We’re inviting all of you adults to volunteer as Bigs for Twin Cities youth! Whether youâre inspired by your own mentors, looking to get involved, or are a community advocate who wants to support youth, thereâs a place for you at Big Brothers Big Sisters.
Being a Big means showing up with intention and joining a community rooted in belonging and growth. Learn more below and take the first step toward becoming a mentor.
Take a minute to sign up and tell us a little bit about yourself by completing this short form. Once you click submit, you’ll receive an email with two next steps:
đș Watch a 4-minute info session video to learn more about volunteering as a mentor.
⥠As soon as you’re ready, complete the application to kickstart your mentoring journey!
đ§ Questions? Drop us an email at volunteers@bigstwincities.org.
Find the youth mentoring program that's right for you, future Big. Weâll support your volunteering journey through mentorship every step of the way.
Join a community of mentors dedicated to helping Twin Cities youth grow, dream, and succeed. Community-Based Mentoring is an independent mentoring experience that is our most popular and flexible scheduling option. We invite caring adults (Bigs) to invest in youth ages 8â13 (Littles) by building lasting one-to-one friendships. Together, you and your Little will explore the community, share new experiences, and create memories that inspire confidence and possibility. Mentors can join individually or as a “Big Couple” with a spouse or partner.
VOLUNTEER REQUIREMENTS
If you have concerns about not meeting any of the requirements above, please contact the Recruitment Team at volunteers@bigstwincities.org before applying for this volunteer opportunity.
Join a community of mentors who explore creativity alongside Twin Cities youth, fostering self-expression and confidence through the arts. In our Free Arts program, we partner with 15-20 sites in the Twin Cities metro area to engage youth groups of various sizes (10-30). Come ready to explore, create, and connect with youth through shared arts and crafts experiences.
VOLUNTEER REQUIREMENTS
Join a community of mentors dedicated to helping Twin Cities youth grow, dream, and succeed. Through In-School Mentoring, caring adults (Bigs) meet with youth (Littles) at their schoolâtypically during the lunch hour (11â12 PM or 12â1 PM)âto build supportive, one-to-one relationships. Matches share a meal, talk, play games, and engage in activities that spark confidence. Mentors also help youth explore their interests, set goals, and encourage them to build on their strengths.
VOLUNTEER REQUIREMENTS
Timeline: September – May
Join a community of mentors dedicated to helping Twin Cities youth grow, dream, and succeed. In our Grad Coach mentoring program, caring adults (Bigs) pair with high school students (grades 9â12) to provide encouragement, perspective, and guidance. Youâll connect with a small group of students (3-4) during lunch twice a month throughout the school year. This is not a tutoring roleâthe focus is on building relationships, helping students navigate high school, and exploring their goals for what comes next. Academic support may come up and is addressed on a case-by-case basis.
VOLUNTEER REQUIREMENTS
Timeline: September – May
Reserved for Employees of Carlson Towers, Cargill, and General Mills
Join your colleagues for a lunchtime mentoring program that invites youth from Harvest Best Academy to your office! A mentor (Big) is paired with a youth (Little) between 5th – 8th grade to connect 2x per month over lunch at the companyâs corporate campus. Together, youâll engage in fun and educational activities with a larger group of matches, supporting youth centered goals and relationship development. Facilitated by Big Brothers Big Sisters employees, this program is designed to fit seamlessly into a busy work schedule.
VOLUNTEER REQUIREMENTS
Timeline: September – May
đ€đœ Weâre here to help you every step of the way! Get the down-low on volunteering as a youth mentor with these frequently asked questions.
It only takes a moment to start your application to be a Big! The process involves six steps and takes 2-4 weeks:
1. Sign up using the form above
2. Watch a 4-minute information session video
3. Submit your application
4. Complete an interview, background and reference check
5. Complete online training
6. ACCEPTANCE into our mentorship program!
We know waiting for your match can be difficult once youâre accepted. Please know that we take great care into matching you with a Little based on hobbies, interests, personalities, location, family feedback, and much more. We’re certain it’s worth the wait! With over 600 Littles waiting to be matched, we do our best to ensure that you are matched as soon as youâre accepted into one of our mentorship programs.
