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BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF NEW YORK CITY INC
NEW YORK, NY · EIN 135600383 · Form 990 · FY2024 · Medium ($1M-$10M) · bigsnyc.org
revenue
$9.3M
expenses
$11.0M
net assets
$7.8M
employees
106
volunteers
1,519
program ratio
68%
mission · from form 990

THE MISSION OF BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF NEW YORK CITY IS TO BUILD (SEE SCHEDULE O)AND SUPPORT MENTORING RELATIONSHIPS TO IGNITE THE BIGGEST POSSIBLE FUTURES FOR YOUTH.

profile · synthesized from sources

Big Brothers Big Sisters of New York City provides one-to-one mentoring relationships between adult volunteers ("Bigs") and youth ("Littles") ages 7–17 across the five boroughs. The organization supports matches through structured programming, regular check-ins with program managers, and initiatives focused on academic success, career readiness, and college access. Its model emphasizes long-term, in-person relationships to foster youth development and self-esteem.

named programs · 7 · from sources

What they call their work

Academic Support
Offers workshops on middle/high school admission, test preparation, study skills, and academic goal achievement for Littles
Career Exploration
Helps Littles develop career plans through mapping, exploration, professional etiquette training, and action planning
College Success
Provides college access support including application guidance, organizational tools, and ongoing support through college enrollment to ensure graduation
Community-Based Mentoring Program
Matches youth ages 7–17 with adult mentors for in-person, one-to-one mentoring with two outings per month and weekly communication; supported by program managers
Immigration Initiative
Builds partnerships with NYC immigration service providers to offer warm-handoff referrals and support for immigrant families
Parent Engagement
Offers workshops and social events for parents on topics including special education, bullying, social media, and LGBTQ awareness
Workplace Mentoring Program
Connects high school students with professional mentors in workplace settings to explore careers and set future goals
activities · 7 groups

What they do

  • Youth One-on-One Mentoring 2 activities
    • Community-Based One-on-One Youth Mentoring
      Provides one-to-one mentoring relationships for youth ages 7–17 through a community-based program where mentors ("Bigs") and mentees ("Littles") engage in monthly outings and maintain weekly contact. Matches receive ongoing support from dedicated Program Managers and participate in recreational, educational, and goal-oriented activities across all five boroughs of New York City, with some relationships lasting over 25 years.
    • Workplace Mentoring Program for High School Students
      Connects high school students with employee volunteers through a structured Workplace Mentoring Group program that fosters academic, personal, and career development. Mentoring sessions occur twice monthly at corporate offices, pairing 12–15 volunteers with an equal number of students to build skills, confidence, and career readiness, with mentors often supporting more than 10 mentees over time.
  • Refugee and Immigrant Resettlement Services 1 activity
    • Capacity Building Through Partner Referral Networks
      Builds warm-handoff partnerships with immigration-related programs across New York City to connect families with essential immigration services, expanding access to critical support beyond direct mentoring.
  • Mentorship and Professional Development Programs 1 activity
    • College & Career Success Program
      Supports college students through one-on-one mentoring focused on career development, professional networking, and post-graduation transitions. The program provides structured support during college, including transition assistance in early years and career preparation in later years, along with organizational tools, workshops, and individualized guidance to promote college graduation and career readiness.
  • Organized Running and Triathlon Events 1 activity
    • Fundraising Events for Youth Mentoring Programs
      Hosts annual fundraising events—including a gala, golf outing, touch football tournament at MetLife Stadium, and participation in the TCS New York City Marathon—to engage supporters, corporate partners, and community leaders in philanthropy that supports youth mentoring initiatives across New York City.
  • Parenting Education and Support Programs 1 activity
    • Parent Engagement and Support Services
      Provides workshops and connection opportunities for parents on topics including academic resources, special education, bullying, social media, and LGBTQ awareness. Also organizes social events such as Parent Meet Ups and Parent Recognition Day to strengthen family engagement and support networks.
  • High School Placement Support 1 activity
    • Youth Development Workshops and Academic Support
      Offers skill-based workshops for youth on middle and high school admission, test preparation, study skills, academic goal setting, career mapping, exploration, and professional etiquette training. These programs support Littles in building academic and career plans through structured action planning and targeted learning opportunities.
  • College Access and Success Support 1 activity
    • Youth Outcomes and Program Impact Reporting
      In fiscal year 2024, served 2,497 youth, with 99% promoted to the next grade level and 99% graduating from high school. Additionally, 90% of high school seniors in the program planned to attend college, demonstrating measurable impact on academic achievement and future readiness.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$9.27M
Contributions & grants$8.48M92%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$685K7%
Other revenue$97K
expenses
Total expenses$10.96M
Program expenses68%
Admin / overhead19%
Fundraising13%
Salaries & benefits$6.53M
Grants paid out$147K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$17.67M
Cash$4.48M
Investments$80K
Liabilities$9.83M
Net assets$7.84M
Liquid reserves5.0 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue +4.5%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 8
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
ALICIA GUEVARA THRU 82024 CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER 35 $251K
LAURIE LESSAGE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER 35 $215K
MICHAEL COUGHLIN CPO & EXEC DIR AS OF 6/30/25 35 $188K
DANIELLE GUERRA ALDEN VP SPECIAL EVENTS & DONOR CULTIVATION 35 $171K
PRIYA SINGH CHIEF CORPORATE OFFICER 35 $159K
SALOME JEAN CHIEF HR & OPS OFFICER 35 $157K
ELIZABETH LEE VP OF PHILANTHROPY 35 $154K
LAUREN PRAGUE CHIEF PROGRAM OFFICER 35 $137K
board members · 17
  • ABBY PARSONNET — TRUSTEE (THRU 5/2025)
  • ADAM TEJPAUL — TRUSTEE
  • AJ CAMHI — TRUSTEE
  • ALISON POWERS HERMAN — GENERAL COUNSEL
  • ANDREW LIPMAN — PRESIDENT & FORMER INTERIM CEO
  • ANSHELL J BOGGS — EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT
  • ANTHONY ABENANTE — TRUSTEE
  • ANTHONY CIRRI — TRUSTEE
  • ANTHONY LEWIS — TRUSTEE
  • ANTHONY ORSO — TRUSTEE
  • ASH GUPTA — TREASURER
  • BARBARA MENDELSON — IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT
  • BEN BROWN — TRUSTEE
  • BEN SMITHEE — TRUSTEE
  • BILL EDWARDS — TRUSTEE
  • CATHERINE FENG — TRUSTEE
  • CRAIG CLAY — TRUSTEE
relationships · 15

