What Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies need most in 2026

Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies are entering 2026 at a pivotal moment. Across the nonprofit sector, organizations are dealing with rising expectations, growing operational pressure, and increasing demand for measurable impact. 

Mentorship continues to change lives, strengthen communities, and create long-term impact for young people and families. 

So, what do BBBS agencies need most in 2026?

From mentor recruitment and fundraising sustainability to youth wellness and operational efficiency, here are the priorities shaping the future of mentoring organizations across the country.

What challenges are BBBS agencies facing today?

Burnout has become one of the biggest operational challenges facing nonprofit organizations, including Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies. According to one survey, 95% of executive directors said they were concerned about staff burnout. 

Many nonprofit teams are already understaffed, which forces employees to take on extra responsibilities without enough support. In fact, 59% of nonprofit employees who leave their jobs say “too much responsibility and not enough support” is a major reason why.

The impact is severe. Nonprofits lose around 19% of staff annually, a turnover rate higher than in other industries. Replacing just one employee can cost anywhere from 33% to 200% of their yearly salary once recruiting, onboarding, and lost productivity are factored in. 

At the same time, 59% of nonprofits say filling open positions has become harder.

Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies are also dealing with rising demand at a time when nonprofit resources are already stretched thin. Demand for mentorship programs increased sharply during the pandemic and has continued growing. 

According to BBBSA’s 2025 Youth Mentorship Access study, three in four young adults say they do not have a mentor. 

Last but not least, fundraising is becoming harder: 70% of nonprofits do not expect increased foundation or individual giving next year, just as operating costs rise. 

All this means agencies need to boost mentor recruitment, streamline operations, and deepen support for youth. 

How can agencies recruit and retain more volunteer mentors?

Recruiting and retaining volunteer mentors continues to be one of the biggest priorities for BBBS agencies in 2026, especially as many waitlists are made up primarily of boys waiting for male mentors. 

Agencies across the network are becoming more creative with outreach, partnerships, and volunteer support to close that gap.

Effective strategies include:

• Partnering with corporations and sports organizations: BBBSA’s “Big Draft” initiative with Gillette used flag football events in multiple cities to connect prospective male volunteers with boys on waiting lists. Similar “Big for a Day” events and mentoring clinics help introduce men to mentoring in a more approachable way.
• Running targeted local campaigns: Agencies are using social media, local radio, commuter ads, and community outreach campaigns that focus on motivations like giving back, leadership, and personal growth.
• Offering flexible mentoring options: Group mentoring, virtual matches, and shorter or themed commitments make volunteering easier for younger professionals, busy parents, and first-time mentors.
• Improving volunteer support and retention: Better onboarding, mentor coordinators, training programs, and public volunteer recognition help mentors stay engaged long term.

Agencies are also expanding outreach to women, retirees, college students, and referral networks to strengthen the overall volunteer pipeline.

What fundraising and community support strategies do agencies need?

With fundraising becoming more difficult nationwide, BBBS agencies need more diversified and sustainable support strategies. 

Key strategies include:

• Growing individual and major donor programs: Stronger relationships with donors, cultivation events, and sharing mentor success stories can encourage recurring and long-term giving.
• Using peer-to-peer fundraising campaigns: Community-driven events like bowlathons, walks, and online campaigns help agencies raise both funds and awareness.
• Expanding events and grant opportunities: Galas, golf outings, auctions, and youth-service grants can create additional revenue streams.
• Streamlining fundraising tools: Centralized platforms for donations, recurring gifts, and event management reduce staff workload and improve efficiency.
• Strengthening community partnerships: Schools, businesses, and faith groups can provide volunteers, sponsorships, meeting space, and in-kind support.

Many nonprofits currently operate with only 6–12 months of reserves, which makes careful budgeting and multi-year planning critical for long-term stability.

How can agencies address evolving youth needs?

Today’s youth are facing challenges that go far beyond the mentoring gap. 

Recent BBBSA research found that many young people struggle with mental health concerns, financial anxiety, and uncertainty about their future careers. In response, agencies are expanding support systems and adapting mentoring programs to meet these changing needs.

Research continues to show the long-term impact of mentorship. A 2026 longitudinal study by UIC found that youth in BBBS programs reported lower rates of depression, substance use, and violent behavior, along with stronger self-esteem and overall mental health over a four-year period.

Many agencies are now:

• Integrating wellness support into programs: Regular check-ins and partnerships with local counselors, clinics, or crisis resources help identify youth who may need additional support.
• Expanding life-skills and career readiness programs: Workshops on financial literacy, college planning, communication, and job readiness help prepare mentees for adulthood.
• Supporting families alongside youth: Agencies increasingly involve parents and guardians to strengthen match outcomes and create more stable support systems.
• Elevating youth voices: Leadership programs and youth councils help mentees shape programs while building confidence and leadership skills themselves.

How can technology and innovation increase agency capacity?

Technology is becoming an important part of how BBBS agencies expand impact while reducing pressure on staff. 

One major example is volunteer training. After adopting a cloud-based learning platform, one BBBS case study showed virtual volunteer training registrations increased by 75% in a single month, while monthly active users rose 44%. 

Staff also gained faster access to compliance reports and training data, significantly improving productivity.

Many agencies are now using technology to improve operations in several ways:

• Volunteer matching and management tools: Centralized systems help agencies track Big–Little matches, monitor progress, manage waitlists, and support volunteers more efficiently.
• Virtual mentoring platforms: Secure video-based mentoring options help agencies support youth who cannot meet in person because of distance, scheduling, or other barriers.
• CRM systems and analytics tools: Data platforms help agencies identify recruitment trends, improve retention strategies, strengthen grant applications, and better demonstrate impact to funders.
• All-in-one fundraising platforms: Unified tools for events, auctions, recurring giving, ticketing, and peer-to-peer fundraising reduce administrative work and save staff time. 

BetterWorld reports that nonprofits raise more funds while saving dozens of hours per event through streamlined workflows.

The goal is not to replace human connection, but to reduce administrative strain so teams can focus more time on mentoring and community impact.

How will the 2026 BBBS National Conference help agencies?

The 2026 Big Brothers Big Sisters National Conference, taking place in Atlanta from June 15th to June 18th, will focus on many of the challenges agencies are currently facing, including mental health, leadership development, revenue growth, staff well-being, and program innovation. 

Sessions and workshops will explore topics including:

• Staff well-being and burnout
• Leadership development
• Revenue growth
• Program innovation
• Mental health support
• Mentor retention

The conference also gives agencies a chance to exchange real-world strategies and success stories with peers across the network. 

Attendees can discover new recruitment ideas, fundraising approaches, and operational tools while building stronger connections within the BBBS community and returning home with fresh energy and actionable insights.

How can BetterWorld empower BBBS agencies?

BBBS agencies should not have to choose between fundraising and mentorship. When staff are already stretched thin, the right platform can remove hours of administrative work and give teams more time to focus on youth, volunteers, and community relationships. 

That is exactly where BetterWorld stands out.

Built specifically for nonprofits, BetterWorld gives nonprofits one place to manage peer-to-peer campaigns, auctions, raffles, event ticketing, recurring donations, and donor engagement without added platform costs. 

Campaigns can be launched in minutes, making it easier for small teams to move quickly without needing technical expertise or extra staff support.

For agencies trying to do more with limited resources, smarter systems are no longer optional. They are part of sustainable growth.

We look forward to connecting with BBBS leaders and agencies at the 2026 BBBS National Conference in Atlanta. 

Stop by the BetterWorld booth for a quick conversation about fundraising, mentor engagement, event strategy, and how your team can save time while expanding impact.