Big Brothers Big Sisters · Central Vancouver Island

Ways to Give

Every child deserves a caring mentor. Your support — in any form — helps match children facing adversity with the adult role models they need to thrive.

Mentor and child learning together
$23
Return per $1 invested
in community impact
Many
Children waiting
for a mentor right now
55+
Years of service
on Vancouver Island
100%
Local impact
every dollar stays here

Why Give to Big Brothers Big Sisters?

At Big Brothers Big Sisters, we appreciate all supporters — from donors to volunteers to advocates. We believe that changing the course of young lives can in turn change our community's future.

1

We are the leading youth mentoring organization in Canada

BBBS of Canada has 150 agencies in over 1,000 communities, serving more than 23,000 children nationwide.

2

Over 70% of our budget comes from non-government sources

We depend on your generosity. Only 25% of our funding comes from government — the rest comes from donors like you.

3

Our services are completely free to families

We do not charge any fees to recruit, screen, monitor, and support the volunteers, youth, and families we interact with every year.

4

Named one of Forbes Top 10 Gold Seal Charities

We are one of the most cost-effective charities in the industry. We use money wisely and make your funds go further.

5

Mentoring creates life-long positive impacts

Littles are 46% less likely to initiate drug use, miss half as many school days, and show a 20% higher graduation rate than the national average.

6

We are accredited by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada

We meet and exceed national standards for service quality, volunteer screening, and child safety.

Many children are waiting for a mentor right now.

Your gift today can change everything for a child on Central Vancouver Island.

Ways to Give

Donate Now

Your financial support allows us to provide careful screening and matching of volunteers with children, and the ongoing professional management needed to keep mentoring relationships going strong.

Make a Donation

Your donations help us make and sustain matches between Bigs and Littles. By donating, you are joining our mission of positively affecting children in your community.

Unlike many other non-profit organizations, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Vancouver Island raises over 70% of its operating revenues from non-government sources. We are committed to spending each dollar responsibly and with transparency.

CRA Charity #: 879200111RR0001

Legal Name: Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Vancouver Island

How Your Gift is Used

The process of matching deserving children with positive adult role models can be costly. With such a large portion of our funding coming from our Recycled Clothing Program, we are proud to say that your clothing donation really does help our kids get matched with mentors.

  • Volunteer screening and background checks
  • Mentor training and onboarding
  • Ongoing professional match support
  • Volunteer recruitment and marketing
  • Quality assurance and program evaluation
  • New program development

46%
Less likely to initiate drug use
20%
Higher graduation rate vs national average
78%
Of mentees from social assistance no longer rely on it
½
As many school days missed vs peers without a mentor

❤ Open a Door for a Child

Tax receipt issued · 100% local impact

Select an Amount

Donate Securely via CanadaHelps

Processed securely via CanadaHelps · CRA #879200111RR0001

Prefer to give by phone? Call us at (250) 756-2447

Ways to Give · Campaign

50 Doors Campaign

Help us open 50 doors for 50 children waiting for a mentor on Central Vancouver Island.

One Gift. One Child. One Year of Change.

1

A Door is Opened

Your gift of $1,500 — or $125/month — funds one child's full year of mentoring support. That's one door opened.

2

A Match is Made

Our professional team screens, trains, and carefully matches a caring adult volunteer with a child who needs them most.

3

A Life Changes

That child gains confidence, improves in school, and builds the resilience to face whatever comes next. The return to society is $23 for every $1 invested.

Open a Door as an Individual

A gift of $1,500 opens a door for one child for a full year of mentoring support. Or give $125/month — your recurring gift renews automatically and creates the stability that allows mentoring relationships to thrive. Every dollar stays on Central Vancouver Island. Full tax receipt issued.

Corporate Sponsorship Tiers

Align your business with one of Canada's most trusted charities. Corporate sponsorship of the 50 Doors Campaign offers meaningful community visibility and employee engagement opportunities.