Who they work with

  • Affinity groups Partner — Collaborates with affinity groups to expand volunteer recruitment and fundraising efforts in targeted communities.
  • Ava Partner — Youth participant in the mentoring program matched with a Big, Meredith.
  • Big Brothers Big Sisters of America Network — Big Brothers Big Sisters of New York City is the founding member of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.
  • Blackstone Partner — Honoree organization represented by Stephanie McGowan, Managing Director at Blackstone.
  • Brookfield Properties Partner — Honoree organization represented by Mikael Nahmias, SVP and Head of NY Office Leasing at Brookfield Properties.
  • Century Country Club Partner — Host venue for the 27th Annual Spring Golf Event
  • Corporate Partners Partner — Offers corporate volunteer opportunities through partnerships with businesses.
  • Gibson Dunn Partner — Honoree organization represented by Jennifer Yashar, Partner at Gibson Dunn.
  • MetLife Stadium Partner — Host venue for The Gridiron Games, an annual event supporting youth mentorship.
  • TCS New York City Marathon Partner — Collaborates with the TCS New York City Marathon to engage runners in fundraising for youth mentoring programs.
  • TCS New York City Marathon Partner — Collaborates with the TCS New York City Marathon to engage runners in fundraising for youth mentoring.
  • Woobin Partner — Youth participant in the mentoring program matched with a Big, Bertan.
  • Workplace Mentoring Center Partner — Collaborates on workplace-based mentoring programming for youth.
  • Workplace Mentoring Group Partner — Corporate partner program that hosts mentoring sessions at company offices with employee volunteers
  • Young Professionals Committee Partner — Committee that organizes the annual Big Apple Gala in partnership with the organization.
strategies · 5

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.

  • Identity-Affirming Role Modeling to Increase Aspirational Belief
    methodology: identity_affirming_mentorship
    By matching youth with mentors who reflect their background and identity, we increase the youth’s belief in the attainability of success because seeing relatable role models strengthens self-efficacy and expands perceived life possibilities.
  • One-on-One Mentoring for Transformative Development
    methodology: long_term_one_to_one_mentoring
    By building long-term, one-on-one mentoring relationships between caring adults and youth, we produce positive life outcomes and transformative developmental change because consistent, emotionally supportive connections foster personal growth, resilience, and goal achievement.
  • Personalized and Family-Engaged Matching for Relationship Sustainability
    methodology: preference_based_matching
    By incorporating youth and family preferences and requiring mutual approval in mentor matching, and maintaining ongoing family communication, we strengthen relationship durability and engagement because inclusive, respectful processes build trust and alignment across all parties.
  • Structured Curriculum to Build Goal-Setting and Readiness
    methodology: structured_youth_development_curriculum
    By using a structured, facilitator-led curriculum that guides self-assessment and goal-setting, we improve career readiness and confidence because deliberate skill-building and reflection help youth identify strengths and prepare for post-secondary success.
  • Workplace-Based Mentoring to Integrate Career Exposure with Personal Growth
    methodology: workplace_based_mentoring
    By situating mentoring in professional workplaces and connecting youth with career role models, we support personal development and future planning because exposure to real-world careers and professional networks makes long-term goals tangible and actionable.