporate and Event Sponsorship: Annual signature events including Bowl for Kids' Sake (42nd year in 2026) and Big Night of Bourbon generate corporate sponsorship revenue. Sponsorship tiers range from $2,500 (Bowling Ball) to $35,000 (Perfect Game) for Bowl for Kids' Sake. The 2025 Big Night of Bourbon raised $164,195 with 14 sponsors and 300+ guests.
3. Government and Foundation Grants: BBBSCO is a contracted provider for the Delaware-Morrow Mental Health and Recovery Services Board (DMMHRSB), indicating government grant funding as a revenue stream. The organization also receives foundation support.
4. Planned Giving / Legacy Gifts: The Defender of Futures Fund allows donors to include BBBSCO in estate planning through bequests (trusts, life insurance beneficiary designations, retirement asset designations).
5. Camp and Facility Rentals: Camp Oty'Okwa (nearly 800 acres in Hocking Hills) generates rental revenue by hosting external groups including conferences, athletic groups, church/youth groups, family reunions, weddings, and corporate events. Capacity ranges from 13 to 281 overnight guests.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Ohio creates and supports one-to-one mentoring relationships that pair adult volunteer mentors (Bigs) with youth in grades 1-9 (Littles) across Central Ohio. Programs are delivered in community-based, school-based, and site-based plus formats, supplemented by the residential Camp Oty'Okwa, the Big Futures post-secondary transition program, environmental education, and signature fundraising events. All mentoring services are provided free of charge to participating youth and volunteers.

Product overview

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Ohio operates a suite of youth mentoring and development programs centered around one-to-one mentoring relationships. The core offering is its one-to-one mentoring programs (community-based, school-based, and site-based plus), which match children in grades 1st-9th with adult volunteer mentors. The organization also operates Camp Oty'Okwa, a year-round residential camp facility in the Hocking Hills offering Adventure Camp, Teen Empowerment Camp, Little Explorers Camp, and the Youth Empowerment Institute. Additional offerings include Environmental Education programs for schools, Big Futures transition support, and signature fundraising events (Big Night of Bourbon and Bowl for Kids' Sake). The portfolio works together to provide comprehensive youth development from initial mentoring matches through camp experiences and post-secondary preparation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Camp Oty'Okwa: Youth camp programs including Adventure Camp, Teen Empowerment Camp, Little Explorers Camp, and Youth Empowerment Institute; located on nearly 800 acres in Hocking Hills region of Ohio
• Big Night of Bourbon
• Bowl for Kids' Sake
• Big Futures

