2023 Impact Report - Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Chattanooga

2023 IMPACT REPORT IT TAKES LITTLE TO BE BIG

CEO Jessica Whatley at the grand opening of the Warner Mentoring Hub

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Impact Report

JESSICA WHATLEY CEO, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Chattanooga

Dear friends and supporters of Big Brothers Big Sisters, We are thrilled to share with you the many highlights of our past year at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Chattanooga! This year has been marked by exciting achievements and new initiatives, all aimed at improving the lives of young people in our community.

We celebrated our one-year anniversary in the Warner Mentoring Hub, a state-of-the-art facility that has become our central hub for providing top-quality mentoring services to our community. The Warner Mentoring Hub has helped us enhance communication and collaboration among our staff, volunteers, and families as well as host many events.

Bigs and Littles spent over 18,000 hours together throughout the year, forging strong bonds that will positively impact our community for years to come. We are incredibly proud of our mentors and the difference they make in the lives of our Littles.

This year, we launched our exciting new program, Big Futures, which for the first time ever allows Big Brothers Big Sisters to serve youth and young adults beyond the age of 18. The Big Futures program is designed to provide young adults with the necessary support, coaching, and resources to navigate the school-to-workforce pipeline. The response from the community has been fantastic, and we look forward to seeing the positive impact of this program.

With the launch of our new Strategic Plan, we are aiming to increase the impact and operational effectiveness of our organization. Our plan includes increasing the number of volunteer inquiries that get matched, targeted recruitment outreach to potential male mentors and those new to town, and utilizing technology to improve our enrollment processes to ensure a seamless, efficient, and engaging process. We are confident that these initiatives will help us continue to improve the lives of the young people we serve.

Finally, we celebrated our 2nd annual City of Potential Awards event, where we recognized and celebrated the champions of mentoring in our community. This event is an opportunity to come together and celebrate the positive impact that mentoring can have on our youth. This year’s event is slated for October 23rd, and we hope you can join us!

Thank you for your continued support of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Chattanooga. Your contribution makes it possible for us to provide our youth with the support they need to achieve their full potential. We look forward to another year of exciting progress and achievements.

Sincerely,

Jessica Whatley

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WHO WE ARE At Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Chattanooga, we see a future where all young people are empowered with a plan for their future and a mentor whose impact lasts a lifetime. As a member agency of the oldest and largest youth mentoring organization in the United States, we make meaningful, monitored matches between adult volunteers (“Bigs”) and children (“Littles”), ages 6 through 18 and beyond, in Hamilton, Marion, Bradley, Walker, Catoosa and Dade counties. We foster and support mentoring relationships that are empowering young people across our community.

OUR MISSION Create and support one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth.

OUR VISION All youth achieve their full potential.

OUR TEAM Leah Bales Summer Coleman Liane Cooper Sarah Cutner Enrique Davey Shari Driscoll Edward Ellis, III Tina Franklin Amber Hoyle Russell McBride Haile Nottage Cari Phillips Eli Smith Jessica Whatley Kim Weiss Phyllis Wilbanks

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2023 Impact Report

Match Support Specialist Activities Coordinator Chief Operations Officer Enrollment & Matching Specialist Program Manager Match Support Specialist Diversity Partnerships Manager Enrollment & Collegiate Partnerships Specialist Chief Program Officer Director of System Administration Big Futures Manager School Mentoring Coordinator Chief Development Officer Chief Executive Officer Match Support Specialist Bradley County Program Manager

2023 Impact Report

$600,000+ IN SCHOLARSHIPS Since 1983

21,000+ MATCHES SERVED Since 1957

19 SCHOOLS SERVED In 2023

RACE/ETHNICITY OF LITTLES

79% AFRICAN AMERICAN

GENDER SERVED 41% MALE

59%

11% CAUCASIAN

FEMALE

5% MULTI-RACE 4% HISPANIC 1% OTHER/UNKNOWN

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OUR PROGRAMS COMMUNITY-BASED MENTORING

BIG FUTURES

Mentoring that takes place in the community.

Mentors stay matched with their Little beyond age 18, empowering youth as they transition into adulthood.

SCHOOL-BASED MENTORING Mentors meet with their Little at a school or after-school site.

BEYOND SCHOOL WALLS Workplace mentoring — Mentors meet with their Little at their corporate office.

E-MENTORING Technology-based mentoring focused on career and college preparation

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Our programs have stood the test of time. They are responsive and have adapted to the changing needs of young people, focusing on positive outcomes: belonging and social connections, positive behavior and choices, social and emotional health, and educational success.

2023 Impact Report

BIGS IN BLUE Youth are mentored by law enforcement to build bridges of understanding.

READING TO LEARN Youth (grades K-3) are mentored in a literacy-focused school-based program.

