Big Brothers Big Sisters of Johnson County

What Big Brothers Big Sisters of Johnson County does

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Johnson County (BBBSJC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Iowa City, Iowa, that operates as an independent local affiliate of the national Big Brothers Big Sisters mentoring network (founded 1904). Established in 1976 in Johnson County, the organization recruits, screens, and matches adult volunteer mentors ('Bigs') with youth ages 6–18 ('Littles') for professionally supported one-to-one mentoring relationships with a minimum 15-month commitment. Its core service offerings are two program models: Community-Based Mentoring (matches meeting independently 2–4 times per month in the community) and After-School Club-Based Mentoring (90-minute weekly group sessions at local middle schools). Supporting programs include Big Couple Mentoring, Big Futures, Men of Character, Girl Connections, Small Group Mentoring, and a Match Perks discount program with a dozen-plus local business partners that provides free or discounted access to active matches.

BBBSJC serves youth and families in Johnson County and West Branch, Iowa; all services are provided free of charge to enrolled families. The underlying technology stack is standard for a small nonprofit — online inquiry and enrollment forms, a qgiv donation portal, virtual meeting capabilities, basic case/donor management systems, and organic social channels (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn) — with no proprietary platform, app, or AI-enabled tooling disclosed.

The revenue model is donation-based, with three streams: (1) recurring monthly giving via the Match Makers program (tiered $10–$250, average 3.5-year retention); (2) one-time donations through qgiv and direct channels; and (3) annual fundraising events including Bowl for Kids' Sake, Par for Potential (golf), and Vacation Raffle. The organization is led by Executive Director Daleta Thurness (since December 2016) and a 17-person staff including a Program Director, Director of Community Engagement, Director of Development & Marketing, Mentoring Coordinator, and Mentoring Specialists, supported by a local Board of Directors drawn from regional employers and institutions.

Name

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Johnson County

Legal name

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Johnson County

Website

https://bbbsjc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Johnson County is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Iowa City, Iowa, founded in 1976, that recruits adult volunteer mentors and matches them one-to-one with youth ages 6–18 in Johnson County and West Branch, funded by donations, monthly giving, and annual fundraising events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Mentoring Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (624110)

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 Resource Centers & Wraparound Support Services (EDACALAH), Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services (BPAGAEAL)

Keywords

• Youth mentoring services
• Community based mentoring
• Nonprofit youth programs
• Volunteer mentoring network
• School based mentoring

Headquarters

HQ city

Iowa City

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Monthly recurring donations through Match Makers program ($10-$250 monthly tiers) and one-time donations. Donors receive monthly updates on match stories and program statistics. Average monthly giving length is 3.5 years.
2. Special Events: Annual fundraising events including Bowl for Kids' Sake, Vacation Raffle, and Par for Potential golf event generate revenue and community awareness.
3. Donations (General): General donations through qgiv portal, supporting operational costs of matching youth with mentors and providing ongoing match support.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Johnson County (BBBSJC) delivers professionally supported one-to-one youth mentoring services in Johnson County, Iowa. The organization recruits, screens, and matches adult volunteers ("Bigs") with children ages 6 through young adulthood ("Littles") through Community-Based Mentoring, After-School Club-Based Mentoring, Small Group Mentoring, and Big Couple Mentoring program models. All services are provided free of charge to enrolled families, with operations funded through charitable donations, recurring monthly giving, and annual fundraising events.

Product overview

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Johnson County is a nonprofit youth mentoring organization offering a portfolio of one-to-one and group mentoring programs. The core offerings are Community-Based Mentoring (individual Big/Little matches meeting 2+ times monthly in the community) and After-School Club-Based Mentoring (school-site weekly group sessions). Additional programs include Big Couple Mentoring (two adults mentoring together), Match Makers monthly giving, and Match Perks discount benefits. The organization also hosts fundraising events including Bowl for Kids' Sake, Par for Potential, and the upcoming Defending Potential 50-Year Celebration. Since 1976, BBBSJC has been matching youth in Johnson County, Iowa with volunteer mentors, operating under the national Big Brothers Big Sisters network founded in 1904.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Community-Based Mentoring One-to-one mentoring program in which adult volunteers (Bigs) and youth (Littles) meet independently in the community 2-4 times monthly for activities chosen together with parent approval. Includes optional participation in monthly match events, Big Futures, Men of Character, and Girl Connections.
• After-School Club-Based Mentoring Weekly small-group mentoring sessions held at local middle schools, facilitated by BBBS staff with pre-planned 90-minute activities for 9 months of the school year. Designed for youth who benefit from a structured school-site mentoring environment.
• Big Couple Mentoring Mentoring program in which two adults (spouses, partners, friends, or co-workers) mentor the same Little together, with flexibility for either adult to meet one-on-one with the Little or for all three to meet as a group.
• Match Makers Monthly Giving Program Recurring monthly donation program with tiers of $10, $25, $50, $100, and $250 supporting different aspects of the mentoring match process and ongoing operations. Donors receive monthly updates on match stories and program statistics; average monthly giving length is 3.5 years.
• Bowl for Kids' Sake Annual fundraising event held at Colonial Lanes and BowlDogs bowling alleys to support BBBSJC youth mentoring programs.
• Par for Potential Annual golf fundraising event held at PinSocial in Tiffin, Iowa to support youth mentoring programs.
• Match Perks Discount and free-admission program providing enrolled Big/Little matches with free or discounted access to local partner businesses, including Glide & Go Skate City, PinSocial, Iowa Children's Museum, Iowa City Bike Library, Critical Hit Games, and others.

