National Chapter of the Year (COTY) Award

The National Chapter of the Year is the highest annual recognition for SCORE chapters. Historically, chapters have been measured using key metrics like the number of clients seen or the number of workshops held and growth in these areas. More recently, these operational metrics are considered in conjunction with how the chapter achieved success and the key cultural items that created an environment for success. Specifically, the primary areas are volunteer, client, and community engagement, along with sustainability. 

The benefits for Chapter of the Year winners have included significantly increased publicity, improved client awareness, easier recruiting, and better volunteer and community engagement. Past winners have used the momentum of the award and recognition to create sustained growth and performance in their chapters. Download visual slides describing the COTY Program.

There are three levels of recognition for COTY: District, Region, and National.

1. Each District COTY will be selected by the District Director. DD will send winners to RVP.
2. Each Region COTY will be selected from the District winners by the RVP along with their District Directors. RVP will send winners to SCORE HQ. 
3. The National COTY will be selected from the Region winners by the RVPs and the VP of Field Operations.

There is no application process for your chapter to be considered for the COTY awards. All Chapters will be considered by their District Director. 

National Chapter of the Year Award Criteria

Download COTY selection form checklist here.

Objective Criteria

• Meets all chapter minimum standards (as outlined in the SOM)
• Client Engagement Index
• Growth in Total Unique Clients Served
• Growth in Total Services
• NPS Score
• Volunteer Engagement Index
• Diversity Goals
• Growth in Total Training Attendees
  • Regional workshops and webinars (not recorded views)

Subjective Criteria

• Active Community Partnering
  • Examples: Free space by Partner, co-sponsoring a workshop with Partner, using Partner’s e-mail list to promote a SCORE event, on a Partner’s Advisory Board (or vice versa), in-kind dollars provided by Partner, number of active partners, etc.
• Chapter score on Client Engagement Survey Question:
  • “SCORE helped me"
• Local Fundraising activities and results
• Regularly recognized volunteers
  • Having a Volunteer recognition plan
  • Select questions from the Client & Volunteer surveys regarding ONE SCORE

Chapter Sustainability Criteria

• Maintains a written updated operational/tactical business plan.  Plan must include local marketing plans, metrics, goals, timelines and named responsibilities for implementation.
• Reviews operational plan on a quarterly basis with district director
• Succession plan in place with named roles accepted by those individuals
• Process to ensure ALL client contact information, mentoring sessions, and workshop attendee information is recorded accurately and timely   

Comments: “Explain why your Chapter should be Chapter of the Year”

• This should be completed by the District COTY award winners to assist in the selection for the Region and National awards.
• What other accomplishments have the chapter achieved in the past year" limited to 100/200 words (or via a short 2 min video)

Presentation of the National Chapter of the Year Award 

The District, Region, and National Chapter of the Year winners are announced in the first quarter of the following calendar year. The National Chapter of the Year Award is presented to the representative of the winning chapter at the annual SBA Small Business Week award presentations.