Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Cincinnati

test                       Volunteer Application 

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Congratulations on taking the first step to becoming a Big Brothers Big Sisters mentor! Being a Big is not complicated nor time consuming; however, it does involve a consistent commitment that will result in a positive impact for youth in your community. 

If you have not taken the opportunity to explore the options available to volunteer or you still have questions, contact our Customer Relations Specialist Katie Resendes at 513-278-5107 or check out our “Frequently Asked Questions” page. 

To begin your application, you should:  

Be at least 18 years of age and have a high school diploma or equivalent. 

Set aside about 25 minutes to complete your application (You can save your progress at the top of the page and come back if needed) 

Have on hand the following documents: 

Drivers License  

Car Insurance  

Collect the contact information of: 

3 references you have known for at least 2 years (phone & email) 

Any youth serving organizations you participated in within the past 5 years
Our Programs
Community-Based: 
  • Flexible schedule and activities
  • At least 2 outings each month 
  • Commit for at least 4 hours each month and 1 year commitment
Site-Based:
  • Meet for one hour a week at a designated site for at least one year
  • Meeting options include lunch and evening hours
  • Great for busy people who have limited free time

Personal & Occupational Information

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Additional Contact Information





Mailing Address









Employer Information











Additional Information





References 

Previous Experience










Volunteer Experience











Please provide at least three references below including:
  • Your spouse or domestic partner OR a family member if you do not have a spouse, partner, or significant other.
  • Current or former employee or co-worker you have known for at least one year or someone from your school if you are a student
  • A friend or neighbor you have known for at least two years
Spousal/Familial Reference







Professional Reference







Minimum 1 year
Personal Reference







Minimum 2 years

Pre-Interview Questionnaire

Prior to your interview, please answer the questions below. The information you provide will also help us make a better match for you and assure we can support you during your involvement with our program. Please note that you will have an opportunity to discuss these questions and your responses more thoroughly during your interview.  












Please provide the name, age, and relationship to you for anyone else residing in your home.



It is the policy of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Cincinnati to ensure youth protection in digital technology and social networking.  

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Cincinnati protects confidentiality regarding personal and identifying information about Littles and their families. 


Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Cincinnati requires use of privacy controls and settings to ensure Littles can only access age-appropriate content when using volunteer's device. 


We protect child safety with processes for reporting social media misuse or content that may endanger the Little's health, safety, or well-being. 


We ensure the use of approved communication methods (email, text, phone, mail, video conferencing, social media) between matches.  


If you have questions about this policy, contact your Match Support Specialist. 


Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Cincinnati recognizes that online social networking (TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Blogs, etc.) has become very popular communications tools and that many of our Bigs and Littles use these platforms. In general, personal use of social networking sites is typically for communications between peers, including friends and family. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Cincinnati wants to reiterate that your relationship with your Little is that of a mentor in addition to a friend. Not all social networking sites are designed to support mentoring relationships.  


When discussing your involvement with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Cincinnati on social media, you must adhere to the following guidelines regarding any postings related to your match or affiliation with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Cincinnati: 
  • Do not participate in any online communication with/about your Little unless you have discussed this with the parent/guardian and Match Support Specialist and received their approval.
  • Never post any pictures of your Little online unless you have the written or verbal consent of the child's parent/guardian. File that consent form with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Cincinnati. 
  • Never post the last name of your Little, their parent/guardian, or BBBS staff. 
  • Never post any contact information for your Little.
  • Never post any identifying information about your Little (i.e.: child's home address, school the child attends, where the parent works).
  • Never post anything that could be perceived as judgmental or offensive to your Little or their parent/guardian.
  • Make sure your page settings are set to private, so only people you approve can view your online content. 
  • Honor confidentiality guidelines within your match; be cautious when posting detailed information about conversations with your Little, their parent/guardian, or BBBS staff. Posting generalized information or status updates is typically appropriate, but lengthier postings or blogs containing in-depth information should be approved by the parent/guardian and by BBBS prior to posting.
  • Do not post anything that exemplifies questionable behavior as a role model for a child. No alcohol or seemingly drunken behavior, cigarettes, night club activities, etc. should be referenced or shown in pictures, whether you are partaking or not.
  •  Online privacy does not exist. Do not assume that things you publish on a private personal profile cannot be accessed.  No matter what settings are applied to your social networking sites, all it takes is for someone to copy and paste that information on to a public site.  As a general rule of thumb, do not post content that you would not want to see in the newspaper. 
  • When in doubt about whether something is appropriate to post, consult with your Match Support Specialist prior to posting. 
We strongly recommend that Community-Based Volunteer Bigs not engage in any communication with their Little or their Little's parent/guardian through social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, etc. If the Big decides to connect with their Little via social media, they may do so only with express permission of the parent/guardian and after communicating this plan to the Match Support Specialist. All parties should be aware of the Little's media release status and should not post pictures or identifying or location information about their Little on social media or any website. All social media posts must be appropriate for a minor to view, tasteful, and respectful. Furthermore, although a Volunteer Big's social networking site has been reviewed as a part of the screening process, for their further protection: 
  • Volunteer Bigs will be asked to maintain the highest privacy settings on their social networking sites, if applicable. 

