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SCORE
SCORE is the premier source for small business advice and counseling in America. SCORE is a nonprofit association dedicated to entrepreneur education and the formation, growth and success of small business nationwide.
From its formal inception SCORE has been focused on the American dream of small business ownership. President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the Small Business Act into law in 1953 and the Small Business Administration, or SBA, was created. The law said the federal government “should aid, counsel, assist and protect the interests of small business.” Recognizing a need of small business owners, the SBA, in 1964, officially launched SCORE as a national volunteer group with 2,000 Volunteers. By 1978 SCORE was providing small business counseling services to 2 million Americans. In 2005, SCORE assisted its 7 millionth client—a milestone of service to America’s aspiring entrepreneurs and small business owners.
Today more than 11,200 volunteers provide individual counseling—in person and online—and business workshops for aspiring entrepreneurs and small business owners. All told, these volunteers have more than 300,000 years of business experience.
SCORE’s mission is to provide resources and expertise to maximize the success of existing and emerging small businesses.
From its inception, SCORE’s mission has been focused on the American dream of small business ownership. SCORE’s unique service is based upon the idea of giving back to the community—in this case the local business community. Businessmen and businesswomen with successful careers and entrepreneurial ventures join SCORE to volunteer their time and expertise to help new businesses start and to help existing businesses grow and succeed.
SCORE’s vision is to be the most recognized and utilized supplier of counseling and mentoring services to America’s small business. Our goal is to do this by consistently providing relevant and competitive products and services, by proactively anticipating and meeting the needs and expectations of a diverse client base, by continuously enhancing and promoting the image of SCORE in all that we do, by ensuring organizational capability and alignment, and by funding and enabling continuous progress and growth.
By living our core values, we demand excellence in ourselves and in all aspects of our organization. Both SCORE volunteers and leadership are challenged to grow personally and professionally, challenged to accept responsibility and accountability, and challenged to deliver on strategic goals and objectives to ensure the long–term viability and sustainability of SCORE.
SCORE’s five core values are Client Focus, Delivering Quality, Ethical Conduct, Professionalism, and Contributing to the Community.
In maintaining Client Focus — we value our diverse client base and ensure that our interactions are professional, beneficial, and efficient. The welfare of our clients is our utmost concern.
Through our core value of Delivering Quality — we strive to be the “best” by consistently delivering high quality products and services. The knowledge and experience of our volunteers will ensure the long–term viability of our organization.
When working with our clients, our partners, and our co–volunteers, we maintain a code of moral and ethical conduct that is above reproach.
In the spirit of Professionalism — as volunteers, we serve our clients, our community, and our organization in a professional manner. We are dedicated to continuous improvement to enable personal and professional growth.
While living our core value of Contributing to the Community — we remember that SCORE is a valuable community member. Both independently and through cooperation with other agencies, our organization makes significant contributions to the local and national economy.
If you would like a SCORE mentor for your business or would like to be a volunteer counselor, simply visit the national
SCORE website and follow the instructions there.
Other Useful SCORE Sites
Ask An Expert
SCORE Community
