Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada

What Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada does

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada (BBBSC) is a federally registered Canadian charitable non-profit founded in 1912, headquartered in Toronto at 220 Yonge Street, that delivers youth mentoring programs through a federated model of 86-97 member agencies serving 1,100+ communities. Its core offering is one-on-one and group mentoring that pairs adult volunteer mentors (Big Brothers and Big Sisters, 17,500 annually contributing 1.2 million hours) with children and youth aged 7+ facing adversity, including children in care (via BIG Steps to Success), youth pursuing STEM pathways (BIG on STEM), and Indigenous youth (via partnership with Indspire). Programs are delivered in community, school, and increasingly virtual settings; supplementary offerings include Bowl for Kids Sake, MEGABike, Taylgate, National Convention, BIG Scholars Series, Youth in Office, Ted Rogers Scholarships, O'Keefe Art Scholarship, the National Youth Mentoring Advisory Council (NYMAC), and a Child Safety quality assurance program.

The organization's underlying technology stack consists of centralized but non-proprietary data collection systems and shared infrastructure for program management, volunteer matching, and outcomes tracking, with no AI/ML capabilities disclosed. Multiple program brands are registered as CIPO trademarks, including Start Something, Go Girls!, Game On!, BIG on STEM, and Mentorship Equals. The organization is accredited under Imagine Canada's Standard Program (2018) and has been recognized in MoneySense Magazine's top youth-charity rankings.

Revenue is generated entirely through philanthropy rather than fees: individual donations, corporate partnerships (Scotiabank, RBC Foundation, Mercedes-Benz Canada, Mastermind Toys, BLG Foundation, TD, BMO, Aritzia, Bain & Company, WestJet, Cenovus, Coca-Cola Canada, and others at tiered Chair's Circle, President's Circle, Leader's Circle, and Champion's Circle levels), federal and provincial government grants (Employment and Social Development Canada, Public Safety Canada, Ontario Ministry of Education, Canadian Heritage), and signature fundraising events. Government pricing does not apply, as all mentoring services are provided free of charge to youth, families, and volunteer mentors. Reported reach is 32,000+ youth served annually, with a waitlist of more than 4,000 children indicating demand exceeds current mentor capacity.

Name

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada

Legal name

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada

Website

https://bigbrothersbigsisters.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1912

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada is a federated non-profit founded in 1912 that delivers one-on-one and group youth mentoring programs through 86-97 member agencies across 1,100+ Canadian communities, serving 32,000+ children annually and funded by donations, corporate partnerships, and government grants.

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), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Mentoring & Positive Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Family & Parenting Support Services (BPAGAEAC), Maternal, Child & Family Health Organizations (BPAGACAF), Family Resource Centers & Wraparound Support Services (EDACALAH)

Keywords

• Youth mentoring services
• Nonprofit organization
• Volunteer mentorship programs
• Youth development programs
• Community-based mentoring

Headquarters

HQ city

Toronto

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 Charitable Giving: Individual donations from the public, including one-time and recurring gifts, major gifts, and planned giving. The organization runs fundraising campaigns including direct appeals and online donation portals.
2. Corporate Partnerships and Sponsorship: National corporate partners including Scotiabank, RBC Foundation, Mercedes-Benz Canada, Mastermind Toys, and others provide funding, in-kind support, and cause marketing support. Partners contribute at various levels including Chair's Circle ($250,000+), President's Circle ($100,000-$249,999), Leader's Circle ($50,000-$99,999), and Champion's Circle ($25,000-$49,999).
3. Government Funding: Federal and provincial government grants from Employment and Social Development Canada, Public Safety Canada, Ontario Ministry of Education, and other government bodies to support youth mentoring programs.
4. Events and Fundraising Activities: Signature fundraising events including Bowl for Kids Sake, MEGABike, Taylgate, and regional conventions that engage communities and raise funds for local agencies.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada operates as a federated nonprofit organization delivering youth mentoring programs through a network of 86-97 independent member agencies across Canada. The core services include one-on-one mentoring (Big Brothers/Big Sisters), group mentoring, virtual mentoring, and specialized programs such as BIG on STEM and BIG Steps to Success for children in care. All services are provided free of charge to children, youth, families, and volunteer mentors.