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98

%

of our Littles have had no involvement or decreased juvenile justice involvement after being matched.

96 % of our Littles see their Big as a very important adult in their life.

90

%

of our Littles have developed new interests since being matched.

86

%

of our Littles are staying on track with, or improving, their academic performance.

ERICH & TERRENCE 2023 Big Brother and Little Brother of the Year Matched since August 2020 Despite being matched during the COVID-19 pandemic, Erich and Terrence were able to find creative ways to build their relationship. The strength of their bond became obvious when Erich was deployed with the National Guard for 8 months, and the two were able to stay connected virtually as Erich continued to support Terrence from afar. When they reunited, Terrence ran up and gave Erich a big hug, and they talked and caught up for hours.

Terrence has always had a special bond with his mother and they have lived in the Westside community all his life. Terrence and his mother wanted a mentor that could teach Terrence about manhood, encourage his success at school, and guide him away from involvement in gangs or drugs. Since having Erich in his life, Terrence has consistently brought his grades up and sought help for any subjects in which he was struggling. As Erich, Terrence, and his mother have become closer, Terrence has gotten to know Erich’s family as well and has become like a big brother to Erich’s children.

Terrence and Erich have had challenges as a match but have managed to adapt and cultivate a deep and meaningful bond. After all their time together, Terrence, his mother, and Erich think of one another as family. Through a pandemic, a deployment, and multiple children of his own, Erich has been a constant friend to Terrence and is dedicated to maintaining this friendship for a lifetime.

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2023 Impact Report

2023 Impact Report

2023 FINANCIALS It takes Little to be Big. This simple mantra describes the small but powerful moments of impact that our Bigs have with their Littles—but it also applies to the way we steward the gifts that our generous donors make to support mentorship. Every dollar makes a difference, and as a partner in our mission, you have every right to know how your gift is being used to create and support life-changing mentoring matches. Our annual financial report is based on our fiscal year, January 2023 to December 2023. Our annual audit was completed by Waycaster, CPA LLC, and a copy of our 990 and audit are available on our website at bbbschatt.org. We hope you will continue to join us in defending the potential of our youth through your financial support.

REVENUE SPECIAL EVENTS

$169,893

UNITED WAY

$192,359

IN-KIND

$5,902

OTHER

$7,950

CONTRIBUTIONS & GRANTS *

$1,173,546

INVESTMENT RETURNS

$187,801

*Includes Capital Campaign Donations

$1,737,451

TOTAL

EXPENSES PROGRAMS

$1,074,432

MANAGEMENT & OPERATIONS

$128,284

FUNDRAISING

$155,123

TOTAL

$1,357,839

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BIG RELATIONSHIPS Each time Big Brothers Big Sisters matches a child with a mentor, both Big and Little receive a gift they’ll benefit from throughout their life. Mentorship has been proven to be one of the most powerful ways to improve the odds for a young person and transform their life trajectory. The power of mentorship lies in the moments that spark curiosity, encourage aspiration, and inspire potential. But it all starts with a relationship.

WILL, ARIANNA, & RASHAD | MATCHED SINCE JULY 2021 2023 Big Couples Match of the Year When Rashad’s mother enrolled her son to be matched with a Big Brother, her hope was for a long friendship and a genuine connection. Rashad lucked out when he was matched with Arianna and Will—not one, but two Bigs! He enjoys getting to learn and try new things with Arianna and Will, and he gets to experience another healthy family structure. Rashad loves to spend time with his Bigs on their farm, and Rashad’s mother loves that Will and Arianna have incorporated Rashad into their family.

Sometimes Rashad will call Will during the week, and they will watch movies together at Will and Arianna’s house. Will and Arianna love spending time with their Little Brother; they celebrate his wins and care for him deeply. Rashad’s favorite thing about his Bigs is how funny they are, which is perfect because he’s pretty silly himself. Rashad wants to continue to grow as a student and an athlete. With Will and Arianna’s care and support, he is well on his way!

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2023 Impact Report

2023 Impact Report

EMILY & KEILY | MATCHED SINCE FEBRUARY 2020 2023 Big Sister and Little Sister of the Year

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I’ve seen Keily overcome significant academic hurdles out of her own motivation and perseverance. She’s such a hard worker and always strives to do her best, which is a quality I admire. I’m thrilled to continue to see how she grows. Our conversations are always a two-way street. Most of the time, if you’re an adult conversing with an adolescent, you’re doing most of the talking. With Keily, she always asks me how I am and genuinely wants to know what’s going on in my life, and I know that’s how she is with everyone in her life. It’s clear that she derives a lot of joy from small things. I so value that trait, and it’s a really humbling and wonderful reminder. Something else she teaches me is how to make traditional Guatemalan meals! My favorite recipe she has showed me was how to make pupusas. What’s better than freshly made tortillas stuffed with melted cheese and beans? We both enjoy cooking and baking, so we spend a lot of our time together doing just that. Having lots of interests in common has been a real treat. Everyone needs someone to listen to them and to give the gift of time to them, and those things can be really transformative. Giving her my listening ear, advice when she asks, and being vulnerable myself so she feels safe in doing so—all of these things and more are how I strive to support and enjoy our friendship.

