Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta (BBBSMA) is the largest and most effective youth mentoring agency in Georgia. Kwame Johnson serves as President and CEO; under his leadership, BBBSMA has drastically transformed the organization's operations, programs, and fundraising, increasing overall revenue by 80 percent. In 2023 BBBSMA experienced a 68 percent increase in new 1:1 mentoring matches and connected over 1,900 youth with caring adult mentors, with 90 percent of Littles viewing their mentors as significant adults in their lives. The agency has substantially expanded its service footprint; in 2024, BBBS of the Chattahoochee Valley was incorporated into BBBSMA, expanding programming to the counties surrounding Columbus Georgia. BBBSMA's mentoring portfolio includes programs in the community, embedded in schools, and in corporate workplaces. The goal is to help young people achieve economic mobility by helping them envision a choice-filled future. More than half of the children BBBSMA serves are concentrated in zip codes that have a high risk for factors including poverty, food insecurity, and single-parent families.
BBBSMA is the largest and most effective youth mentoring agency in Georgia. The agency operates a portfolio of mentoring programs designed to better meet the needs of the Atlanta and Columbus Georgia communities. Programs include community-based mentoring (Bigs and Littles meet outside structured program settings), school-based mentoring (programming embedded in Metro Atlanta school districts), and workplace mentoring (corporate partner-hosted programming during business hours).
The agency's goal is to help young people achieve economic mobility by helping them envision a choice-filled future. The Defenders of Potential framing reflects BBBSMA's commitment to advancing youth opportunity through one-to-one mentoring relationships. The community continues to struggle with persistent poverty, high rates of incarceration, and lack of educational attainment for children living in some of Metro Atlanta's most challenged neighborhoods, and BBBSMA's programming targets these specific challenges.
Kwame Johnson serves as President and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta. He has drastically transformed the organization's operations, programs, and fundraising, increasing overall revenue by 80 percent. Kwame is also the award-winning author of "The Hope Inside: Harnessing the Power of Mentorship in Life and Career" and a highly sought-after public speaker and consultant in fundraising, leadership development, strategy, marketing, and innovation.
Kwame found his passion while incarcerated during his senior year of high school, making history as the first youth to take the SATs in jail. His personal story of transformation from incarceration to nonprofit executive leadership informs his approach to BBBSMA programming and his communications about youth mentoring's impact. The personal narrative provides authenticity to BBBSMA's outreach to Atlanta's most challenged neighborhoods.
Kwame was named a 2023 Georgia Titan 100 honoree and again a 2024 Georgia Titan 100 honoree by Titan CEO and headline sponsor Wipfli LLP. The Titan 100 program recognizes the Top 100 CEOs and C-level executives in Georgia using criteria that include demonstrating exceptional leadership, vision, and passion. Collectively the 2024 Georgia Titan 100 honorees employ upwards of 125,000 individuals and generate over $31 billion in annual revenues.
In 2023 BBBSMA experienced a 68 percent increase in new 1:1 mentoring matches. The agency connected over 1,900 youth with caring adult mentors during the year. 90 percent of Littles view their mentors as significant adults in their lives. The metrics demonstrate both the scale and the qualitative impact of BBBSMA programming.
More than half of the children BBBSMA serves are concentrated in zip codes that have a high risk for factors including poverty, food insecurity, and single-parent families. The majority of children in BBBSMA mentoring programs lived in zip codes with very low or low child well-being scores as defined by the United Way of Metro Atlanta Child Well-Being Index Measures. The Child Well-Being Index is based on indicators including high school graduation rate, college and career readiness, and percentage of children under 18 living in poverty.
On February 19, 2024, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta announced the incorporation of Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Chattahoochee Valley into BBBSMA's operations. The strategic move provides enhanced resources, training, and support, amplifying Big Brothers Big Sisters' impact on youth in the counties surrounding Columbus Georgia.
The Chattahoochee Valley integration aligns with the BBBSMA strategy of bringing mentoring programs to more underserved communities across Georgia. The Columbus Georgia metropolitan area (Muscogee County and surrounding counties along the Alabama state line) has its own significant youth mentoring needs that the previously-independent Chattahoochee Valley BBBS affiliate had served at smaller scale. The integration into BBBSMA brings the larger Atlanta-based agency's resources, training infrastructure, and brand recognition to the Columbus area programming.
