BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF CENTRAL MN

IN OUR 56TH YEAR OF SERVICE, WE MATCHED OVER 500 YOUTH WITH MENTORS, MARKING A 10-YEAR HIGH IN YOUTH SERVED ACROSS OUR COMMUNITY-BASED AND SCHOOL/SITE-BASED PROGRAMS. MORE THAN 90% OF OUR YOUTH REPORTED IMPROVED CONFIDENCE, STRONGER RELATIONSHIPS, AND BETTER ACADEMIC ENGAGEMENT. IN 2025, WE CONTINUED TO BUILD ON LONG-TERM IMPACT WITH NEW AND EXPANDED PROGRAMMING, PARTNERSHIPS, AND RESOURCES:- WE STRENGTHENED OUR FOCUS ON LONG-TERM IMPACT BY ADVANCING OUR $10 MILLION "FOR KIDS, FOREVER" ENDOWMENT CAMPAIGN, AIMED AT SECURING MENTORING SERVICES FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.- BIGS ON CAMPUS, OUR AWARD-WINNING MENTORING MODEL, BRINGS LITTLES TO THE CAMPUSES OF ST. CLOUD STATE UNIVERSITY, THE COLLEGE OF SAINT BENEDICT/SAINT JOHN'S UNIVERSITY, AND ST. CLOUD TECHNICAL & COMMUNITY COLLEGE TO MEET WITH MENTORS, TOUR ACADEMIC DEPARTMENTS, AND ENVISION THEIR FUTURES IN HIGHER EDUCATION.- BIG PARTNERS, A COLLABORATION WITH ISD 742 AND GRANITE PARTNERS, PAIRS LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WITH BUSINESS PROFESSIONALS TO EXPLORE CAREER PATHWAYS AND POST-SECONDARY OPTIONS.- OVER 200 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS SERVED AS HIGH SCHOOL BIGS/MENTORS, HELPING THEM DEVELOP LEADERSHIP SKILLS WHILE MAKING A REAL IMPACT ON THEIR YOUNGER PEERS.- COLLEGE & CAREER READINESS PROGRAMS SERVED OVER 250 YOUTH AND AWARDED OVER $40,000 IN EXCLUSIVE SCHOLARSHIPS.ALL MATCHES ARE CAREFULLY MONITORED AND SUPPORTED BY TRAINED PROGRAM STAFF WHO WORK WITH YOUTH, FAMILIES, AND MENTORS TO DEVELOP INDIVIDUALIZED GOALS AND PROVIDE TRAUMA-INFORMED SUPPORT. VOLUNTEER CONTRIBUTIONS:OUR WORK IS MADE POSSIBLE BY OVER 800 VOLUNTEERS- SERVING AS BIGS, BOARD MEMBERS, COMMITTEE MEMBERS, AND EVENT VOLUNTEERS. OUR VOLUNTEERS OFFER STABILITY, CONSISTENCY, AND HOPE TO YOUTH FACING ADVERSITY. WHILE OUR BIGS PROVIDE DIRECT MENTORSHIP TO YOUTH, OUR NON-MENTOR VOLUNTEERS PLAY A CRITICAL ROLE IN GUIDING AND STRENGTHENING OUR PROGRAM THROUGH LEADERSHIP, ADVOCACY, AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. THEY HELP SHAPE OUR STRATEGIC DIRECTION, SUPPORT EVENTS, AND AMPLIFY OUR MISSION IN THE BROADER COMMUNITY. THIS YEAR, WE DEEPENED PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL BUSINESSES AND GROUPS TO RECRUIT NEW MENTORS AND EXPAND COMMUNITY AWARENESS. GOVERNANCE AND STRATEGIC DIRECTION: BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF CENTRAL MINNESOTA IS GOVERNED BY A DIVERSE AND ACTIVE BOARD OF DIRECTORS THAT PROVIDES STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP, ENSURES TRANSPARENCY, LEGAL COMPLIANCE, AND FINANCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY. WE ADHERE TO STRONG FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND PARTICIPATE IN AN ANNUAL INDEPENDENT AUDIT. AS AN AFFILIATE OF BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF AMERICA, WE COMPLY WITH RIGOROUS NATIONAL STANDARDS AND REGULARLY ASSESS PERFORMANCE FOR QUALITY ASSURANCE. OUR STRATEGIC PLAN INCLUDES AMBITIOUS GOALS FOR GROWTH AND IMPACT, THROUGH NEW AND BROADENED PARTNERSHIPS, EXPANDED RURAL OUTREACH, AND NEW FUNDRAISING OPPORTUNITIES.PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT AND PARTNERSHIPS: OUR AGENCY ENGAGES THE BROADER COMMUNITY THROUGH STORYTELLING, SOCIAL MEDIA, LOCAL PARTNERSHIPS, AND PUBLIC EVENTS. THIS YEAR, WE LAUNCHED A COMPELLING STORYTELLING INITIATIVE, SPOTLIGHTING MENTORS, MENTEES, AND DONORS, THAT HAS INCREASED COMMUNITY AWARENESS AND INSPIRED NEW SUPPORT. OUR ENDOWMENT CAMPAIGN VIDEO, FEATURING CAMPAIGN CHAIRS ERIC AND LEE HURD ALONGSIDE THEIR LITTLE BROTHER CALEB, FUELED DONOR MOMENTUM AND INSPIRED NEW SUPPORTERS. WE ACTIVELY COLLABORATE WITH SCHOOLS, YOUTH-SERVING AGENCIES, SERVICE CLUBS, AND COMMUNITY FOUNDATIONS TO SUPPORT YOUTH AND HELP ELIMINATE BARRIERS TO THEIR SUCCESS. WE CONTINUE TO BUILD TRUST BY DELIVERING MEASURABLE IMPACT, ALIGNING WITH OUR DONORS' VALUES, AND CLEARLY DEMONSTRATING HOW MENTORING TRANSFORMS LIVES.