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CHARITY REVIEW
Issued: May 2026 Expires: May 2028

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Milwaukee

Accredited Charity
Accredited Charity

Meets Standards
(414) 258-4778
770 North Jefferson Street, Suite 200
Milwaukee, WI, 53202
https://bbbsmilwaukee.org/
📄 Full Report 🖨️ Print 📋 BBB Charity Standards

Standards For Charity Accountability

Governance

  1. Board Oversight
  2. Board Size
  3. Board Meetings
  4. Board Compensation
  5. Conflict of Interest

Measuring Effectiveness

  1. Effectiveness Policy
  2. Effectiveness Report

Finances

  1. Program Expenses
  2. Fundraising Expenses
  3. Accumulating Funds
  4. Audit Report
  5. Detailed Expense Breakdown
  6. Accurate Expense Reporting
  7. Budget Plan

Fundraising & Info

  1. Truthful Materials
  2. Annual Report
  3. Website Disclosures
  4. Donor Privacy
  5. Cause Marketing Disclosures
  6. Complaints

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Milwaukee meets the 20 Standards for Charity Accountability.

Stated Purpose:
"to create and support mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth."

Year, State Incorporated:
1975, WI

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Milwaukee (BBBS Milwaukee) states that its mentoring programs and ongoing professional case management services serve to make a positive impact in the lives of youth, families, and trained volunteer mentors in Milwaukee and Waukesha counties in Wisconsin. The organization's community-based mentoring allows youth to meet with volunteer mentors two to four times per month to engage in activities based on shared interests. BBBS Milwaukee affirms that this style of mentoring builds confidence, resilience, and community awareness while providing fun, educational, and enriching experiences for both parties. The organization also offers school-based mentoring, in which students meet weekly with volunteer mentors at partner schools in Milwaukee and Waukesha counties for educational support, including homework help and hands-on, critical-thinking activities that reinforce classroom learning. Mentor2.0 is a technology-enhanced mentoring program for high school students that combines in-person mentoring with secure online communication and a weekly curriculum focused on college and career readiness to support graduation and post-secondary success. In 2025, the organization reports that BBBS Milwaukee staff and adult volunteer mentors served over 1,800 youth.

For the year ended June 30, 2025, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Milwaukee's program expenses were:

Program services $2,340,303
Total Program Expenses $2,340,303

Chief Executive
Neil Willenson, President and Chief Executive Officer

Compensation*
$201,323

Chair of the Board
Matt Meuleners

Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation
Executive Partner, FOCUS Training

Board Size
35

Paid Staff Size
30

*2024 compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.

Method(s) Used:
Direct mail appeals, Invitations to fund raising events, Grant proposals, Internet, Planned giving arrangements, Cause-related marketing (affinity credit cards, consumer product sales, etc.), Workplace Giving

Fundraising costs were 22% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $2,972,474, are donations received as a result of fundraising activities.)

This organization is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. It is eligible to receive contributions deductible as charitable donations for federal income tax purposes.

The following information is based on Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Milwaukee's audited financial statements for the year ended June 30, 2025.

Source of Funds
Contributions and grants $1,391,755
Special events, net $857,427
In-kind contributions $327,902
Interest income $138,601
Big Brothers Big Sisters of America $137,823
Community Advocates, Inc $130,000
Employee Retention Credit $125,102
Investment return, net $100,541
United Way $97,288
Waukesha County and Milwaukee County Community Development Block Grants $30,279
Other income $7,906
Total Income $3,344,624

Programs: 68% Fundraising: 19% Administrative: 12%

Total Income $3,344,624
Total expenses: $3,419,410
  Program expenses $2,340,303
  Fundraising expenses $650,575
  Administrative expenses $402,246
  Other expenses $26,286
Income in Excess of Expenses $-74,786
Beginning Net Assets $4,579,559
Other Changes In Net Assets $0
Ending Net Assets $4,504,773
Total Liabilities $2,016,774
Total Assets $6,521,547

Note 1: As noted in the above financial section, "other expenses" refers to unallocated payments to the national organization, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.

Note 2: According to the organization's audited financial statements for the year ended June 30, 2025, BBBS Milwaukee received in-kind contributions totaling $344,660, in the form of program tickets and supplies ($145,443), office workstations ($78,000), use of facilities ($56,990), advertising ($38,500), Bowling for Kids' Sake event supplies ($12,246), professional services ($7,131), golf supplies ($2,949), 50 parties ($1,838), and gala supplies ($1,563).

An organization may change its practices at any time without notice. A copy of this report has been shared with the organization prior to publication. It is not intended to recommend or deprecate, and is furnished solely to assist you in exercising your own judgment. If the report is about a charity and states the charity meets or does not meet the Standards for Charity Accountability, it reflects the results of an evaluation of information and materials provided voluntarily by the charity. The name Better Business Bureau is a registered service mark of the International Association of Better Business Bureaus.

This report is not to be used for fundraising or promotional purposes.

RELATED CONTENT

Report completed by:
BBB Serving Wisconsin