Youth Mentoring Programs Across Colorado
About BBBSC in Colorado
Youth mentoring in Colorado connects young people with trained, caring adult volunteers who provide consistent support, guidance, and positive relationships during the years when it matters most.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Colorado has been delivering one-to-one mentoring programs across the state since 1918. We operate across the Denver Metro and Pikes Peak regions, serving young people ages 5 to 18 through professionally supported programs designed to build confidence, improve academic outcomes, and reduce the risk factors that lead to disengagement and juvenile justice involvement.
In 2025, we served 1,641 Colorado youth and contributed 46,416 volunteer hours across our service area. Nearly 300 young people are currently on our waitlist. If you are looking for youth mentoring programs in Colorado, looking to become a mentor, or looking to support this work, you are in the right place.
Youth Mentoring in Denver
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Colorado’s Denver Metro programs serve youth and families across Denver, Arapahoe, Adams, Jefferson, and Douglas counties. Our Denver headquarters coordinates Community-Based Mentoring, Sports Buddies, school-based programs through STARS and Project AIM, and our Big Futures wraparound support for high school-aged youth.
Denver is home to the largest concentration of youth on our waitlist. In 2025, 35% of the youth we served came from Denver County, with an additional 19% from Arapahoe County and 13% each from Adams and Jefferson counties. The need for volunteer mentors across the Denver Metro remains significant, particularly for male mentors and mentors who reflect the cultural diversity of the young people we serve.
Our Denver office is located at 7535 East Hampden Avenue, Suite 605, Denver, CO 80231. Reach us at (303) 433-6002 or visit our Denver programs page for location-specific information, upcoming events, and how to apply.
Youth Mentoring in Colorado Springs
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Colorado’s Pikes Peak programs serve youth and families across El Paso County and surrounding communities. Our Colorado Springs office coordinates the same suite of BBBSC programs available in the Denver Metro, including Community-Based Mentoring, Sports Buddies, STARS, Project AIM, and Big Futures.
El Paso County represented 13% of youth served by BBBSC in 2025, with demand for mentors continuing to grow as our school-based programs expand into additional Pikes Peak area schools. Colorado Springs has a particularly strong need for male mentors for boys ages 9 to 14.
Our Pikes Peak office is located at 111 South Tejon Street, Suite 302, Colorado Springs, CO 80903. Reach us at 303-433-6002 or visit our Colorado Springs programs page for location-specific information and how to apply.
Why Colorado Youth Need Mentoring Now
The need for youth mentoring across Colorado is not an abstraction. It is a waitlist of nearly 300 young people, most of them boys, who have been matched with a program but are still waiting for an adult to step up.
The populations BBBSC serves reflect where need is greatest in Colorado. In 2025, 70% of our Littles came from single-parent households, 41% of families received income assistance, and 15% had a parent who was incarcerated. These are young people for whom a consistent adult relationship outside the family is not an enhancement. It is often a turning point.
The research is unambiguous. According to national Big Brothers Big Sisters outcome data, youth with mentors are 52% less likely to be arrested, 46% less likely to begin using drugs, 27% less likely to begin using alcohol, and 20% more likely to enroll in college compared to peers without mentors. A 2023 longitudinal study by researchers Alex Bell and Neviana Petkova found that mentored youth earn 15 to 19 percent more in early-career wages, and that the government recoups the cost of mentoring programs through increased tax revenue within approximately 7 years.
At BBBSC in 2025, 78% of Littles maintained or improved their grades, and 94% felt confident they would achieve their goals even when facing significant barriers. The average match length across our programs is 3.6 years, far exceeding the 12-month minimum that research identifies as the threshold for meaningful outcomes.
Every dollar invested in quality mentoring returns three dollars in societal benefits. At BBBSC, the average annual cost per youth served is $1,954.
Our Programs
BBBSC offers multiple mentoring pathways across our Colorado service area, each designed for different schedules, settings, and ages.
SCHOOL-BASED MENTORING
School-Based Mentoring through STARS and Project AIM delivers mentoring directly inside Colorado schools. STARS is a 22-week peer mentoring curriculum for youth ages 11 to 18. Project AIM is a six-week evidence-based program for middle schoolers focused on identity, decision-making, and career readiness. This is our fastest-growing program model.
Community-Based Mentoring
Community-Based Mentoring is our signature one-to-one program, pairing youth ages 9 to 18 with adult mentors who meet two to four times per month for activities they choose together. Available in both the Denver Metro and Pikes Peak regions.
Site-Based Mentoring
Through Site-Based Mentoring, Bigs and Littles connect at partner locations across the Denver area and beyond. These programs provide safe, consistent environments where youth can form supportive bonds, develop life skills, and experience new opportunities with the guidance of their mentors.
