Counseling Awards

Who may submit nominations?

The nominations are submitted internally by SCORE Leadership.

Who is NOT eligible to be nominated?

Individuals or firms who are currently suspended or debarred by the Federal government.

Where are the nominations to be sent?

This process is completed internally by SCORE Leadership. Chapters do NOT need to apply. There is no application process required for consideration of the Chapter of the Year Award.

When is the SCORE Chapter of the Year announced?

Announcement is Mid-February; the SCORE Chapter of the Year will be announced again during National Small Business Week.

What are the evaluation/selection criteria?

Objective Criteria

1. Meets all chapter minimum standards (as outlined in the SOM)
2. Client Engagement Index
3. Growth in Total Unique Clients Served
4. Growth in Total Services
5. NPS Score
6. Volunteer Engagement Index
7. Diversity Goals
8. Growth in Total Training Attendees - Local workshop and webinars (not recorded views)

Subjective Criteria

1. Active Community Partnering - DD criteria examples: 1) Free space by Partner; 2) co-sponsoring a workshop with Partner; 3) using Partner’s e-mail list to promote a SCORE event; 4) on a Partner’s Advisory Board (or vice versa); 5) in-kind dollars provided by Partner; 6) number of active partners, etc.
2. Chapter score on Client Engagement Survey Question: “SCORE helped me.”
3. Local Fundraising activities and results
4. Regularly recognized volunteers
   a. Having a Volunteer recognition plan,
   b. Select questions from the Client & Volunteer surveys regarding ONE SCORE

Chapter Sustainability Criteria

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

What are the selection procedures?

SCORE Chapter Award winners will be selected at the District, Regional and National levels.

1. SCORE District Directors and Chapter Chairs collaborate on SCORE On-Site Reviews.
2. Each District Chapter of the Year will be selected by the SCORE District Director.
3. Each Region Chapter of the Year will be selected from the District winners by the SCORE Regional Vice Presidents.
4. The National Chapter of the Year is selected from the Region winners by the SCORE Regional Vice Presidents and SCORE Vice President of Field Operations.

Who may submit nominations?

1. Lead SBDC Centers may nominate SBDC Service Centers in their network.
2. Individuals or organizations dedicated to the support of the small business community in the United States, including trade and professional associations and business organizations, may nominate an SBDC Service Center for this award.

Who is NOT eligible to be nominated?

Individuals or firms who are currently suspended or debarred by the Federal government.

What information must the nomination package contain?

Nominations must contain the information below. Incomplete nomination packages will not be considered.

1. A completed SBA Form 3300, Award Nominee Background form. For “team” nominations, a background form is required for each team member; 
2. A completed Authorization, Grant & Release of Materials form. For “team” nominations, a release form is required for each team member. 
3. A completed SBA Form 3310, Small Business Development Center Excellence and Innovation Award nomination form.
4. An original 8 in. x 10 in. or 5 in. x 7 in. photo of the nominee or a digital photo – at least 300 dpi is required; photocopies are not acceptable. For “team” nominations, a photo of each nominee or group photo is acceptable; and
5. Any other supporting documentation deemed significant by the nominator, including news clips, letters of recommendation, nomination letter (if not self-nominated), and other evidence of the appropriateness of the nomination. Supporting documentation may not exceed 10 pages. Videos will not be considered. 

Where are the nominations to be sent? 

All nominations must be submitted electronically to the upload link for the District Office where the nominee is located. Nominations should be scanned and submitted as one full document. Photo should be submitted as a separate attachment.

When is the deadline for nominations?

Nominations must be submitted by 4:00 p.m. ET on December 5, 2024.

What are the evaluation/selection criteria?

In evaluating the nomination packages, the judges will look at the following criteria:

S – Surpasses

• Meets or exceeds the service centerʼs performance milestones including unique clients served, new businesses started, capital infusion, jobs supported, client satisfaction and may include other center goals (include actual results and the related goal).

B – Builds

• Helps build small businesses, including startups, by creating and implementing innovative programs, events, publications, research materials, and online applications. This success is demonstrated through success stories, job creation/retention and revenue growth resulting from SBDC counseling and training assistance.

D – Develops

• Prepares the service center for success by actively participating with the lead center in the professional development of counselors in accordance with the network’s strategic plan.

C – Champions

• Acknowledged by the local/regional small business and economic development community as an advocate for advancing opportunities for entrepreneurial development (include any relevant news articles and/or letters from partners - limited to eight total).
• Recognized by the local SBA district office as a champion for SBA products and services, including effective amplification of the SBA mission and priorities and strong education efforts about the SBA and its programs to small businesses.

Good Standing: SBDC must be in good standing with SBA. This includes, but is not limited to, having no Lead Center outstanding examination or review findings attributable to the nominee’s Lead Center which have not been addressed.

What are the selection procedures?

Small Business Development Center Award winners will be selected at the District, Regional, and National levels.

1. District offices will select one winner to compete at the regional level.
2. The Regional offices will select one winner to compete at the national level.
3. The National SBDC Excellence and Innovation Award of the Year winner will be selected by the SBA Associate Administrator for Entrepreneurial Development based on, but not limited to, the recommendations of the Agency’s National SBDC Advisory Board, whose members are appointed by the SBA Administrator.

Who may submit nominations?

VBOC host organizations.

SBA Regional and District Offices, individuals or organizations dedicated to the support of the small business community in the United States, U.S. Territories or District of Columbia such as trade, advocacy and professional associations, businesses, lenders and economic development organizations.

Who is NOT eligible to be nominated?

Individuals or firms who are currently suspended or debarred by the Federal government.

What information must the nomination package contain?

Nominations must contain the information below. Incomplete nomination packages will not be considered.

1. A completed SBA Form 3300, Award Nominee Background form. For “team” nominations, a background form is required for each team member; 
2. A completed Authorization, Grant & Release of Materials form. For “team” nominations, a release form is required for each team member. 
3. A completed SBA Form 3311, Veterans Business Outreach Center Excellence in Service Award nomination form.
4. An original 8 in. x 10 in. or 5 in. x 7 in. photo of the nominee or a digital photo – at least 300 dpi is required; photocopies are not acceptable. For “team” nominations, a photo of each nominee or group photo is acceptable; and
5. Additional supporting documentation deemed significant by the nominator, including news clips, letters of recommendation, nomination letter (if not self-nominated), and other evidence of the appropriateness of the nomination. Supporting documentation may not exceed 10 pages. Videos will not be considered. 

Where are the nominations to be sent? 

All nominations for the Veterans Business Outreach Center Excellence in Service Award must be submitted electronically to the VBOC Award upload link. Nominations should be scanned and submitted as one full document. Photo should be submitted as a separate attachment.

When is the deadline for nominations?

Nominations must be submitted by 4:00 p.m. ET on December 5, 2024.

What are the evaluation/selection criteria?

In evaluating the nomination packages, the judges will look at the following criteria:

V – Veterans

• Provides entrepreneurship training and counseling to veterans, service members, National Guard and Reserve members and military spouses. Including, but not limited to, participation in the following programs; Boots to Business, Boots to Business Reboot, Revenue Readiness and the Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program.
• Meets or exceeds the center's performance milestones including; clients served, counseling sessions, training attendees and Boots to Business classes.  May include other center goals (include actual results and the related goal).

B – Business

• Helps build small businesses from diverse backgrounds by creating and implementing innovative programs, events and online training. This success is demonstrated through success stories, job creation/retention and revenue growth resulting from VBOC counseling and training assistance. 

O – Outreach

• Collaborates with the local SBA District Office, SBA Resource Partners and economic development organizations to ensure veterans and military spouses have access to the most current information and resources. This success is demonstrated through co-sponsorship agreements, strategic alliances, partnerships and co-branding of events. 

C – Center

• Acknowledged by the local/regional small business and economic development community as an advocate for advancing opportunities for entrepreneurial development (include any relevant news articles and/or letters from partners - limited to 4 total) in the veteran and military spouse small business communities.
• Recognized by the local SBA district office as a champion for SBA products and services, including effective amplification of the SBA mission and priorities and strong education efforts about the SBA and its programs to small businesses. 
• Good Standing: VBOC must be in good standing with SBA. This includes but is not limited to outstanding examination or review findings. 

What are the selection procedures?

The Veterans Business Outreach Centers Excellence in Service Award winner will be selected at the national level.

1. Nomination packages will be sent to the SBA’s Office of Veterans Business Development and prepared for transmittal to the SBA’s Office of Communications and Public Liaison for review.
2. The national winner will be selected by the SBA Associate Administrator for Veterans Business Development based on, but not restricted to, the recommendations of a panel of judges that may be comprised federal employees.

Who may submit nominations?

Any individual or organization dedicated to the support of the small business community in the United States, the District of Columbia or US territories, such as trade and professional associations and business organizations, may submit nominations for this award. 

Who is NOT eligible to be nominated?

Individuals or firms who are currently suspended or debarred by the Federal government.

What information must the nomination package contain?

Nominations must contain the information below. Incomplete nomination packages will not be considered.

1. A completed SBA Form 3300, Award Nominee Background form. For “team” nominations, a background form is required for each team member; 
2. A completed Authorization, Grant & Release of Materials form. For “team” nominations, a release form is required for each team member. 
3. A completed SBA Form 3312, Women’s Business Center of the Year Award nomination form.
4. Any other supporting documentation deemed significant by the nominator, including news clips, letters of recommendation, nomination letter (if not self-nominated), and other evidence of the appropriateness of the nomination. Supporting documentation may not exceed 10 pages. Videos will not be considered; and
5. A statement by the WBC Director that the Center is in compliance with the Notice of Award
6. An original 8 in. x 10 in. or 5 in. x 7 in. photo of the nominated WBC’s Center Director or a digital photo – at least 300 dpi. Photocopies are not acceptable. 

Where are the nominations to be sent? 

All nominations must be submitted electronically to the upload link for the District Office where the nominee is located. Nominations should be scanned and submitted as one full document. Photo should be submitted as a separate attachment.

When is the deadline for nominations?

Nominations must be submitted by 4:00 p.m. ET on December 5, 2024.

What are the evaluation/selection criteria for this award?

In evaluating the nomination packages, the judges will look at the following criteria:

1. The nomination should demonstrate how the WBC is efficiently and effectively delivering services to clients. This should be included in the business profile, but should also be addressed in the nomination letter;
2. Innovates: Creates and develops innovative events and/or programs, publications, research materials and online applications to enhance small business awareness and solutions;
3. Champions: Advocates for women’s entrepreneurship and the overall small business community.
4. Develops: Partners with a variety of local, state and other entities (including SBDCs and SCORE) to grow the program through unique collaborations that not only bring in monetary matching funds but also help market the WBC. Recognized by the local SBA district office as a champion for SBA products and services including effective amplification of the SBA mission and priorities and strong education efforts about the SBA and its programs to small businesses; and
5. Collaborates: Recognized by the local SBA district office as a champion for SBA products and services including effective amplification of the SBA mission and priorities and strong education efforts about the SBA and its programs to small businesses.

Good Standing: Center must be in good standing with the SBA and have met or exceeded milestones for the previous year and be on track to meeting or exceeding them for the current year at the time of submission. This includes, but is not limited to, having no outstanding examination or review findings.

What are the selection procedures for this award?

National Women’s Business Center winners will be selected at the District, Regional and National levels.

1. District offices will select one winner to compete at the regional level.
2. The Regional offices will select one winner to compete at the national level.
3. The National Women’s Business Center winner will be selected by the SBA Associate Administrator for Entrepreneurial Development based on, but not limited to, the recommendations of a panel of judges that may be comprised of both SBA employees and non-federal employees and the recommendations of the SBA’s Office of Women’s Business Ownership.