In 2024 BBBSMA matches were invited to the Atlanta United FC vs Inter Miami CF game (the second game of the 2024 season). Atlanta United won the match. One of the highlights of the event was the recognition of Kene, the 2024 Little Brother of the Year. Kene was honored with the title of Honorary Captain for the game. The recognition reflected his outstanding achievements and the strong bond he shares with his Big Brother Karl.
The Atlanta United FC partnership is one of several Atlanta-area sports team relationships that bring BBBSMA matches to professional sporting events. The events provide both fundraising opportunities and Big-Little engagement experiences that strengthen match relationships. Inter Miami CF's involvement (the visiting team featuring international soccer star Lionel Messi) made the 2024 game one of the higher-profile BBBSMA Atlanta United events.
BBBSMA partnered with DeKalb County District 4 Commissioner Steve Bradshaw on the 50 Men to Mentors campaign. The campaign aims to recruit 50 male mentors to be matched with children waiting for Big Brothers in DeKalb County. The campaign addresses the persistent need for male Big Brothers; BBBSA national data consistently shows higher demand for male mentors than the volunteer pool typically supplies.
The DeKalb County partnership leverages local government leadership to support BBBSMA's volunteer recruitment goals. Commissioner Bradshaw's involvement provides political visibility and community legitimacy to the recruitment effort. Similar campaigns operate across BBBSMA's service area as the agency works to close the Big-Little match gap for boys awaiting matches.
Fashion Play is one of BBBSMA's signature annual events. The 2024 Fashion Play ticket pricing structure included a February promotion of 2 tickets for $500 (normal pricing $399 per ticket). The event brings together Atlanta fashion industry, donors, corporate partners, and BBBSMA supporters for fundraising and celebration of the agency's mission.
The Big Draft is the BBBSMA annual mentor recruitment campaign. The 2024 season Big Draft set goals greater than ever; the agency needs more Bigs on the roster to meet the demand from Atlanta-area children awaiting matches. The Big Spotlight series highlights a mentor each month, sharing personal stories that reflect their dedication and hard work; recent Big Spotlights have featured Norris Curl (CEO of NRC Properties from Marietta), Trudi from the Comcast Beyond School Walls partnership reference cross-affiliate, and other Atlanta-area Bigs.
Beyond CEO Kwame Johnson, BBBSMA leadership includes Michele Pearce as Chief External Relations Officer responsible for managing all fundraising activities, recruitment efforts, public relations, and marketing programs. Pearce has more than 20 years of experience in development in Atlanta, which began when she served as Senior Development Associate for BBBSMA from 1995-1999 (returning to the agency in a senior leadership role after her broader career).
Kathy Wells serves as Chief Finance Officer with more than 25 years of leadership experience in financial management, business leadership, and corporate and nonprofit business strategy. James Askew serves as Director of Information Technology. Mr. Gaither (referenced in leadership team materials) holds a Bachelor of Arts from Morehouse College and a Master of Public Administration from Clark Atlanta University; he has been recognized by the Atlanta Police Foundation as Citizen of the Year and honored in the Apex Power 30 Under 30. The Young Leaders Council supports events, fundraising, volunteer recruitment, and many of the council members are Bigs themselves.
To become a Big with BBBSMA, visit bbbsatl.org and complete the volunteer interest form. The screening process includes application, references, background check, interviews, and orientation. Bigs commit to regular meetings with their Little; community-based, school-based, and workplace mentoring options provide different commitment models.
BBBSMA matches are carefully developed by professional staff based on Big and Little interests, geographic proximity, scheduling availability, and personality compatibility. Match Specialists provide ongoing case management throughout the match relationship. The professional case management distinguishes BBBSMA mentoring from informal mentoring and is part of what makes the agency's outcomes credible.
Families can enroll children in BBBSMA programming. Visit bbbsatl.org and complete the youth enrollment form. The enrollment process includes information about the child, the family situation, the child's interests and needs, and any specific mentoring goals. BBBSMA Match Specialists then identify a Big whose background, interests, and availability best match the Little's profile.
Many BBBSMA Littles are referred by Atlanta-area schools (DeKalb County Schools, Atlanta Public Schools, Fulton County Schools, Clayton County Schools, Gwinnett County Public Schools, and others), social workers, faith communities, or other professionals. The program is free for families.
