Sigma Phi Epsilon Big Brothers Big Sisters

Sigma Phi Epsilon – Big Brothers Big Sisters

Partnership Toolkit

I. Overview of Partnership

Sigma Phi Epsilon, a college-based Fraternity founded at Richmond College (now, University of Richmond) in 1901, comprised of functioning undergraduate chapters on major campuses throughout the country, is the largest undergraduate-membership social fraternity in the United States. It was founded on the principles of Virtue, Diligence, and Brotherly Love, which align with Big Brothers Big Sisters’ core principles of mentorship, trust, and impact of positive role models.

Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) is the nation’s largest donor and volunteer supported mentoring organization network. For more than 100 years, BBBS has operated under the belief that inherent in every child is the ability to succeed and thrive in life. BBBS makes meaningful, monitored matches between adult volunteers (“Bigs”) and children (“Littles”) ages 6 through 18, in communities across the country. The average cost to maintain a match between a Big and a Little for one year is $1,000.

At the 53rd Grand Chapter Conclave in Dallas, Texas, Big Brothers Big Sisters was selected as Sigma Phi Epsilon’s office national philanthropic and service-learning partner. Naming Big Brothers Big Sisters of America as SigEp’s national philanthropic and service-learning partner provides several opportunities for SigEp, including the chance for undergraduates to engage in mentoring relationships with community members. It will also allow the Fraternity to consolidate its philanthropic efforts and make a larger national impact. With 228 Fraternity chapters throughout the country, Big Brothers Big Sisters has an agency or opportunity for involvement within 40 miles of nearly every chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon. Combining the mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters, with the power of Fraternity to promote the ideals of a “Sound Mind in a Sound Body,” Sigma Phi Epsilon members have an incredible opportunity to make a positive influence in the lives of young men throughout this partnership.

II. Goals of the Partnership

The National Philanthropy Task Force, along with the Fraternity Headquarters staff and members of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, has set key metrics that will be measured to ensure a successful partnership and focus:

· Amount of dollars raised

· Percent/number undergraduate volunteers

· Percent/number undergraduate mentors

· Number SigEp alumni mentors

· Total number of hours spent volunteering with Big Brothers Big Sisters of America

Sigma Phi Epsilon and Big Brothers Big Sisters are still putting in place ways in which these metrics will be measured.

III. About Sigma Phi Epsilon

Sigma Phi Epsilon was founded in 1901 on the campus of Richmond College (now called the University of Richmond) in Richmond, Va. The story of its founding by twelve determined men set the stage for the growth of success of one of the country’s premier fraternal organizations. The history of the Fraternity reflects the times, through great wars and profound culture shifts. Throughout the decades, the men of Sigma Phi Epsilon have practiced their values and embraced the stated desire of the Founders, “This Fraternity will be different.”

Currently, over 15,000 undergraduates are members of Sigma Phi Epsilon, more than any other national fraternity. With over 305,000 lifetime members, Sigma Phi Epsilon ranks among the largest national fraternities.

IV. About Big Brothers Big Sisters

Big Brothers Big Sisters’ mission is to provide children facing adversity with strong and enduring, professionally supported, one-to-one relationships that change their lives for the better, forever. As the nation’s largest donor and volunteer supported mentoring network, Big Brothers Big Sisters makes meaningful, monitored matches between adult volunteers (“Bigs”) and children (“Littles”), ages 6 through 18, in communities across the country. Big Brothers Big Sisters holds itself accountable for proven, measurable outcomes – helping children who face adversity succeed in school; avoid risky behaviors, especially juvenile delinquency; and have higher aspirations and self-confidence.

Big Brothers Big Sisters relies on donor funding to carefully make mentoring matches and provide ongoing assistance for mentors, mentees and families to help sustain the long, successful relationships unique to its programs. It costs an average of $1,000 - $1,200 (depending on the market size) per year to make and monitor one match.

With 339 agencies across the country, Big Brothers Big Sisters serves nearly 350,000 children, families and volunteers. There are approximately 28,000 children currently waiting to be matched with a Big, the majority of which are boys.

