Mentorship does not have to be complicated to be meaningful. Sometimes, it looks like going fishing, baking cookies, working on a bike, grabbing lunch, attending a baseball game, or simply giving a young person someone they can count on.
That is the heart of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Minnesota. Through one-to-one mentoring relationships, the organization connects young people with caring adults who help them build confidence, explore new interests, overcome challenges, and see what is possible for their future.
In this episode of Behind the Brand, Taylor and Kelly sit down with Kristen Hannon, Advancement Director at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Minnesota, to talk about her path into nonprofit work, the mission behind the organization, and how a small commitment of time can create a lifelong impact for kids across Central Minnesota.
Kristen’s Path Into Nonprofit Work
Kristen did not start her career in the nonprofit world. Before joining Big Brothers Big Sisters, she spent 21 years in banking, working her way from teller to leadership roles in retail banking, operations, sales, management, and treasury services.
She was good at the work and had built a strong career, but over time, she realized it was no longer filling her cup. What did bring her joy was community involvement. Kristen had always volunteered, supported local nonprofits, helped plan events, and enjoyed connecting people to causes that mattered.
When the Advancement Director role opened at Big Brothers Big Sisters, it gave her the opportunity to bring together skills she had been using for years: relationship-building, communication, leadership, sales, event planning, and a willingness to talk about money.
Fundraising may not always be called sales in the nonprofit world, but Kristen sees the connection. She is sharing the mission, inviting people to support it, and helping them find a way to contribute through time, talent, or treasure.
Now, she gets to spend her days supporting kids, building community partnerships, planning events, recruiting support, and helping more people understand why mentorship matters.
What Big Brothers Big Sisters Does
Big Brothers Big Sisters supports one-to-one mentoring relationships between “Bigs” and “Littles.” A Big is a volunteer mentor, and a Little is a young person who can benefit from having another positive adult in their life.
The mission is simple, but the impact is deep. Mentorship gives kids a safe, supportive connection with someone who shows up for them, listens to them, spends time with them, and helps them feel seen.
Some Littles are referred by parents or guardians. Others may be connected through schools, counselors, or community partners. While people sometimes assume the program is only for children facing major hardship, that is not always the case. Some kids are shy. Some are introverted. Some need encouragement. Some simply need another person in their corner.
A mentor does not replace a parent, teacher, coach, or counselor. A mentor adds another layer of support.
Two Hours a Month Can Make a Difference
One of the biggest misconceptions about becoming a Big is that it requires a huge time commitment. In reality, Big Brothers Big Sisters asks for two hours a month. That’s it.
For many adults, the idea of mentoring can feel intimidating because they assume they need to have unlimited availability, special qualifications, or a perfect plan for every outing. But kids do not need perfection. They need consistency.
Those two hours might include:
- Going to the library
- Playing a board game
- Baking or cooking together
- Fishing, hiking, or spending time outside
- Attending a local sporting event
- Coloring, crafting, or creating something
- Working on a small project
- Simply talking and spending time together
The activity does not have to be expensive or elaborate. Big Brothers Big Sisters does not ask Bigs to pay for everything themselves. Through community support, donated tickets, sponsorships, and match activities, the organization helps create opportunities for Bigs and Littles to spend time together without cost becoming a barrier.
What matters most is not what you do. It is that you show up.
You Do Not Have to Be “Qualified” to Be a Mentor
Another common barrier is self-doubt. Many adults wonder whether they are really qualified to mentor a child.
The truth is, you probably have more to offer than you think.
Maybe you know how to fix things. Maybe you love to cook. Maybe you enjoy reading, hunting, fishing, painting, woodworking, gardening, sports, music, or cars. Maybe you are simply a steady, kind person who knows how to listen.
Those everyday skills and interests can be incredibly valuable to a young person.
Adults often forget how much they know because their skills feel normal to them. But to a child, learning how to change a tire, bake bread, cast a fishing line, use tools, make art, or try something new can be exciting and confidence-building.
Mentorship is not about having all the answers. It is about being present enough to help a child discover their own.
Mentorship Can Fit Different Lifestyles
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Minnesota offers several mentoring options so volunteers can find a format that works for their life.
Community-based mentoring is the traditional model many people think of first. A Big and Little spend time together out in the community doing activities they both enjoy. These matches can include Big Brothers, Big Sisters, Big Couples, Big Families, or duos, allowing different types of households and lifestyles to participate.
