Volunteer as a mentor, a friend, a BIG for Twin Cities youth!

BE A MENTOR

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Over 200 new volunteer mentors from our Twin Cities community signed up to #BeBig during The BIG Recruit 2024! 🎉

Yet, we still have youth waiting for a mentor just like you. You don’t need special skills, talents or prior mentoring experience. It takes a little time, a little encouragement and a laugh or two, so every youth has what – and who – they need to achieve a big and brighter future. Mentorship sounds huge, but guess what? IT TAKES LITTLE TO BE BIG!

Get Started

Sign up to get started on volunteering as a Big.

Once you complete this form, you’ll receive an email with two next steps: Watch a video to learn more about volunteering, and then complete the application to start your mentoring journey.

You can also schedule one-on-one time with our Community Engagement & Recruitment team to learn about volunteering, or even partnering with us. Or, simply drop us an email at volunteers@bigstwincities.org.

  • Please complete the form below
  • Form should take less than 1 minute to complete
  • Submitting this form does not obligate you to volunteer.
Contact Information






Thank you for your interest in volunteering with Big Brothers Big Sisters Twin Cities!

Unfortunately, you must be at least 16 years or older to volunteer with us as a youth mentor. We hope you'll consider reconnecting with us in the future.  


In an effort to be as inclusive as possible and reach out to potential volunteers in all areas of the Twin Cities, we would welcome you to share your background to the extent you are comfortable in the questions below.

















College Students:select "Student: College" 
Next Steps
Once you click “submit”, you’ll receive an email from us with a pre-recorded info session and an application link. Please take 5 minutes to watch the video and then apply!


If you have any questions, feel free to email us at volunteer@bigstwincities.org.




 

DO SOMETHING BIG

Youth who have a mentor, another caring adult in their life, excel in many ways. It’s the student who makes measurable gains in academic performance. It’s the young person who is affirmed in who they are or want to be. It’s the young adult who has opportunities to explore and plan their future. 

See the Stats.

WE SUPPORT YOU

Our professional and committed staff will be there every step of the way to provide support, offer encouragement, and connect you with valuable resources. You’ll also partner with the child’s family who play an important role in the match relationship. We also create space for mutual support and community for Bigs to get together like Big Meetups and Big Socials periodically during the year.

Learn about our commitment to Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion.

HOW YOU JOIN

The first step is to sign up to learn more about volunteering as a mentor. Take 5 minutes to watch the video on volunteering, and then you’ll then complete an application. Next, we’ll conduct a background check and interview to ensure youth safety.

When you’re accepted, we’ll match you with a youth based on shared interests, values, identities, hobbies, and/or location. This process can take a few days to few weeks, but we promise it’s worth the wait! 

YOU DON'T NEED EXPERIENCE

You don’t have to be perfect nor have prior mentoring experience. Our volunteers come from a variety of cultures, backgrounds and life experiences, but one thing they have in common is a willingness to see the best in young people. When asked to describe their ideal mentor, young people used words like “compassionate,” “playful,” “dependable,” and “willing to learn.”

BE A MENTOR  Read our volunteer profile

READY TO DO SOMETHING BIG?

VOLUNTEER TODAY

YOUTH MENTORING HAS A BIG IMPACT

When children thrive, our community thrives. Research shows that for every dollar invested in BBBS, society receives at least $5 in benefits. We achieve this impressive ROI by connecting Twin Cities youth with supportive adult mentors.

  • 91%

    Kept or created plans for high school graduation and beyond
  • 86%

    Reported a strong or increasing level of engagement with school
  • 86%

    Stayed on track with or improved emotional regulation skills

HERE'S WHAT VOLUNTEERS SAY

Mentoring has a ripple effect. We create and support mentoring relationships of belonging and safety that are beneficial and rewarding for the youth, families, mentors and our community.

  • 99%

    Report that their Little makes their life better
  • 90%

    Would encourage friends to become involved with BBBS
  • 90%

    Report having a positive and fun experience in the program

MEET SOME MATCHES

There's no better way to convey the power of youth mentoring than through the experiences of our Bigs and Littles. See for yourself the impact that another caring adult can have on a child by meeting some of our matches. And don't be surprised if you discover that the volunteers are often impacted as much, if not more, than the youth!

