This month, in honor of International Women’s Day, TAP is celebrating the women volunteer consultants whose expertise, leadership, and commitment are helping small business owners nationwide grow with greater clarity, confidence, and momentum.

The spirit of Give to Gain is central to this work. TAP’s consultant model reflects the idea that volunteering is not only an act of service. It is also a meaningful professional experience. Consultants give their time, insight, and care. In return, they gain leadership development, deeper purpose, and connection to a mission-driven community.

As TAP highlights the women who help bring this model to life, this moment is also an opportunity to reflect on why TAP’s volunteer consultant approach is so distinctive and why it creates value for both small business owners and the professionals who serve them.

Since TAP’s inception in 2012, consultants have donated more than 66,600 hours of support and TAP has delivered 11,300+ customized engagements. That long-term investment reflects a model built on both expertise and purpose.

What sets TAP apart is not simply that professionals volunteer their time. TAP provides no-cost, tailored consulting support to small business owners nationwide across the capital lifecycle. From early traction through growth and exit planning, TAP helps entrepreneurs strengthen finance, operations, marketing, and strategy so they can build businesses that create lasting value beyond the founder.

1. Why is TAP’s volunteer consultant model different?

TAP’s model is deeply personalized. Rather than offering generic advice, TAP brings together experienced consultants to provide tailored support based on the real needs of each business owner.

Powered by a network of more than 180 experienced consultants, TAP supports small businesses across a wide range of industries. This guidance is delivered at no cost to the small business owner, making high-caliber expertise more accessible to entrepreneurs who need it most.

2. How does TAP match small business owners with meaningful expertise?

One of the clearest strengths of TAP’s volunteer model is the caliber and relevance of its consultant network. TAP works with vetted consultants, many of whom come from the banking, consulting, and tech industries, giving small business owners access to guidance that is practical, thoughtful, and grounded in real-world business challenges.

Sixty percent of TAP’s consultants hold advanced degrees, and 37 percent have been small business owners themselves, bringing both deep professional expertise and firsthand entrepreneurial perspective to their work.

This approach matters because small business owners do not need one-size-fits-all input. They need thoughtful support that aligns with where they are in their business journey and the decisions they are trying to make across the capital lifecycle.

3. What makes TAP’s volunteer support more effective for business owners?

TAP’s support is effective because it combines business skill with empathy, cultural fluency, and trust. Strong consulting is not only about technical knowledge. It is also about how that guidance is delivered.

TAP’s current consultant base reflects that strength, with volunteers fluent in 19 languages, including 18 percent who are Spanish speakers, and a network that spans 21 states and two countries. This combination helps business owners feel both advised and understood, which often leads to stronger engagement and better outcomes.

4. Why does TAP invest in its volunteer consultants?

TAP’s model is not transactional. It is designed to create value for both small business owners and the professionals who serve them.

Consultants benefit from a meaningful way to apply their expertise, strengthen their leadership, and stay connected to a purpose-driven community of professionals.

To support that experience, each consulting cohort begins with five initial training sessions, followed by ongoing monthly professional development. That investment helps ensure TAP’s consultant community remains strong, engaged, and well-prepared to deliver high-quality support.

5. Why does this model matter during International Women’s Month?

TAP’s flexible commitment model allows consultants to choose their level of involvement and manage their schedule, making it possible for busy professionals to contribute in a way that is both meaningful and manageable.

That flexibility is one reason TAP continues to attract high-caliber professionals who want to give back while balancing demanding careers and personal responsibilities. It allows consultants to stay engaged in a way that works for their lives while still delivering meaningful support to small business owners.

Join the mission

Join TAP’s mission to help small business owners grow with greater clarity, confidence, and momentum. Learn more about becoming a volunteer consultant and apply here, with a special need for professionals in South Florida and Boston.