Big Brothers Big Sisters Columbia Northwest

What Big Brothers Big Sisters Columbia Northwest does

Big Brothers Big Sisters Columbia Northwest (BBBS CNW) is a 501c3 nonprofit youth mentoring organization (EIN 93-1303640) serving the Portland, Oregon metropolitan area and Vancouver, Washington. Founded as a local affiliate of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, the organization delivers professionally supported one-to-one mentoring relationships between trained adult volunteer mentors ("Bigs," age 18+) and youth participants ("Littles," ages 6-16). The core product is the Community Based Mentoring Program, in which matches meet two to four times monthly with a minimum one-year commitment and an average match length of approximately three years. The organization reports that over 95% of its Littles graduate high school (compared to an 81% Oregon statewide rate), over 90% avoid risky behaviors, and graduates earn approximately 15% more lifetime income. BBBS CNW supplements its core program with the Outdoor Explorers Mentoring Program (OEMP, in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service and Urban Nature Partners PDX), the Black Youth Ambassador Group, High School Workshops covering financial literacy and college access, the Workplace Mentoring program, and a Partner Pair initiative with Oregon Humane Society. Technology footprint is limited: the organization operates with no proprietary platform, relying on volunteer-based matching facilitated by Match Support Specialists, an online volunteer application portal, and standard website/donation infrastructure.

The business model is donation-driven across three primary streams: individual donations (including the tiered Matchmakers monthly giving program at $25–$500/month), corporate sponsorships (Concentrix Catalyst, Twenty Four 7, Nike, Cambia, M Financial, Andersen Construction, Regence, The Standard, OnPoint, among others), and fundraising events (Building Big Bridges Gala, Big Futures Luncheon, 5K for Kids' Sake, Topgolf for Kids' Sake). The organization is governed by a Board of Directors (chaired by Korede Alabi) and led by CEO Beach Pace. Notable funding milestones include a $1.5M transformational grant from MacKenzie Scott in May 2022, a record-breaking $475,000 Impact of a Connection Gala in September 2022, and a $33,000 Topgolf for Kids' Sake event in April 2023. The organization is currently operating with a waiting list of more than 200 youth seeking mentors in the Portland/Vancouver service area, indicating that volunteer recruitment and funding are the binding constraints on growth.

Name

Big Brothers Big Sisters Columbia Northwest

Legal name

Big Brothers Big Sisters Columbia Northwest

Website

https://itsbigtime.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1904

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Big Brothers Big Sisters Columbia Northwest is a 501c3 nonprofit youth mentoring organization serving the Portland metro area and Vancouver, WA, delivering 1:1 mentoring between adult volunteers and youth ages 6-16 through its core Community Based Mentoring program and supplementary initiatives like Outdoor Explorers and Workplace Mentoring.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Mentoring Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), 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 industries

Student Mentoring & Peer Support Programs (EDAJALAL), Family & Parent Support Services (Parent Coaching, Advocacy) (EDAJALAK), Family & Parenting Support Services (BPAGAEAC)

Keywords

• Youth mentoring programs
• One-to-one mentorship
• Nonprofit youth services
• Volunteer mentor matching
• Community youth development

Headquarters

HQ city

Portland

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, Others, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: One-time and monthly recurring donations from individual donors supporting youth mentoring programs. Monthly giving program called Matchmakers allows donors to pledge automatic monthly gifts at various levels.
2. Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate partners sponsor events, galas, and programs. Includes presenting sponsors, ignite sponsors, inspire sponsors, and table sponsors for annual gala.
3. Fundraising Events: Revenue generated through events including Building Big Bridges Gala, Big Futures Luncheon, 5K for Kids' Sake, and other community fundraising events.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Big Brothers Big Sisters Columbia Northwest is a 501c3 nonprofit that recruits, screens, and matches adult volunteer mentors (Bigs) with youth (Littles) ages 6-16 in the Portland metro area and Vancouver, WA for sustained one-to-one mentoring relationships. The organization facilitates mentor-youth pairings, provides ongoing support through Match Support Specialists, and runs complementary programs including outdoor education, college/career readiness workshops, and youth leadership initiatives. Services are provided free of charge to participating youth and families, funded through individual donations, corporate sponsorships, foundation grants, and fundraising events.

Product overview

Big Brothers Big Sisters Columbia Northwest operates as a youth mentoring nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of programs centered on 1:1 mentoring relationships between adult volunteers (Bigs) and youth (Littles). The core offering is the Community Based Mentoring Program, supplemented by specialized initiatives including the Outdoor Explorers Mentoring Program for environmental education, the Black Youth Ambassador Group for youth leadership, High School Workshops for career readiness, and the Matchmakers monthly giving program for donor engagement. The organization also facilitates partnerships like the Partner Pair Program with Oregon Humane Society. These programs collectively aim to support youth development, academic achievement, and post-secondary success through sustained mentoring relationships.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Community Based Mentoring Program The primary 1:1 mentoring program that matches trained adult volunteer mentors (Bigs, age 18+) with youth (Littles) ages 6-16 in the Portland metro area and Vancouver, WA. Mentors commit to at least one year, meet 2-4 times monthly, and are supported throughout the relationship by Match Support Specialists. Free of charge to participants and families.
• Outdoor Explorers Mentoring Program (OEMP)
• Black Youth Ambassador Group A youth-led initiative created and led by former Littles to build community, provide support, and create leadership opportunities for Black youth in the program.
• High School Workshops Quarterly educational workshops for high school Littles covering career panels, financial literacy, resume building, college applications, and FAFSA assistance. Includes the bilingual Futuros Grandes career panel series.
• Workplace Mentoring Program connecting alumni Littles who have grown into careers to serve as mentors and role models for current Littles, with a dedicated Workplace Mentoring Director leading the effort.
• Matchmakers Monthly Giving Program A monthly recurring donation program where donors pledge automated monthly gifts of any size to support BBBS programs and operations year-round, with tiered giving levels at $25, $50, $100, $250, and $500 per month tied to specific program impacts.
• Partner Pair Program (with Oregon Humane Society) A volunteer opportunity launched in partnership with Oregon Humane Society that allows Bigs and Littles ages 12-17 to volunteer together at OHS, learning animal care and responsibility while supporting OHS's 250+ animals.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 95% high school graduation rate compared to 81% Oregon statewide graduation rate
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