Products and services

• One-to-One Mentoring Programs BBBSCO's primary offering, pairing youth ('Littles') with adult volunteer mentors ('Bigs') in one-to-one mentoring relationships. Programs include community-based mentoring (twice-monthly outings), school-based mentoring (weekly sessions during the school year at partner schools such as Windsor STEM Academy), and site-based plus (combination of community- and school-based formats), delivered free of charge.
• Camp Oty'Okwa Year-round residential youth camp on nearly 800 acres in Hocking Hills, Ohio, offering summer camps, weekend camps, and year-round programming for children enrolled in BBBSCO mentoring. Accredited by the American Camp Association.
• Environmental Education Programs
• Big Futures Post-secondary transition support program helping BBBSCO youth navigate next steps after high school, including college preparation and career pathways.
• Camp Facility Rentals Year-round rental of Camp Oty'Okwa's facility for conferences, athletic groups, church/youth groups, family reunions, weddings, and corporate events. Capacity ranges from 13 to 281 overnight guests.
• Big Night of Bourbon Annual signature fundraising event featuring bourbon tastings, live auction, and paddle raise to support BBBSCO's mentoring programs.
• Bowl for Kids' Sake Annual community bowling fundraiser with team fundraising and corporate sponsorship tiers ranging from $2,500 (Bowling Ball) to $35,000 (Perfect Game), now in its 42nd year.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1,000 active mentor-mentee matches across Central Ohio
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Godman Guild AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA new and intentional two-generation partnership with Godman Guild Association, aligning youth mentorship with family stability supports, workforce pathways, and community-based services. This partnership represents a strategic evolution from isolated youth mentorship to an integrated ecosystem approach serving both youth and their families.
• KEMBA Financial Credit UnionminorGTM or Marketing PartnerKEMBA Financial Credit Union provides weekly financial education as part of BBBSCO's Life Skills programming at Camp Oty'Okwa, teaching budgeting and credit to teen participants. KEMBA staff also volunteer at the Columbus office assembling 85 'Match Boxes' for new mentor-mentee pairs, and contribute to event sponsorship.
• Move to Prosper (MTP)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMove to Prosper is a program that makes affordable rental housing available in neighborhoods offering families access to opportunities and resources. BBBSCO partners with MTP to serve referred families, with youth like Oley benefiting from this integrated approach.
• NationwideminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNationwide employees (Jeff and Vicki Malesky) began volunteering through their employer partnership at Windsor STEM Academy. The company sponsors Bowl for Kids' Sake events and provides ongoing volunteer support through organized corporate engagement programs.
• Delaware-Morrow Mental Health and Recovery Services Board (DMMHRSB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBBBSCO is a contracted provider for the Delaware-Morrow Mental Health and Recovery Services Board, a publicly-supported Alcohol, Drug Addiction, and Mental Health (ADAMH) board that funds behavioral health services in Delaware and Morrow Counties. This is a government-funded service contract.
• Columbus Square Bowling PalaceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVenue partner for the annual Bowl for Kids' Sake event (42nd year in 2026). Serves as Perfect Game-level sponsor (top tier) for the signature fundraising event.
• First Commonwealth BankminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBarrel Strength Sponsor (top tier) of the 2025 Big Night of Bourbon, contributing event sponsorship funding.
• Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization providing career exposure opportunities for teens in BBBSCO's Teen Empowerment Camp at Camp Oty'Okwa, exposing youth to various career pathways.
• The Ohio State University (OSU)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization providing career exposure and campus visit opportunities for BBBSCO youth. OSU's Fisher College of Business also sponsors Bowl for Kids' Sake at the Bowling Ball level.
• MarzettiminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor of both the 2025 Big Night of Bourbon and the 2026 Bowl for Kids' Sake (Strike Level sponsor), demonstrating ongoing commitment to BBBSCO's events.
• GilbaneminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor of both the 2025 Big Night of Bourbon (Burn Sponsor) and 2026 Bowl for Kids' Sake (Lane Level sponsor), supporting BBBSCO fundraising events.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• OhioGuidestone: Large Ohio-based behavioral health and social services nonprofit; competes for similar ADAMH/Mental Health board contracts and youth-and-family services funding.
• United Way of Central Ohio: Central Ohio's dominant federated fundraising entity that channels corporate giving to multiple youth nonprofits — overlapping donor pool and partner-employer relationships.
• YMCA of Central Ohio: Central Ohio YMCA delivers youth development, before/after-school, and camp programs including overnight facilities — competes for camp rental revenue, family engagement, and community-based youth dollars.
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of America (national network): National umbrella organization for the Big Brothers Big Sisters mentoring network; BBBSCO is an independent affiliate operating under the BBBSA brand, mission, and screening standards.

Emerging players

• I Know I Can: Columbus-focused college-access nonprofit providing mentoring, advising, and scholarships to K-12 youth — overlapping post-secondary navigation mission with BBBSCO's Big Futures program.
• Camp Fire USA (Central Ohio Council): National youth development organization offering mentoring, camp, and teen leadership programs; comparable youth-mentoring and camp portfolio with similar volunteer pipeline.

Regional players

• Kaleidoscope Youth Center: Columbus-based youth-serving nonprofit providing programs, drop-in services, and advocacy for teens — competes for the same volunteer mentor pool and event-level corporate donors.

Direct peers

• Mentoring Works (formerly known as Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Indiana): Independent BBBS affiliate operating youth mentoring with site-based, community-based, and college-focused programs — directly comparable in mission, volunteer model, and outcomes reporting.
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Columbus (legacy combined region): Direct sibling affiliate with the same Big Brothers Big Sisters one-to-one mentoring model in overlapping Central Ohio territory; comparable fundraising, volunteer recruitment, and match operations model.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of Columbus: Central Ohio nonprofit providing youth development, mentoring, and after-school programs to K–12 youth — overlapping target population, donor base, and corporate sponsorship competition.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/BBBSCentralOH
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bbbscentraloh
• Instagraminstagram.com/bbbscentraloh
• Xx.com/bbbscentraloh

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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 Central Ohio