In October 2023, the Johnson County Extension Council unexpectedly voted to disaffiliate with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Johnson County (BBBSJC) after 47 years of partnership. The organization is facing significant financial and logistical challenges as they transition into an independent, 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Johnson County is part of a national program created in 1904 to provide youth mentoring services through matching adult volunteers with children and creating opportunities for professionally supported one-on-one mentoring services. The program has been serving the Johnson County area for 47 years and currently serves over 300 families.
In an effort to support this long-longstanding local program which provides unique resources to these 300 families, the Community Foundation of Johnson County will be providing a temporary fiscal sponsorship to allow BBBS to maintain continuity of their programming while BBBS works to obtain their own 501(c)3 status. The Community Foundation will be able to step in and provide this service to Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Johnson County ensuring their operations will continue until their full nonprofit status can resume. The CFJC will provide administration of charitable contributions, ensuring donors still have access to eligible tax-exemptions and secure donation processing.
The Community Foundation of Johnson County does not typically provide this type of service to organizations, but in the extreme circumstances in this case and its temporary nature, we are happy to be able to provide this support to the Big Brothers Big Sisters staff and board as well as the 300 local families they serve. Learn more about Big Brothers Big Sisters of Johnson County here: https://www.bbbsjc.org/.
