SCORE Washington District

Helping Small Businesses Grow

When you support SCORE Washington District, you power the entrepreneurs who keep our local economy vibrant, innovative, and resilient. Your tax-deductible gift helps people in our communities start and grow small businesses that create jobs, build generational wealth, and strengthen neighborhoods across Washington, northern Idaho, and Alaska.

Every dollar you give turns into free, high‑impact support for entrepreneurs who could never afford this level of expertise on their own. Our volunteer business mentors bring decades of real-world experience in finance, marketing, operations, technology, and more—and they share it at no cost to our clients.

Who We Are

SCORE Washington District is part of SCORE, the nation’s largest network of volunteer, expert business mentor and a 501(c)(3) nonprofit resource partner of the U.S. Small Business Administration. Locally, our Washington District has been recognized as a top-performing SCORE chapter, with more than 160 experienced volunteers supporting over 12,000 small business owners in a single year.

Our mission is simple and powerful: to help anyone with an idea or existing business plan, launch, grow, and thrive. We do not turn anyone away. If you are starting or growing a legal business, SCORE is here for you.

What Your Gift Makes Possible

Your generosity sustains and expands no‑cost and low‑cost services that change lives:

• Free, confidential 1:1 mentoring for aspiring and existing small business owners, in person and online.
• Practical workshops and webinars on business planning, cash flow, marketing, digital presence, HR, access to capital, and more.
• Targeted support for underserved and underrepresented entrepreneurs, including women, people of color, immigrants, and veterans who often face greater barriers to capital and networks.
• Ongoing guidance to help businesses survive economic shocks, adapt to changing markets, and create stable local jobs.

Across our district, volunteers mentor thousands of entrepreneurs and deliver hundreds of workshops each year. Nationally, SCORE volunteers helped start nearly 60,000 new businesses in a single year and supported the creation of more than 140,000 jobs, demonstrating the leverage and impact of every donated dollar.

Real Impact, Close to Home

SCORE-supported businesses are more likely to launch, grow, and stay open. In recent years, our district has helped thousands of entrepreneurs move from idea to opening their doors, with thousands of new jobs created and the vast majority of our mentored clients remaining operational. Behind each of these numbers is a person: a laid-off worker starting a consulting firm, a first-generation entrepreneur opening a neighborhood café, a retiree turning a lifelong passion into a viable business. One client put it best: “If anyone has any interest in starting a business, I think SCORE should be their first stop.”

Why Your Support Matters Now

Small businesses face rising costs, tight margins, and rapidly changing market conditions. At the same time, demand for SCORE’s services continues to grow as more people turn to entrepreneurship for financial security and community impact. Our chapter is largely self‑supporting: we rely on contributions from individuals, businesses, and foundations to keep our mentoring free and our workshops affordable.

Your gift today will:

• Help more entrepreneurs access expert mentoring at no cost.
• Fund additional workshops and targeted programs, including our annual Tech Entrepreneur Pitch Contest and Women's Pitch Contest. 
• Equip our volunteers with updated tools, training, and resources to better serve clients.
• Ensure that help is available not just at startup, but through the critical early years when many businesses fail without support.

Ways to Give

You can make an immediate impact with:

• One‑time or recurring gifts through Washington Gives.
• Major gifts from individuals, family foundations, or donor‑advised funds.
• Gifts of stock or other assets to support long-term capacity and innovation.

Every contribution - of any size - helps another entrepreneur take the next step. Your generosity keeps expert guidance within reach for people who are ready to work hard but need trusted support to succeed. Companies can also become a sponsor of our annual Small Business Awards Gala that brings together more than 400 entrepreneurs, business leaders, and community champions for an unforgettable evening of cocktails

Join Us

If you believe strong small businesses are the backbone of thriving communities, SCORE Washington District is one of the most effective investments you can make. Your donation today helps launch new businesses, keep existing ones open, and create jobs across our region. And if you're a seasoned business person, please consider volunteering as a mentor.

Give now and stand behind the entrepreneurs who are building Washington’s future - one small business at a time!