Prepared by the National MBE Input Committee (NMBEIC)
Week 6: Mentorship and Capacity Building: The Heart of the MBE Community
Beyond spend and partnerships, the MBE-to-MBE Spend Award recognizes firms that invest in the growth and development of other MBEs. Mentorship and capacity building are worth up to 5 points on the scoring rubric—and they represent the heart of what makes the MBE community strong.
Mentorship can take many forms. It might mean coaching an emerging MBE through the certification process, providing introductions to key contacts, sharing business advice based on your own experience, or helping a smaller firm build the operational capacity needed to compete for larger opportunities.
The evaluation looks for strong, specific examples of measurable impact. If you helped an MBE secure their first corporate contract, expanded their capabilities, or contributed to job creation within their business, those are the kinds of stories evaluators want to hear.
Active participation in your local NMSDC Affiliated Council also matters. Volunteering on committees, supporting Council events, and contributing to programs that benefit the MBE community all demonstrate a commitment to giving back—not just benefiting from certification.
When you lift up other MBEs, you strengthen the entire network. You build a more capable, more competitive supply chain that benefits corporate partners and minority-owned businesses alike. That is exactly the kind of leadership this award was designed to celebrate.
The MBE-to-MBE Spend Award is more than recognition. It is a call to action for every certified MBE to invest in our community’s collective success.
📩 For more information, please contact:
- Lisette Villavicencio, MBEIC Chair: lisette@va-contractor.com
- Eduardo Quijano, Performance & Administration Coordinator: equijano@prmsdc.org