Big Brothers Big Sisters of Toronto

What Big Brothers Big Sisters of Toronto does

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Toronto (BBBST) is a registered Canadian charity (Charitable Business Number: 106793771RR0001) operating as an independent affiliate within the broader Big Brothers Big Sisters network. The organization connects children and youth aged 6–18 facing adversity (referred to as "Littles") with trained adult volunteer mentors ("Bigs") through one-on-one community-based matches, in-school mentoring, and group-based programs. Programs are prioritized by Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) risk and include specialized cohorts for Black youth (! Thrive), 2SLGBTQIA+ youth (! AM, ! Grow), girls (! Belong), boys (Boys Empowerment Program), and children in child welfare (Big Steps to Success, in partnership with the Children's Aid Society of Toronto). The organization is headquartered at 501–2345 Yonge Street, Toronto, with a second location at the Mid-Scarborough Hub.

BBBST operates as a service-delivery nonprofit with no proprietary technology platform described in available sources. Its "product" is human mentorship delivered by 100% volunteer time, supported by paid program specialists, social workers, and match coordinators. Revenue is generated entirely through charitable contributions: individual giving (including the "Sponsor a Little" program at $250/month or $3,000/year, Big Picture monthly giving), corporate sponsorships (Scotiabank as presenting sponsor of the Big Night Out gala; AIM Recycling's $100,000 cohort donation), foundation and government grants (Ontario Trillium Foundation, Slaight Family Foundation, Government of Canada, Ontario Ministry of Education, United Way Greater Toronto), and signature fundraising events (Big Night Out, Big on Bay, Music that Moves). The organization reports an 89% efficacy rate and a 99% high school graduation rate for Post-Secondary Readiness participants, with a Boston Consulting Group 2013 study claiming a $23 social return on investment per dollar donated. A waitlist of 400+ children signals unmet demand relative to current mentor recruitment capacity.

Name

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Toronto

Legal name

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Toronto

Website

https://bbbstoronto.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Toronto is a registered charity that matches children and youth aged 6–18 facing adversity with trained volunteer adult mentors through one-on-one and group-based programs across the Greater Toronto Area.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Mentorship Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Individual and Family Services (6241), 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), Student Mentoring & Peer Support Programs (EDAJALAL)

Keywords

• Youth mentorship programs
• Volunteer mentoring services
• School-based mentoring
• Community youth development
• Charitable youth services

Headquarters

HQ city

Toronto

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations and Sponsorship: Individual donors contribute one-time or recurring gifts through Sponsor a Little ($3,000/year or $250/month), Big Picture monthly giving, and general donations. Corporate sponsors (e.g., Scotiabank as presenting sponsor of Big Night Out, AIM Recycling $100,000 cohort donation) provide significant funding.
2. Special Events Fundraising: Annual signature events including Big Night Out gala, Big on Bay scavenger hunt, and Music that Moves concert generate fundraising revenue from ticket sales, table purchases, and event sponsorships.
3. Foundation and Government Grants: Funding received from government bodies (Government of Canada, Ontario), foundations (Ontario Trillium Foundation, Slaight Family Foundation), and United Way supports program delivery.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Toronto recruits, screens, trains, and matches adult volunteer mentors (Bigs) with children and youth ages 6-18 facing adversity (Littles) for one-on-one and group mentoring relationships delivered in schools, community settings, and virtual environments across the Greater Toronto Area. Programs are organized into community-based 1:1 mentoring, in-school mentoring, the Ignite Mentoring group programs, and specialized cohorts including ! Thrive Black Youth Mentoring, ! Belong Girls Mentorship, ! AM 2SLGBTQIA+ Initiative, Big Steps to Success, Boys Empowerment, Post-Secondary Readiness, and Youth Services/Scholarships. All services are provided free of charge to youth participants and families.

Product overview

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Toronto operates a suite of youth mentoring programs. The core offerings include community-based 1:1 mentoring, in-school mentoring (ISM), and group-based Ignite Mentoring Programs. The organization provides specialized programs including the ! Thrive Black Youth Mentoring Program for Black youth, the ! Belong Girls Mentorship Program for young women, the ! AM Initiative for 2SLGBTQIA+ youth and mentors, and the Big Steps to Success program for children in child welfare. Additional offerings include the Boys Empowerment Program, Post-Secondary Readiness (Pumped for Post-Sec) Program, Youth Services with scholarships, and Mentor Training. The programs aim to connect children and youth (Littles) with caring adult mentors (Bigs) to support their development and help them reach their full potential.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ! Thrive Black Youth Mentoring Program: A specialized program designed to provide support and guidance to Black youth, emphasizing meaningful mentoring relationships with Black mentors and addressing cultural and racial barriers.
• ! Belong Girls Mentorship Program
• Big Steps to Success
• Boys Empowerment Program

