A “Big” is a caring individual, aged 19 years or older, who is interested in being a part of a child’s life at least 4-6 hours per month for a minimum of one year.

 You don’t need any special degrees or job skills. You just have to want to positively impact a young person. Role models come in all shapes and sizes, and you could be a perfect fit.

Bigs must be 19 years or older, able to meet with their Little 4-6 hours per month for one year, have a valid I.D., and live or commute near Marion, Hamilton, or Johnson County. For more information, please watch this video.

You don’t have to do it alone, either. Becoming a Big Couple or Big Friends are options for couples or friends that would prefer a shared experience as opposed to each of them having a Little of their own.  Big Friends are two individuals who have been “friends” for a minimum of 2 years and want to be matched together to the same Little. Big Couples have been in a relationship for at least 2 years but do not have to be married.

Bigs and Littles hang out 4-6 hours per month doing normal, everyday activities, like seeing a movie, doing homework, playing games, going out to eat, or just hanging out! We provide several resources for finding the right activity for your match including a mobile application called The Big App!

After you are matched, you’ll get a dedicated Mentoring Relationship Specialist who’ll stay in touch with you regularly to provide assistance and feedback. You can always reach out to them whenever you are unsure about how to handle a situation or what to do next. They’ll guide you with ideas for fun activities, advise you on handling possible difficult situations, and provide feedback on how you’re making a difference.

In the beginning it’s most important for you and your Little to get to know each other. This can happen best on a one-to-one basis. However, over time it’s also valuable for your Little to get to know the people who are important to you. Just keep in mind that if you’re spending lots of time with others, your Little may begin to feel jealous or neglected. The main focus is the friendship you develop with your Little.

During the application process, we interview you, the Little, and their parent to learn specifics that will help us make a Match. This includes age, religion, personality, family background, ethnicity, and interests. We strive to follow your preferences closely when selecting Matches. After we exchange information regarding a potential Little, you will have the final say as to whether or not this is the right fit for you.

No, Littles have a parent or guardian in their life already. What they need is a Big to spend quality, one-on-one time with them. Someone to have fun with, someone they can confide in, someone like you!

The quality of the time you invest with your Little is more important than the amount of money you spend. That’s why we don’t encourage spending a lot of money on your outings. The goal of the relationship is to help your Little see the world through a different lens so you can inspire your Little to become something they never thought possible. If you are going to spend money, we encourage you to seek out low-cost activities, especially in the beginning. Play a game together, or share that pizza that you were going to have for lunch anyway. Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies offer donor-supported group activities that are a great way to meet other Bigs and Littles. As a Big, you may also receive notices for free tickets to cultural and sports activities for you both to enjoy.

While this varies by program, in general, you and your Little will decide what you want to do then your Little will get approval from their parent. We recommend getting together on a regular basis. Your Match Support Specialist can also provide case-specific guidance on this topic. Overall, outings depend on the comfort level of you, the Little, and their parents.

Share an activity that gives you something in common to talk about. Go to the library, check out a book and read together. Buy a comic book to read together. Play a board game. Go on a nature walk. Hit a bucket of golf balls at the local driving range. Take a ride in the car with the radio on and talk about the music you like. You want to select activities that give each of you a chance to learn more about one another. For children, playing can be learning. Most important: keep it simple and enjoy yourselves!

We ask for a minimum commitment of one year for each match we make. Matches can remain active through elementary, middle, and high school. Many of our friendships end up lasting a lifetime.

Pledges to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Indiana can be made at any time and in any manner of installments so long as the pledge is fulfilled by June 30 of the fiscal year.

Each of our partnerships work in conjunction to accomplish BBBSCI’s ultimate vision – that all children achieve success in life. We’re proud to partner with companies and organizations across the community to defend, ignite, and empower the potential of more children in Central Indiana. If your company is interested in partnering with BBBSCI to make a long-term impact on kids in our community, please contact Laura Haltom, Assistant Director of Development & Corporate Partnerships, at lhaltom@bbbsci.org or 317-472-3732.

Supporting BBBSCI’s mission through one’s estate plans, retirement fund, insurance policy, trust fund, or other form of planned giving provides an opportunity to leave a lasting legacy for future generations of kids in our community. For more information and to get started with planned giving to our agency, contact Caitlin Bain, Chief Development Officer, at cbain@bbbsci.org or 317-472-3731.

Monthly donors spread their financial impact throughout the year and help sustain our program and planning. If you’d like to set up your monthly gift, visit our donation page where you can set your monthly donations to fit your own giving schedule or contact Brian Dickinson, Individual Giving Manager, at bdickinson@bbbsci.org or 317-472-3706.

Your financial support starts lots of things, like:

• recruiting new Bigs, Big Couple, and Big Friend volunteers
• covering the costs of background checks, while ensuring trained professionals match Littles to responsible Bigs
• enabling ongoing supervision and relationship support for every Big, Little, and Little’s family
• providing cultural and social activities to enrich the opportunities for children

The Light One Match Society is a leadership giving society that encompasses a distinguished group of donors dedicated to supporting mentoring friendships. Light One Match Donors believe that just one person in a child’s corner can help ignite their inherent potential. Society donors make gifts annually between $2,000-$10,000 to assist BBBSCI in creating new mentoring relationships each fiscal year. To support just one match for an entire year costs BBBSCI $2,000 and with a growing wait list of kids that have asked for a mentor, generous donors at this level can help us reach more kids in our community. Learn more at BeBigForKids.org/light-one-match-society/.