Become a Big
There are many ways caring connections can empower lives in Johnson County for the better, forever! Become a Big today to start your adventure!
Be a BIG.
Give a LITTLE Something Back.
Bigs are adults who mentor and guide a young person, with lots of agency support. Once you apply, we sit down for an interview and orientation. This allows us to find a match with a strong likelihood of a lasting and rewarding impact. Bigs are young adults, middle aged adults, and older adults. Musts: reliable transportation, at least 18 years young, and a partnership mindset.
Bigs meet with their Little a couple of times each month for 12+ months and it is okay if you are out of town for summer/holiday breaks. We work closely with you to find a fit for your schedule, preferences, and impact goal(s). Through every step of the process, you have professional and individualized support!
Big Couples can be married, long-term romantic partners, or even good friends! Big Couples choose to together mentor one young person (a great way to share responsibility, for instance when one half of the Big Couple has a conflict), or to each mentor their own young person. Each member of the Big Couple applies and interviews. Please let us know that you are interested in mentoring as a Big Couple when you receive our initial email!
Easy, Impactful, and Fun
Big Brothers Big Sisters makes volunteer mentoring easy, impactful, and fun with regular free events, partner discounts, training, and individualized ongoing support. We have 2 programs to select from that can accommodate your needs/schedule:
- Community-Based Mentoring
- After-School Club-Based Mentoring
When you submit your application we will go over these options with you.
Child Safety
Making the best possible match between Little and Big is critical to the growth and development of a child. But before we begin the matching process, we start by thoroughly screening potential Bigs. Big Brothers Big Sisters National Standards of Excellence require each volunteer to complete an extensive screening process that includes:
- Completion of a formal application
- Background and reference checks
- An in-person interview
- An orientation and training process that outlines the individualized needs of your child and provides information and resources on how to encourage your child’s development
BBBS also provides child safety instruction to you and your child, and we welcome your questions and feedback. Starting in spring of 2023, parents/guardians are required to take the online training “Your Child’s Personal Safety” before their child can be matched with a Big. Throughout the life of the match, our professional staff will be in ongoing communication with you, your child, and your child’s Big. It’s the best way to build a strong relationship that will have the greatest impact on your child’s future success.
Ready to be a BIG?
Just fill out our simple online inquiry form. After you do, a Big Brothers Big Sisters staff member will contact you. So many of our Bigs tell us that becoming a Big was the best decision they ever made. What are you waiting for?
Want to mentor together as a couple? We also offer friends, married couples, or long-term romantic partners the opportunity to become a “Big Couple” and together mentor one young person. Each one of you should click “Become Big Couple” below, enter your info, and we will follow up with you both! Each party in a Big Couple must complete their own inquiry form.
Know someone who would make a great BIG Brother?
At Big Brothers Big Sisters, we’re always looking for more men to be mentors. We have boys ready and waiting to be matched with a role model. So tell the guys you know to sign up to become Bigs. They can do all the fun things they love to do already, like see movies, play video games, and go hiking, only now they’d get to enjoy it with a child who can truly benefit from it. More than 70% of our children waiting for a Big are boys, but only 3 out of every 10 inquiries to volunteer come from men. Research shows that having the positive influence of a Big Brother makes a real difference in a boy’s life. So join the hundreds of thousands of volunteers who give a young person someone to look up to.