$1,500
Opens 1 door
Community Builder
  • Opens 1 door for 1 child for a full year
  • Named recognition on our website
  • Social media thank-you post
  • Tax receipt for full amount
Sponsor Now
$15,000
Opens 10 doors
Presenting Sponsor
  • Opens 10 doors for 10 children
  • Presenting sponsor naming rights
  • Logo on all campaign materials
  • Speaking opportunity at annual event
  • Dedicated social media campaign
  • Tax receipt for full amount
Sponsor Now

Give $125/month — Open a Door Every Year

A monthly gift of $125 opens a door for one child for a full year of mentoring support and renews automatically every year.

Cancel anytime · Full tax receipt · 100% stays on Central Vancouver Island


Questions about the 50 Doors Campaign?

Ways to Give · Business

Corporate Partnerships

Partner with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Vancouver Island to strengthen your community, engage your team, and build your brand.

An Ideal Community Partner

Having served Canadian families for almost 100 years, Big Brothers Big Sisters has earned its position as one of the most well-known and respected brands in the charitable sector. With 123 local agencies operating in over 1,000 communities, we are an integral part of the Canadian social fabric.

Our ability to innovate and collaborate, and our history of demonstrated success with some of the most recognized brands in Corporate Canada, makes us an ideal charitable partner for businesses of all sizes.

Partnership Opportunities

🤝 Campaign Sponsorship

Sponsor the 50 Doors Campaign and open multiple doors for children waiting for mentors. Tiers from $1,500 to $15,000 with named recognition and social media features.

View Sponsorship Tiers →

👥 Employee Engagement

Research shows that employees who are given the opportunity to give back to their community are more productive, feel more positive about their company, and are more engaged in their work. Your company can participate in a fundraising event or offer employees time to volunteer as mentors.

Contact Us to Get Started →

🎁 In-Kind Donations

Donate goods, services, or expertise that support our programs and operations. From printing to professional services, in-kind gifts make a real difference.

Contact Us →

📣 Cause-Related Marketing

Align your brand with one of Canada's most trusted charities. Co-branded campaigns, product tie-ins, and community investment programs available for companies of all sizes.

Let's Talk →

Why Partner With Us?

Increased Brand Perception

Associate your brand with one of the most well-known and respected brands in the charitable sector — trusted by Canadian families for almost 100 years.

Community Visibility

Leverage our reach across Central Vancouver Island through social media, events, and campaign materials.

Employee Satisfaction

Research shows employees who give back are more productive, more positive about their company, and more engaged in their work.

Tax Benefits

All eligible donations receive a full tax receipt from our CRA-registered charity. Charitable Business Number: 879200111RR0001.

Let's Build a Partnership That Works for Your Business

To explore any of our partnership options or to hear about additional opportunities, contact us. We are happy to work with you to provide creative and effective cause-related solutions.

Ways to Give · Social Enterprise

Big Deals Boutique

Shop or donate gently used women's clothing, shoes, and accessories. Every purchase and every donation directly funds mentoring for children on Central Vancouver Island.

About Big Deals Boutique

Big Deals Boutique is a social enterprise operated by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Vancouver Island. We sell gently used women's clothing, shoes, and accessories at affordable prices — and 100% of the proceeds go directly to funding mentoring programs for children in our community.

Our Recycled Clothing Program is one of the most important sources of non-government revenue for our organization. Your clothing donation really does help our kids get matched with mentors.

📍
Location
2030 Northfield Rd, Nanaimo, BC V9S 3B8
🕐
Hours
Tue–Fri: 10am–4pm · Sat: 10am–3pm
Mon & Sun: Closed

Donate Clothing

Cleaning out your closet? Donate your gently used women's clothing, shoes, and accessories. Your donation is tax-deductible and directly supports mentoring programs.

✓ We Accept

  • Women's clothing (all sizes)
  • Women's shoes and boots
  • Purses and handbags
  • Jewellery and accessories
  • Scarves and belts

✕ We Cannot Accept

  • Men's or children's clothing
  • Damaged or stained items
  • Undergarments
  • Bedding or household items
  • Electronics

Please call ahead to confirm donation drop-off availability before visiting. Items must be clean, gently used, and in sellable condition.

