MicroMentor Success Story

Mentoring for "Pocket Change" Creates Lasting Change

Rachel Hommel		Jayne Culberson

Entrepreneur: Rachel Hommel

Rachel runs a nonprofit called Pocket Change, Inc., providing financial literacy skills for the economically disadvantaged. She founded her organization after recognizing the need for financial education among the working poor and those in transitional housing programs. Feeling that she could benefit from having an advisor as she expanded the business, Rachel went online and found out about MicroMentor.

Mentor: Jayne Culberson

Jayne has successfully grown her own small business, a non-profit rural health clinic, over the last 20 years. She believes that having the ability to share her knowledge and experience with someone who can benefit from it is a gift. She also appreciates the flexibility of the mentoring arrangement. "It's easier and more accommodating for my schedule. There are a lot of good causes out there, but with MicroMentor you can participate without cutting off your right arm."

Jane feels MicroMentor is crucial for business owners who are looking for help, but having trouble accessing it. In the current economic climate, "MicroMentor is a timesaver," because people don't have time to ease into business ownership. "I wish it had been around 25 years ago when we were starting our business."

About Their Match

Rachel didn't know what to expect out of the MicroMentor experience. She was at a point in her business where she needed more structure and better strategic planning. But she was also hoping to connect with someone experienced in the non-profit world, who would know what she was up against.

After her first interaction with Rachel, Jayne knew it was going to be a valuable relationship. "Instantly I could see that I had given her some information that she didn't have."

Rachel and Jayne communicated over email several times at the outset of their relationship. Although MicroMentor makes it easy to connect with individuals regardless of geographic location, Rachel liked the fact that they were both in the same region, so they could schedule time to sit down together in person.

Rachel even asked one of her board members to accompany her to her first in-person meeting with Jayne and together they reviewed the company's strategic plans. Pocket Change is a young organization, but the demand for its services is increasing exponentially. Having a clear set of policies and procedures, a defined mission statement, and clearly articulated roles and responsibilities has helped Rachel and her team avoid expending energy on issues that they've already dealt with.

Through it all, Jayne has given Rachel the confidence she needed to keep improving. "My relationship with Jayne has been a blessing," she says.