Help Local Businesses Thrive! - SCORE Portland

Become a SCORE Volunteer Mentor andHelp Local Businesses Thrive

You are good at what you do. Your skills, talents, and business savvy are valuable resources that entrepreneurs can tap into. As a SCORE volunteer, not only do you use your knowledge and experience to help others succeed, you also help your community grow.

Our Portland Chapter is nearly 80 volunteers strong, and we are an integral resource in the business community, providing free services, programs, and resources to small business owners.

How it works

Volunteers receive in-depth mentorship training on how to interact and coach our clients, who represent the broad spectrum of the Portland community. SCORE mentors are then matched with clients based on the mentor's experience and the client's needs. Mentors and clients can choose to meet face-to-face, online, or over the phone to discuss the client's small business needs.

Volunteer Requirements

• Business experience
• Effective communication skills
• Sincere desire to help someone succeed
• Computer literacy
• Completion of volunteer mentor training

Volunteer Benefits

SCORE volunteers enjoy a variety of personal, local and national rewards. As a SCORE Volunteer, you can:

• Feel good knowing you helped someoneachieve their goals and dreams
• Give back to your community by helping small businesses thrive and driving economic growth
• Become a recognized leader in your local business community
• Make new friends and networkwith SCORE volunteers and business leaders in your area
• Grow professionally and personally with SCORE's Lifelong Learning training programs

Current Volunteer Openings

SCORE is proud to have the nations largest network of volunteer, expert business mentors. Join our team of 10,000+ volunteers, and share your talents and expertise with the small business community. You can help in four different volunteer roles:

• Mentor: offer confidential business mentoring services, either in person or online
• Subject matter expert: provide focused knowledge based on your professional skills or industry
• Workshop presenter: lead local workshops, seminars and events to help entrepreneurs meet their goals and achieve success
• Administrative role: share your skills in marketing, tech,finance, fundraising and more to help expand the outreach of SCORE

Certified Lead Mentor

A SCORE mentor is an advisor who helps individuals and small businesses reach their goals. Mentors provide free business advice and education to aspiring entrepreneurs and existing business owners.

As a mentor, youll help clients solve problems, make businesses more efficient, and assist with developing long-term business plans. Apply to be a Mentor

Additionally, you may discover new sources of insight and knowledge to help your own business and leadership style. Teaching others how to manage people or projects, along with illustrating ways to succeed in other aspects of business, could inspire you to continue with your own professional growthall of this while helping your local community. The ideal mentor is empathetic, flexible, and loves connecting people to the right resources. Mentors often have significant experience within their field, excellent communication skills, and the ability to dedicate 1-2 hours per week.

Subject Matter Expert (SME)

As an SME, you assist clients with your specific skill set and expertise. In this role, you will co-mentor alongside one of SCOREs certified mentors. You will provide free business advice and education in your area of experience to clients who want to start, grow or exit their businesses. As an SME, youll have access to an amazing network of SCORE volunteers and many resources for professional growthwhile helping small businesses in your community. Subject matter experts should have the ability to dedicate a few hours per month.This is a flex time commitment.

WorkshopPresenter

If you have specific knowledge in a business related field and enjoy presenting, we invite you to become a presenter at a Business workshop. Note SCORE Portland has a non-solicitation policy for all of our speakers, meaning that you cannot advertise your private for-fee services to our client base during the presentation.

Administrative role

If you don't wish to mentor or train entrepreneurs but still want to volunteer, there are many other ways that you can help.

Help Someone Write Their Business Success Story and become a SCORE volunteer today!

SCORE is a national volunteer network of more than 11,000 trusted, knowledgeable mentors who help aspiring and established small business owner solve problems and improve competency as they create companies, jobs and revenue in their communities. Small business is the growth engine of our economy, and SCORE has a proven track record of helping entrepreneurs create small businesses and jobs for America.