Ways to Give · Legacy

Legacy & Tribute Giving

Honour a loved one, celebrate a milestone, or leave a lasting legacy — your tribute gift creates mentoring relationships that endure for generations.

Tribute & Memorial Gifts

A tribute gift to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Vancouver Island is a meaningful way to honour someone special. Whether celebrating a life well-lived or a milestone worth marking, your gift creates lasting impact for children in our community.

❤ In Memory Of

Honour the life of a loved one with a gift in their memory. A tribute card will be sent to the family of the person being honoured, letting them know a gift has been made in their name. The amount of the gift is kept confidential.

Make a Memorial Gift →

⭐ In Honour Of

Celebrate a special occasion — a birthday, anniversary, graduation, or retirement — with a gift in someone's honour. A tribute card will be sent to the person being honoured.

Make a Tribute Gift →

🌿 Planned Giving / Bequest

Leave a lasting legacy by including Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Vancouver Island in your will or estate plan. A bequest is one of the most meaningful gifts you can make — it ensures children on Central Vancouver Island have access to mentoring for generations to come.

Contact Us to Learn More →

Monthly Giving — For Kids' Sake

Becoming a monthly donor is one of the most impactful ways to support Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Vancouver Island. A recurring monthly gift — in any amount — provides the kind of sustained support that allows us to build and maintain mentoring relationships over the long term.

  • Provides a reliable, predictable source of funding that allows us to plan ahead
  • Reduces our administrative costs so more of your gift goes directly to programs
  • Creates the stability that allows mentoring relationships to thrive over time
  • You can cancel or change your gift at any time
  • Full tax receipt issued annually
❤ Become a Monthly Donor
Questions About Legacy Giving?

We're Here to Help

Whether you're considering a bequest, a tribute gift, or becoming a monthly donor, our team is happy to answer your questions and help you make the gift that's right for you.

📞
CRA Charity #: 879200111RR0001
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Vancouver Island
2030 Northfield Rd, Nanaimo, BC V9S 3B8
Ways to Give · Recognition

Our Supporters

A heartfelt thank you to the donors, businesses, and community partners who make mentoring possible across Central Vancouver Island.

Thank You for Believing in Our Kids

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Vancouver Island is only possible because of the generosity of our community. Every dollar donated, every item given to our boutique, and every business that partners with us directly funds the mentoring relationships that change children's lives.

Our Donors & Supporters

$10,000+

BC Gaming Commission
$10,000+
Canadian Red Cross
$10,000+
City of Nanaimo
$10,000+
Ladysmith Health Auxiliary
$10,000+
ZLC Foundation
$10,000+
Ames Family Foundation
$10,000+

$1,000+

Town of Ladysmith
$1,000+
CKNW Kids' Fund
$1,000+
Rotary Club of Nanaimo
$1,000+
Rotary Club of Nanaimo North
$1,000+
Galaxy Motors
$1,000+
Country Club Centre
$1,000+

$500+

Janet Wright
$500+
City of Parksville
$500+
Wheaton Hyundai
$500+

Community Donors & Supporters

City of Parksville Coast Distributors (Nanaimo) Ltd. Elite Image Software Corporation Light of Christ Church PECFS Cathy Urquhart Edward Cooke Alison McDonald Cory Gervais Melody Falconer Jane Osborne Trevor Banks Russ MacDonald Jeremy Tolson Caitlin Lundgren Jason Froats Linda Jones United Way GV VMAC Air Innovated

We gratefully acknowledge the support of the Province of British Columbia and thank all the wonderful people who donate and purchase clothing at the Big Deals Boutique.

Why Our Supporters Give

"Supporting Big Brothers Big Sisters is one of the most meaningful things our company does. Seeing the impact on local kids is incredibly rewarding."
— Local Business Partner
"I've been a monthly donor for three years. Knowing that my gift stays right here on Vancouver Island makes all the difference."
— Monthly Donor

Your Name Could Be Here

Every donor, every partner, every volunteer is part of the BBBS CVI family. Join us and help change a child's life today.