Find Grants for Big Brothers Big Sisters Programs

The Complete Guide to Finding and Winning Grants for Big Brothers Big Sisters Organizations

Introduction

If you're searching for grants to support your Big Brothers Big Sisters program, you already know how time-consuming and frustrating the process can be. You're competing with hundreds of youth mentorship organizations for a limited pool of funding, and many grant databases either overwhelm you with irrelevant results or hide critical eligibility requirements until you're deep into an application. Add in the challenge of proving measurable impact in mentorship—which often takes years to fully demonstrate—and it's no wonder many BBBS chapters struggle to secure consistent funding. Whether you're a program director wearing multiple hats, a volunteer board member new to grant writing, or a development coordinator trying to expand your reach, this guide will help you find the right grants faster and increase your success rate.

Quick Stats About Grants for Big Brothers Big Sisters

Youth mentorship programs like Big Brothers Big Sisters compete in a crowded funding landscape. According to recent foundation giving trends, youth development and mentorship programs receive approximately 15-20% of all education and human services grants nationally. However, BBBS organizations face unique challenges: many funders prioritize programs with immediate, measurable outcomes, while mentorship impact often unfolds over years. Additionally, corporate funders increasingly favor STEM-focused youth programs, which can make traditional one-to-one mentorship harder to fund. The good news? Foundations focused on child welfare, juvenile justice prevention, and community development consistently fund proven mentorship models—and BBBS's national track record gives you credibility many smaller youth organizations lack.

How to Find Grants for Big Brothers Big Sisters

Finding the right grants doesn't have to mean endless Google searches or expensive subscriptions. Here's a practical approach:

Start with Zeffy's Grant Finder Tool (it's free). You can filter by youth development, mentorship programs, and your specific geographic area. Unlike generic databases that show you thousands of irrelevant results, Zeffy helps you narrow down to grants that actually match your mission and eligibility.

Understand the free vs. paid landscape:

• Free options: Grants.gov (federal grants), your state's nonprofit association, community foundation websites, and Zeffy's Grant Finder
• Paid databases: Candid/Foundation Directory (\$50-150/month), GrantStation (\$99/month), GrantWatch (\$22/week)
• Reality check: Many BBBS chapters find success with free tools plus targeted research. Only invest in paid subscriptions if you're applying to 10+ grants per year and need deep foundation research.

Filter strategically by:

• Mission alignment: Look for keywords like "youth mentorship," "positive youth development," "at-risk youth," "juvenile justice prevention," and "school-based programs"
• Geographic fit: Many foundations only fund specific cities, counties, or states. Don't waste time on grants that explicitly exclude your service area
• Eligibility requirements: Some grants require 501(c)(3) status for at least 3 years, specific budget sizes, or particular program models (like school-based vs. community-based mentoring)
• Deadlines: Focus on grants with at least 4-6 weeks until deadline—you'll need time to gather documentation and write a strong application

Pro tip: Check if funders list their past grantees. If you see other BBBS chapters or similar mentorship programs, that's a green light. If all past recipients are completely different types of organizations, move on.

Tips to Win More Grants as a Big Brothers Big Sisters Nonprofit

1. Lead with your national affiliation—but localize your impact Your connection to Big Brothers Big Sisters of America gives you instant credibility and access to proven program models. However, funders want to know about your community's specific needs. Include local data: how many youth in your county lack positive adult role models, local school dropout rates, or juvenile justice statistics. Show how your chapter addresses these specific challenges.

2. Quantify your match quality and retention rates Funders worry about mentorship programs that make poor matches or have high dropout rates. Highlight your screening process, training requirements, and match support services. If you have strong retention data (e.g., "85% of our matches last 12+ months"), lead with it. If you're newer, emphasize your affiliation with BBBS's evidence-based matching protocols.

3. Connect mentorship to measurable outcomes funders care about Don't just say "we provide mentorship." Translate that into outcomes: improved school attendance, higher graduation rates, reduced juvenile justice involvement, increased college enrollment, or improved social-emotional skills. Use BBBS national research data if you don't have local longitudinal data yet.

4. Build partnerships that strengthen your applications Collaborate with schools, juvenile courts, child welfare agencies, or community centers. These partnerships show funders you're integrated into the community's support system—not operating in isolation. Letters of support from school principals or probation officers can be powerful.

5. Address the "what happens after the grant ends" question upfront Many funders worry about sustainability. Show you're building toward diverse revenue streams: individual donors, corporate sponsors, fundraising events, and multiple grants. If this grant will help you launch a fee-for-service school partnership or corporate mentorship program, explain that path to sustainability.

6. Make your budget tell a story For BBBS programs, funders want to see money going toward match support, volunteer training, and program quality—not just administrative overhead. Break down costs clearly: recruitment, screening, training, match support activities, and outcome tracking. If you're asking for general operating support, show how it enables quality mentorship.

7. Showcase volunteer engagement as a force multiplier Emphasize that grant dollars leverage volunteer time. For example: "This $25,000 grant will support 50 mentor-mentee matches, representing 5,000+ hours of volunteer mentorship valued at $150,000." Funders love seeing their investment amplified.

How to Tell If a Grant Is a Good Fit

Before investing hours in an application, run through this checklist:

Eligibility basics:

• ✓ Do you meet the 501(c)(3) requirement (and any minimum years in operation)?
• ✓ Does your annual budget fall within their funding range?
• ✓ Are you located in their eligible geographic area?
• ✓ Do they fund youth mentorship or youth development programs?

Mission and program alignment:

• ✓ Do they fund organizations serving your target population (age range, demographics, risk factors)?
• ✓ Have they funded BBBS chapters or similar mentorship programs before?
• ✓ Does their stated priority area match your program model (e.g., school-based, community-based, site-based)?

Practical considerations:

• ✓ Is the grant amount worth the application effort? (A $2,000 grant requiring 20 hours of work may not be strategic)
• ✓ Can you realistically meet their reporting requirements with your current staff capacity?
• ✓ Does the timeline work? (Some grants require spending funds within 6-12 months)
• ✓ Can the funding be used for your actual needs? (Some grants exclude general operating costs or staff salaries)

Red flags to avoid:

• ✗ Application fees (legitimate grants don't charge to apply)
• ✗ Vague eligibility criteria with no past grantee information
• ✗ Funders whose past grantees look nothing like your organization

Grant-Related Keywords & Search Tags

When searching grant databases, use these specific terms to find relevant opportunities for your Big Brothers Big Sisters program:

Primary search terms:

• "youth mentorship grants"
• "Big Brothers Big Sisters funding"
• "positive youth development grants"
• "one-to-one mentoring programs"

Broader youth development terms:

• "at-risk youth programs"
• "juvenile justice prevention"
• "youth empowerment funding"
• "after-school mentoring grants"

Outcome-focused terms:

• "school success programs"
• "dropout prevention funding"
• "youth leadership development"
• "social-emotional learning grants"

Population-specific terms (if applicable to your chapter):

• "foster youth mentoring"
• "military family support programs"
• "LGBTQ+ youth services"
• "rural youth programs"

Geographic modifiers: Always add your state, county, or city name to searches (e.g., "youth mentorship grants Ohio" or "mentoring programs Los Angeles County")

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Ready to start your search? Begin with Zeffy's Grant Finder Tool to discover grants specifically matched to youth mentorship organizations in your area. Filter by your location, program focus, and eligibility criteria—then spend your time on applications that are actually worth pursuing.