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BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF THE CAPITAL
ALBANY, NY · EIN 146035512 · Form 990 · FY2024 · Small ($100K-$1M) · bbbscr.org
revenue
$489K
expenses
$622K
net assets
$84K
employees
14
volunteers
304
program ratio
66%
mission · from form 990

BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS (BBBS) IS THE OLDEST AND LARGEST YOUTH MENTORING ORGANIZATION IN THE UNITED STATES. IN NEW YORK'S CAPITAL REGION (ALBANY, RENSSELAER, SARATOGA AND SCHENECTADY COUNTIES), WE HAVE BEEN MATCHING MENTEES ("LITTLES") WITH MENTORS ("BIGS") IN PROFESSIONALLY SUPPORTED ONE-TO-ONE RELATIONSHIPS SINCE 1964 AND HAVE SERVED THOUSANDS OF LITTLES IN JUST THE PAST DECADE. WE SERVE YOUTH FROM AGE 6 INTO YOUNG ADULTHOOD IN BOTH COMMUNITY-BASED AND SITE-BASED SETTINGS. THE WORK OF BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF THE CAPITAL REGION (BBBSCR) BUILDS COMMUNITY THROUGH PROFESSIONALLY GUIDED ONE-TO-ONE MENTORING RELATIONSHIPS THAT IGNITE THEPOWER AND PROMISE OF YOUTH. OUR VISION IS THAT ALL YOUTH MEET THEIR POTENTIAL. OUR EMPHASIS ON INDIVIDUAL POTENTIAL DIRECTLY REDRESSES THE IMPACTS OF INSTITUTIONAL RACISM, GENERATIONAL POVERTY, AND OTHER SYSTEMS OF OPPRESSION. WHAT DRIVES OUR MISSION? WE RECOGNIZE THAT WHILE TALENT IS EQUALLY DISTRIBUTED, OPPORTUNITY IS NOT.

profile · synthesized from sources

Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Capital Region provides professionally supported one-to-one mentoring relationships between adult volunteers ("Bigs") and youth ("Littles") in Albany, Rensselaer, Saratoga, and Schenectady Counties. The organization serves children ages 6 through young adulthood in both community-based and school-based settings, with a focus on addressing systemic inequities through mentoring. It has operated in the region since 1964.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024

What they reported doing

  1. #1 primary $60K
    THROUGH A CONTRACT WITH BOCES LED HIGH SCHOOL LEADERSHIP MENTORING PROGRAM AT SCHECTADY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT. THE MENTORSHIP PROGRAM PROVIDES ONE-ON-ONE RELATIONSHIPS WITH STUDENTS WHO ARE FACING CHALLENGES AT SCHOOL AND AT HOME.
  2. #2 $0
    INSTRUCTED AND ORIENTED ADULT VOLUNTEERS FOR GUIDED ONE-TO-ONE MENTORING RELATIONSHIPS THAT IGNITE THE POWER AND PROMISE OF YOUTH. OUR VISION IS THAT ALL YOUTH MEET THEIR POTENTIAL.
named programs · 6 · from sources

What they call their work

Community-Based Mentoring
Guided one-to-one mentoring relationships between adult volunteers ("Bigs") and youth ("Littles") in the community, supporting youth development and potential.
High School Leadership Mentoring Program
One-on-one mentoring program for students facing challenges at school and at home, delivered through a contract with BOCES at Schenectady City School District.
Orientation and Training of Volunteers
Instruction and orientation for adult volunteers to prepare them for guided one-to-one mentoring relationships with youth.
Recruitment of Adult Volunteers
Program to recruit and onboard adult volunteers to become Big Brothers or Big Sisters for youth in the Capital Region.
Site-Based Mentoring
School- or organization-based mentoring relationships that connect youth with adult volunteers during school hours or after-school programs.
Virtual Mentoring
Supports mentoring relationships through virtual engagement, including the use of a Virtual Mentoring Toolkit and creative online activities.
activities · 8 groups