Product overview

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada (BBBSC) operates as a federated nonprofit organization comprising 86-97 member agencies that deliver youth mentoring programs across Canada. The organization provides a portfolio of services centered on one-on-one and group mentoring relationships for children and youth aged 7+. Core programs include traditional Big Brothers/Big Sisters mentoring, virtual mentoring, the BIG on STEM initiative, and BIG Steps to Success for children in care. Supplementary offerings include the Youth in Office civic engagement program, National Convention, MEGABike and Bowl for Kids Sake fundraising events, BIG Scholars lecture series, Ted Rogers and O'Keefe art scholarships, the National Youth Mentoring Advisory Council, and a Child Safety quality assurance program. The organization is branded under the registered tagline 'Start Something' and operates under a federated model providing centralized support, training, and resources to local member agencies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Start Something: Registered trademark used by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada for youth engagement initiatives.
• Go Girls! Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds
• Game On! Eat Smart, Play Smart, Live Smart

Products and services

• One-on-One Mentoring

Quantifiable outcome

• 60% more likely to report feeling consistently happy (youth who participate in mentoring programs)
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers4 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

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Mercedes-Benz CanadacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLandmark partnership announced September 2023 to empower the next generation of Canadians through mentorship. Mercedes-Benz Canada partners with BBBSC to support youth mentoring programs and initiatives.
• Mastermind ToyscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership announced October 2025 to inspire the next generation of Canadians. Mastermind Toys partners with BBBSC to support youth through mentoring programs.
• Children's Aid Foundation of CanadacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational partnership supporting the BIG Steps to Success program for children in care or who have experienced the child welfare system. CAFC provides deeper mentoring support for matches to ensure unique needs are being met.
• IndspirecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership announced October 2020 with Indspire, an Indigenous-led charity that invests in the education of Indigenous students, to support Indigenous youth through BBBS mentoring programs.
• Ashley HomeStore CanadaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAshley Canada Hope to Dream program distributed 500 beds to children in BBBS communities. In-kind donations of essential items for youth served by BBBS.
• MorguardminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMorguard's BeYou Campaign Keep Kids Connected supported BBBS during pandemic. Provided space for Instagram #KindComments mural in Ottawa.
• Boys and Girls Clubs of CanadacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint initiative partner for YOUth In Office program, bringing young people from both organizations to Parliament Hill to learn about politics and engage with MPs.
• Search InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Search Institute to design Developmental Relationship volunteer training and case tools to measure the strength of BBBS mentoring relationships.
• Merrell CanadaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChampion's Circle partner ($25,000-$49,999) and sponsor of Great Outdoors Month programming, bringing the power of the outside to more BBBS youth.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Indspire: Indigenous-led charity investing in education and youth programs; BBBSC's named partner for Indigenous youth mentoring. Comparable youth-development mission, scholarship/post-secondary pathways, and corporate/government funder mix.
• Girl Guides of Canada: National youth development organization running a federated council model across Canada with volunteer-led programming. Comparable structure (federation of local councils), volunteer dependency, and youth/parent stakeholder mix; BBBSC's current CEO previously led this organization.
• 4-H Canada: Canadian youth-development nonprofit running volunteer-led club programming for rural and urban youth ages 6-21. Comparable volunteer-driven youth development model, provincial reach, and corporate sponsorship structure (including agriculture and corporate partners).
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of America: US counterpart running the same one-to-one and group youth mentoring model across a federated agency network. Most directly comparable on program design, target population, volunteer-based delivery, and corporate/foundation fundraising approach.
• Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada: Canadian youth-serving organization delivering after-school and community-based programming to children and youth facing adversity. Comparable target population, federal/provincial funding mix, and signature fundraising events; BBBSC is already a joint partner with BGC on the YOUth In Office program.
• Junior Achievement Canada: National youth nonprofit delivering entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and work-readiness programs in schools and communities. Comparable funder base (banks, corporate Canada, government) and youth-outcomes measurement approach.
• Children's Aid Foundation of Canada: National charity funding programs for youth in the child welfare system; BBBSC's BIG Steps to Success partner. Comparable child-welfare focus, donor and corporate base, and youth-outcomes reporting.
• Kids Help Phone: National Canadian nonprofit providing e-mental health and counseling services to youth, with similar federal funding relationships and youth-outcomes storytelling. Comparable funder base (corporate + government) but distinct service modality (crisis support vs. mentoring).

Broad incumbents

• Boys & Girls Clubs of America: Largest US youth-services organization; comparable target population and outcome measurement, broader program portfolio (afterschool, sports, education) than BBBSC's mentoring focus.
• YMCA Canada: Federated national youth and family services organization with broad programming (childcare, camps, health) including mentoring-adjacent youth development. Comparable federal funding relationships and charitable revenue model, but operates across a wider portfolio than BBBSC.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/bbbsc
• Facebookfacebook.com/bigbrothersbigsistersofcanada
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/big-brothers-big-sisters-of-canada
• Instagraminstagram.com/bbbsc

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Canada