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VI. Zip Report of Agencies and SigEp Chapters – (on agency connection)

VII. Reference Sheet for Chapters

How Sigma Phi Epsilon Chapters Take Action:

1. Get to know Big Brothers Big Sisters by reading its website, www.bbbs.org

2. To find your local Big Brothers Big Sisters agency, go to www.bbbs.org/sigep. Go to the drop down menu “Find a BBBS Agency Near Your SigEp Chapter”. When contacting the agency, ask to speak with the staff person who is responsible for handling the Sigma Phi Epsilon partnership.

3. Brainstorm ideas with your local Big Brothers Big Sisters contact on ways best to partner. Potential opportunities for partnership include:

· Becoming Bigs

· Hosting a “Big For A Day” event on campus

· Participating in Bowl For Kids Sake

· Organizing fundraising activities around Greek Week, Homecoming, Parents Weekend, etc.

· Serving on the local Big Brothers Big Sisters’ junior board/advisory committees

4. Prepare to track and measure your progress toward your goals. For guidance, see the webpage in this section: Tracking and Reporting

5. Contact Riley Little () if you have concerns and to share your success.

VIII. Reference Sheet for Engaging Sigma Phi Epsilon Alumni

a. F

1. Refer to the Chapter Contact Information listed on Agency Connection for a full list of Sigma Phi Epsilon Alumni and Volunteer Corporations.

2. Try and coordinate a meeting between the alumni contact, your Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity contact and BBBS lead staff to devise a strategy on how best to partner.

2. Ask your current Board Members if they are Sigma Phi Epsilon alumni, or if they have any friends who are.

3. Post information regarding upcoming Big Brothers Big Sisters events in their alumni newsletters.

4. Ask to speak at the next alumni networking event.

IX. Reference Sheet for Big Brothers Big Sisters Agencies

How To Take Action How Local Big Brothers Big Sisters Agencies Take Action:

1. Get to know the Fraternity by reading its website, www.sigep.org

2. Contact the fraternity chapter leadership, vice president of programming, in your community. To find your local chapter, go to Agency Connection. Focus on how you can make a difference in the community together.

3. Appoint a primary point of contact for the fraternity’s leadership to reach out to with questions and concerns.

4. Ask if you can visit with the Fraternity for a presentation on Big Brothers Big Sisters.

5. Be open and creative in your conversations with members. Potential opportunities for partnership include:

· Becoming Bigs

· Hosting a “Big For A Day” event on campus

· Participating in Bowl For Kids Sake

· Organizing fundraising activities around Greek Week, Homecoming, Parents Weekend, etc.

· Leveraging relationships to open the doors of corporations, places of worship, and other professional organizations

· Serving on your local junior board/advisory committees

5. Remember to take into account the school calendar when planning events. The best time to engage the Fraternity is typically in early fall (September and October) and the spring (March, April and May).

6. Prepare to track and measure your progress toward your goals. For guidance, see the webpage in this section: Tracking and Reporting

7. Contact Charleston Edwards () if you have concerns and to share your success.

X. Approved Fundraising Events and Activating the Partnership

The following are fundraising ideas that have been approved by Sigma Phi Epsilon’s National Philanthropy Task Force and Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. Sigma Phi Epsilon chapters and Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies may mix and match ideas to create their own fundraiser, so long as it is approved by the Fraternity, within Big Brothers Big Sisters standards and compliant with the Better Business Bureau Standards for Charitable Accountability.

a. Bowl for Kid’s Sake

b. Greek Week, Homecoming and Dad’s Weekend

c. Host a “Big for a Day” event on campus

d. Convention Opportunities

a. Attendance by local BBBS Agencies(i.e. Carlson Leadership Academy and Balanced Man Scholarship Banquet)

e. General Donations

XI. Volunteering to become a BIG

Being a Big Brother is one of the most enjoyable things you’ll ever do. Not to mention, one of the most fulfilling. You have the opportunity to help shape a child’s future for the better by empowering him to achieve. And the best part is, it’s actually a lot of fun. You and your Little can share the kinds of activities you already like to do. Play sports together. Go on a hike. Read books. Eat a pizza with extra anchovies. Or just give some advice and inspiration. Whatever it is, odds are you’ll enjoy it even more with your Little—and you’ll be making a life-changing impact.

More than 70 percent of our children waiting for a Big are boys, but only three out of every 10 inquiries to volunteer come from men. Research shows that having the positive influence of a Big Brother makes a real difference in a boy's life. So join the hundreds of thousands of volunteers that give a young person someone to look up to. And learn why so many are now saying, “I get back so much more than I give.”

