Big Friends Utrecht
Big Friends Utrecht is a Dutch ANBI-certified nonprofit foundation that runs a 1-on-1 mentoring program matching screened adult volunteers with children aged 6-18 from minimum-income families in Utrecht, operating as part of the national Big Friends network alongside Amsterdam.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersUtrecht, Netherlands
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Big Friends Utrecht does
Big Friends Utrecht (Stichting Big Friends Utrecht, RSIN 857113070) is a Dutch nonprofit foundation (ANBI-certified) that operates a 1-on-1 youth mentoring program matching carefully screened adult volunteers aged 21+ with children aged 6 to 18 from minimum-income families. The Utrecht entity was established in 2017 as part of the Dutch Big Friends network (formerly Big Brothers Big Sisters), which also includes Amsterdam (since 2012) and, until its 2025 closure, Rotterdam (since 1997). In February 2024 the three city organizations rebranded to 'Big Friends' to strengthen national collaboration and create distance from the American parent organization. Matches commit to weekly meetings of at least one hour for a minimum of one year, supported by professional match coordinators, mandatory volunteer training, VOG (Certificate of Conduct) verification, and reference checks.
The organization runs two core programs: the flagship 1-on-1 Big Friends mentoring program (active in Utrecht and Amsterdam) and Big Bunch, a bi-weekly group mentorship program launched to serve children on the Big Friends waiting list and their siblings (currently Amsterdam-only). Technology infrastructure is minimal — a web-based platform (bigfriends.nl) with Google Analytics and cookie-based visitor tracking — with no proprietary software, mobile application, or AI components. Differentiation rests on the inherited Big Brothers Big Sisters methodology, the 100+ year international evidence base (including the 1995 Tierney/Grossman study and 2024 Solve Consulting impact research), and a deep referral network spanning schools, Ouder- en Kindteams, buurtteams, and social service providers.
The revenue model is philanthropic: ANBI status makes donations tax-deductible, and funding is assembled from individual donations (€5-€100 recurring or one-time), corporate giving, foundation grants (VSB Fonds, KF Hein fonds, Oranjefonds, Het Vergeten Kind, KCU, PA Foundation, and others), municipal subsidies from Gemeente Utrecht, and bequests. GTM is community-led — match coordinators recruit volunteers and families through direct outreach, the website, partner referrals, and corporate presentations, with Instagram and email newsletters as supporting channels. The organization is small (1-10 employees) and recently experienced leadership disruption with Manager Utrecht on maternity leave.
Big Friends Utrecht firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Big Friends Utrecht
- Legal name
- Stichting Big Friends Utrecht
- Website
- https://bigfriends.nl
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Big Friends Utrecht is a Dutch ANBI-certified nonprofit foundation that runs a 1-on-1 mentoring program matching screened adult volunteers with children aged 6-18 from minimum-income families in Utrecht, operating as part of the national Big Friends network alongside Amsterdam.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Big Friends Utrecht industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Youth Mentoring Services
- NAICS
- Child and Youth Services (62411), Child and Youth Services (624110), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Youth Mentoring & Positive Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Peer Support, Mentoring & Student Leadership (SEL) (EDAKAMAO), Student Mentoring & Peer Support Programs (EDAJALAL)
Keywords
Where Big Friends Utrecht is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Utrecht
- HQ country
- Netherlands
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Big Friends Utrecht business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Individual Donations: Recurring and one-time donations from individuals supporting the organization's mission. Donors can contribute weekly, monthly, quarterly, or yearly at amounts of €5, €10, €25, €50, €75, or €100. As an ANBI-certified organization, donations are tax-deductible for Dutch donors.
- Foundation and Fund Support: Financial contributions from various foundations and funds including VSB Fonds, Oranjefonds, KF Hein fonds, and others. Big Friends Utrecht received support from Ladies Circle Utrecht, Katholieke Caritas Instelling Utrecht (KCU), PA Foundation, and Stichting 't Leefhuis.
