Big Brothers Big Sisters of McHenry County

What Big Brothers Big Sisters of McHenry County does

Big Brothers Big Sisters of McHenry County is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1984 and headquartered in Crystal Lake, Illinois. It operates as a local affiliate of the national Big Brothers Big Sisters of America network, delivering one-to-one youth mentoring services to at-risk children and young adults ages 6-26 across McHenry County, Illinois. The organization is staffed by approximately 10-12 employees under Executive Director Leslie Blake, with no proprietary technology platform supporting its operations.

The organization's core product portfolio consists of five mentoring programs: Community Based Mentoring (traditional one-to-one adult-to-youth matches ages 6-18 meeting 2-4 times monthly), Lunch Time Mentoring (school-based weekly lunch-hour matches), After School Mentoring (high school student volunteers mentoring ages 6-13), Big Futures (post-secondary education and career mentoring up to age 26), and Big Scots (a 2025 group mentoring partnership with McHenry County College). It also operates three annual fundraising events: Bowl For Kids' Sake, Swing For Kids' Sake, and The BIG Event gala.

Revenue is generated entirely through donations, with streams spanning individual giving (one-time and recurring), corporate sponsorships (BMO, Home State Bank, Advia Credit Union, Composites One, Foglia Family Foundation, among others), event-based fundraising, planned giving, and in-kind contributions. Programs are provided at no cost to youth participants. Distribution is community-led: volunteer mentors are recruited through workplace presentations, community outreach, and school partnerships; Littles are enrolled through parent/guardian inquiry, school social worker referrals, and community channels. The organization publishes outcome metrics including 73% college-influence rate, 78% reduction in likelihood of illegal drug use, 86% increase in self-confidence, and 84% improvement in relationships, with board governance drawn from senior executives across local banking, legal, education, and public-sector institutions.

Name

Big Brothers Big Sisters of McHenry County

Legal name

Big Brothers Big Sisters of McHenry County

Website

https://bbbsmchenry.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Big Brothers Big Sisters of McHenry County is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1984 that delivers one-to-one youth mentoring programs to at-risk children and young adults ages 6-26 across McHenry County, Illinois, funded entirely through individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and annual 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)

Keywords

• Youth mentoring services
• Nonprofit youth programs
• Volunteer mentor matching
• School-based mentoring
• Community youth development

Headquarters

HQ city

Crystal Lake

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: Cash donations from individuals through online portal, direct mail, and workplace giving programs. Donors can make one-time or monthly contributions at various levels ($25-$150+).
2. Corporate Sponsorships: Annual corporate sponsorships for special events and programs. Companies sponsor activities at Bowl For Kids' Sake, Swing For Kids' Sake, and The BIG Event.
3. Event Fundraising: Revenue from signature events including Bowl For Kids' Sake (bowling event), Swing For Kids' Sake (golf outing), and The BIG Event (annual gala). Includes registration fees, sponsorships, and auction items.
4. Planned Giving: Endowment funds, bequests, trusts, life insurance beneficiary designations, and real estate gifts that provide long-term sustainable funding.
5. In-Kind Donations: Gifts of property, professional services, auction items, and holiday gifts for Littles in the program.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Big Brothers Big Sisters of McHenry County creates and supports one-to-one mentoring relationships that match at-risk youth (Littles, ages 6-26) with screened adult volunteer mentors (Bigs) in McHenry County, Illinois. Programs are delivered through multiple formats including traditional community-based mentoring, school-based lunch and after-school mentoring, college student group mentoring, and career/education-focused mentoring for older youth, with all services provided at no cost to participants and funded through donations, corporate sponsorships, and fundraising events.

Product overview

Big Brothers Big Sisters of McHenry County offers a suite of youth mentoring programs delivered through multiple service models. The core portfolio consists of five distinct programs: Community Based Mentoring (traditional one-to-one mentoring with adults for children ages 6-18), Lunch Time Mentoring (school-based weekly meetings during lunch hour), After School Mentoring (high school student volunteers mentoring children ages 6-13), Big Futures (career and education-focused mentoring for ages up to 26), and Big Scots (MCC student-led group mentoring). The organization also operates three annual fundraising events: Bowl For Kids' Sake, Swing For Kids' Sake golf outing, and The BIG Event. The programs share a common matching infrastructure, screening standards, and match support services under the Big Brothers Big Sisters National Standards of Excellence framework.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Community Based Mentoring The traditional BBBS one-to-one mentoring model that matches McHenry County children ages 6-18 with an adult volunteer mentor (Big). Matches spend time together 2-4 times per month participating in activities in the community.
• Lunch Time Mentoring A school-based mentoring program where volunteer mentors meet with Littles one day per week during the child's lunch hour at local elementary or middle schools, with a minimum commitment of one school year.
• After School Mentoring A school-based program where high school student volunteers mentor children ages 6-13, held weekly in a group supervised setting for one hour after school throughout the school year.
• Big Futures A program serving mentees up to age 26 and their mentors, providing additional support and guidance for educational and career decisions, with the goal of enrolling, employing, or enlisting mentees after high school graduation.
• Big Scots A partnership with McHenry County College (MCC) where MCC students serve as mentors through an interactive group mentoring experience, meeting with Littles ages 6-13 one to two times per month. MCC students gain leadership skills, resume experience, references, and the option to earn Silver Cord volunteer hours.
• Bowl For Kids' Sake An annual peer-to-peer fundraising event where community members collect donations and celebrate at bowling events to support BBBS McHenry County programs.
• Swing For Kids' Sake An annual golf outing fundraiser featuring 18 holes with lunch, dinner, drinks, silent auction, and various course games to benefit BBBS McHenry County programs.
• The BIG Event