Interested in becoming a Big Brother? Contact your local Big Brothers Big Sisters agency to begin the application process.

a. On Campus Activations

a. Big for A Day

Big Brothers Big Sisters “Big for A Day” program gives our children currently waiting for a Big the opportunity to spend the day with a mentor. Consider hosting Littles for a campus tour, sporting event, or create your own fun activity.

XII. Tracking and Reporting Donations and Impact

a. For Big Brothers Big Sisters Agencies, please refer to the “Tracking and Managing Your Partnerships” in agency connection.

b. For SigEp Chapters, please contact Riley Little () for more information.

XIII. Marketing & Public Relations

a. Big Brothers Big Sisters Media and Press Fact Sheet

Big Brothers Big Sisters’ mission is to provide children facing adversity with strong and enduring, professionally-supported, one-to-one relationships that change their lives for the better, forever.

Big Brothers Big Sisters holds itself accountable for proven, measurable outcomes -- helping children who face adversity succeed in school; avoid risky behaviors, especially juvenile delinquency; and have higher aspirations and self-confidence.

Big Brothers Big Sisters is the nation’s leading donor -supported volunteer network.

Children in Big Brothers Big Sisters’ programs perform better in school, are less likely to skip classes and school days, and more likely to avoid risky, unhealthy behaviors and have higher self-esteem and aspirations.

The difference between Big Brothers Big Sisters programs and others is that the organization focuses on successful, long-term mentoring. They achieve this through careful one-to-one matching and ongoing, professional match support and guidance.

It costs an average of $1,000 - $1,200 (depending on market size) a year to make and monitor a match; roughly $10,000 a match for the duration of the mentoring.

There are 339 Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies across the nation.

Most children served by Big Brothers Big Sisters are in single-parent and low-income families or households where a parent is incarcerated. The national mentoring organization serves nearly 350,000 children, families and volunteers across the country.

Approximately 28,000 children are on the waiting list to be matched with a Big and the majority of those children are boys. There is a huge need for men to step up and be mentors.

Big Brothers Big Sisters launched Start Something™ to give adults an easy option to do their part to strengthen our nation by providing children with long-term quality mentoring that is proven to help kids who face adversity succeed in and out of school.

By going to www.BBBS.org you can pledge to do what works for you – from donating to volunteering – to help children beat the odds.

b. Big Brothers Big Sisters Creative/Design/Graphic Guidelines

The Big Brothers Big Sisters of America Communication Style Guide is available to all Sigma Phi Epsilon chapters and can be found at www.bbbs.org/sigep .

XIV. Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity Risk Management Policies

SigEp views risk management as extremely important which is why we focus our efforts on educating our members. We care about our brothers and want them to have the best and safest fraternity experience possible.

A risk management mindset allows brothers to conduct chapter life in a caring manner which exhibits concern for the safety and well-being of brothers, guests, and the community around you. Brothers must take personal responsibility for their actions to help ensure the safety of others.

Risk needs to be a consideration in everything the chapter does. The intent of risk management education is not to prevent the chapter from having fun, but to help the chapter reduce risks while having fun. Managing chapter risk will help prevent, avoid and minimize problems before they occur, including lawsuits against chapter officers and members seeking their personal assets.

SigEp's risk management policies and guidelines are outlined in the Risk Management Policies of Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity and the Smart Event Planning guide. It is important for members to abide by these policies and hold those brothers that don't accountable.

For more information regarding SigEp’s risk management policies please visit their member safety page here.

XV. Better Business Bureau Standards for Charitable Accountability

The Better Business Bureau (BBB) Wise Giving Alliance Standards for Charity Accountability were developed to assist donors in making sound giving decisions and to foster public confidence in charitable organizations. The standards seek to encourage fair and honest solicitation practices, to promote ethical conduct by charitable organizations and to advance support of philanthropy.

The overarching principle of the BBB Wise Giving Alliance Standards for Charity Accountability is full disclosure to donors and potential donors at the time of solicitation and thereafter. However, where indicated, the standards recommend ethical practices beyond the act of disclosure in order to ensure public confidence and encourage giving. As voluntary standards, they also go beyond the requirements of local, state and federal laws and regulations.