Big Brothers Big Sisters of East Tennessee

What Big Brothers Big Sisters of East Tennessee does

Big Brothers Big Sisters of East Tennessee (BBBS-ETN) is a nonprofit youth mentoring organization founded in 1970 and headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee, with regional offices in Kingsport and Bristol. As a member agency of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America — the oldest and largest youth mentoring organization in the United States, comprising nearly 250 agencies — BBBS-ETN operates across Knox, Blount, Anderson, Cocke, and the Tri-Cities counties, serving children ages 6 and older through professionally supported one-to-one mentoring relationships with adult volunteers. The organization supports over 400 active matches and offers multiple program formats: Site-Based mentoring in schools, Community-Based mentoring using the REACH activities framework, BoldPath school-based coaching, Big Futures post-secondary support for ages up to 25, S.T.E.M. Mentoring, Bigs in Blue (police officer mentoring), and High School Bigs.

Program delivery depends on a professionally trained volunteer base that undergoes background checks, fingerprinting, and reference checks, with dedicated Match Support Specialists assigned to each mentoring relationship. The underlying technology infrastructure consists of standard nonprofit CRM and case management tools — NeonCRM for donation processing and internal relationship management — with no proprietary technology or AI-driven systems disclosed. Distribution occurs through direct school partnerships (15+ schools in Knox County alone), Boys & Girls Club locations, and community-based settings.

BBBS-ETN operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit funded entirely through donations, corporate sponsorships and in-kind contributions, community rewards programs (AmazonSmile, Kroger), and a grant contract with the State of Tennessee. All programs are provided at no cost to participating families. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors led by President Dipak Patel and President-Elect Carol Davis, with CEO Tyler Boldin overseeing operations. Revenue is not publicly disclosed, and the organization has no equity owners, funding rounds, or institutional investment — it is community-funded and mission-driven.

Name

Big Brothers Big Sisters of East Tennessee

Legal name

Big Brothers Big Sisters of East Tennessee, Inc.

Website

https://tennesseebig.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Big Brothers Big Sisters of East Tennessee is a Knoxville-based nonprofit youth mentoring organization serving children ages 6 and older across East Tennessee through 400+ active one-to-one mentoring relationships, offering school-based, community-based, and specialized programs funded by donations, grants, and corporate sponsorships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Mentoring Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Mentoring & Positive Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Student Mentoring & Peer Support Programs (EDAJALAL), After-School, Tutoring & Academic Enrichment Nonprofits (BPAGADAC), Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services (BPAGAEAL)

Keywords

• Youth mentoring programs
• One-to-one mentoring
• Community-based mentoring
• School-based mentoring
• Nonprofit youth services

Headquarters

HQ city

Knoxville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Direct donations from individuals supporting one-to-one mentoring relationships and program operations
2. Corporate Partnerships & Sponsorships: Corporate sponsors at various levels providing financial support, in-kind donations, and community partnerships for REACH activities
3. Grant Funding: Funding under Grant Contract with the State of Tennessee; likely additional foundation and government grants
4. Community Rewards Programs: AmazonSmile and Kroger Community Rewards programs where shopping contributions support the organization at no cost to shoppers

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Big Brothers Big Sisters of East Tennessee creates and professionally supports one-to-one mentoring relationships between adult volunteers (Bigs) and youth ages 6 and older (Littles) across East Tennessee. Its two core program types are Site-Based mentoring (in schools/after-school programs) and Community-Based mentoring (using the REACH framework of Recreation, Education, Arts, Community, and Health activities), supplemented by specialized initiatives including BoldPath, Big Futures, S.T.E.M. Mentoring, Bigs in Blue, and High School Bigs.