What they do

  • Youth One-on-One Mentoring 6 activities
    • Community-Based One-on-One Youth Mentoring
      Provides community-based, one-on-one mentoring relationships where adult volunteers ("Bigs") and youth ("Littles") engage in shared activities such as walks, museum visits, sports, or conversations, meeting at least twice monthly for a minimum of one year. The program supports approximately 500 youth annually in the Capital Region.
    • Mentoring for Youth with Developmental Disabilities
      Offers one-on-one mentoring relationships tailored to youth receiving services from the New York State Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD), supporting their social engagement, emotional well-being, and personal development.
    • Site-Based Mentoring Programs in Educational and Corporate Partnerships
      Operates site-based mentoring programs in partnership with schools, colleges, and businesses, offering structured one-on-one mentoring twice monthly for nine months each year. Includes revitalized programs at locations like Union College and partnerships with school districts such as Schenectady City School District via BOCES contracts.
    • U-CAN Mentoring Program for Youth on Probation
      Runs the U-CAN Mentoring Program, which provides youth on probation with weekly one-hour meetings with trained volunteer mentors for one year through formal partnerships with Schenectady and Albany County Family Courts.
    • Volunteer Recruitment, Training, and Orientation
      Recruits adult volunteers to serve as mentors ("Bigs") and provides them with comprehensive training, orientation, and ongoing support to prepare for and sustain one-to-one mentoring relationships with youth.
    • Youth Enrichment and Match Support Activities
      Provides youth enrichment activities designed by staff for mentor-mentee matches and families, including virtual toolkits, co-created educational and recreational videos, and funding for online match meetings to initiate and strengthen relationships.
  • Organizational Governance & Leadership Development 2 activities
    • Advocacy and Partnership Development
      Engages board members as advocates who promote the agency and build partnerships with institutions, groups, and individuals to expand support and visibility for youth mentoring.
    • Leadership Council for Alumni Engagement
      Maintains a Trustee Council composed of alumni board members who meet annually to provide leadership, diverse perspectives, and long-term strategic input for the organization.
  • Youth Leadership Development Programs 1 activity
    • Big Experience Program for Match Community Building
      Operates the Big Experience Program to strengthen community among mentor-mentee matches and families, with a focus on educational success, risk avoidance, and emotional and social well-being through organized group and family-involved events.
  • Parenting Education and Support Programs 1 activity
    • Child Safety and Parent Training
      Develops and delivers child safety training for parents to increase safety for children both within BBBS programs and in everyday life.
  • Charity Event Organization 1 activity
    • Fundraising for Mentoring Programs
      Hosts fundraising initiatives such as Bowl for Kids' Sake, which raised over $40,000 to support youth mentoring programs, and conducts targeted campaigns to raise funds for matching local youth with trained and vetted mentors.
  • Trauma-Informed Community Resilience Initiatives 1 activity
    • Mental Health and Social Justice Support for Youth
      Supports youth in processing emotions related to racial injustice and violence, such as the killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery, by collecting and sharing resources to facilitate open discussions about racism, diversity, and social justice with mentees and families.
  • Recognition and Awards Programs 1 activity
    • Recognition Events for Mentored Youth
      Hosts annual recognition events such as the Big Achievement Celebration and Big Achievement Awards to honor accomplishments of youth in the mentoring program, including graduating "Littles," and to highlight the impact of mentorship.
  • Uncategorized 1 activity
    • Youth Outcomes Monitoring and Reporting
      Tracks and reports measurable outcomes from mentoring relationships, including increased family connectedness (100% of youth maintained or improved in 2026), reduced depressive symptoms (23% significantly decreased), and improved academic performance (50% significantly increased) among participating youth.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$489K
Contributions & grants$364K74%
Program service revenue$60K12%
Investment income$11K2%
Other revenue$55K
expenses
Total expenses$622K
Program expenses66%
Admin / overhead27%
Fundraising7%
Salaries & benefits$376K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$262K
Cash$93K
Investments$88K
Liabilities$178K
Net assets$84K
Liquid reserves3.5 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +0.0%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 1
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
LEA MONTALTO ROOK CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER 1 $71K
board members · 9
  • AMELIA GIFFORD — VICE PRESIDENT
  • AMY ANDERSON — MEMBER
  • CHRISTINA AUDI — MEMBER
  • DAVID KUBIKIAN — PRESIDENT
  • ERIKA SALTER — MEMBER
  • GARRETT SHARLOW — MEMBER
  • LAUREN VALENTINE — MEMBER
  • MARIO JOHNSON — MEMBER
  • SERENA AMLIE — MEMBER
relationships · 31

