SCORE Mentors

10/14/2026

Dean Pulliam says most boards go through the same transition. What founders avoid saying out loud is that the people who help launch are rarely the same people who take your nonprofit to the next level.

Boards start with FRANs — Friends, Relatives, Acquaintances and Neighbors. They join out of loyalty to the founder and belief in the work, and at the start that is exactly what is needed.

Over time the organization changes. It grows, and the Board’s needs grow with it. Usually nobody announces that. There is no moment when the right composition stops being right — it drifts, and the people around the table are often the last to see it.

That is what a Board assessment is for. Not to judge anyone, but to make the drift visible and identify what best supports the nonprofit today.

Dean has consulted with more than 500 nonprofit organizations since 1968, and served as a peer reviewer and team leader for three national accreditation programs.

Thursday, November 5, 5:00 p.m., Northwest Branch Library
Register: bit.ly/3SC7XzO

Saturday, November 14, 10:00 a.m., Wilmington-Stroop Branch, Kettering
Register: bit.ly/4gCMgZy

Same session both dates. Free, sponsored by The Center for Community Impact & Innovation and the Dayton Metro Library.

10/13/2026

Connie Hinitz, senior manager and executive with nonprofit organizations for more than 30 years, leads the Volunteer Management session of our Fall Nonprofit Workshop Series.

Effective committed volunteers are the lifeline of most nonprofits. This workshop addresses the importance of understanding volunteers’ motivation to serve in order to be successful in recruiting and retaining volunteers. It describes how to set clear expectations for the volunteer and the organization. Attendees receive a free listing on DaytonServes, the largest nonprofit volunteer portal in the Miami Valley.

Friday, October 16, 10:00 a.m.,
Dayton Metro Library Main Library.
Free, with a networking lunch at noon.
Register: bit.ly/4x157mV

10/09/2026

The Executive Director runs ex*****on. The Board sets the plan and answers for the mission, which includes evaluating its own performance.

At the Board Governance workshop, Dean Pulliam introduces the process and the tools that make that possible.

Complete your self-assessment before you come. In the room, compare those results against a model board matrix to see whether you have the right people in each seat. Leave with a recruitment plan that addresses the gaps and the weaknesses you found.

One is about performance: how well the board covers what it is responsible for. The other is about composition: the skills and experience around the table, what is missing, and what is over-represented. Together they tell you how the board is doing and who you need next.

Take the tools straight back to your organization, and recruit a SCORE mentor who will help you put your plan into action.

Dean has consulted with more than 500 nonprofit organizations since 1968, and served as a peer reviewer and team leader for three national accreditation programs.

Thursday, November 5, 5:00 p.m., Northwest Branch Library
Register: bit.ly/3SC7XzO

Saturday, November 14, 10:00 a.m., Wilmington-Stroop Branch, Kettering
Register: bit.ly/4gCMgZy

Same session both dates. Free, sponsored by The Center for Community Impact & Innovation and the Dayton Metro Library.

10/08/2026

Who on your board builds public trust?

Independent Sector asked 3,000 U.S. adults which nonprofit practices would increase their trust in an organization (July 2026). 62% said a board that includes community members who have used the organization's services. For a board that includes corporate CEOs, it was 38%.

When you recruit your next board member, consider someone who knows your work from the receiving end.

Full report:https://independentsector.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Trust-in-Nonprofits-and-Philanthropy-Report-July-2026.pdf

10/07/2026

"People pay me to do this for them. And I can't do it for myself."

That's Ellen Craven, founder of Brand Novus, on starting her own business after 30 years of building brands for others. Her SCORE mentor helped her decide what she really wanted to do, and recommended her as a speaker at Confluence™ 2026.

On the latest My Cincy Small Business Story, she shares that story and three things every entrepreneur should know about AI going into 2027.

Listen: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-49-ellen-craven/id1667792116?i=1000792532060

Want a mentor of your own? It's free: https://www.score.org/oh/greater-cincinnati-and-dayton/

10/06/2026

Do your donor, volunteer and board messages sound like they come from the same organization?

In Part 4 of his Value Proposition Series, Bruce Stapleton shares a quick "pillar filter" that keeps each audience's message distinct while making sure they all sound like one nonprofit, speaking with one voice. Read it here: https://lnkd.in/p/ezFvPjew

Bruce leads the Marketing session of our Fall Nonprofit Workshop Series on Friday, October 23, at the Dayton Metro Library. Free, with a networking lunch.
Register: bit.ly/4qp9fuu

10/05/2026

Twenty-two nonprofit leaders spent Friday morning at the Dayton Metro Library working on the plans that will carry their organizations forward.

Thank you to Brian Wentzel for leading our Strategic Planning session, and to the Dayton Metro Library for hosting our Fall Nonprofit Workshop Series at The Center for Community Impact & Innovation. The conversations carried on well after the session ended.

Next up: Volunteer Management with Connie Hinitz.
Friday, October 16, 10:00 a.m.
Dayton Metro Library Main Library
Free, with a networking lunch at noon.
Register: bit.ly/4x157mV

10/02/2026

Manufacturing takes more than engineering. It takes vision, problem-solving, and the business know-how to turn an idea into a thriving company. 🏭

For National Manufacturing Day, meet Brad, founder of AMS Galaxy USA, a manufacturer of precision dairy equipment helping farmers reclaim something invaluable: time with their families.

Growing up on a dairy farm, Brad saw firsthand how demanding the work could be. He wanted to help other farmers change that story through robotic milking technology. But when it came to running a business, he quickly realized that engineering expertise was only part of the equation.

That’s where SCORE came in. Through mentorship, Brad gained guidance in sales, marketing, accounting, finance, and strategy, the essential business skills that help manufacturers grow beyond the production floor.

“We wouldn't be where we are without SCORE,” Brad shared.

This National Manufacturing Day, we're celebrating the manufacturers who turn innovation into impact, and the mentors who help them build stronger businesses.

10/01/2026

New month, new opportunities to grow your business! 💡

Our October webinar lineup covers practical topics to help you work smarter, make informed financial decisions, and plan for what’s next.

👉 Swipe through to see what’s coming up, choose the sessions that interest you, and register for free!

We look forward to learning with you this month. 💙

10/01/2026

10/01/2026

Why are repeat donors so critical to your nonprofit?

Because donors who give often are the donors who stay. The Fundraising Effectiveness Project's latest quarterly report (Q1 2026), from Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) and GivingTuesday , shows donor retention grouped by how many gifts each donor has made so far this year:

1 gift: 7.4% retained
2 gifts: 19.4%
3 to 6 gifts: 44.6%
7 or more: 88.1%

The biggest jump is from the first gift to the second. That's why FEP's advice to nonprofits is to invite new donors to become monthly supporters at the point of their first gift, rather than waiting for the next appeal.

Full report: https://publications.fepreports.org/

09/30/2026

09/29/2026

Real end-of-year SMB planning = no fluff.

What’s one unwritten rule you have for holiday prep? Drop it below 👇

09/29/2026

Our first workshop, Strategic Planning, is at capacity. There are still seats at the other four workshops in SCORE's Fall 2026 Nonprofit Workshop Series.

Volunteer Management, with Connie Hinitz
Friday, October 16, 10:00 a.m.
Build a volunteer program end to end, from position descriptions and recruitment to training, recognition and where the legal lines sit.

Marketing, with Bruce Stapleton
Friday, October 23, 10:00 a.m.
Build a value proposition and a persona for the donor, volunteer or board member you most need to reach, and take home a free copy of Bruce's book.

Fundraising, with Vel Hux
Friday, October 30, 10:00 a.m.
Get off the every-year scramble: find the people who already love your work, build the relationship, and keep track of it.

Board Governance, with Dean Pulliam
Thursday, November 5, 5:00 p.m., or Saturday, November 14, 10:00 a.m.
Leave able to describe your own board, and when you are managing rather than governing.

All free, sponsored by the Dayton Metro Library.

You leave with tools you can use right away, and a SCORE mentor to help you put them to work in your nonprofit.

Locations and registration:
score.org/oh/greater-cincinnati-and-dayton/fall-2026-nonprofit-workshop-series

09/28/2026

Pin it to the SCOREboard 📌

What's one skill Future You will thank you for learning?

We'll use the comment section as a sounding board to offer resources and support.

---

Have something YOU want to ask other entrepreneurs? DM us to submit your prompts. 📩

09/24/2026

“Starting Mothership Coffee Roasters was personal for me.”

For Juanny Romero, coffee became a vehicle for creating the kind of connection and community she wished she had growing up. A child of immigrants from the rough side of Queens, she built Mothership Coffee Roasters around a simple mission: create meaningful connections through great coffee.

Fifteen years later, that mission has grown into six cafes, regional retail partnerships, and coffee sourced from women-owned farming cooperatives.

Along the way, SCORE has been part of Juanny’s journey, providing mentorship, encouragement, and the perspective she needed to grow from a passionate entrepreneur into the CEO of a multi-chain, multi-vertical business.

But for Juanny, success isn't just about how much the business has grown. It's about what that growth makes possible: supporting women coffee producers, investing in her community, and creating spaces where people can connect.

Her advice to other entrepreneurs? Embrace mentorship. The right guidance can help you break through limiting beliefs and see what's possible.

09/24/2026

Join SCORE Mentors on September 29 at 1 PM for their 'Beyond the Barcode: Manage Inventory, Navigate Retail Channels and Prepare to Scale' webinar! 🛍️

Discover how barcodes can support inventory management, prepare your business for wholesale distribution, and MORE!

Register here ➡️: https://f.mtr.cool/hpli68wfej

09/24/2026

Most nonprofits run with no capacity to spare.

In the Center for Effective Philanthropy's State of Nonprofits 2026, staffing was the most common challenge, named by 45% of those surveyed. And 39% of nonprofits spent more than they brought in during fiscal year 2025.

When staff is stretched thin, a board that does its job well adds capacity. Setting direction, raising money, bringing in the right people — none of that should fall on the executive director alone.

But doing that work well is a skill, and few board members or staff arrive already knowing how. It can be learned.

That is what SCORE's Fall 2026 Nonprofit Workshop Series is for: free, practical sessions at Dayton Metro Library branches, and a SCORE mentor to help you apply them to your organization.

Still open:
Volunteer Management — Friday, October 16, 10:00 a.m.
Marketing — Friday, October 23, 10:00 a.m.
Fundraising — Friday, October 30, 10:00 a.m.
Board Governance — Thursday, November 5, 5:00 p.m., or Saturday, November 14, 10:00 a.m.

Details and registration:
score.org/oh/greater-cincinnati-and-dayton/fall-2026-nonprofit-workshop-series