Quantifiable outcome

• 73% of Littles report their Big impacted their decision to attend college
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 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

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

• McHenry County College (MCC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Partnership to provide group mentoring through MCC students (Big Scots program). MCC students serve as mentors for youth ages 6-13, meeting 1-2 times monthly for interactive group mentoring sessions. MCC students gain leadership skills, resume experience, references, and option to earn Silver Cord volunteer hours.
• BMOcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual corporate sponsor of Big Brothers Big Sisters of McHenry County events and programs. BMO staff member Jonathan O'Dea serves as Board Chairperson.
• Advia Credit UnionmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual corporate sponsor of BBBS McHenry County events including Bowl For Kids' Sake and Swing For Kids' Sake.
• Home State BankmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual corporate sponsor. Home State Bank staff member Ryan Farrell serves as Board Vice Chairperson.
• American Community Bank & Trust (ACBT)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual corporate sponsor supporting BBBS McHenry County events and programs.
• Foglia Family FoundationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor supporter and sponsor of The BIG Event. Foundation provides significant funding and support for the annual gala and mentoring mission.
• McHenry County SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with elementary and middle schools across McHenry County to deliver Lunch Time Mentoring and After School Mentoring programs. School social workers identify and refer students who would benefit from mentoring.
• Boulder Ridge Country ClubminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVenue partner for The BIG Event annual gala (November 6, 2026).
• Home State BankmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual corporate sponsor. Home State Bank staff member Ryan Farrell serves as Board Vice Chairperson.
• Composites OnemajorGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual corporate sponsor. Composites One staff member Dave Smith serves as Board Treasurer.
• ZCWS LawminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBoard member Heather Kroencke represents ZCWS Law on the Board of Directors.
• Elite Laser and Skin SpaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBoard member DeAnna Kell represents Elite Laser and Skin Spa on the Board of Directors.
• VestGen Wealth PartnersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBoard member Joe Lyons represents VestGen Wealth Partners on the Board of Directors.
• Plote PropertiesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAdvisory board member David Plote represents Plote Properties on the Board of Advisors.
• Northwestern MutualminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAdvisory board member Jim Kratochvil represents Northwestern Mutual on the Board of Advisors.
• JE Cook & AssociatesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAdvisory board member Jack Cook represents JE Cook & Associates on the Board of Advisors.
• McHenry County Sheriff's OfficeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoard member Robb Tadelman represents the McHenry County Sheriff on the Board of Directors.
• McHenry County State's Attorney's OfficeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoard member Randi Freese represents the McHenry County State's Attorney on the Board of Directors.
• Woodstock School District 200minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoard member Kevin Lyons represents Woodstock School District 200 on the Board of Directors.
• McHenry County CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoard member Talia Koronkiewicz represents McHenry County College on the Board of Directors.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Girls Inc. National nonprofit delivering mentoring, education, and youth development programming to at-risk girls through local affiliates. Comparable in mentoring-driven outcomes, local affiliate model, and corporate partnership fundraising.
• Junior Achievement: Youth-focused nonprofit delivering education and mentoring programs in schools, with measurable college and career readiness outcomes. Comparable in school-based delivery, donor and corporate sponsorship funding, and focus on at-risk youth outcomes.
• 4-H (National 4-H Council): Youth development organization offering mentoring, after-school, and leadership programs for school-age children through local clubs and school partnerships. Comparable in youth-outcome focus, volunteer-driven model, and nonprofit funding structure.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of America: National youth-development nonprofit network offering mentorship, after-school programming, and youth services to at-risk children and teens. Highly comparable in mission, donor-funded model, and reliance on local affiliates serving school-age youth.
• Boys & Girls Club of McHenry County: Local Boys & Girls Club affiliate serving the same McHenry County geography with after-school and youth development programming. Directly comparable in target geography, donor pool, volunteer base, and youth outcome focus.
• YMCA of McHenry County: Local YMCA delivering youth programs, after-school care, and mentoring-adjacent services to families in McHenry County. Comparable in youth and family services mission, local donor and corporate sponsorship model, and school-based program delivery.

Broad incumbents

• MENTOR (National Mentoring Resource Center): National umbrella organization advancing quality youth mentoring through research, advocacy, and affiliate support. Comparable because it strengthens and standardizes the broader mentoring ecosystem in which BBBS McHenry County operates.
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of America: The national parent organization that sets program standards, brand, and frameworks for local BBBS affiliates including McHenry County. Comparable because it operates the same mentoring model at scale and the affiliate is governed by its Standards of Excellence.
• Salvation Army: Large faith-affiliated nonprofit providing youth programs, family services, and community support with similar donor and volunteer funding mechanics. Comparable in at-risk youth and family support mission and community-based delivery.

Regional players

• United Way of McHenry County: Regional fundraising and grantmaking organization supporting health and human services in the same McHenry County geography. Comparable because it competes for the same local corporate giving pool and donor mindshare.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/bbbsmchenry

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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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 McHenry County