Explore Volunteer Opportunities in Miami with Big Brothers Big Sisters
If you’re searching for meaningful volunteer opportunities in Miami, Big Brothers Big Sisters offers a chance to make a real difference. By becoming a volunteer mentor, you can provide vital support and guidance to children in our community, helping them to realize their full potential. Whether you choose community-based mentoring, school-based programs, or event volunteering, every moment you give helps shape a brighter future for Miami’s youth. Join us today and discover how volunteering with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Miami can not only transform the life of a child but also enrich your own.
Why Volunteer with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Miami?
Empowering Youth, Transforming Futures
At Big Brothers Big Sisters of Miami, our mission is clear: to create and support one-to-one mentoring relationships that unlock the potential in every child. We believe that with the right guidance, every young person can achieve greatness. By volunteering, you become a catalyst for change—a mentor who inspires, supports, and empowers.
The Pivotal Role You Play
You can help build a future where every child has the opportunity to succeed. As a volunteer, you are not just giving your time; you are investing in a brighter future for Miami’s youth. By becoming a Big, you are a beacon of hope, helping Littles navigate their unique paths toward success.
- Make a Lasting Impact: Volunteering with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Miami allows you to make a meaningful difference in the life of a child. Your support can open doors to new opportunities and experiences, fostering growth and confidence in your Little.
- Empower the Next Generation: By becoming a mentor, you help empower the next generation to overcome challenges and realize their full potential. Your guidance can be the key to helping them navigate life’s ups and downs, inspiring them to achieve their goals.
- Build a Stronger Community: Our mentoring relationships strengthen the fabric of our community by fostering understanding and empathy. As a Big, you will contribute to a more connected and supportive environment for all.
Personal Growth and Fulfillment: Volunteering is not just about giving; it’s also about growing. Many of our volunteers find that their experiences as mentors lead to personal growth and a deeper understanding of themselves and others. It’s a journey that enriches both your life and the life of your Little. - Be Part of a Supportive Network: When you join Big Brothers Big Sisters of Miami, you become part of a community dedicated to making a positive impact. We provide training, resources, and ongoing support to ensure that both you and your Little have a rewarding experience
Join Us and Become a Part of Something Bigger
Help shape the future of our youth. Your time, compassion, and commitment can change a life—and in doing so, you may find that it changes yours as well. Together, we can ignite the power and promise of youth, creating a brighter future for all.
Miami Volunteer Opportunities with Big Brothers Big Sisters
Community-Based Mentoring
Become a mentor who makes a difference. Our Community-Based Mentoring program pairs adult volunteers (Bigs) with youth (Littles) in one-to-one relationships. Spend 4-8 hours a month engaging in meaningful activities that foster growth, from outdoor adventures to academic support. Your commitment to meeting twice a month for at least one year can transform a young life—and enrich yours.
School-Based Mentoring
Make a tangible impact where it matters most—in the classroom. Our School-Based Mentoring program connects volunteers with students during the school day, providing support and encouragement in an academic setting. Commit to one hour a week throughout the school year and watch your Little flourish in their studies, self-esteem, and social skills.
Note: School-Based Mentors are required to commit to meeting with their Little once a week for about an hour, throughout the school year. This consistent interaction helps build a strong, trusting relationship.
Event Volunteering
Support our mission with a dynamic volunteering opportunity. From charity galas to community fairs, your involvement is crucial to our success. Help with setup, registration, guest assistance, and more. Event volunteering is flexible and perfect for those looking to contribute on an event-by-event basis while playing a vital role in our community.
Who Can Volunteer?
Volunteer Requirements
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Miami welcomes volunteers from all walks of life. All Big Brothers Big Sisters of Miami (BBBSM) volunteers go through a screening process to help create safe, meaningful, and lasting relationships. Our volunteers must be at least 18 years old and pass a comprehensive background check. The application and enrollment process usually takes 4-6 weeks to complete.
Bigs are matched with Littles based on preferences and mutual interests. Once matched, trained Program Specialists provide you with ongoing support for the duration of your mentoring relationship. The commitment varies depending on the program, with mentoring requiring a minimum of one year. We provide all the necessary training and ongoing support to ensure your experience is as impactful as possible.
