Big Brothers Big Sisters of NH & VT

We create and support one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth. Our vision is that all youth reach their fullest potential. We started in Vermont in Brattleboro in 1975 before expanding around the state in 2017. In 2025, after years of working together and sharing resources, New Hampshire and Vermont officially merged into one organization. By doing so, we are able to combine resources, be more cost efficient and be able to support and help even more youth. We are statewide, with a focus on our two main hubs, the Chittenden County area and the Wyndham County area.

We provide community and site/school-based mentoring for youth in both Vermont and New Hampshire. In Vermont, we serve just over 100 youth, with 18 currently in the Chittenden County area. And there are youth waiting to be matched. The youth we serve range in age from 6 to 18. Many of our youth face increasing challenges like food insecurity, mental health issues, unstable housing, being in an environment of substance misuse. But, research shows that mentored youth are more confident, more likely to stay in school and are better equipped to make healthy choices. We match youth with a trained volunteer adult - someone who can be a strong, consistent and positive mentor in their life. Our volunteers go through background checks and trainings. And both volunteers and the youth and their families receive support from our Match Advisors. Our services are free for families, but the actual cost for one matched youth/mentor for one year is $2,500. It is through the generosity of our communities that we are able to provide these services. Our mentors meet with their youth for a minimum of 4 hours a month (2 times a month) and we ask for a one year commitment minimum to allow the matched pair an opportunity to bond. Mentors do not need to be experts or perfect, we just ask that they be present.