Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Cleveland

What Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Cleveland does

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Cleveland (BBBS of Greater Cleveland) is an independent, Ohio-domiciled 501(c)(3) nonprofit and a local affiliate of the national Big Brothers Big Sisters of America network. The organization operates one-to-one youth mentoring services in Cuyahoga County, matching adult volunteer mentors aged 21+ (Bigs) with children aged 8-17 (Littles) for a minimum 12-month relationship involving twice-monthly outings (4-6 hours per month). It supplements the core mentoring program with a Big for a Day short-term volunteer pathway, the Impact 101 virtual information session series that doubles as orientation, and a calendar of enrichment events including the Big Day of Play fundraiser (with a $50,000 2026 goal), CWRU Derby STEM activities, Career Exploration events hosted at employer partners such as UPS and MAGNET, and the NFL Inspire Change Big Draft.

The business model is donation-funded, not commercial. Revenue streams include individual one-time and monthly donations, corporate sponsorships (e.g., Progressive Insurance for the Back to School Bash), fundraising events (Golf for Kids' Sake, Big Day of Play), merchandise sales through an online swag shop, and in-kind donations of gift cards and event tickets. Services are free to participants and the organization is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors chaired by Ed Frindt, with Jessica Payne serving as President & CEO.

Operationally, BBBS of Greater Cleveland runs a fully virtual office (mailing address at 14837 Detroit Avenue, #292, Lakewood, OH) with a small team of roughly 10 named personnel spanning enrollment/match support, volunteer engagement (Naomi Torres), development (Morgan Smith), compliance (Emily Rybarczyk), and program direction (Clarissa Sarsama). The technology footprint is intentionally minimal — built on a Squarespace website, an online application form, and Zoom-style virtual sessions — with no proprietary platform, API, AI/ML components, or app. Its competitive position rests on the BBBS national brand, a dense local partner ecosystem (Cleveland Metroparks, Progressive, UPS, CWRU, MAGNET, NFL Inspire Change), and dedicated Match Support Specialists who maintain relationship quality post-enrollment.

Name

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Cleveland

Legal name

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Cleveland

Website

https://bbbscle.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Cleveland is a Cuyahoga County, Ohio nonprofit that matches adult volunteer mentors (Bigs) with children aged 8-17 (Littles) in free, year-long one-to-one mentoring relationships, funded by individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and fundraising events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Mentoring Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411)

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), Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services (BPAGAEAL)

Keywords

• Youth mentoring programs
• One-to-one mentoring
• Nonprofit volunteer services
• Community youth programs
• Mentor matching services

Headquarters

HQ city

Lakewood

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: One-time and monthly donations from individuals supporting youth mentoring programs. Donations provide essential resources for mentorship programs.
2. Fundraising Events: Revenue generated from events such as Golf for Kids' Sake, BIG Day of Play summer fundraiser with $50,000 goal, and other community fundraising activities.
3. Corporate Sponsorships: Support from corporate partners who sponsor events and programs. Progressive sponsors Back to School Bash; corporate opportunities for hosting/sponsoring Big for a Day activities.
4. Merchandise Sales: Online shop selling BBBS swag with proceeds benefiting the organization.
5. Gift Card/Ticket Donations: Corporate and individual donations of gift cards and event tickets that enrich mentoring match experiences and create lasting memories.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Cleveland operates a one-to-one youth mentoring program that matches volunteer adult mentors (Bigs) with children and teens ages 8-17 (Littles) in Cuyahoga County, Ohio for ongoing mentoring friendships through community activities. The organization also offers Big for a Day one-time mentoring opportunities, virtual info sessions for volunteer recruitment, and youth enrichment events such as career exploration and STEM activities.

Product overview

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Cleveland operates as a nonprofit youth mentoring organization offering a single, unified service model built around one-to-one mentoring. The flagship offering is the one-to-one mentoring program where volunteer Bigs are matched with Little siblings for ongoing mentoring relationships. Supporting programs include the Big for a Day initiative for one-time mentoring activities and the Impact 101 Virtual Info Sessions for volunteer recruitment and orientation. The organization also runs structured youth programs and events such as Big Futures Workshop, CWRU Derby, Career Exploration, and Big Day of Play to supplement the core mentoring experience.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• One-to-One Mentoring Program The core BBBS one-to-one mentoring program matching volunteer adult mentors (Bigs) with children ages 8-17 (Littles) in Cuyahoga County for ongoing mentoring friendships through fun community activities. Requires a 12-month minimum commitment with monthly Match Support Specialist check-ins.
• Big for a Day A one-time or short-term mentoring opportunity where volunteer adults spend a few hours with a child awaiting a permanent mentor match, providing meaningful experiences while on the waitlist. Available for individuals and corporate groups.
• Impact 101 Virtual Info Sessions Free virtual information sessions for prospective volunteers to learn about BBBS programs, mentoring expectations, and the enrollment process. Sessions also serve as completed orientation for new volunteers.
• Youth Programs and Events Various youth enrichment events including Big Futures Workshop, CWRU Derby, Career Exploration, Art With a Purpose, and Big Day of Play that provide activities, mentorship exposure, and skill-building opportunities for matches.

