Looking to make a real impact in your community? Did you know that right now, over 80 adults in Minnesota are waiting for a friend?

While our community is growing, we have a high need for volunteers without intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) to step forward. Our goal is to ensure that every person with IDD on our waiting list is matched with a one-to-one friend who shares their interests. Your involvement could be the reason someone moves off that list and into a lifelong friendship.

“He’s the friendliest person I’ve ever met and he brings a lot of joy to my life.” -Kaleb (left), matched with Duncan since 2023

Ready to Volunteer?

At Best Buddies in Minnesota, we know that friendship is more than just a social connection—it’s a lifeline. For many adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), the world can feel like a lonely place. Outside of family or paid caregivers, many go weeks or months without a simple “friend-to-friend” connection.

That’s where you come in. Our Best Buddies Citizens program bridges this gap by creating one-to-one friendships across the state of Minnesota. While a few hours a month might not seem like much to you, for someone on our waiting list, it is the cure for isolation, and an opportunity to experience the joy and connection of true friendship.

You don’t need a special background to make a difference. Just a desire to be a good friend.

Not sure where to start? If you’re interested in volunteering but would like to connect with a Best Buddies staff member first, let’s chat.

Fill out our interest form

Ready to be the friend someone is waiting for? If you’re ready to join the program and begin the matching process, start your application here.

Complete a Membership Application

The Difference You’ll Make

Social isolation is a growing crisis in the U.S., and adults with IDD are particularly vulnerable. A 2023 U.S. Surgeon General survey revealed that a lack of social connection can be as dangerous to your health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.

While the average person maintains a social network of about 125 people, an individual with IDD typically has a circle of only six—and often, one of those six is a paid caregiver.

Best Buddies Citizens exists to change that. We bridge the “connection gap” by pairing adults with and without IDD in one-to-one friendships. This isn’t a mentorship or a service project; it’s an opportunity for intentional, meaningful relationships to flourish.

“I had no idea how much this program was needed and how much of a gap I was filling.” -Annie (right), matched with Gaby since 2024

How the Program Works

The Best Buddies Citizens program is professionally managed by our staff and supported by dedicated lead volunteers. We don’t just “assign” pairs; we build friendships based on common ground. We welcome anyone who is 18+, lives near an existing chapter, and is interested in making a new friend.

Once you sign up, we guide you through a thoughtful matching process:

• The Introduction: A staff member or lead volunteer will reach out for an introductory call to learn about your personality, hobbies, and interests.
• The Screening: To ensure a safe and supportive environment for everyone, all volunteers and participants complete a standard background screening.
• The Match: We pair you with someone based on several factors including geographic location/proximity, age range, shared interests and hobbies, and other individual preferences that are conveyed in the matching process.

Making the Perfect Match

Before anything is official, you’ll meet for a 30-minute icebreaker facilitated by Best Buddies in Minnesota staff. This meeting provides a safe, comfortable environment—usually at our office or a local coffee shop—to see if the spark is there.

When both parties agree to the match, you officially become a Buddy Pair. You’ll develop a friendship that is mutually enriching, experiencing life together and supporting one another through its ups and downs.

The Commitment:

• Weekly Check-ins: A quick text, phone call, or FaceTime to say hello.
• Monthly Hangouts: Grabbing dinner, seeing a movie, or attending a Citizens group event.

While the formal commitment is one year, many of our matches find that they’ve made a friend for life—some of our pairs have been matched for over 5 years!

Join a Diverse Minnesota Community

While the heart of the program is your one-to-one match, you are also joining a larger movement. The Citizens community is a network of likeminded individuals who value inclusion and believe that everyone deserves a friend.

As a Buddy Pair, you get the flexibility of a private friendship with the support of a larger group:

• Community Events: Depending on your chapter, Best Buddies in Minnesota hosts quarterly or monthly events. These are great opportunities to meet other pairs and experience things like bowling nights, holiday parties, or local festivals together.
• Your Time, Your Way: Outside of group events, you and your buddy choose how to spend your time. Whether it’s grabbing a coffee at a local cafe, cheering on your favorite MN sports team, hitting a hiking trail, or just hanging out and watching a movie, the choice is yours.

“It’s not just you and your buddy. You get to join a community of people who are likeminded.” -Scott (right), matched with Conor since 2025

A Connection That Changes You

Most people think they’re signing up to give—only to realize later how much they’ve gained. Many of our Peer Buddies join to find meaningful community involvement and fill an emotional gap not met by their 9-to-5 careers. Through this friendship, you’ll learn to see life from a new perspective, often finding yourself becoming more patient, understanding, and inclusive in every area of your life.

No caregiving. No fixing. Just friendship.

“It’s a way to get involved in your community and very low stakes – talking once a week and hanging out once a month. It’s such an impactful relationship, but also doesn’t take up a lot of your time.” -Annaliese (right), matched with Isaiah since 2023

Need more information?

If you have any questions, please contact us at Minnesota@bestbuddies.org