FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Who are Big Brother and Big
Sister Mentors?
Big Brothers and Big Sisters come from all
walks of life. They are committed to being
positive role models and mentors to children.
They realize the importance of being open,
honest and reliable.
How are volunteers screened for
safety?
Big Brothers Big Sisters welcome sincere, caring
volunteers and strive to ensure they are of good
character. Prior to being matched with a child, legal
and driver's license checks are conducted.
Prospective volunteers must attend an orientation,
provide character references, and be interviewed
by a trained, professional program coordinator.
What happens after a match is made?
Once a volunteer is matched with a Little, a program coordinator
provides support to the match with regular
contacts to the volunteer, parent and Little.
Program Coordinator provide guidance, ideas for activities,
and feedback on how the volunteer is making
a difference.
How long does it take to match a volunteer
once application has been
made?
On average it takes 4-6 weeks to match a
new volunteer. During this time, the following
components are completed before the
Match Introduction.
• Orientation
• Legal check
• Reference check
• Personal interview
• Match selection
What factors are considered when
matching a child with a volunteer?
Matches are made based on: personality, similar
interests, strength of the volunteer and needs of the
child, personal preferences of all parties involved,
age, race, and religion.
Are there fees for the families of Littles
and/or the volunteers?
Services are free of charge for both Bigs and Littles.
Volunteers incur some costs associated with activities
they choose to engage in with their Littles. Matches
are encouraged to focus on spending time together,
sharing simple day-to-day experiences.
How is the operating budget raised?
Funding for the Big Brothers Big Sisters is made possible
through the generosity of the community via
fundraising activities, the United Way, various philanthropic
sources such as foundations and trusts, grant
allocations and contributions from individual donors,
special clubs and organizations.