— BIG SISTER EMILY

“

What makes my Big special is how amazing, fun, and creative she is. She’s someone I can really count on. I’ve been so happy to have such an amazing opportunity, and being part of this program has been so much fun. I love that I’ve been able to teach her different things about my culture, and other cool things about me!

— LITTLE SISTER KEILY

“

Thanks to this program, Keily has been able to develop a meaningful and deep relationship with Emily and has received support from her Big. Emily has also exposed Keily to new experiences, and Keily has been able to reach her potential through being exposed to new and diverse activities and opportunities.

— KEILY’S MOTHER

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excellence

MENTORING WITH

KIMBERLY BOWEN Board President, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Chattanooga

Dear Friends of Big Brothers Big Sisters, As Board President of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Chattanooga, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the past year and share our organization's accomplishments and exciting updates with you.

Last year was a remarkable year for our organization as we continued to focus on delivering top-quality mentoring services to youth in our community. We continued to build on our mission of helping young people achieve their full potential by matching them with caring, volunteer mentors.

Our success this year would not have been possible without the incredible support of our community. The individuals, foundations, and companies whose generous contributions have proven to be a critical tool in supporting our matches.

In addition to our traditional one-to-one mentoring programs, we launched our Big Futures program this year, which focuses on providing young adults with the necessary support, coaching, and resources to navigate the school-to-workforce pipeline. This new program has been a tremendous success, and we are excited to see its positive impact on our mentees.

We continued to serve more children in our community, and our Littles and Bigs spent over 18,000 hours together throughout the year, forging strong bonds that will positively impact our community for years to come.

Looking ahead, we are excited to continue expanding our work. Our new Strategic Plan, designed to increase impact and operational effectiveness, includes several initiatives to serve more children in our community, enhance support for young adults, and increase our number of volunteers and thus serve more youth. We remain committed to building stronger relationships between our youth and volunteers and supporting them in achieving their full potential.

Thank you for your continued support of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Chattanooga and your belief in the power of mentoring. Together, we can continue to inspire and improve the lives of young people in our community.

Sincerely,

Kimberly Bowen 12

2023 Impact Report

2023 Impact Report

A NEW STRATEGIC PLAN In 2023, our team underwent a strategic planning process to determine our strategy through 2026. As part of this process, we have defined 4 key strategic initiatives to guide us as we strive toward our vision of all youth reaching their potential.

SERVE MORE KIDS How? Engage More Male Mentors. The problem is simple: there are more boys than girls on our waitlist, and more women signing up to volunteer than men. In order to serve more kids, we are making it a priority to share our story with the men in our community to recruit more Big Brothers and take more kids off the waitlist.

SERVE KIDS QUICKER How? Enhance the Volunteer Enrollment Process. Safety is a priority in everything we do, and as a result, our volunteer process takes time—but that doesn’t mean it has to be complicated. We’re striving to create a seamless, engaging, and efficient volunteer process that will ultimately lead to Littles being matched with Bigs faster.

SERVE KIDS LONGER How? Big Futures Program. Supporting youth as they transition into adulthood is crucial for their longterm success and the betterment of our communities. With the launch of our new Big Futures Program, BBBS is now supporting youth and young adults through mentoring past age 18.

SERVE KIDS BETTER How? Strengthen Core Processes. Increasing operational effectiveness will allow us to provide higher quality service to our community. This includes measures to support the mental health of Bigs and Littles, engage local churches in our mission, and strengthen communication with our community of supporters.

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IN BUILDING A STRONG COMMUNITY When you support Big Brothers Big Sisters, you’re investing in the most powerful and beneficial way to transform a young person’s life trajectory— mentorship. You’re making sure more young people have a positive role model by their side during a crucial period of life—someone to help guide them in facing adversity, avoiding risky behaviors, performing better in school, developing strong social connections, and increasing their selfconfidence. We all benefit because when young people realize their potential, they change our society for the better.

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2023 Impact Report

2023 Impact Report

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OUR BOARD Kimberly Bowen Erich Murray Susan McGehee Ricky Thomas Sonya Jaffar Tara Wiese Barret Albritton Cyndi Allen Heather Collins Brandon Deering Malcolm Harris Dionne Jenkins Rob Robinson Tracey Smith Anna Turley Kathi Grant Willis Kristin Copeland

ADDRESS 2015 Bailey Avenue Chattanooga, TN 37404 PHONE 423.698.8016 WEBSITE bbbschatt.org