Visa announced that SCORE, the nation’s largest network of volunteer business mentors, will serve as its U.S. nonprofit partner for the Tap In to Impact campaign, a program that ties corporate sponsorship to community‑focused economic development around major soccer events.
Mentorship as a game plan
Under the agreement Visa will allocate $600,000 across partners in the United States, Mexico and Canada, with SCORE receiving $200,000 to deliver free, expert mentoring and low‑to‑no‑cost educational programming. The funding is intended to help small businesses that benefit from the heightened visibility and consumer traffic generated by tournament‑related activity.
SCORE’s reach extends to all 50 states and territories, where a volunteer force of 7,000 mentors provides guidance on everything from business planning to digital transformation. Since its inception in 1964 the organization has assisted more than 20 million entrepreneurs, a track record that Visa cites as evidence of the network’s capacity to scale impact.
The partnership builds on a Major Events Resource Hub that SCORE created together with Visa and Main, a platform designed to help entrepreneurs navigate the opportunities and challenges that accompany high‑profile sporting events. By integrating the hub with Visa’s broader Tap In campaign, the companies aim to create a seamless pathway from mentorship to market access.
In Mexico, Pro Mujer will receive a parallel grant, while in Canada Futurpreneur will be the recipient of funding, extending the campaign’s geographic footprint. Both organizations share SCORE’s mission of empowering under‑represented founders through targeted support.
Entrepreneurs seeking assistance can request free expert guidance through SCORE.org, where they can connect with vetted mentors who specialize in areas such as finance, marketing and technology. The streamlined request process reflects the campaign’s emphasis on accessibility and speed, mirroring the quick‑turn decisions made on the soccer field.
The collaboration underscores a growing trend in which corporations leverage sports‑related platforms to drive socioeconomic outcomes, using mentorship as a strategic tool to foster resilient small‑business ecosystems across North America.