How to Get Started
Your Path to Becoming a Big
- Application: Complete our online application and select where you’d like to volunteer—whether in the community, at a school, at the Carnival Center for Excellence, or at work. Once submitted, an Intake Specialist will contact you to schedule an in-person interview.
- Orientation & Interview: Attend an orientation to learn about our services and receive training on child safety and healthy Big-Little relationships. Following this, a Program Specialist will interview you to get to know you better and ensure the best match based on your interests and personality.
- Screening & Match: Bring a copy of your driver’s license and a printed statement of your auto insurance liability coverage to your interview. We’ll run a Level II national background check to ensure safety. Child safety is our number one priority! Once cleared, we’ll match you with a Little or a group of Littles and make a final recommendation for acceptance.
- Match Introduction: It’s time to meet your Little! For one-to-one mentoring, your Program Specialist will schedule a time for you to meet your Little and your Little’s parent or guardian – an opportunity to start getting to know each other in a supported environment. For community-based mentoring, you will get the opportunity to plan and schedule your first outing with your Little.
- Ongoing Support: Once you meet your Little, you will be free to move forward with the mentoring relationship. For community-based mentoring, this means making plans to meet with your Little in the community. For site-based mentoring or School to Work, you will either go to your Little’s school, meet at the Carnival Center for Excellence, or your Little will come to your place of work on a regular basis.
Your Program Specialist will provide ongoing support to make sure the relationship continues in a positive manner. When talking to your Program Specialist, feel free to share successes with your Little(s)! It is also important to voice any concerns you may have to allow your Program Specialist to make recommendations or take action to fix any issues; this allows for a lasting, fun, and impactful relationship between you and your Little(s).
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the Big Brothers and Big Sisters in the program? Do I need to have special skills or experience to volunteer?
Our Bigs come from diverse backgrounds, just like our Littles. Just about anyone can be a mentor. You don’t need any special degrees or job skills, simply a caring heart, a good head on your shoulders, and the willingness to be a reliable mentor for a Little or group of Littles. Current Bigs are teachers, business executives, police officers, healthcare workers, college students, and more.
What are the expectations of being a Big Brother/Big Sister?
Depending on the program in which you are a Big, you will meet with your Little once a month to once a week. The frequency, time, location, duration, and activities done during a mentoring session will vary based on the program. For Bigs in Schools, Bigs visit the Littles’ school at a time that does not disrupt the Littles’ education. For community-based mentoring, the details are flexible, and it is the Big’s responsibility to coordinate mentoring sessions with the Little’s parent(s) or guardian(s). For School to Work, Bigs are expected to be at work with job shadowing opportunities and mentoring plans on the day they know their Littles will be visiting.
The minimum meeting requirements for each program are:
- Community-based: twice a month, for at least four hours each time, in the community
- Site-based: once a week, for at least one hour, on school property or at the Carnival Center for Excellence
- School to Work: one morning per month at your place of work
- Group Engagement & Mentoring: depends on the schedule you set with BBBSM staff, but generally once a week at the Carnival Center for Excellence
These are just the minimum requirements, and we encourage more frequent meetings when available. For the programs that meet less frequently, Bigs are expected to keep in touch with their Littles in between meetings – essential for developing a bond.
How long do I need to commit to being a Big Brother/Big Sister?
There is no defined minimum commitment requirement for being a Big. However, we ensure that all Bigs know that the lasting impact of a mentoring relationship takes place at the 12-month mark, and positive effects increase the longer the relationship lasts. The average match at BBBSM lasts about two years, but again – the longer the match, the greater the impact.
Can I provide an existing background check?
Child safety is our first priority. Therefore, a comprehensive, current criminal history record check is required of all individuals who come into meaningful contact with children. We require this search for consistency and to ensure accuracy; therefore, we do not accept existing background checks. This includes all volunteers – both Bigs and non-mentoring volunteers – BBBS staff, and other programmatic individuals. BBBSM utilizes a global background screening company with 40+ years of expertise.
Ready to Make a Difference?
You have the power to transform the life of a young person—and along the way, discover how deeply it transforms your own. Let’s work hand in hand to unleash the potential within our youth, paving the way for a future filled with empowerment and promise.
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