500+ YOUTH ARE WAITING FOR A MENTOR

BECOME A BIG

MENTORING OPPORTUNITIES

Find the youth mentoring opportunity that's right for you. We’ll support your volunteer journey every step of the way.

Community-Based Mentor Spend time together with youth age 8-13 in the community exploring interests, hobbies and activities that you both enjoy.

Adult volunteers like you (“Bigs”) are paired with children ages 8 to 13 (“Littles”). You can participate individually or as a “Big Couple” (i.e. with a spouse or significant other). Each pair or “match” develops a unique relationship based on their identities, interests, hobbies, and values.

VOLUNTEER REQUIREMENTS

  • Be at least 19 years old
  • Commit to a minimum of one year
  • Meet with your Little 2 to 4 times each month
  • Be willing to partner with your Little’s family
  • Have a stable home address in our service area
  • Have a car (in order to transport your Little)
  • Recognize the value of a young person’s perspective by listening and uplifting their voice
  • And uphold our strong commitment to justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion

Learn More about Our Commitment to JEDI

PLEASE NOTE
At this time, our immediate volunteer needs are men (particularly BIPOC), women in Brooklyn Center and St. Paul areas, and Spanish speakers. If you fall outside of these demographics and choose to move forward with your application in our community-based program, it could take six or more months before we are able to match you with a waiting Little.

Alternatively, we encourage you to consider volunteering in one of our other three mentoring programs (Free Arts, Grad Coaches, Site-Based Mentoring).

Site-Based Mentor Meet with a youth at a consistent time at their school or workplace* to explore education and fun activities.

Our site-based program pairs caring adults like you (“Bigs”) with children ages 8 to 13 (“Littles”) to meet one-on-one. In this program, matches meet at the Little’s school or the Big’s workplace* instead of out in the community. We are currently accepting site-based volunteers at schools in Minneapolis and Saint Paul.

VOLUNTEER REQUIREMENTS
In order to volunteer in our site-based program, you must:

  • Be at least 18 years old
  • Commit to a minimum of one year
  • Be able to meet with your Little during the school day or the hours when that program meets, 2-4 times per month.
  • Recognize the value of a young person’s perspective by listening and uplifting their voice.
  • And uphold our strong commitment to justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion

Learn More about Our Commitment to JEDI

Free Arts Mentor Engage youth in creative projects of artistic expression and self-discovery at one of 20+ Twin Cities partner sites.

Free Arts is a program that inspires young people to discover and express themselves through art. Caring adult volunteers, like you, engage kids in art projects at one of more than 20 Twin Cities partner sites.

VOLUNTEER REQUIREMENTS

  • Be at least 16 years old
  • Volunteer for at least 12 weeks, one hour per week
  • Recognize the value of a young person’s perspective by listening and uplifting their voice
  • Uphold our strong commitment to justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion

Learn More about Our Commitment to JEDI

Graduation Coach Support the academic journey of high school students while guiding them on their path to big dreams and futures.

Grad Coaches support high school students in strengthening academic skills, improving study habits, cultivating healthy peer relationships, and developing plans for a career or post-secondary education. We are currently accepting Grad Coach volunteers only at HOPE Community Academy in St. Paul. 

VOLUNTEER REQUIREMENTS

  • Be at least 19 years old
  • Commit to a minimum of one school year (~8-9 months)
  • Be able to meet weekly or bi-weekly for one hour during the school day
  • Recognize the value of a young person’s perspective by listening and uplifting their voice
  • Uphold our strong commitment to justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion

Learn More about Our Commitment to JEDI

OUR COMMITMENT TO JUSTICE, EQUITY, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION

Justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) is an integral part of our mission and values. The volunteers, youth, and families in our programs have diverse backgrounds, cultures, and life experiences. We strive to foster a safe environment where all individuals are respected, valued, and included. Learn More about Our Commitment to JEDI

We also aim to create and support an equitable and respectful relationship between the volunteer, the youth, and their family. The young people in our program are seeking friendship, encouragement, and support. They are looking for someone to stand alongside them, not to save them. Our volunteers are another caring adult in a young person’s life, reinforcing the support network already provided by family, friends, and community partners. Watch Our JEDI Overview Video