- Government Subsidies: Municipal subsidies from the Gemeente Utrecht supporting the organization's mentoring programs. The organization also participates in the 'Kansen voor Kinderen' program through Oranje Fonds and Movisie.
- Legacy/Bequest Donations: The organization accepts inheritances and bequests in wills. As an ANBI, bequests to Big Friends are 100% directed to the organization without inheritance tax obligations.
- Corporate Donations: Support from businesses that collaborate with Big Friends, including financial contributions and employee volunteer programs. The organization conducts presentations at companies to engage corporate partners.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | One-time or recurring monetary donations supporting child mentoring programs |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Big Friends Utrecht product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Big Friends Utrecht runs a 1-on-1 mentoring program that matches children aged 6-18 from minimum-income families with carefully screened and trained volunteer adult mentors (21+). Volunteers commit to weekly meetings of at least one hour for a minimum of one year, engaging in activities such as sports, games, crafts, and museum visits. The organization also supports a group mentoring variant (Big Bunch) for children on the waiting list or their siblings through bi-weekly group activities.
Product overview
Big Friends is a mentor program consisting of two main offerings: the Big Friends 1-on-1 program (active in Utrecht and Amsterdam) that pairs children aged 6-18 from minimum-income families with volunteer mentors for weekly activities and relationship support, and the Big Bunch group program (available only in Amsterdam) that serves children on the waiting list or their siblings with bi-weekly supervised group activities. Both programs aim to broaden horizons, develop talents, and improve social skills in vulnerable children through mentorship relationships.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Big Friends (1-on-1 Mentoring Program) A 1-on-1 mentorship program that matches children aged 6-18 from low-income families with carefully selected and well-trained volunteer mentors ('Big Friends'). Volunteers commit to meeting with their matched child weekly for at least one year, engaging in activities like sports, games, crafts, and museum visits. The program aims to broaden horizons, develop talents, and improve social skills in vulnerable children through mentorship relationships.
- Big Bunch (Group Mentoring Program) A group mentorship program available only in Amsterdam for children and youth on the waiting list for the 1-on-1 Big Friends program and/or their siblings. The program organizes bi-weekly activities led by volunteers, including sports, cultural, and creative activities that contribute to horizon broadening, talent development, and social development.
Quantifiable outcome
- Children with a Big Friend show significant positive progress in personal life and school performance
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Big Friends Utrecht
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Big Friends Utrecht technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Big Friends Utrecht partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.
- KinderpostzegelsflagshipNational partner of Big Friends. Kinderpostzegels supports children struggling with poverty, loneliness, and problems at home. They celebrated their 100th anniversary in 2024. They provided invitations to SAIL Amsterdam 2025 for Big Friends matches.
- Al-AmalcoreLocal Utrecht partner collaborating with Big Friends Utrecht.
- Buurtteams UtrechtcoreCommunity teams in Utrecht that refer children and families to Big Friends programs.
- Vrijwilligerscentrale UtrechtcoreVolunteer center in Utrecht collaborating with Big Friends for volunteer recruitment and coordination.
- Universiteit UtrechtcoreUniversity of Utrecht collaborating with Big Friends Utrecht for volunteer engagement and academic partnerships.
- Museum CatharijneconventminorCultural partner in Utrecht offering activities and experiences for Big Friends matches.
- Centraal MuseumminorCultural partner in Utrecht providing museum access and cultural activities for matched children.
- PA consultingcoreNational partner providing professional consulting support to Big Friends.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Big Friends Utrecht competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Kinderpostzegels: Major Dutch children's charity celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2024 and a Flagship national partner of Big Friends. Functions as a larger umbrella funder/intermediary that supports many youth-development nonprofits across the Netherlands, including programs for children facing poverty, loneliness, and family problems.
- Big Brothers Big Sisters (international): The original global mentoring organization from which Big Friends originated in 1904; while Big Friends Utrecht formally separated from the US parent in 2024, BBBS remains the methodological and brand predecessor, serving as the global benchmark for 1-on-1 youth mentoring.
