Service Corp Of Ret Executives (SCORE) 2026-01

The SCORE funding opportunity is administered by the U.S. Small Business Administration through its Office of Entrepreneurial Development. The SCORE program represents the largest network of volunteer business mentors in the United States, with thousands of experienced professionals providing no cost counseling, training, and technical assistance to entrepreneurs and small businesses. Established to support business formation, growth, and sustainability, the program operates in partnership with SBA district offices and other federal and local resource partners. This funding opportunity is specifically directed at current recipients of SCORE awards and is intended to sustain and enhance the national infrastructure that delivers these services. The purpose of this funding opportunity is to support the continued delivery of mentoring, counseling, and training services to small businesses and pre venture entrepreneurs. SCORE recipients are expected to provide one on one advising, workshops, webinars, and access to a wide range of business development resources. The program emphasizes helping businesses start, expand, improve productivity, and navigate operational challenges. It also includes specialized support areas such as export readiness, intellectual property awareness, regulatory compliance, and rural business development. Funding is provided through a cooperative agreement, indicating substantial involvement by the SBA in program oversight, monitoring, and implementation. The total available funding for the program year is seventeen million dollars, with SBA anticipating a single award. The performance period for the award is twelve months. Funds must be used strictly for allowable program activities in accordance with federal cost principles and cannot be commingled with other funding sources. There is no matching requirement for this opportunity, though recipients are encouraged to leverage partnerships and additional resources to maximize impact. Eligibility for this funding opportunity is limited to entities that meet the statutory requirements under the Small Business Act and are current SCORE award recipients. Organizations must demonstrate compliance with federal regulations and must not have outstanding financial obligations, unresolved audit issues, or disqualifying administrative conditions. The program requires a robust organizational structure, clear governance, and the ability to deliver services nationwide or within designated service areas. Applicants must also demonstrate the capacity to manage volunteers, coordinate with partners, and maintain compliance with reporting and financial management standards. The application process requires submission through the federal Grantsolutions platform. Applicants must provide a comprehensive technical proposal, detailed budget information, certifications, and supporting documentation. The technical proposal must outline organizational structure, program management strategies, service delivery plans, performance goals, and collaboration efforts. Budget submissions must include detailed justifications aligned with federal cost categories. Additional required components include documentation of personnel, governance policies, and program income usage. Applications must be complete and submitted electronically by the stated deadline. Applications are evaluated based on eligibility, organizational capacity, collaboration strategies, and risk assessment factors such as financial stability and past performance. The SBA reviews proposals for both programmatic and financial sufficiency and may request clarifications during the evaluation process. Successful applicants will be notified following review and will enter into a cooperative agreement with the SBA. The anticipated project start date is late September or early October, aligning with the federal fiscal year, and recipients are required to meet ongoing reporting, compliance, and performance expectations throughout the award period.

Ensure detailed program narrative with measurable goals and strong collaboration strategy aligned with SBA priorities