Quantifiable outcome

• Youth who have a mentor are 54% less likely to be arrested and 52% less likely to skip school
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Glide & Go Skate CityminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProvides free admission and skate rental for enrolled Littles every 3rd Sunday from 3:00-8:00 PM. Partnership supports match bonding activities and community engagement.
• PinSocialminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOffers BOGO on putting course and duckpin bowling, Buy One Hour Get One Hour free on golf bays (Monday-Thursday). Bigs must present BBBS ID card.
• Iowa City Bike LibraryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBBBS Bigs and Littles welcome to use bike library services including bench rental, tool borrowing, and staff support for bike repairs.
• Kitty Corner Social ClubminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOffers 50% off entry for 30-minute or 1-hour visits for BBBS Bigs and Littles. Code 'BIGS' required at checkout.
• Diversions Tabletop Game CaféminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBOGO discount for any Matches visiting the café - Big pays only for gaming pass. Additional membership discounts available.
• Iowa Children's MuseumminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFREE admission for BBBS Matches - Bigs and Littles receive complimentary museum access.
• BodyARMOR Ice RinkminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLittle skates for free, Big pays $7 admission and $3 skate rental ($10 total) when together.
• Colonial LanesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBowling at $3/person/game with free shoe rental for BBBS Matches. Also hosts Bowl for Kids' Sake event.
• Diamond DreamsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFREE access to batting cages for Matches on Sundays and Mondays with reservation (Phone: 319-665-2173).
• Renee's Ceramic CaféminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBigs and Littles receive 10% discount on ceramic activities and purchases.
• Slime KitchenminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSpecial coupon: $10 off when purchasing 2 DIY Slimes. Coupon must be presented in person.
• Critical Hit GamesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOne hour of arcade time free with discount card (normally $10/person). Matches encouraged to call ahead.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Big Brothers Big Sisters of America: National parent mentoring network of which BBBSJC is an independent local affiliate. Operates the same one-to-one mentoring model, brand standards, and screening protocols, providing shared infrastructure, training, and national brand credibility that BBBSJC leverages locally.
• National Mentoring Partnership (MENTOR): National umbrella organization advancing quality youth mentoring through advocacy, research, and affiliate network support. Provides the broader policy framework, research base, and affiliate standards that underwrite evidence-based mentoring claims used by BBBSJC.
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Iowa: Sibling Iowa BBBS affiliate serving Cedar Rapids, Linn County, and surrounding communities with the same one-to-one mentoring model, brand, and national affiliation. Most direct operational peer for benchmarking program design, fundraising approach, and volunteer recruitment.

Broad incumbents

• Boys & Girls Clubs of America: Nationwide youth development nonprofit offering after-school and mentoring-style programs for school-age youth. While broader in scope (clubs, athletics, academic support), it competes for the same donor and volunteer pool in Johnson County and addresses similar youth-development outcomes.
• Iowa 4-H Youth Development: Statewide youth mentoring and development program operated through Iowa State University Extension. Serves overlapping youth populations with mentoring, leadership, and life-skills programming; competes for the same donor, volunteer, and partner-school relationships in Iowa.

Regional players

• Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois: Regional youth-development organization serving girls through mentoring-style troop leadership programs across eastern Iowa. Overlaps with BBBSJC's Girl Connections and Big Couple offerings, and competes for the same female volunteer pool in Johnson County.

Others

• United Way of Johnson County: Local community-fundraising umbrella that channels corporate and individual donations to area nonprofits including youth-serving agencies. Functions as both a potential funding partner and a competitor for workplace giving campaigns in the same Johnson County donor pool.
• Volunteer Center of Johnson County: Local volunteer-matching hub connecting community members with nonprofit opportunities, including BBBSJC. Serves as both a feeder channel for BBBSJC mentor recruitment and a partial substitute for episodic volunteer engagement.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/bbbsjc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bbbsjohnsoncounty
• Instagraminstagram.com/bbbsjohnsoncounty

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Johnson County