BECOME A BIG: VOLUNTEER AS A MENTOR IN KENTUCKIANA
When you become a Big Brother or Big Sister in Louisville or Southern Indiana, you’re not just volunteering your time, you’re helping a young person build confidence, resilience, and hope for the future.
Whether you live in the Louisville metro area, Jeffersonville, Clarksville,
or New Albany, your time can help a child dream bigger and achieve more.
Change Two Lives — Yours and a Child’s
YOU HAVE A BIG OPPORTUNITY
Becoming a mentor in Kentuckiana means making a lasting difference in your own community. When you volunteer with Big Brothers Big Sisters, you’ll be part of a nationally recognized youth mentorship program proven to change lives.
Each Big and Little match is built on friendship, trust, and shared experiences that foster growth and connection.
One-on-one mentoring with a youth aged 7–16
2–3 monthly outings based on your schedule
Around 2 hours per outing — flexible and easy to fit in
1-year minimum commitment to build consistency and impact
Mentoring in Louisville and Southern Indiana doesn’t take much time, but it makes a lifetime of difference.
Mentorship Programs that Fit Your Life
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kentuckiana offers several flexible mentorship programs designed to fit your lifestyle and help you make a real impact.
DId YOu Know?
100%
of our Littles avoid involvement with the juvenile justice system.
98%
of our Littles graduate on time.
87%
of our Littles report maintained or improved mental health.
Community-Based Mentoring
Enjoy one-on-one outings with your Little around the community. Go to a park, grab a meal, see a movie, or check out local events. This flexible program gives you freedom to plan activities that fit your schedule while helping a child in your city build confidence and life skills — all while our staff offer support and resources on a regular basis.
Site / Group / School-Based Mentoring
Meet your Little in a relaxed, facilitated session for games, reading, or conversation. These programs fit easily into a workday and support local students across Louisville and Southern Indiana who benefit from consistent encouragement and positive influence.
Each Big and Little match is built on friendship, trust, and shared experiences that foster growth and connection.
Become a big
Become a big
- 01 -
Submit Interest Form
Complete our brief online application and watch our introductory info video to start your journey.
- 02 -
volunteer
Interview
Meet with our team to learn about the program so we can understand your preferences and personality.
- 03 -
Background check & references
We'll chat with the references you provide in your application and perform a background check.
- 04 -
ready to be
matched!
Before meeting matched with a Little, you’ll attend orientation and get all the necessary training from our staff.
- 05 -
Start Mentoring
Start your mentoring journey by meeting your Little alongside BBBSKY staff. After that, you’ll get ongoing support from our professional staff.
Why We Need More Male Mentors in Kentuckiana
Right now, many boys across Louisville and Southern Indiana are waiting for a Big Brother. These youth are looking for someone who will show up, listen, and care.
You don’t need special training, just the desire to make a difference.
If you’ve ever thought about volunteering with kids or giving back through a local mentoring program, now is the time to get involved.
WHY BLACK MEN MAKE GREAT MENTORS
Representation matters — and our Littles are looking for role models who reflect their lived experience.
Many of the youth waiting for a mentor are young Black boys, and we've seen firsthand how powerful it is when they're matched with a Big who shares their lived experiences. If you're a Black man considering mentorship, you already have what it takes to make a life-changing difference.
"I didn’t realize how much he needed someone like me until I showed up.”
MENTORSHIP IN ACTION
The big blog
Try Being a Big for a Day
Not sure if mentoring is right for you?
Big for a Day lets you experience what it’s like to be a mentor before making a long-term commitment.
You’ll spend a day alongside a group of Bigs and Littles, participating in fun, guided activities planned by our team. It’s a great way to learn more about Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kentuckiana, connect with local youth, and see firsthand how simple and rewarding mentorship can be.
FAQS
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Our Bigs come from diverse backgrounds just like our Littles. They are regular people, just like you. You don’t need any special degrees or job skills. You just have to want to positively impact a young person. Our mentors are an inclusive group from all walks of life, including diverse ages, ethnicities, genders, religions, sexual orientation, countries of origin, and socioeconomic status. Role models come in all shapes and sizes, and you could be a perfect fit!
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As a Big/Little team, you decide together what you want to do and obtain parental approval. We recommend that you keep a consistent schedule of outings and get together on a regular basis. Your local agency will provide more guidance on this. Until your relationship is established, the outings will also depend on the comfort level of your Little’s parents, your Little, and you.
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The quality of time invested with your Little is more important than the amount of money you spend. That’s why we don’t encourage spending a lot of money on your outings. The goal of the relationship is to help your Little see the world through a different lens so you can inspire them to become something they never thought possible. If you are going to spend money, we encourage you to seek out low-cost activities, especially in the beginning. Shoot hoops at a local park, play a game together, or share that pizza that you were going to have for lunch anyway. Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies offer donor-supported group activities that are a great way to meet other Bigs and Littles. As a Big, you may also receive notices for free tickets to cultural and sports activities for both of you to enjoy.
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Share an activity that gives you something in common to talk about. Buy a comic book to read together. Play a board game. Go to the library to check out a book and read together. Go on a nature walk. Hit a bucket of golf balls at the local driving range. Or hang out and talk about the music you like. You want to select activities that give each of you a chance to learn more about one another. For children, playing can be learning. Most important: keep it simple and enjoy yourselves!
Visit a museum, park, arboretum, or zoo (in-person or virtually)
See a movie or documentary
Go to the library
Play a board game, cards, or work on a puzzle
Start a book club together
Work on homework together
DIY Science project or check out virtual STEM activities
Go for a bike ride, hike, fish, go for a run, or play basketball
Tour a local college campus or attend a local college sporting event at University of Louisville, Bellarmine, Spalding, Simmons College, Indiana University Southeast, etc.
Take a cooking class or crafts workshop
Go to a driving range or minigolf
Check out a local farmer’s market
Ask your match support specialist for more ideas!
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In the beginning, it’s important for you and your Little to get to know each other. This can happen best on a one-to-one basis. However, over time it’s also valuable for your Little to get to know the people who are important to you. Just keep in mind that if you’re spending lots of time with others, your Little may begin to feel jealous or neglected. The main focus is the friendship you develop with your Little and the impact you have on their life.
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Once you are matched with your Little Brother or Little Sister, a professionally trained Match Support Specialist from the agency will be in regular contact with you to provide assistance and give feedback. Your Match Support Specialist is always there to support you and your Little. They’ll help you with ideas for activities, guidance for handling possible difficult situations, and provide feedback on how you are making a difference.
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No, Littles have a parent or guardian in their life already. What they need is a Big to spend quality, one-on-one time with them. Someone to have fun with and someone they can confide in: someone like you!
Join hundreds of local volunteers changing lives through youth mentorship in Louisville and Southern Indiana. Your time, encouragement, and consistency can open doors for a child who just needs someone to believe in them.
The partnership encourage 5,000 people who work for Metro Government to be mentors, with hopes of preventing violent crime through the proactive impact of youth mentoring.