WHAT IS THE 'PERSONAL BIG BROTHER' PROGRAM
What is this program?
The Personal Big Brother Program is a one-to-one mentorship initiative that pairs a trained volunteer with one young boy to provide consistent support, guidance, and friendship over time.
Each volunteer is matched with one child to ensure depth, consistency, and a meaningful relationship.
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We believe mentorship is most effective when a child knows someone is showing up just for them. We also want our volunteers to be fully committed to their service.
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We don't want burnout to create low-quality connections between the volunteers and the children.
What does a Personal Big Brother do?
A Personal Big Brother serves as both a friend and a mentor — someone who listens, encourages, and models healthy behavior through shared experiences.
The Personal Big Brother is meant to imitate the real bond between an older brother and a little brother. This is not just sitting down and talking about problems. This is about creating a true brotherly bond!
A Personal Big Brother does not aim to pull information and vulnerability out of his little brother. Our emphasis is on developing a relationship and connection that makes the little brother desire to be open and honest with his older brother. Such a connection takes TIME, EFFORT, and CONSISTENCY to build.
A Personal Big Brother engages in activities that brings them closer together, which varies from child-to-child. This could be going to the little brothers house (parents must be home whenever an older brother is over) to play video games or taking the kid out to a trampoline park.
This approach gives the child a positive male role model who is directly invested in them. This is specifically for young boys who are lacking such a man in their life.
The 1-on-1 model makes accessibility to this program very limited. We want to guarantee that we provide this service to children who will benefit most from it.
Frequency & Commitment
Matches are encouraged to connect regularly, with a minimum commitment of at least once per month.
We encourage matches to meet more frequently based on availability and the needs of the child and the volunteer.
The Personal Big Brother Program is built on consistency. Volunteers are expected to commit to their match for an extended period of time, recognizing that trust is built through reliability and consistency.
Age Requirements
REQUIREMENTS FOR VOLUNTEER
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Must be at least 18 years old to become a big brother
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Must be at least 21 years old to leave the house with the little brother and to drive with a little brother in the car.
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Big Brothers younger than 21 must connect with the child at the child's home or have a parent or guardian present.
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REQUIREMENTS FOR CHILD
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The program is designed to serve boys in early childhood through adolescence, with age-appropriate mentorship and expectations.
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We don't have an explicit minimum age but its unlikely that a child younger than 8 will be matched.
Expenses & Accessibility
To remove financial barriers and ensure equity, APPROVED expenses related to mentorship activities — such as food, transportation, and approved outings — are reimbursed by The Big Brother Project.
This ensures that the Big Brother is able to provide quality and engaging experiences to the child and strengthen their relationship through shared memories and experiences.
Safety, Structure, & Oversight
All Personal Big Brothers are required to complete an application, background screening, and training process before being matched with a child.
Matches operate under clear guidelines, with ongoing oversight, check-ins, and support from The Big Brother Project to ensure the safety and well-being of both the child and volunteer.
How this aligns with our bigger vision
While group programs provide education and community, one-to-one mentorship offers something different: personal attention, trust, and consistency.
The Personal Big Brother Program exists for boys who would benefit most from having someone show up for them regularly — someone who chooses to invest in their growth, month after month.
This program will create the most significant impact due to its 1-on-1 relational structure. We desire to create similar results with our group programs but there will always be something special about the 1-on-1 model.
This is strongest weapon against the damage done to young men when fathers are absent. Filling the void left in these young men is the heart of The Big Brother Project!