Since the pandemic, record numbers of Philadelphia-based employees have transformed their remote roles to entrepreneurship, prompting the Philadelphia chapter of SCORE, a nonprofit partner of the U.S. Small Business Administration and the City of Philadelphia’s Commerce Department, to seek a greater number of volunteers to manage the 100-percent growth in mentoring requests received over the past two years.
Philadelphia SCORE Chapter’s Co-Chairman, Jack Musgrove, said the chapter’s business mentoring requests have skyrocketed since the pandemic began, increasing to a whopping 150 to 200 monthly, from 50 to 75 monthly requests originally. This summer alone, the chapter welcomed 148 new clients in July, 166 in August and 144 in September through its free mentoring services and workshops.
Meanwhile the chapter, which is run by approximately 54 volunteers, has only added seven new mentors in 2022, and is struggling to keep up with the remarkable client demand. The need for business startup assistance presents entrepreneurs, executives, business leaders and retired business men and women with a chance to help the local business community. “Score” with SCORE Philadelphia,’ the name of the current volunteer recruiting campaign, is now seeking active participants to become volunteer mentors with the Philadelphia chapter.
“We have plenty of opportunities to serve our clients,” Musgrove said. “It’s gratifying for our mentors to help them.”
While many of the SCORE clients have great business ideas, they seek guidance on bringing those ideas to life. Mentors offer insight on developing a business plan, identifying their customers, financial planning, marketing, staffing and more.
Women comprise more than half of the chapter’s client base. Of those, most are women of color.
“A mentor needs to start at zero in helping clients who are likely starting at zero,” Musgrove said of the types of business leaders the chapter seeks. “(Our chapter needs) volunteers who understand credit, banking, and are familiar with the business landscape of Philadelphia; We need people who really understand the startup world.”
When the national SCORE organization began in 1964, it was focused primarily on recruiting retired executives and former business owners as mentors. That mindset has changed dramatically in recent years with some mentors holding down jobs or running a business. Involvement is integral to mentoring as is understanding a client’s needs and assisting them in scoring business success. SCORE’s focus nowadays is “Counselors to America’s Small Business.”
In addition to living in the City of Brotherly Love, Philadelphia Chapter SCORE volunteer mentors hail from New Jersey, the Main Line, and Bucks and Montgomery counties. Many have business or hometown roots in Philadelphia, but that is not required; plus most mentoring and workshops are held virtually and can take place almost anywhere with Internet access.
“Score” with SCORE Philadelphia, by mentoring the next generation of business leaders, and offering invaluable opportunities to make an impact in your local business communities.
CEO Rich Neal, of Bala Cynwyd-based Advanced Behavior Treatment, sought help with forming a business partnership through the SCORE Philadelphia Chapter. Neal, whose business provides direct support to people with disabilities, worked with two Philadelphia SCORE mentors.
“Each [mentor] expanded our thinking process by identifying issues that we would never have thought of on our own,” Neal said. “The experience each mentor has in their own personal business careers has proved to be invaluable for us by saving us hours of research time, and probably thousands of dollars in consulting fees.”
Get involved & “Score” with SCORE Philadelphia!
If interested in becoming a Philadelphia SCORE mentor, please go to https://philadelphia.score.org/volunteer, or call 215-231-9880.
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