Big Sisters of Lower Mainland BC is a 2-star, financially transparent charity. Its results reporting score is C, which is below average. Its overhead spending is outside Ci’s reasonable range. Its reserve funds can cover two years of annual program costs. 

Founded in 1960, Big Sisters of B.C. Lower Mainland (Big Sisters) matches volunteer mentors with girls and non-binary, transgender, or gender-diverse youth. Big Sisters works with youth that face bullying, isolation, poverty, abuse, social anxiety, and more. Left unaddressed, these adversities can become challenges in adulthood that require costly social interventions. Through mentorship, Big Sisters aims to reduce and avoid these risks and improve a child's chance of success. 

The charity has two main programs: Mentoring and Scholarships. It does not provide a program spending breakdown. 

The Mentoring program operates three kinds of matches: 1:1 Mentoring, Study Buddies, and Go Girls! Bis Sisters matches young girls, aged 7-17, with adult mentors who help develop girls' confidence and social skills. They also provide academic guidance and emotional support. In F2023, the number of girls supported by matches was 169, 149, and 151, by respective program. In total, Big Sisters’ mentorship program benefited 469 girls. 

The Scholarships program operates the Bright Futures Education Fund (BFEF). It supports girls in post-secondary education. In F2023, it awarded 9 scholarships. 

In F2023, Big Sisters of BC Lower Mainland received $1.8m in donations and special events revenue. It also received $304k in government funding, representing 14% of total revenue. Administrative costs were 25% of revenues, less investment income. Fundraising costs were 25% of donations. Total overhead spending was 49%. For every dollar donated, 51 cents are available to go to the cause. This is outside Ci’s reasonable range for overhead spending. 

In F2023, Big Sisters had $3.2m in funding reserves (cash and investments), which can cover two years of its annual program costs. Big Sisters spent $1.6m on its programs, which is 77% of revenue. The charity recorded a deficit of $455k, indicating that it drew on its reserves to fund its operations.

In F2022, Big Sisters received a donation of $5.2m to purchase a new head office. The charity does not disclose the source of this donation. Ci has included it in total revenue for F2022, leading to a significant increase compared to previous years.

The charity also appears to have made a mistake on its T3010 filing with the CRA in F2023, failing to report the number of full-time employees. Ci was hence unable to ascertain accurate salary information for F2023.  

This charity report is an update sent to Big Sisters of Lower Mainland BC for review. Changes and edits may be forthcoming.  

Updated on July 19, 2024 by Stellar Zhang.