Products and services

• Community-Based 1:1 Mentoring One-on-one mentoring program where volunteer mentors and youth mentees meet in the community, with flexibility in activities and locations. Delivered free of charge to youth participants in the Greater Toronto Area.
• In-School Mentoring (ISM) School-based 1:1 mentoring program matching students with mentors within educational settings such as Toronto District School Board (TDSB) schools.
• Ignite Mentoring Programs Group-based mentoring umbrella program that includes !gnite Empowerment Programs, ! Grow 2SLGBTQIA+ Mentoring Program, and Post-Secondary Readiness (Pumped for Post-Sec).
• ! Thrive Black Youth Mentoring Program Specialized culturally responsive mentorship program pairing Black youth with Black mentors to address cultural and racial barriers and nurture self-identity.
• ! Belong Girls Mentorship Program Mentorship program for young women and girls providing a safer space to build life skills and confidence, covering topics such as healthy relationships, bullying, social media, and positive self-esteem.
• ! AM Initiative Intentional and inclusive programs developed for mentees and mentors in the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, including the ! AM Big Siblings Community-Based 1:1 Program, led by 2SLGBTQIA+ staff.
• Big Steps to Success Mentorship program in partnership with the Children's Aid Society of Toronto designed to improve educational outcomes for 7-14 year old children and youth involved with child welfare.
• Boys Empowerment Program School-based program that visits schools throughout the Greater Toronto Area and implements curriculum on aspects like self-esteem and bullying, including at the Toronto District School Board's Africentric School.
• Post-Secondary Readiness (Pumped for Post-Sec) Group-based program preparing high school students for post-secondary education and career pathways.
• Little By Little Program Youth mentorship program providing personalized support for children and youth development through individual matches.
• Youth Services / Scholarships Provides scholarships and support services to help BBBST youth access educational opportunities, including post-secondary scholarships such as the Ted Rogers Scholarship.
• Mentor Training Training programs to prepare and support volunteer mentors in providing effective guidance to youth mentees.

Quantifiable outcome

• 89% efficacy rate across all programs — youth improve mental/physical health, educational attainment, leadership skills, and ability to overcome adversity
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

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

• Guitars for Kids TorontominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGuitars for Kids Toronto has been supporting BBBST Littles since 2018 by donating refurbished guitars and equipment. In December, they donated 22 guitar set-ups providing youth with a musical outlet. The partnership addresses youth well-being through music during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Children's Aid Society of Toronto (CAST)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBBBST partners with the Children's Aid Society of Toronto to run the Big Steps to Success program, a mentorship program designed to improve educational outcomes for 7-14 year old children involved with child welfare.
• Toronto District School Board (TDSB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBBBST delivers school-based mentorship programs within TDSB schools throughout Toronto, including at the TDSB Africentric School. Programs include In-School Mentoring, Boys Empowerment Program, and Post-Secondary Readiness programming.
• Mark Harrison / MH3 CollectiveflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerMark Harrison is BBBST's Board Chair and Founder of MH3 Collective. He joined the Board as Member at Large in 2018 and has championed BBBST's Anti-Black Racism initiatives, including the ! Thrive Black Youth Mentoring Program. He advocates for the organization in the marketing and corporate community.
• Paul Henry (Outgoing Board Chair)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPaul Henry served as BBBST Board Chair for over 12 years (four 3-year terms), helping reset the agency's long-term strategy, navigating the pandemic, and setting BBBST up for growth. He remains on the BBBST Fundraising Cabinet.
• Leanne Nicolle (President & CEO)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeanne Nicolle serves as President & CEO of BBBST. She has provided vision and leadership for the organization, including developing research-based frameworks (ACEs, 40 Developmental Assets, Developmental Relationships) to better represent BBBST's program impact to donors and government.

Scale indicators16 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Kids Help Phone: Canada-wide 24/7 e-mental-health and support service for youth, supported by major Canadian corporate sponsors and government grants. Comparable on youth well-being outcomes, federal funding relationships, and large CSR donor pool in Toronto.
• YMCA Greater Toronto: Large incumbent youth and family services provider in the GTA operating community, health, and child-care programs including youth leadership and newcomer services. Comparable on geography, scale, government/foundation funding model, and youth-services positioning, though broader than mentoring.

Direct peers

• Frontline Youth (formerly Eva's Initiatives): Toronto-based nonprofit providing shelter, housing, and training programs for homeless and at-risk youth, with overlapping youth-development, transition-to-adulthood, and corporate-funder donor base. Comparable on Toronto at-risk youth mission and grant-funded program model.
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada: National umbrella organization for the Big Brothers Big Sisters mentoring network in Canada, operating the same model of youth-to-adult volunteer mentoring and providing BBBST's brand, standards, and federal advocacy support. Directly comparable on mission, framework, and donor base.
• Pathways to Education Canada: National nonprofit supporting youth from low-income communities to graduate high school and transition to post-secondary education through academic, social, financial, and one-on-one supports. Directly comparable on the GTA youth-outcomes mission, Sponsor-a-Student model, and donor/grant base.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of Canada: Federated youth-development organization offering after-school programming, mentoring, and youth leadership across Canada including the Toronto area. Competes with BBBST for the same at-risk youth population, corporate sponsorships, and government youth-development grants.
• Mentor Canada: National umbrella advancing youth mentoring in Canada, supporting mentoring organizations including BBBST through research, advocacy, and network coordination. Directly comparable mission-aligned peer operating in the same mentoring category.

Regional players

• Right To Play International: Toronto-headquartered global nonprofit using sport and play for youth development and well-being, with corporate partnerships and government grants. Comparable as a Toronto-rooted, youth-development nonprofit with similar institutional funder base, though operating internationally rather than city-specific.
• Toronto District School Board: Public school board hosting BBBST's In-School Mentoring and Boys Empowerment Programs, including at the Africentric School. Functions as both a delivery partner and a comparable Toronto institution addressing youth outcomes, equity, and at-risk student supports.

Emerging players

• Children's Aid Society of Toronto: Municipal child-welfare agency already partnered with BBBST on the Big Steps to Success program, serving overlapping at-risk youth populations. Comparable on child-welfare mandates and Toronto youth demographics, though operates a different statutory model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses1 record

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/BBBSToronto
• Facebookfacebook.com/BigBrothersBigSistersToronto
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/big-brothers-big-sisters-of-toronto
• Instagraminstagram.com/bbbstoronto/?hl=en

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

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 Toronto