Quantifiable outcome

• Youth in BBBS programs demonstrate improved self-esteem and academic performance
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• NFL Inspire ChangecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Annual Big Draft partnership with NFL Inspire Change initiative. As the NFL drafts players, BBBS drafts all-star volunteer Bigs at a happy hour mixer event featuring NFL representatives, BBBS staff, current Bigs, and Board Members.
• Cleveland Metroparks Youth OutdoorscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for outdoor youth programming. Collaborates on events including The Hook Youth Fishing Derby, Arrow's Edge Archery, and Hill Thrill Tobogganing activities.
• Progressive InsurancemajorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor of Back to School Bash event providing backpacks and school supplies. Hosts Art With a Purpose creative event at Progressive Headquarters in Mayfield Heights.
• UPScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosts career exploration events for BBBS teens to learn about careers at UPS, meet employees from different departments, and participate in interactive activities.
• Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) and Theta TaucoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEngineering fraternity partnership for CWRU Derby events where engineering students help Littles design and build derby cars. Also partners on CWRU & BBBS FALL STEM DAY with hands-on STEM activities.
• MAGNET (Manufacturing Alliance), Cross Country Mortgage, and Other EmployersmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCareer exploration partnerships hosting youth at facilities to learn about manufacturing and real-world career paths. Youth participants receive $25 Amazon gift cards.
• Shaker School Foundation and Shaker Heights Youth CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsors of Unplug at the Park Activities Outing event for youth and mentors.
• Corporate Partners for Big for a DaymajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCorporate opportunities for companies to host or sponsor Big for a Day activities and events. Companies can engage employees as volunteers for one-day mentorship experiences.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Big Brothers Big Sisters of America: The national parent organization that BBBS of Greater Cleveland is affiliated with; operates the brand, national training infrastructure, and fundraising backbone that the Cleveland chapter leverages to recruit volunteers and raise funds.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of America: The national federation behind Boys & Girls Clubs of Cleveland; broader youth development portfolio (not mentoring-specific) but overlapping donor base, corporate partners, and youth outcomes focus.

Emerging players

• 4-H (National 4-H Council): National youth development program focused on mentoring, leadership, and STEM for school-age youth; partially overlapping mission and corporate partner pool, with comparable volunteer-recruitment and outcome-measurement models.
• MENTOR (Mentoring.org): National umbrella organization advancing the youth mentoring field; comparable as the sector convener that shapes funding, research, and best-practice standards that affiliates like BBBS of Greater Cleveland must align with.

Regional players

• YMCA of Greater Cleveland: Regional youth and family services organization providing after-school programming, childcare, and youth development in the same Cuyahoga County market; competes for corporate partnerships and volunteer mentors.
• Junior Achievement of Greater Cleveland: Cleveland-area youth education nonprofit focused on career exploration, financial literacy, and work readiness for K-12 students; overlaps with BBBS career exploration programming and shares the same CWRU/Progressive/UPS corporate partnership ecosystem.

Direct peers

• Boys & Girls Clubs of Cleveland: Local Cleveland youth development nonprofit providing after-school and enrichment programs to school-age youth; directly competes for the same donor, volunteer, and corporate-sponsor pool in Cuyahoga County.
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of New York City: Another large-city BBBS affiliate providing one-to-one mentoring to youth ages 8-17; comparable in service model, age range served, and reliance on corporate partnerships for volunteer pipelines.
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Boston: A sibling local BBBS affiliate delivering the same one-to-one youth mentoring model in a different U.S. metro; directly comparable on program design, volunteer recruitment approach, and donor mix.
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Chicago: A peer BBBS local chapter serving a comparable urban catchment area; offers insight into scaling one-to-one mentoring in mid-sized metros and the corporate-partnership playbook that drives match volume.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bbbscle

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Cleveland