Big Futures Program
Sports Buddies
Sports Buddies is a group mentoring program built around staff-planned activities, including hiking, skiing, STEM workshops, and professional sporting events. All activities are organized by BBBSC staff, making this an ideal option for adults who want a structured mentoring experience.
How to Get Involved
Become a Big
BBBSC matches trained adult volunteers with young people across Denver and Colorado Springs. The time commitment is four to eight hours per month for a minimum of one year. All volunteers complete a detailed application, in-person interview, multi-level background checks, reference verification, and evidence-based training before being matched. BBBSC program staff support every match throughout the relationship. The process typically takes four to six weeks.
Enroll a Child
If you are a parent, guardian, or community member who knows a young person aged 5 to 18 who could benefit from a mentor, we want to hear from you. BBBSC programs are available at no cost to families in our service area.
Support Through Donations
Your tax-deductible donation funds the recruitment, training, and professional match support that makes every mentoring relationship possible across Colorado. A gift of $1,954 supports one full year of mentoring for a Colorado youth. Donations to BBBSC qualify for the Colorado Child Care Contribution Tax Credit, meaning you can claim 50% of your gift back in state tax credits, up to $100,000.
Become an advocate
BBBSC advocates for Colorado policies that sustain and expand youth mentoring programs, including the Tony Grampsas Youth Services Program and out-of-school-time programming expansion. Your voice matters to Colorado legislators.
One Relationship Changes Everything
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Colorado has been answering Colorado’s need for youth mentoring since 1918. The programs are proven. The outcomes are documented. The need is real and present today.
Whether you want to become a Big, enroll a child, support our work financially, or advocate for youth mentoring policy in Colorado, your involvement makes it possible for us to close the gap between the young people waiting and the mentors who can show up for them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does Big Brothers Big Sisters of Colorado operate?
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Colorado serves youth and families across the Denver Metro and Pikes Peak regions. Our Denver office serves Denver, Arapahoe, Adams, Jefferson, and Douglas counties. Our Colorado Springs office serves El Paso County and the surrounding Pikes Peak communities. Contact our Denver office at (303) 433-6002 or our Colorado Springs office at (719) 633-2443.
Does BBBSC serve Boulder or other Front Range communities?
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Colorado’s current programs are based in the Denver Metro and Pikes Peak regions. We do not currently operate programs in Boulder, Fort Collins, or other northern Front Range communities. Families and prospective volunteers in those areas are encouraged to contact MENTOR: The National Mentoring Partnership at mentoring.org to find programs serving their local area.
How do I find youth mentoring programs near me in Colorado?
If you are in the Denver Metro area, visit our Denver programs page or contact our Denver office at (303) 433-6002. If you are in the Colorado Springs or Pikes Peak area, visit our Colorado Springs programs page or contact us at (719) 633-2443. For communities outside our service area, MENTOR: The National Mentoring Partnership maintains a national directory of mentoring programs at mentoring.org.
How do I become a youth mentor in Colorado?
To become a Big with BBBSC, apply online through our volunteer page. The process includes a detailed application, in-person interview, multi-level background checks, and evidence-based training. The process typically takes four to six weeks. Mentors commit to a minimum of one year and four to eight hours per month with their mentee.
How do I enroll my child in a mentoring program in Colorado?
Parents and guardians can enroll a child ages 5 to 18 through our enroll a child page. BBBSC serves families across the Denver Metro and Pikes Peak regions at no cost. Our team works to match every child with a compatible, thoroughly vetted mentor based on shared interests, location, and availability.
How can I donate to support youth mentoring in Colorado?
Donations to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Colorado can be made through our donation page. Your gift directly funds mentor recruitment, screening, training, and professional match support across Colorado. A gift of $1,954 supports one full year of mentoring for a Colorado youth. Donations qualify for the Colorado Child Care Contribution Tax Credit, allowing you to claim 50% of your gift back in state tax credits, up to $100,000.
What is the mentoring gap in Colorado?
The mentoring gap refers to the difference between the number of young people who could benefit from a consistent adult mentor and the number who currently have one. At BBBSC alone, nearly 300 Colorado youth are currently on our waitlist for a mentor. Nationally, MENTOR: The National Mentoring Partnership estimates that millions of young people lack access to a quality mentoring relationship.
Related Pages: Denver Programs | Colorado Springs Programs | All Programs | Become a Big | Donate
Find Mentorship Programs Near You
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Colorado proudly serves multiple communities across the state. Whether you’re looking to volunteer, enroll a child, or donate, connect with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Colorado today. Together, we can expand access to meaningful mentorship and build a brighter future for youth and our community.
Be a Part of Something Big
There’s a place for you in our movement. Whether you're ready to become a mentor or just learning more, we’d love to connect. Let’s build a brighter future for Colorado, together.