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

• Oregon Humane SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 November 2024BBBS partnered with Oregon Humane Society to create the Partner Pair program, allowing Bigs and Littles ages 12-17 to volunteer together at OHS. The partnership provides volunteer support for OHS's 250+ animals while offering meaningful activities for matches. Currently three pairs of Bigs and Littles participate in the first cohort of volunteers.
• NikecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 January 2024BBBS Black Youth Ambassador Group partnered with Nike during Martin Luther King Jr. holiday to create an 'I AM Tree' art mural project. Nike volunteers engaged with Littles in discussions about academic and social lifestyles. The partnership supports youth empowerment and community building through art and mentorship.
• United States Forest ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBBBS partners with the U.S. Forest Service for the Outdoor Explorers Mentoring Program (OEMP), which introduces Littles to outdoor activities including snowshoeing, hiking, gardening, and canoeing. The program bridges the gap for underserved youth who have less access to outdoor spaces.
• Urban Nature Partners PDXcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBBBS partners with Urban Nature Partners PDX for the Outdoor Explorers Mentoring Program, providing experiential outdoor trips throughout the year for Big/Little matches to explore Pacific Northwest nature together.
• ExpressminorGTM or Marketing PartnerExpress, a national partner of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, partnered with BBBS Columbia Northwest for the Dream Big Project, providing shopping experiences and gift cards to high school Littles. Focus on post-secondary success and empowering youth to reach their full potential.
• Twenty Four 7 and Concentrix CatalystflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting sponsors for the 2022 Impact of a Connection Gala that raised a record-breaking $475,000
• Portland Community College (PCC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPCC Opportunity Centers provide non-credit classes, workshops, and 1-on-1 support for college planning, financial aid, and career connections at no cost for community members including BBBS families.
• Tree-to-Tree Aerial Adventure ParkminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTree-to-Tree hosted BBBS matches for a day of adventure activities including zip lines and aerial obstacle courses, providing free community outing opportunities for mentor pairs.
• Topgolf HillsborominorGTM or Marketing PartnerTopgolf Hillsboro hosted the second annual Topgolf for Kids' Sake fundraising event that raised over $33,000 with 14 teams and 100 attendees.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• MENTOR (National Mentoring Partnership): National umbrella and advocacy organization for youth mentoring. Comparable through shared emphasis on quality mentoring standards and serves as a convener of local mentoring programs, including affiliates like BBBS.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of America: National youth development nonprofit with a comparable mission of supporting youth outcomes. Differs in delivery model (club-based vs. 1:1 mentoring) but competes for the same corporate sponsors, foundation grants, and youth-services funding streams.
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of America: National parent organization and umbrella affiliate. Operates the same 1:1 youth mentoring model at scale across the U.S. and provides quality standards, brand, and shared infrastructure to local affiliates like BBBS Columbia Northwest.

Emerging players

• Spark: Youth mentoring nonprofit that connects students with workplace-based adult mentors. Highly comparable to BBBS Columbia Northwest's Workplace Mentoring program and broader career-focused trajectory.
• iCouldBe: E-mentoring nonprofit focused on online 1:1 mentoring for at-risk youth. Comparable mission and youth outcomes focus, but differentiated through virtual rather than community-based delivery.

Others

• Oregon Community Foundation: Major regional foundation that channels philanthropic capital to nonprofits in Oregon including youth development organizations. Comparable as a funding ecosystem participant rather than a direct service peer.
• United Way of the Columbia-Willamette: Regional nonprofit that funnels corporate workplace giving and grants to youth-serving partners including BBBS. Comparable through shared donor base and community-development mission.

Direct peers

• Friends of the Children: Portland-headquartered youth mentoring nonprofit that provides paid, professional mentors to youth facing systemic barriers. Directly comparable in geography and mission, with a differentiating professional (rather than volunteer) mentor model.
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Pittsburgh: Another local BBBS affiliate operating the same 1:1 community-based mentoring model in a different metropolitan area. Closest direct comparable for benchmarking scale, fundraising, and outcomes performance.

Regional players

• Boys & Girls Clubs of Portland Metro: Regional youth development nonprofit serving the same Portland metro area. Offers mentoring-adjacent programming through club-based youth development, providing a comparable target market and donor base, but delivers group rather than 1:1 relationship-based mentoring.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/bbbsnorthwest
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/TheBBBSNorthwest
• Facebookfacebook.com/bbbsnorthwest
• Instagraminstagram.com/bbbsnw
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/big-brothers-big-sisters-columbia-northwest

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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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 Columbia Northwest