There’s more entrepreneurship in what the government calls “lower-income communities” than anywhere else, but the social and monetary networks that these small business owners need to live the American Dream and sustain a business in their community are often beyond their reach. Small businesses are the engines of the economy — but in economically underserved areas they don’t have access to the support and expertise they need to thrive. Skills-based volunteers can change that.

Skills-Based Mentors Double A Small Businesses’ Chances

Skills-based volunteering is a form of pro bono giving back, where you’re using your unique experience of business skills for a few hours each month to help a small business in an underserved community.

The Small Business Administration says only 30% of small businesses make it to 10 years. But for small business owners with a mentor, the difference is striking: 70% of small businesses that receive mentoring survive to that 10-year mark, double the rate for non-mentored small businesses.

The actual day-to-day needs of making a small business grow, and making that growth sustainable, are beyond the skills of any one individual. This is where having an outside advisor or mentor—someone who has the skills you’re looking for and has addressed the issues you face before—is crucial. How do you find investors? Write a business plan? Develop a brand strategy? Navigate permitting?

As a volunteer advisor, you’ll have the opportunity to use your unique skills and business knowhow to help small business owners create new jobs and serve as a mentor by working with them to discuss their challenges.

Small businesses create enduring, good jobs with living wages and growth opportunities. And communities with a high density of locally-owned businesses have higher incomes and better employment growth, and much less poverty. And personally, it’s exciting to see a company you mentored with remotely appear on the shelves at your local supermarket, or see them listed on Wayfair — you can take pride in knowing you helped them get there!

Would I Make A Good Skills-Based Volunteer?

You might be thinking, “Who has time to volunteer?” But the truth is, it only takes less than 5 hours a month to make a big difference in someone else’s life. With Pacific Community Ventures’ Business Advising program you can use your professional skills to help create good local jobs. Most of the advising engagements are remote, so you can help a small business while you are still at your desk!

Don’t worry if you’ve never worked for or run your own small business. We’ll match you with the right small business based on what you can contribute. And, volunteer advising can be done through email, phone, or Skype — whatever’s easiest for you.

Want to know what it’s actually like to be a skills-based volunteer? Read this first-hand account with Diana Mills of Union Bank. Skills-based volunteering is also good for your wellbeing. Studies show that people who volunteer tend to have greater self-esteem and lower stress levels. These benefits are a big part of the reason that major companies across America are looking to volunteering as a necessary part of their workplace wellness programs.

Need more encouragement? Hear straight from our small business owners about how much working with a skills-based volunteer meant to them: