SCORE HQ – Field Partnership Agreement

Starting October 1, 2025

This document sets out how SCORE Headquarters (“SCORE HQ”) and the Regions & Chapters (collectively, the “Field”) will work together going forward: sharing responsibilities, supporting one another, and making sure SCORE continues delivering on our shared mission through agreed-upon core services and support.

1. Why We’re Doing This

We want to ensure that SCORE remains strong, sustainable, and able to deliver excellent support for small businesses everywhere. To do that, a critical portion of the revenue needs to be contributed by the Field. In return, you get access to national services and infrastructure that help everyone achieve our shared goals.

2. What We’re Asking From the Field

Annual Contribution:

Starting October 1, 2025, each chapter will be asked to make a meaningful yearly contribution.
 

How It’s Set:

SCORE HQ will set the overall amount needed each year (as part of its budget planning) based on input from the Region’s Vice Presidents (RVPs)
 

1. That amount will be divided among the Regions.
    
2. Each Region’s Vice President (RVP) will work with Chapters in their Region to decide how the region’s portion is shared among its Chapters.
    

3. What SCORE HQ Will Provide in Return

In exchange, SCORE HQ commits to continuing to provide—at a national level—the following support and services:

• A well-maintained SCORE website (hosting, updates, improvements)
  
   
• The Engage database system (maintenance, support, enhancements)
  
   
• Accounting and financial oversight, including helping with volunteer reimbursements, contract compliance, federal and tax compliance, and reporting
  
   
• Brand support, communications, and marketing resources to help maintain consistency and quality
  
   
• Legal oversight and ensuring we’re meeting nonprofit & federal responsibilities
  
   
• Volunteer liability insurance and risk-management support for SCORE ONESCORE operations
  
   
• Managing contracted regional volunteer intake coordinators (RVIC) and field event support.

4. How We’ll Work Together

• Transparency is key: we’ll share how the total contribution amount was determined, and how the regional allocations are made.
   
• Flexibility: Regions can decide how best to distribute the contributions among their Chapters and Districts, considering what makes sense locally.
   
• Communication: SCORE HQ will give a minimum of one (1) month's notice when amounts or services are changing, so everyone has time to plan.
  
   

5. When & How We’ll Review It

We’ll begin this in Fiscal Year 2026 (October 1, 2025). Moving forward, the contribution amount and scope of services will be reviewed each year as part of the budget process. If changes are needed, we’ll work together to make sure everyone understands what’s changing and why.

6. Shared Goals

By doing this together, we hope to:

• Strengthen SCORE as an organization, ensuring it can keep growing and delivering value.
   
• Give Chapters support that helps lighten local workloads (by having national systems in place).
   
• Maintain quality, consistency, and compliance across SCORE operations.