Big Brothers Big Sisters has the right to monitor the social media activities of our Bigs. If you are seen using social media inappropriately, your relationship with our organization could be terminated.

While some adults possess weapons for hunting and/or protection purposes, it is the policy of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Cincinnati that all agency volunteers agree:
  • To inform Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Cincinnati of the ownership of weapons or the presence of weapons in the home. Big Brothers Big Sisters staff will discuss the ownership of weapons during the volunteer’s interview and/or home assessment, and update that status for the life of the match. For purposes of this policy, “weapons” may include all firearms, handguns, zip guns, knives (except for kitchen knives and small pocket knives not used or intended for use as a weapon or to inflict bodily injury) and explosive devices.
  • A volunteer who owns firearms and stores them at their residence or any other location will lock the weapons or install trigger locks whenever a Little is at or near the storage area. Ammunition will also be stored separately and inaccessible to the Little. 
  • A volunteer who owns firearms and stores them at their residence must attest to the fact that they are licensed, permitted, registered, and handled in accordance with all applicable state and federal laws. 
  • To adhere to the policy that a volunteer will not carry a concealed handgun at any time while accompanying the child assigned to you by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Cincinnati or accompanying any other child participating in a Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Cincinnati activity (with the exception of law enforcement officers who are required to carry a weapon at all times and have received prior approval from Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Cincinnati). 
  • To understand that BBBS of Greater Cincinnati will disclose to the parent or guardian of the child assigned to you the agency’s weapons policy and the volunteer’s admission of weapon ownership or the presence of a weapon in the home. 
  • Volunteers will not participate in any activity with their Little involving guns, i.e. hunting, unless the activity takes place at a qualified shooting range or gun club in the business of handling firearms.  The volunteer must clear the activity with their Little's parent and their Match Support Specialist and the shooting range or gun club must provide proof of licensure, insurance and protocols outlining training, supervision and safety guidelines.
Non Discrimination Policy
Our participants come to us with a wide range of personal characteristics. We believe that participant eligibility shall be determined without regards to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, or disability.   
Terms and Conditions 
I consent to and understand that:
  1. The references and youth-serving organization(s) I listed may be contacted by mail, telephone, email, or in person;
  2. The information I provided may be used to conduct a background check, to include a search of public domain records, driving records check, adult criminal history check, military records, and other records where required by local, state, or federal law for volunteers working with youth;
  3. I am in no way obligated to perform any volunteer services;
  4. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Cincinnati is not obligated to match me with a youth and may deny my application or close my match at any time, and to protect all participants’ confidentiality, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Cincinnati is not required to disclose reasons for doing so; 
  5. Other Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies and youth organizations where I have worked or volunteered may be contacted as references;
  6. As part of the enrollment processes, I will be required to provide additional personal information, including completion of an interview;
  7. I understand that the information I provide in the enrollment process will be kept confidential, unless disclosure is required by law.  
  8. I understand that detailed accounts of child abuse or neglect, past or present, will be reported to proper authorities;
  9. I understand that certain relevant information about me will be discussed with the parent/guardian of a child who is a prospective match (this might include demographic information, information relevant to parent/child preferences, and any information relevant to a child’s safety or well-being);  
  10. It is my responsibility to update the agency if any of the information I provide on this application, in my interview, or any other information provided during the enrollment process changes (i.e. address, phone number, auto-insurance, new criminal charges, etc.)
  11. I agree to complete questionnaires throughout my time in the program to evaluate and improve program services;
  12. I agree to timely communication and follow-up with all agency staff as required by the agency.
Application Acknowledgement
I understand that this is an application for a volunteer opportunity and is not a promise or commitment by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Cincinnati.

I certify that all information I have provided or will provide to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Cincinnati, including this application, is true, accurate, and complete to the best of my knowledge. I certify that I have and will answer all questions to the best of my ability and that I have not and will not withhold any information that would affect my application for a volunteer position. I understand that information contained in my application will be verified by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Cincinnati. I understand that misrepresentations or omissions may be cause for my immediate rejection as an applicant or my termination as a volunteer.

At any time while involved with the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Cincinnati program, I agree to immediately inform my Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Cincinnati contact person of any and all infractions, violations, charges, and convictions related to any civil, domestic, or criminal matters.  I understand that Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Cincinnati staff needs to be fully informed to provide the best guidance or support possible.  

Running background checks can run up to $10.00 per volunteer applicant. If you would like to cover the costs of your background checks, please visit www.bigsforkids.org/donate or our Venmo handle is @CincyBigs.  
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Contact Information

2400 Reading Road | Cincinnati, Ohio | 513.421.4120 | bigsforkids.org