Product overview

Big Brothers Big Sisters of East Tennessee operates a unified youth mentoring platform with two core programs—Site-Based (school-based mentoring) and Community-Based (community-based activities using the REACH framework)—complemented by specialized program initiatives including BoldPath (professional school-based coaching), Big Futures (post-secondary support for ages up to 25), S.T.E.M. Mentoring (STEM career-focused), Bigs in Blue (police mentoring), and High School Bigs (student volunteers). The organization also provides scholarship programs for mentees pursuing post-secondary education. All programs are supported by Match Support Services that assign trained specialists to each mentoring relationship.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Site-Based Mentoring Program Mentoring program where Littles meet with their Bigs at central locations such as schools or after-school programs. Bigs visit once a week for 30-60 minutes, 3-4 times per month. Minimum age for Bigs is 15, and for Littles is 6.
• Community-Based Mentoring Program Mentoring program where Bigs and Littles participate in no-cost or low-cost activities in the community. The Big picks up their Little and participates in activities for 2-3 hours, 2-3 times per month. Uses the REACH concept (Recreation, Education, Arts, Community, Health) for structured activities. Minimum age for Bigs is 23, and for Littles is 6.
• BoldPath School Coaching School-based mentorship program featuring full-time BBBS employees as professional coaches serving youth in one-to-one and small group settings. Currently operates at Vine Middle Magnet School and Maynard Elementary School, supporting over 60 youth.
• Big Futures Comprehensive support program for high school students and young adults up to age 25, guiding them through key life milestones including starting high school, graduating, and transitioning into young adulthood with individualized support.
• S.T.E.M. Mentoring Mentorship program pairing Littles with Bigs who have careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math fields. Made possible by Arconic Foundation.
• Bigs in Blue One-to-one mentoring program connecting police officers with Littles, designed to help disarm bigotry, racism, and preconceived stereotypes by connecting officers to the young people they serve.
• High School Bigs Volunteer program for high school students to serve as mentors in the Site-Based program, meeting with their Littles once a week for one hour at elementary schools, middle schools, or after-school programs.
• BBBS-ETN General Scholarship Fund General scholarship fund supporting mentees in their postsecondary pathways including two- and four-year schools, trade schools, and certificate programs.
• Austin French Memorial Scholarship Memorial scholarship honoring Austin French, prioritizing mentees planning to attend trade school, those in long-term matches, and those demonstrating kindness, work ethic, and devotion to family.
• Michael Harrison Manrod Scholarship Memorial scholarship for aspiring college or trade school students, preferably first-generation, who demonstrate passion for learning, compassion for others, and ability to face adversity.
• Big Alumni Network Dynamic community program for former Bigs, Littles, and supporters to reconnect, reengage, and contribute to the continued success of BBBS-ETN.
• Match Support Services Professional support services including Match Support Specialists assigned to each match, Match and Family Engagement Manager, and ongoing training and enrichment activities for mentors, mentees, and families.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 400 active matches in 2024
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

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

• Arconic FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArconic Foundation supports the S.T.E.M. Mentoring program, which matches Littles with Bigs who have careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math fields. The foundation also sponsors career fairs and scholarship opportunities.
• Corporate Sponsors (Various)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerMultiple corporate sponsors provide financial support at various sponsorship levels. Logos displayed include companies supporting through direct sponsorship, in-kind donations, and cause marketing programs. Contact development team for sponsorship levels and benefits.
• Community Partners (Various)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerOver 100 community partners provide discounted services and donated tickets to sporting, cultural, and recreational events that enable REACH activities for Bigs and Littles at little to no cost.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater KingsportmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSite-based mentoring partnerships at Boys & Girls Club locations in the Tri-Cities area, providing after-school mentoring opportunities for youth.
• AmazonSmileminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity Rewards program allowing shoppers to support BBBS-ETN when making purchases on Amazon, at no additional cost to the shopper.
• KrogerminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity Rewards program allowing Kroger shoppers to designate BBBS-ETN as their charitable organization, with a percentage of purchases donated.
• United Way (Various Regional Chapters)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnerships with United Way of Greater Knoxville, United Way of Blount County, United Way of Anderson County, United Way of Sevier County, United Way of Greater Kingsport, and United Way of Bristol provide community resource referrals and collaborative support.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee: Another regional BBBSA member agency serving Tennessee with the same one-to-one youth mentoring model. Most directly comparable peer given shared geography, identical program structure, and shared national affiliation.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley: Regional youth development nonprofit operating after-school programming and mentoring in the same East Tennessee geography. Compares directly given shared site-based delivery model and overlapping youth populations served.
• Communities In Schools of Tennessee: Statewide network that places school-based coordinators to support at-risk youth, directly overlapping BBBS-ETN's BoldPath site-based coaching model. Competes for similar state funding and school district partnerships.
• Mentor Tennessee: Statewide mentoring advocacy and support organization that promotes and resources mentoring programs across Tennessee. Comparable as a peer operating in the same state-level mentoring ecosystem.

Broad incumbents

• Big Brothers Big Sisters of America: National parent organization and federation of nearly 250 youth mentoring agencies including BBBS-ETN. Comparable as the umbrella brand and standard-setter for the one-to-one mentoring model BBBS-ETN delivers.
• YMCA of East Tennessee: Regional youth development, after-school, and family services provider operating across East Tennessee. Comparable given shared geography, youth programming focus, and nonprofit funding model.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of America: National youth development organization with similar mission of supporting young people through mentoring and after-school programming. BBBS-ETN already partners with local Boys & Girls Club sites, demonstrating operational overlap.
• Girls Inc. of Tennessee: Regional affiliate of national youth development organization focused on girls' empowerment. Comparable given shared mentoring, life-skills, and post-secondary support programming model.
• Tennessee 4-H Youth Development: University-extension-based youth development program reaching youth across Tennessee counties. Comparable given shared geographic footprint, youth mentorship activities, and public-affiliation funding model.

Others

• United Way of Greater Knoxville: Regional United Way chapter that funnels donor dollars to partner agencies including BBBS-ETN. Comparable as a funding ecosystem participant rather than direct service competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/TennesseeBig
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/BigBroBigSisETN
• Facebookfacebook.com/BBBSofEastTN
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/big-brothers-big-sisters-of-east-tennessee
• Instagraminstagram.com/tennessee_big

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 East Tennessee