Big Brothers Big Sisters of Dane County

What Big Brothers Big Sisters of Dane County does

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Dane County is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1966 and based in Madison, Wisconsin, operating as an independent local affiliate of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. The organization's core product is a one-to-one youth mentoring program that matches adult volunteers ("Bigs") with children ages 6–13 ("Littles") through community-based, school-based, and site-based program models. Matches meet two to four times per month for activities coordinated within a roughly 20-minute drive radius, with programs including School Friends and a High School Leadership Program; matches may remain active until the Little reaches age 18. Professional Match Support Specialists provide ongoing case management, and all volunteers are subject to a comprehensive screening process. Services are provided free of charge to participating families.

The organization has 21 employees and is governed by a Board of Directors under CEO Sandy Morales. Revenue is generated through a diversified mix of individual donations, corporate sponsorships, peer-to-peer fundraising, planned giving, and foundation grants, with donations accepted across conventional and non-traditional vehicles including Venmo, cryptocurrency, stock, vehicles, and donor-advised funds. Annual fundraising events — Bowl for Kids' Sake, the Dream BIG Gala, THE HUNT scavenger hunt, and Trivia Night — form a recurring revenue and community-engagement calendar, and the organization leverages a multi-channel presence spanning website, social media, email, earned media, and, as of February 2025, a podcast (The BIG Difference). Technology is non-proprietary: the organization relies on standard nonprofit case management and donor management systems, third-party web forms, and a scavenger hunt app for event operations. In 2026 the organization marked its 60th anniversary with the launch of an Alumni Ambassador Program inviting former Bigs and Littles to remain engaged. The beneficiary population skews heavily toward Black and brown communities, which represent 88% of youth served.

Name

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Dane County

Legal name

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Dane County

Website

https://bbbsmadison.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1966

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Dane County is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1966 that matches adult volunteer mentors with Dane County youth ages 6–13 through community- and school-based programs, funded by donations, grants, and annual fundraising events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Mentoring Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Mentoring & Positive Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAD)

Keywords

• Youth mentoring services
• Nonprofit volunteer programs
• One-to-one mentoring
• Youth development programs
• Community fundraising events

Headquarters

HQ city

Madison

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: Tax-deductible donations from individuals supporting youth mentorship programs. EIN 39-1077783. Donors can give via check, credit card, EFT, Venmo, cryptocurrency, stock, vehicles, or property.
2. Corporate Sponsorships: Event sponsorship opportunities for Bowl for Kids' Sake, Dream BIG Gala, THE HUNT, and Trivia Night. Sponsors gain exposure to community-minded business leaders and expand organizational reach.
3. Peer-to-Peer Fundraising: Participants raise funds from friends, family, and coworkers through event participation. Teams set fundraising goals and engage their networks.
4. Planned Giving: Legacy giving through bequests and beneficiary designations supporting long-term organizational sustainability.
5. Foundation Grants: Support from foundations such as Ascendium Education Group for specific program expansions (e.g., Marshall High School mentoring program).

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Dane County is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that creates and supports one-to-one mentoring relationships between screened adult volunteers (Bigs) and children ages 6-13 (Littles) in Madison and Dane County, Wisconsin. The organization delivers community-based and site-based mentoring, school partnership programs, and annual fundraising events (Bowl for Kids' Sake, Dream BIG Gala, THE HUNT, Trivia Night) to sustain operations.

Product overview

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Dane County operates as a nonprofit youth mentoring organization offering community-based and site-based one-to-one mentoring programs. The core product is the Community-Based Mentoring Program, which matches adult volunteers (Bigs) with children ages 6-13 (Littles) for ongoing mentoring relationships. Additional offerings include Site-Based Programs (School Friends, High School Leadership), the Alumni Ambassador Program, and Training Center resources. The organization also runs annual fundraising events including Bowl for Kids' Sake, Dream BIG Gala, THE HUNT scavenger hunt, and Trivia Night. In 2025, they launched The BIG Difference Podcast hosted by Community Partnerships Manager Tracy Anderson.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The BIG Difference Podcast: The organization's first podcast hosted by Community Partnerships Manager Tracy Anderson, featuring conversations about mentorship and its transformative impact on young lives.

Products and services

• Community-Based Mentoring Program One-to-one mentoring relationships between adult volunteers (Bigs) and children ages 6-13 (Littles), where matches meet 2-4 times per month for activities in the community. Matches are based on geography (within 20-minute drive), preferences, and shared interests. Services are provided free of charge to participating families.
• Site-Based Mentoring Programs Mentoring delivered at schools or designated community sites rather than in the broader community. Includes School Friends and High School Leadership Programs where Bigs may be high school or college students, with the Marshall High School program supported by an Ascendium Education Group grant.
• Bowl for Kids' Sake Peer-to-peer fundraising event where teams of 4-6 people set and meet fundraising goals, with celebratory bowling parties hosted at local bowling centers. Engages companies and community members to raise funds to support mentoring programs.
• Dream BIG Gala Premier annual fundraiser featuring a live program, captivating entertainment, and extensive silent auction to support transformative mentoring experiences for youth in Dane County. Tickets and sponsorships sold to individuals and corporate partners.
• THE HUNT County-wide scavenger hunt and peer-to-peer fundraiser featuring engaging Missions that get participants outside exploring Dane County, delivered via a scavenger hunt app with over 150 Missions.
• Trivia Night Fundraising event where teams of 4-8 people come together for a night of trivia, appetizers, and prizes, with all proceeds supporting local mentoring programs. Coordinated by Development & Special Events Coordinator Irelyn Baumberger.

Quantifiable outcome

• Children are more confident, more likely to steer clear of drugs and alcohol, do better in school, get along better with family and friends, and feel better about themselves
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 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

Five partnerships are on record, tiered major and minor.

• Ascendium Education GroupmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 June 2023Ascendium awarded a Good Neighbor Grant to expand the mentoring program at Marshall High School after a successful pilot year. This partnership supports program expansion and reach into additional schools.
• Spare Time MadisonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBowl for Kids' Sake venue partner hosting bowling event. Local business provides space for fundraising activities.
• Bowl-a-Vard LanesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBowl for Kids' Sake venue partner hosting bowling event. Local business provides space for fundraising activities.
• Ten Pin AlleyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue for Big/Little Bowling Day event. Local business supports program participants.
• Madison Marriott WestminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue for 2026 Dream BIG Gala. Hotel provides event space for annual premier fundraiser.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/BBBSDaneCounty
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/bbbsdanecounty
• Facebookfacebook.com/BBBSDaneCounty
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bbbsdanecounty
• Instagraminstagram.com/bbbsdaneco

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Dane County