The minimum age requirement to be a Big is 16 years-old to 19 years-old, depending on the mentoring program you join. And no one is too old to be a Big! Many of the Bigs in the Twin Cities are post-retirement age, and the Littles value their time, energy, and dedication.
Youâre like the cool older sibling! đ A Big is a trusted mentor âsomeone who shows up, listens, and encourages a young person to see all the possibilities ahead. As a Big, youâll be a positive role model, a supporter of their dreams, and a defender of their potential, helping them navigate life with confidence. You will be a friend, cheerleader, and fun person for a Little.
A Big is not a substitute parent, disciplinarian, tutor, financial provider, or counselor. Being a Big isnât about fixing or teachingâitâs about showing up, being a consistent, supportive presence, and having fun while building a meaningful connection.
Our Community-Based Mentoring Program requires a driverâs license and car so that you can safely transport your Little to and from activities. If you donât have access to a vehicle, no worries! Youâre more than welcome to use public transportation or ride-share apps like Uber and Lyft for our Site-Based, Grad Coaches, or Free Arts Mentoring Programs.
Once accepted into a mentorship program, we ensure you are matched with a youth based on criteria including proximity, interests, identities, hobbies, compatibility, and goals. Ultimately, Bigs and Littles choose each other!
Absolutely! You and your significant other can both be youth mentors as a Big Couple in our Community-Based Mentoring Program. Big Couples do not have to be married, but must be in a long-term relationship. As a Big Couple, both mentors have the option of going out one-on-one with their Little OR all three can hangout and go out on outings together. Our Big Couples love the flexibility this gives their match. If you choose to go solo with your mentoring journey, know that youâre not alone, and weâll support you every step of the way!
You’ll have:
We ask for a minimum commitment of one year in our Community-Based, Site-Based and Graduation Coach Mentoring Programs, and 12 weeks for Free Arts. That one year matched with a Little is often not the end, though â many of our matches end up lasting a lifetime!
Yes! Belonging is one of our values, and we also create and support mentoring relationships for LGBTQ+ youth and volunteers. We expect ALL volunteers to be accepting and affirming to LGBTQ+ youth and families and vice versa. We also provide Bigs with coaching and resources to help them explore personal identity and create safe spaces with and for LGBTQ+ youth.
Whether youâre in the application process or not quite ready to start your journey as a Big, there are other ways you can support our mission. You can help spread the word about Big Brothers Big Sisters Twin Cities by hosting us at your volunteer fair, hosting a lunch & learn or info session at your place of work or hosting a Big Social Hour! Send us an email at thinkbig@bigstwincities.org.
Learn more about other ways to support our mission.
Youth who have a mentor, another caring adult in their life, excel in many ways. Itâs the student who makes measurable gains in academic performance. Itâs the young person who is affirmed in who they are or want to be. Itâs 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.
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 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.
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When Jess and Andrew signed up to be mentors with Big Brothers Big Sisters Twin Cities, they knew they wanted to give back. What they didnât know was how much they would gain from becoming a Big Couple to a bright, witty, and curious 10-year-old named Michael. Matched in December 2023, Jess and Andrew bring a lot of heart, ...
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When Paul first joined as a Little, he was a teenager growing up in South Minneapolis who spent most of his time at a community hub that housed both Big Brothers Big Sisters and the Boys and Girls Club. Thatâs where he met a mentor coordinator who encouraged him to sign up for the Big Brothers Big Sisters Twin Cities mentorship program. That decision led to a matc ...
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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!
We 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 personâs life, reinforcing the support network already provided by family, friends, and community partners. Learn more about our values.