Direct peers
- Stichting De Grote Broer / Big Brothers Big Sisters Nederland (historical): The Dutch predecessor of the current Big Friends Utrecht brand itself, operating under the Big Brothers Big Sisters name until the February 2024 rebrand; included as a self-reference for historical continuity of the same organization.
- Het Vergeten Kind: Dutch foundation supporting vulnerable children in the Netherlands, including through mentoring and buddy-style relationships; a documented financial partner of Big Friends and a comparable Dutch nonprofit serving overlapping beneficiary profiles.
- Stichting JINC: Dutch nonprofit that connects children from lower-income backgrounds with professionals and workplaces through structured mentoring-style programs. Highly comparable as a Dutch youth mentoring nonprofit targeting the same demographic with similar volunteer-driven methodology.
- Stichting IMC Weekendschool: Dutch nonprofit providing weekend enrichment programs for children aged 10-14 from disadvantaged backgrounds to broaden horizons and develop talents. Comparable target population and outcome framework (horizon expansion, talent development), with a group-based rather than 1-on-1 delivery model.
- Stichting Leergeld: National Dutch nonprofit network helping children from low-income families participate in social activities such as sports, school trips, and cultural outings. Directly comparable mission of broadening horizons for the same minimum-income child segment, though delivered via financial support rather than volunteers.
Emerging players
- Stichting Buddyzorg: Dutch volunteer-driven buddy program that pairs adult volunteers with vulnerable individuals (children and adults) for companionship and social support. Comparable volunteer-based 1-on-1 buddy model, though serving a broader population beyond just low-income youth.
Regional players
- Jeugdfonds Sport & Cultuur: National Dutch fund paying sports and cultural club memberships for children from low-income families. Operates in the same target demographic and complements Big Friends' mission of broadening horizons through cultural and sports exposure, but via subsidies rather than volunteers.
- Samen voor Overvecht: Utrecht-area partnership program supporting residents of the Overvecht neighborhood with the highest poverty concentration in Utrecht. A documented 2024 financial contributor to Big Friends Utrecht; highly comparable geographic focus on disadvantaged Utrecht residents, though broader than youth-only.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Big Friends Utrecht social profiles
Digital presenceBig Friends Utrecht compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Big Friends Utrecht financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Big Friends Utrecht leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Big Friends Utrecht funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Big Friends Utrecht M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Big Friends Utrecht
What does Big Friends Utrecht do?
Big Friends Utrecht runs a 1-on-1 mentoring program that matches children aged 6-18 from minimum-income families with carefully screened and trained volunteer adult mentors (21+). Volunteers commit to weekly meetings of at least one hour for a minimum of one year, engaging in activities such as sports, games, crafts, and museum visits. The organization also supports a group mentoring variant (Big Bunch) for children on the waiting list or their siblings through bi-weekly group activities.
Is Big Friends Utrecht a public or private company?
Big Friends Utrecht is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Big Friends Utrecht founded?
Big Friends Utrecht was founded in 2017. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Big Friends Utrecht based?
Big Friends Utrecht is headquartered in Utrecht, Netherlands, in the Europe region.
How does Big Friends Utrecht make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Individual Donations are the primary driver. The others are foundation and Fund Support, government Subsidies, legacy/Bequest Donations and corporate Donations.
Who are Big Friends Utrecht's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Kinderpostzegels and Big Brothers Big Sisters (international). Direct peers are Stichting De Grote Broer / Big Brothers Big Sisters Nederland (historical), Het Vergeten Kind, Stichting JINC, Stichting IMC Weekendschool and Stichting Leergeld. Stichting Buddyzorg is listed as an emerging player. Regional players are Jeugdfonds Sport & Cultuur and Samen voor Overvecht.
Does Big Friends Utrecht have an API?
No public API is recorded for Big Friends Utrecht.
What industry is Big Friends Utrecht in?
Big Friends Utrecht's product category is Youth Mentoring Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGADAD, Youth Mentoring & Positive Youth Development Nonprofits, with a secondary code of EDAKAMAO, Peer Support, Mentoring & Student Leadership (SEL). Its NAICS code is 62411 and its SIC code is 8300.