1 hour on the court can grow into baller confidence for life. Creating art together can amp up their creativity for life. Watching 1 game together can be a game changer. As a Big, you’re another caring adult, a friend, and someone who listens, encourages, and amplifies the potential of a youth right here in the Twin Cities.
You’ll learn more about volunteering with a group of folks from around the Twin Cities who are all interested in mentoring and supporting youth.
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.
Watch this short video to get an overview of the volunteer enrollment process.
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.
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.
The first step is to sign up for an info session to learn more. 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!
Learn more about the enrollment process by watching a short video or seeing a visual roadmap of next steps.
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.”
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.
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.
At Big Brothers Big Sisters, we believe the power of mentorship lies in the moments that spark curiosity, comfort, and fun! Mentorship might sound huge, but really... It takes little to be BIG! Take Big Sister Chelsea and Little Sister Kasey for instance; whose story shows the amazing impact another caring adult can have on a child. The two of them were matched in 2022, and Kasey had shared she ...
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Big Brother Steve and Little Brother Al are a true testament to the impact another caring adult can have on a child’s life. 10-year old Al and his mother joined Big Brothers Big Sisters in 2018 seeking a positive male role model. Little did they know that Steve would be the one to step into their lives and make an everlasting impact. Al, a spirited and knowledgeable boy, had ...
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Big Sister Nicki and Little Sister JaZarria show the incredible richness of a match relationship as well as its potential to grow into extended families. The two were matched in July 2019, and their friendship has only grown stronger through all of the activities, struggles, and victories they’ve shared together. Our matches may be a one-to-one relationship between the Big and the Little, but ...
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Big Sister Valerie and Little Cecilia have been matched since 2019 and in those four years, they’ve developed a strong friendship rooted in trust, support, and curiosity. The two share many memories together that include exploring art and culture, attending community events, and recently, trying Japanese Taiko drumming! Most importantly, Valerie and Cecilia continuously show up for each other th ...
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Andrew was a Big Brother through Big Brothers Big Sisters Twin Cities and has since moved to Green Bay, where he continues to support Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwestern Wisconsin. With the upcoming Vikings vs. Packers game on January 1, 2023, we felt this was the perfect time to share his story with his Lit ...
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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!
Find the youth mentoring opportunity that's right for you. We’ll support your volunteer journey every step of the way.
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
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).
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:
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
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
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
