Business Group Mentor

Summary of Responsibilities:
Business Mentors guide our peer-lending groups, which are small groups of Washington C.A.S.H. clients who meet for support and access to C.A.S.H. services (including small loans and ongoing training and technical assistance).  Business Mentors are assigned to a group and participate in group meetings to provide direction and advice to group members. Groups meet for two hours every other week. Business Mentors may also choose to provide business advice and technical assistance to Washington C.A.S.H. clients through one-on-one, in-person, email or phone consultations to help them start or expand their small businesses.

Specific Responsibilities:

• Participate in each of the group’s meetings.
• Become familiar with the group members and their businesses.
• Help keep the group members focused on their business goals.
• Connect group members to C.A.S.H. staff and business resources.
• Assist members in the preparation of group loan applications.
• Attend quarterly mentor meetings/trainings and provide feedback on how to improve the Washington C.A.S.H. mentor program.

Time Commitment:
Approximately 2 hours every other week for at least 6 months.  The groups typically meet at the Washington C.A.S.H. office (2100 24th Avenue S. in Seattle) from 6:30-8:30 pm every other Tuesday.  Some groups meet off site and/or at other times. For one-on-one consultations, Mentors are free to determine their own schedules and availability.

Qualifications:

• Business Mentors must have experience in starting or growing their own business or have basic knowledge of at least two key areas of small business development. Special consideration will be given to former C.A.S.H. clients who have successfully launched their own businesses.
• Business Mentors must be passionate about contributing to the mission of Washington C.A.S.H. and supporting small business owners and must believe in the abilities and potential of the people we serve.
• Business Mentors must be able to suspend judgment and listen deeply. They must be patient and understanding of the many personal obstacles to business-ownership our clients encounter. An interest in developing “poverty competency” by learning about the structural causes of poverty and poverty realities is a plus.
• Business Mentors must attend our 8-week business development training course as a student coach prior to being assigned to a group to learn more about where our clients are when they come to us and where they are when they graduate from the training.

Benefits:
Join a community of courageous and empowered individuals working toward economic self-sufficiency through small business ownership and contribute to a vibrant local economy and thriving neighborhoods.

Contact Mary Eriksson-Humphrey, Mary@washingtoncash.org, or (206) 352-1945, x240 to get involved!