SCORE Helps Nonprofit Integrate for Good Pivot Amid Pandemic

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Integrate for Good photo score
Image via SCORE.

During her 25 years as an occupational therapist, Bev Weinberg noticed “a lot of untapped talent” in many of the students with disabilities with whom she worked. Seeing beyond their disabilities, Weinberg was disheartened to see young people “graduate to the sofa,” instead of furthering their education, contributing to the economy, or giving back.

“I saw a need to bridge that gap,” Weinberg said.

In 2017, she began planting the seeds of change. By 2019, her full-fledged nonprofit organization, Integrate for Good was incorporated and she began serving roughly 3,500 people per year in the Montgomery, Bucks, Philadelphia, Chester, and Delaware counties.

Tapping into her passion for helping individuals who are often recipients of assistance assume leadership roles, Weinberg, through Integrate for Good, creates volunteer opportunities for people of all abilities to give back.

She met SCORE Bucks County certified mentor Bill Grant at a workshop in December 2019 and began mentoring with him. A few months later, as COVID changed the fundraising landscape in early 2020, Grant’s insight was integral in helping Weinberg pivot her organization.

“We were a year old when COVID hit,” Weinberg said. “We didn’t have a brick-and-mortar organization. Everything we do is in the community. COVID shut all that down. Now how do we do what we do?”

With Grant’s help – and connections – Weinberg was able to keep moving forward.

Grant shared his extensive network of nonprofit contacts and business owners with her and helped transition the fundraising initiatives to a virtual format. As the only staff person for the organization, Weinberg wears many hats. Maneuvering through day-to-day tasks on top of last year’s changes stemming from COVID was made easier with Grant’s help. He made sure to keep her informed about impending deadlines and new initiatives.

“Our SCORE mentor Bill Grant really had been instrumental in keeping our head up and navigating,” she said. “He was also really good at listening and being a sounding board.”

Grant lauded Weinberg for “organically” creating the nonprofit and continuing to grow her following through a strong board of directors, events and transitioning as needed during the pandemic.

Integrate for Good has since moved to a hybrid model, blending virtual events with traditional in-person initiatives, such as the organization’s recent gala. Integrate for Good also provides team-building events for companies that are led by people with disabilities. Weinberg collaborates with volunteers, her board, and college interns to keep going.

The importance of collaboration was the biggest lesson she learned from her SCORE mentor.

“There’s no way one person would be able to do that without strong community partnership,” Weinberg said. “We don’t operate in a silo. Take advantage of resources that are out there.”

Weinberg lists SCORE’s free webinars and mentoring at the top of the list for other nonprofits and entrepreneurs.

“Surround yourself with good resources and good mentorship,” she said. “That all comes from SCORE. It’s like hitting the jackpot.”

Integrate for Good welcomes volunteers of all abilities. If interested in volunteering or donating to the nonprofit, email howcanwehelp@integrateforgood.org or fill out the contact form on the website.

Since 1964, SCORE has helped more than 11 million aspiring entrepreneurs. Each year, SCORE provides small business mentoring and workshops to more than 375,000 new and growing small businesses..

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