Bigs on Campus connects junior high and high school students with college students at local campuses. Littles are bused to campus twice a month and meet with their Big over lunch. Because the activities are already planned, this can be a great fit for college students who want to mentor in a structured setting.
Site-based mentoring happens during the school day. Adult Bigs are matched with Littles at a school and meet with them weekly or every other week. Some matches also participate in Site-Based Plus, which allows them to attend additional activities together outside of school.
Each format creates the same foundation: a consistent, supportive relationship between a Big and a Little.
The Need for Bigs in Central Minnesota
The need for mentors is strong across Central Minnesota. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Minnesota serves Stearns County, Benton County, Sherburne County, Morrison County, and Northern Wright County, reaching communities across a wide service area.
At the time of the conversation, more than 140 Littles were ready and waiting to be matched. These are kids who have completed the process and are simply waiting for the right Big to come along.
Some have been waiting a few months. Others have been waiting much longer.
There is also a significant need for male mentors. Many boys are waiting for a Big Brother, and recruiting men continues to be one of the organization’s biggest needs. For men who have considered volunteering but are unsure whether they would be a good fit, the answer may be simpler than they think.
Why One-to-One Mentorship Matters
Mentorship can change the way a young person sees themselves and their future.
When a child has a trusted adult who believes in them, encourages them, and introduces them to new experiences, it can influence their confidence, choices, goals, and sense of belonging. It can also help them build social skills, explore interests, and imagine a future they may not have considered before.
Kristen shared that national research has shown the long-term impact mentorship can have, including helping Littles close the socioeconomic gap and aspire toward bigger opportunities in adulthood.
For some Littles, a Big becomes part of their life long after the formal match ends. Mentorship can turn into a lasting friendship, a family-like bond, and a relationship that continues through major life milestones.
That kind of connection matters because not every child naturally has a mentor. Some kids are overlooked because they are quiet. Some do not speak up in class. Some do not have easy access to adults outside their immediate circle. Big Brothers Big Sisters helps create those connections intentionally.
Community Support Keeps the Mission Moving
Big Brothers Big Sisters is built on relationships, and that includes more than Bigs and Littles. The organization also relies on businesses, donors, sponsors, volunteers, committee members, and community partners.
Support can come in many forms:
- Volunteering as a Big
- Donating tickets or experiences
- Sponsoring match activities
- Joining a committee
- Giving financially
- Offering professional skills
- Supporting fundraising events
- Sharing the mission with others
This is where Kristen’s role becomes especially important. As Advancement Director, she helps connect people to the mission in ways that make sense for them. Not everyone can give in the same way, but almost everyone has something meaningful to offer.
A donated set of tickets can give a Big and Little a memory they may not have had otherwise. A business sponsorship can help cover the cost of a match activity. A committee volunteer can lend skills that make an event or campaign stronger. A financial gift can help support the staff and systems needed to create safe, successful matches.
Fundraising Is Relationship-Building
Behind the scenes, nonprofit work requires a lot of strategy, communication, planning, and persistence. For Kristen, fundraising is not about pushing people into giving. It is about building relationships and helping people understand how they can be part of the mission.
Some people can give financially. Some can offer professional skills. Some can sponsor events. Some can volunteer on committees. Some can become Bigs.
That flexibility matters because strong nonprofits are rarely built by one type of support. They are built by communities that show up in a lot of different ways.
Big Brothers Big Sisters also hosts events that help raise funds and awareness, including match activities, golf tournaments, and community events like Sweet Sounds for a Big Cause at Milk & Honey Ciders. These events create visibility, introduce the mission to new audiences, and help more people understand the need for mentors in Central Minnesota.
Showing Up With Purpose
Kristen’s career shift from banking to nonprofit work is a reminder that the skills people build over time can often be used in new and meaningful ways. Her background in sales, leadership, communication, and relationship-building now supports a mission centered around kids and mentorship.
It is also a reminder that impact does not always come from having a perfect plan. Sometimes, it comes from being willing to show up.
That is true for nonprofit work. It is true for community involvement. And it is especially true for mentorship.
Tune In and Get Inspired
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Minnesota is helping kids build confidence, discover new interests, and feel supported by caring adults who choose to invest their time.
For the Big, it may be two hours a month. For the Little, it may be the relationship that changes how they see themselves for the rest of their life.
If you have ever wondered whether you could make a difference, this is your reminder that you can. Sometimes, impact starts with simply saying yes, showing up, and giving a young person the chance to feel seen.
