Big Brothers, Sisters of America refers to the Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. (BBBSA) organization.  As a non-profit mentoring agency, this foundation helps match adult volunteers ("Bigs") with children or adolescents ("Littles") to form mentoring relationships.  The goal is to provide positive role models and supportive friendships for young people who may benefit from additional guidance and encouragement.  

Some of the social service programs organized by BBBSA include:

• Community-Based Mentoring
• School-Based Mentoring
• Site-Based Mentoring
• Culturally Specific Programs
• Youth Outcomes Measurement

While it is crucial for organizations like BBBSA to have strong training, monitoring, and support mechanisms in place to ensure the safety and well-being of the participants in positive and safe environments, they still face potential risks and challenges.  Some of the concerns include issues related to:

• Child safety
• Volunteer conduct
• Organizational liability

Risks and Potential Issues:

Child Safety Concerns

There is a risk of child abuse or molestation, which emphasizes the importance of thorough background checks and screening processes for volunteers.

Volunteer Conduct

Inappropriate behavior by volunteers can lead to concerns about the safety and well-being of the mentees. Agencies often supplement screening with ongoing training, clear codes of conduct, and incident reporting to reduce exposure. For more on mentor-specific protections and coverages, see Mentors coverage.

Organizational Liability

BBBSA can be held liable for the actions of its volunteers, and lawsuits may arise if there are allegations of negligence in the screening, training, or supervision of mentors.

Insurance Coverage

To address these risks, nonprofit organizations, including those like BBBSA, typically secure various insurance coverages. Some relevant insurance policies include:

• General Liability
• Sexual Abuse and Molestation Insurance
• Directors and Officers
• Professional Liability

Depending on program activities, organizations should also consider related coverage types such as commercial liability, participant accident coverage, commercial auto exposure for transportation of youth, and cyber liability for donor and volunteer data protection. A broader look at program-level exposures and underwriting factors is available in the Big Brothers Big Sisters of America (BBBSA) — Risk & Insurance Overview.

Additional coverages to consider:

Depending on the specific activities and services provided by BBBSA, additional coverages may be considered, such as:

• Employment Practices Liability Insurance (EPLI)
• Cyber Liability Insurance

Other program-level solutions often include participant-accident policies, event liability for fundraisers, and property or equipment coverage for site-based programs. For organizations offering a variety of services, a program-focused perspective on limits, exclusions, and risk-transfer options can help; see Liability & Social Service Programs Insurance for related guidance.

Strong risk management—regular background checks, volunteer training, supervision, and clear written policies—reduces exposures and supports safer matches. A common risk scenario is a volunteer transporting a youth: that creates transportation and participant-accident exposures that may implicate commercial auto and accident coverages.

Who typically seeks this type of coverage includes nonprofit agencies, local affiliates, school partnerships, community organizations, and youth-service program operators. When evaluating coverages, organizations should weigh operational hazards, facility risks, and potential liability exposures against available policy limits and exclusions.

Requirements and best practices vary by state and by program. If you're responsible for a program, talk to your agent to review appropriate coverages and limits in more detail.