Effective Date:

June 20, 2025

Purpose:

As a nonprofit resource partner of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), SCORE’s mission is to foster vibrant small business communities through mentoring and education. SCORE volunteers are expected to uphold the highest standards of ethics, professionalism, and accountability to maintain public trust and effectively serve small business clients.

This Code of Ethics sets expectations for ethical behavior, impartiality, and integrity in all SCORE activities.

Applicability/Scope:

This Code applies to all SCORE volunteers acting in any capacity, including but not limited to:

• Mentors and subject matter experts
• Workshop presenters and trainers
• Chapter officers and committee members
• Administrative or operational support volunteers

Volunteers are representatives of SCORE and are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that reflects positively on the organization at all times.

Standards of Ethical Conduct

Integrity and Respect

• Always adhere to the SCORE mission and values.
• Treat all clients, volunteers, partners, contractors, and staff with dignity and respect.
• Maintain a professional tone and demeanor in all SCORE-related activities, including mentoring sessions, events, communications, and public appearances.
• Do not discriminate against any individual based on race, color, religion, sex (including sexual orientation, gender identity, and pregnancy), national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local law. 
• Do not participate in any form of harassment, including sexual harassment, or discriminatory behavior based on race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, disability, or any other protected characteristic, is strictly prohibited. Harassment includes, but is not limited to verbal, non-verbal, or physical conduct that denigrates or shows hostility toward an individual on the basis of a protected characteristic that (1) has the purpose or effect of creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment; or (2) has the purpose or effect of interfering with an individual's performance or ability to perform their assigned duties.
• Do not engage in behavior—whether verbal, written, physical, or online—that undermines or damages SCORE’s mission, reputation, operations, or the dignity of its members and clients. 

Abiding by the Law

• Comply with all applicable local, state, and federal laws, including those governing nonprofit organizations.
• Adhere to all regulations and requirements associated with SCORE’s federal grant funding, including OMB Uniform Guidance and SBA-specific grant terms.
• Consult with SCORE staff whenever there is any question or concern about legal compliance.

Mentoring and Education Standards

• Provide mentoring and advice without personal bias or expectation of reward.
• Always place the business interests of SCORE clients first.
• Never judge a client or their ideas, and strive to create a long-term relationship with all clients.
• Ensure that every client is aware of the ongoing services and resources available to them from SCORE.
• Adhere to the SCORE workshop Presenter Guidelines whenever presenting materials in a SCORE capacity.
• Accurately record and report all mentoring sessions, workshops, and client interactions in SCORE’s designated systems in a timely manner, in accordance with organizational guidelines and reporting requirements.

Confidentiality

• Maintain the confidentiality of client information obtained through mentoring or SCORE programming.
• Adhere to SCORE’s Social Media Policy, Personal Information Protection Policy, and AI Ethical Use Policy when handling client information or engaging in public communications, including on personal social media accounts.
• Do not sign any confidentiality agreements or any Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDA) with clients.
• Do not disclose client details without their explicit consent, unless legally required.
• Respect the confidentiality of SCORE’s internal information, including strategic plans, internal communications, financial data, and operational decisions, and do not share such information outside the organization without authorization.
• Continue to protect the confidentiality of client information, organizational data, and proprietary materials. The responsibility extends beyond the conclusion of a volunteer’s service with SCORE and remains in effect indefinitely.

Political Neutrality

As a federal grant recipient, SCORE must maintain strict political neutrality in all operations and volunteer activities. To uphold this standard:

• Do not engage in political discourse or advocacy while acting as a representative of SCORE.
• Ensure all meetings—whether with staff, volunteers, clients, or partners—remain focused on SCORE’s mission and small business support.

• Do not use SCORE events, workshops, or communication platforms to promote political opinions or candidates.
• Always treat clients, staff, and fellow volunteers with respect, regardless of political beliefs.
• Apply these principles consistently in all interactions, including those with external partners and the public.

Use of SCORE Resources and Brand

Volunteers are entrusted with SCORE’s brand and resources and are expected to use them responsibly and in accordance with SCORE policy.

• Volunteers must not use SCORE materials, facilities, branding, or communications platforms for personal business or gain.
• Follow the official SCORE Brand Guide when using logos, colors, templates, or other branded materials.
• Use SCORE branding only for SCORE-approved activities; do not co-brand with outside organizations or imply endorsements without authorization.
• Do not use the SCORE or SBA logos in connection with personal, political, or non-SCORE-related initiatives.
• Use SCORE email, websites, facilities, and systems solely for SCORE business.
• Understand that all SCORE materials, including presentations, templates, training documents, and digital content, are the intellectual property of SCORE and may not be copied, modified, or distributed for personal or external use without prior written approval.
• Protect and appropriately use SCORE-issued equipment (e.g., laptops, tablets, printers) and materials; you are responsible for their care and return when no longer in use.
• Do not repurpose SCORE software licenses, databases, or subscriptions for personal or non-SCORE purposes.
• Do not store or transmit sensitive client or SCORE information on unsecured personal devices or cloud platforms.
• Follow SCORE’s Equipment Policy and return all SCORE-issued equipment and materials upon ending your volunteer service or upon request.

Conflict of Interest

Volunteers must avoid actual or perceived conflicts of interest between their personal interests and the interests of SCORE or its clients.

Volunteers may not:

• Recommend products, services, or vendors in which they, their family members, or close associates have a financial or controlling interest.
• Solicit clients to become personal customers, business partners, or investors.
• Become an officer, director, shareholder, investor, or partner of any for-profit clients, nor provide direct funding to any SCORE client that you have mentored or supported through SCORE.
• Accept compensation, gifts, commissions, fees, travel reimbursements, or other items of value from clients or third parties in exchange for SCORE services or product recommendations.
• Participate in work that would displace that of regular employees or contract service providers.

Volunteers may:

• Participate in the vetting, recommendation, or support of SCORE partners, tools, or sponsors when doing so aligns with SCORE’s mission and they receive no personal benefit.
• Promote SCORE-approved resources or partnerships during authorized activities.
• Serve on nonprofit boards, provided such service does not result in personal financial gain or create a conflict of interest with SCORE clients (e.g., mentoring a client who applies for funding from that nonprofit).

Disclosure Requirement:

Volunteers must promptly disclose any actual or potential conflicts of interest to SCORE Headquarters (HQ) (help@score.org). Disclosure enables appropriate management of any issues and does not imply misconduct.

Note on Volunteer Status:

SCORE volunteers serve in a non-compensated, volunteer capacity. Nothing in this policy or any related activity shall be construed to create an employment, agency, or legal partnership relationship between the volunteer and SCORE, the U.S. Small Business Administration, or any third party. Volunteers do not have the authority to bind SCORE or make commitments on its behalf unless expressly authorized in writing.

Reporting and Compliance

Reporting

Volunteers are encouraged to report suspected ethics violations, misuse of SCORE resources, or inappropriate conduct. Reports may be submitted to:

• Filed leadership (Chapter Chair, District Director, Assistant District Director, Regional Vice President)
• SCORE HQ (help@score.org)
• SCORE Compliance
• Confidentially via SCORE’s Whistleblower Policy (including the SBA whistleblower hotline).

Retaliation Protection

Retaliation for good-faith reporting is strictly prohibited.

Noncompliance

SCORE reserves the right to take appropriate action, including restricting volunteer privileges or terminating volunteer service, based on a violation of this Code or other SCORE policies. Nothing in this Code creates a contract, promise, or entitlement to continued volunteer service.

Policy Owner:

SCORE Compliance