Donations can be made at bbbsatl.org/donate or by mail to BBBSMA's Atlanta headquarters at 680 Murphy Avenue Southwest Suite 1090. BBBSMA is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization with EIN 58-0861895. Donations are tax-deductible.
Major fundraising includes corporate partnerships, foundation grants (including the Sky Ranch Foundation $25,000 grant), individual giving, and special events. Atlanta-headquartered corporations (Delta Air Lines, Home Depot, Coca-Cola, UPS, Truist, NCR Voyix, and others) participate in various capacities. The Young Leaders Council coordinates younger-donor cultivation. Planned giving and major gift opportunities are coordinated through the External Relations team led by Michele Pearce.
BBBSMA files its own Form 990 separately from Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. The 80 percent revenue increase under Kwame Johnson's leadership reflects sustained corporate and foundation partnership growth plus expanded individual giving. The 2024 Chattahoochee Valley incorporation expanded the agency's geographic footprint and resource base.
Match Specialist staffing represents a significant share of operating costs because each Big and Little match requires ongoing professional case management. BBBSMA's program model investment supports the 1,900+ youth served annually and the 68 percent increase in new matches that the agency achieved in 2023.
For pure scale of youth-serving nonprofit infrastructure in Georgia, Boys and Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta reaches more children annually through after-school and summer programming, and YMCA of Metro Atlanta operates extensive community programming. For one-to-one structured mentoring specifically, BBBSMA is the largest single agency in Georgia with 1,900+ active matches as of 2023 reporting.
BBBSMA's specific advantages: the largest and most effective Georgia youth mentoring agency positioning, the 80 percent revenue growth under Kwame Johnson's leadership demonstrating sustained development capacity, the 2024 Chattahoochee Valley incorporation expanding geographic reach to Columbus area, the Atlanta sports team partnerships providing high-visibility match engagement experiences, the targeted programming for high-poverty zip codes and challenged neighborhoods, and the integration with the broader BBBSA national network.
Practical framing: for parents looking for a structured mentor for their child in Metro Atlanta or the Chattahoochee Valley, BBBSMA is the largest and most established one-to-one mentoring agency in Georgia. For adults looking to mentor a young person, BBBSMA offers the deepest infrastructure of vetted matches and ongoing professional support. For donors interested in Georgia youth mentoring, BBBSMA represents the largest channel.
Last updated May 2026. BBBSMA description (largest and most effective youth mentoring agency in Georgia, 80% revenue increase under Kwame Johnson, 2023 68% increase in new 1:1 matches with 1,900+ youth and 90% of Littles viewing mentors as significant adults, more than half of children in high-risk zip codes per United Way Child Well-Being Index) from the BBBSMA Leadership page (bbbsatl.org/leadership) and BBBSMA Blog and GuideStar BBBSMA profile (58-0861895). Kwame Johnson as 2023 and 2024 Georgia Titan 100 honoree from Titan CEO and Wipfli LLP from the BBBSMA news Kwame Johnson Named as a Top Georgia CEO in 2024 Titan 100 article. Kwame Johnson book The Hope Inside: Harnessing the Power of Mentorship in Life and Career and history as first youth to take SATs in jail. BBBS of Chattahoochee Valley incorporated effective February 19 2024 from the BBBSMA LinkedIn page. Michele Pearce as Chief External Relations Officer with 20+ years Atlanta development experience including 1995-1999 BBBSMA Senior Development Associate from the BBBSMA Leadership page. Kathy Wells CFO and James Askew Director of IT from the LeadIQ company overview. Sky Ranch Foundation $25,000 grant from same LeadIQ. 50 Men to Mentors campaign with DeKalb County District 4 Commissioner Steve Bradshaw from same LeadIQ. Atlanta United FC vs Inter Miami CF 2024 game with 2024 Little Brother of the Year Kene as Honorary Captain from BBBSMA Blog. Fashion Play 2024 ticket pricing and The Big Draft 2024 from BBBSMA LinkedIn. Headquarters 680 Murphy Avenue Southwest Suite 1090 Atlanta GA 30310 from LeadIQ. We are not affiliated with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta and receive no compensation for this listing. Errors: [email protected]
More Georgia and donation resources