Measuring the Impact of Mentorship
Since 1972, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Indiana has been helping children reach their potential through professionally supported one-to-one relationships between adult volunteers, known as "Bigs," and young people, called "Littles," ranging in age from 6 to 22. Serving communities across 10 counties in northeast Indiana and two in southern Michigan, their programs foster positive relationships that have a direct and lasting impact on the lives of young people, particularly those from disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Indiana (BBBS NEI) is the highest-awarded agency within the Big Brothers Big Sisters of America network, leading the nation in the number of long-term matches. Foellinger Foundation has proudly supported BBBS NEI since its inception in 1972, and the organization has continued to show a commitment to strong outcomes in its evaluation.
Measurable Impact*
78% interacted better with their families
87% did better at avoiding delinquency
83% experienced increased self-esteem
96% were less likely to use illegal substances
77% were doing better academically
66% had improved school attendance
*Data sourced from It Takes Little to Be Big 2023 Annual Report.
“Our success is a reflection of what I call a commitment to excellence and rigor of the mundane,” said Josette Rider, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Indiana CEO. “An important distinction for our organization is that we are not the Big, our volunteers are the Bigs,” Josette continued. “While we have to care about the mission, our focus needs to be on providing the infrastructure for the Big and the Little to connect. I wouldn’t be where I am, and BBBS NEI wouldn’t be what it is today, without Foellinger Foundation’s support.”
Leadership Development
Josette first participated in a Foellinger Foundation leadership program in 2002, the Institute for Organizational Effectiveness (IOE). “Typically, social workers are not policy or procedure people,” explained Josette. “We are ‘heart’ people. But participating in IOE opened my eyes to how our approach to social services needed to evolve to achieve our mission, and with the investment in leadership development and operating support from funders like Foellinger Foundation, I saw a way forward.”
Josette at Foellinger Foundation’s two-day CEO Retreat in Syracuse, Indiana
Experiences like the IOE leadership program have played a pivotal role in shaping Josette’s growth as a leader. In May 2025, she participated in Foellinger Foundation’s two-day CEO Retreat in Syracuse, Indiana—an energizing and deeply valuable opportunity that further enriched her leadership journey.
“Ongoing professional development has been a cornerstone of my growth, and I can say with confidence that I would not be where I am today without it. The mentors, coaches, and thought leaders that Foellinger Foundation has brought to the table have been truly invaluable.
“In the nonprofit sector, we are driven by big hearts and strong missions. But when those values are paired with sound business principles and strategic thinking, the results can be truly transformational—not just for clients and organizations, but for the leaders themselves. This kind of development fosters long-term, systemic impact across the nonprofit ecosystem, ultimately shaping the next generation of leaders and influencing every organization they go on to serve,” said Josette.
BBBS NEI’s board has also benefited from Foellinger Foundation’s leadership development opportunities. “For more than 22 years, with the support of Foellinger Foundation, our board—alongside two designated board members—regularly attended the biennial BoardSource conference. These sessions, along with other structured board trainings, have been instrumental in strengthening our governance practices and overall effectiveness,” said Josette.
Operational Excellence
Big Brothers Big Sisters has experienced tremendous success under Josette’s leadership, which she attributes to their operational infrastructure. Since 2001, BBBS NEI has increased the number of children served from 368 to an average of 2,100 each year.
“One of the key contributors to these successes has been bettering our system for processing volunteers,” explained Josette. “Our systems focus on finding the right matches, quickly and efficiently. You cannot underestimate the cost of accepting or having to rematch volunteers who are not the right fit.” These results are reflected in BBBS NEI’s average match length of 8.2 years.
National Recognition
In 2025, a Big and Little from northeast Indiana were named a Big and Little of the Year by Big Brothers Big Sisters of America for the sixth time. The recognition celebrates exceptional mentoring matches each year, recognizing both the Bigs and Littles who demonstrate the power of their relationship.
Briana Kessler and Makia Lucas are 2025’s Big Sister, Little Sister of the Year. They have been matched for 10 years with no plans of ending their bond when Makia ages out of the program.
Thank you, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Indiana, for your commitment to creating measurable impact and opportunities for our community’s youth!