Who they work with

  • 2Shea Catering Partner — Employer of board member Deanna Wunsch, Event Chair for the Annual Achievement Celebration.
  • Albany Business Review Partner — Collaborates on publishing thought leadership content related to workforce development and mentorship
  • Albany Business Review Partner — Employer of board member Christian Jones.
  • Albany County Family Court Partner — Collaborates with BBBSCR on the U-CAN Mentoring Program to provide mentoring for youth on probation.
  • BOCES Partner — Contract partner for the High School Leadership Mentoring Program at Schenectady City School District.
  • Big Brothers Big Sisters of America Network — Member of the national Big Brothers Big Sisters network, operating as a regional affiliate.
  • Big Brothers Big Sisters of America Network — Regionally operated affiliate of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.
  • Capital District YMCA Partner — Collaborates on virtual read-alongs and emergency childcare for families of essential workers.
  • Child Mind Institute Partner — Offered clinical guidance for parents on talking to children about racism and racialized violence.
  • Duo at the Dunes Partner — Venue partner hosting the Big Achievement Awards event
  • Edutopia Partner — Shared guidance on teaching young children about bias, diversity, and social justice.
  • Girl Scouts Partner — Shared resource on helping children take action against racism and recognize unjust systems.
  • Glazer Children’s Museum Partner — Provided free family resources on racism, trauma, violence, and the history of activism.
  • Herzog Law Firm P.C. Partner — Employer of board member David Kubikian, Immediate Past Board President.
  • M&T Bank Partner — Employer of board member Amy Anderson, who serves as Board Vice President.
  • Macy’s Crossgates Partner — Employer of board member Erika Salter, Events Committee Chair.
  • Mentor.org Partner — Supplied a resource guide for mentors supporting youth after incidents of violence and trauma rooted in systemic inequality.
  • Miranda Real Estate Group Partner — Employer of board member Marisa Multari, Fundraising Committee Chair.
  • More Music Less Violence Partner — Organization with which board member Mario “DJ Hollyw8d” Johnson is affiliated as a freelance program facilitator.
  • National Association of School Psychologists Partner — Shared resource for parents on supporting vulnerable students during times of stress and hate-based violence.
  • New York State Office for People With Developmental Disabilities Government — Partners with BBBSCR to provide tailored mentoring relationships for children receiving OPWDD services.
  • Nia House Learning Center Partner — Shared a curated list of children's books focused on human rights and social justice for educational use.
  • Nixon Peabody LLP Partner — Employer of board member Daniel Hurteau.
  • Racial Equity Tools Partner — Provided access to tools, research, and curricula to support racial equity education for families and mentors.
  • Schenectady County Family Court Partner — Collaborates with BBBSCR on the U-CAN Mentoring Program to provide mentoring for youth on probation.
  • Schuyler Ridge Residential Health Care Partner — Employer of board member Christina Audi.
  • TruHeart, Inc Partner — Organization where board president Paul “Batman” Collins-Hackett serves as President and Vice President.
  • USA Today Partner — Provided guidance for parents on discussing high-profile cases of racial violence with children.
  • Union College Partner — Hosts the Site-Based mentoring program revitalized by staff at Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Capital Region.
  • WNYT Partner — Local news outlet that covered the organization's fundraiser and mentorship needs.
+ 1 more
strategies · 4

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Equity-Focused Mentorship to Address Systemic Inequities
    methodology: opportunity_equity_mentoring
    By targeting mentoring toward youth affected by institutional racism and generational poverty, the organization promotes opportunity equity because talent is equally distributed but access to supportive relationships is not, and intentional mentorship can counter systemic barriers to success.
  • Mentor-Facilitated Dialogue on Social Justice
    methodology: mentor_facilitated_dialogue
    By using mentor-mentee relationships as a channel for guided discussions about racism and social justice, the organization promotes emotional processing and positive civic action because trusted adult-youth dialogues create safe spaces for identity affirmation and critical consciousness development.
  • One-to-One Mentoring with Professional Guidance
    methodology: one_to_one_mentorship
    By providing long-term, professionally supported one-to-one mentoring relationships, the organization fosters youth development and unlocks potential because consistent, trust-based adult connections produce measurable growth in emotional, educational, and social outcomes.
  • Whole-Child Mentorship Through Integrated Support
    methodology: whole_child_mentorship
    By integrating educational, emotional, and social development within mentoring relationships, the organization supports holistic youth growth because addressing the full range of a child’s needs leads to more sustainable and meaningful outcomes.