SCORE, the nation’s largest community of volunteer enterprise mentors, issued an pressing plea to lawmakers on Tuesday following the proposed elimination of its federal funding within the President’s Fiscal 12 months 2026 Discretionary Finances Request. The group warns that with out this help, the mentoring companies it supplies to tons of of 1000’s of small enterprise homeowners might be in jeopardy.
In accordance with SCORE, the minimize would instantly threaten the group’s potential to serve the greater than 300,000 small enterprise homeowners and entrepreneurs it reaches yearly throughout all 50 states and U.S. territories.
“America’s small enterprise success story has included SCORE for 61 years — and now, that story is at risk of ending,” mentioned SCORE CEO Bridget Weston. “With out federal help, this extremely environment friendly and efficient program is at critical danger of not fulfilling its mission. This isn’t only a funding minimize — it’s a direct blow to America’s small enterprise neighborhood.”
SCORE presently receives $17 million in federal funding. In accordance with the group, that funding yields a return of $45.42 in new federal tax income for each greenback spent. SCORE warns that eliminating this funding might have far-reaching penalties not only for entrepreneurs, but additionally for native economies and authorities revenues.
In 2024 alone, SCORE volunteers launched 59,447 new small companies and created 143,623 complete new jobs, delivering 4 million hours of mentoring and coaching. The group credit this impression to its all-volunteer mannequin, consisting of 10,000 skilled enterprise professionals who donate their time and information.
“Operating a profitable small enterprise is hard, even in good instances, and skilled mentoring might be the distinction between success and failure,” mentioned Ed Coleman, SCORE mentor and Regional Vice President. “Hundreds of entrepreneurs credit score SCORE as the rationale they’re nonetheless in enterprise. Eliminating this funding would pull the rug out from underneath them.”
SCORE emphasizes that the federal funding helps:
- Free, skilled one-on-one enterprise mentoring
- Stay and on-demand workshops and webinars
- Enterprise templates, instruments, and sources
- Over 200 native chapters offering in-person networking and help
“For our enterprise, SCORE made the distinction,” mentioned SCORE consumer Billy Thompson, co-owner of Thompson Tee. “Our mentors have supported us each step of the best way, connecting us with sources on every little thing from banking to manufacturing reps to advertising seminars. We’re in enterprise in the present day due to SCORE.”
The group is now calling on its nationwide community of small enterprise homeowners, mentors, and supporters to contact members of Congress and demand continued federal help.
“Take motion now. Shield SCORE. Shield American small companies,” the group urges.