The Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE), also known as the SCORE Association, is a non-profit organization of volunteers who provide free mentoring, education programs, workshops, and webinars to small businesses.[1] SCORE was a resource partner of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), which administered a Congressional grant that provided SCORE with funding. SCORE is headquartered in Herndon, Virginia, with over 200 chapters located in offices located throughout the United States. It is the nation's largest network of volunteer, expert business mentors.[2]
SCORE was chartered by an Act of the U.S. Congress in 1964 to provide technical and managerial guidance to the business community, profit and not-for-profit organizations, and prospective entrepreneurs through the use of volunteer counselors.[3] On October 5, 1964, SBA administrator, Eugene P. Foley officially launched SCORE.[4] Walter H. Channing of Detroit, Michigan, served as its first president. By 1968 over 1,000 small businesses per month were receiving free business advice from SCORE.[5]
A 2019 audit by the Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General (OIG) was highly critical of SCORE, finding that SCORE officials did not effectively oversee SCORE's use of federal funds, inappropriately solicited donations for mentoring services, charged for publication material that did not include the required SBA acknowledgement statement, and improperly managed funds used for cosponsored activities. The OIG recommended that the SBA improve its oversight and monitoring of SCORE's use of government funds, and its reporting of performance results. The OIG also recommended that the SBA recover $713,986 of unallowable and unsupported costs.[6]
In 2023, Iowa Senator Joni Ernst introduced a bill in the U.S. Senate, S-1896, entitled the SCORE Act of 2023 which would "overhaul SCORE to meet the needs of today’s dynamic economy and improve support for female and rural business owners".[8]
Operations
SCORE is governed by a 17 member board of directors.[9] It has a team of approximately 50 salaried employees at its headquarters in Herndon, Virginia who support the organization of over 10,000 volunteers[10] in 250 office locations throughout the U.S.
SCORE is exempt from federal and state income taxes on income under the provisions of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
SCORE's website offers a small business library with "how-to" guides, downloadable templates, checklists, articles, videos, infographics, and blogs. The website also hosts online workshops, and recorded webinars and interactive courses on demand.[11]
SCORE volunteer mentors give free and confidential business advice to business owners using different communication methods, including phone, video, email and in-person meetings.[12] There are four types of SCORE volunteering roles: business mentors, workshop presenters, subject matter experts, and chapter support roles.[13] From time to time SCORE gives the Walter H Channing Award. Named in honor of its founding president, it is the highest honor for volunteer service within SCORE.
Performance claims
SCORE claimed SCORE clients returned $45.42 to the US Treasury for each of the $17 million allocated to SCORE in FY24. This amounts to $772 million. SCORE also claimed 143,623 jobs were created by SCORE clients in FY24. This is approximately 10% of the 1.45 million jobs created by small businesses in FY24.[14][15]
Funding
SCORE was primarily supported by a federal government grant along with workshop fees and contributions. SCORE is also supported by the SCORE Foundation, a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization formed in 1996 to serve as the philanthropic arm of SCORE.[16]
SCORE received a federal grant of $17.3 million in FY24, which was 80% of the organization's $21.7 million of revenue.[17] SCORE funding was not included in the FY26 budget request sent to Congress in May 2025 by the Director of the Office of Management and BudgetRussell T. Vought on behalf of President Donald Trump.[18]
Nellis, Elwyn A. (1989). A SCORE that Counts: The Story of the Service Corps of Retired Executives. Philadelphia, PA: Service Corps of Retired Executives. ISBN978-0-9623466-0-6.
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