Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council

What it reported doing in 2024

Research & Analysis: SBE Council produced research reports, small business surveys, issue briefs and analysis on issues that helped to keep elected officials, policy leaders in government, entrepreneurs, the media and general public better informed on the importance of entrepreneurship and small businesses to the U.S. economy and how small firms and business creation are impacted by specific policies that are being proposed or advanced. In addition to the regular daily content authored by SBE Council's economic team (147 briefs were produced for the year), various special reports and research included our "Small Business Check Up Survey" (produced quarterly) to better help government officials understand how small businesses were navigating key issues and market events such as inflation, artificial intelligence (AI), workforce shortages, tariffs, uncertainty with regard to expiring tax credits and measures, capital access challenges, and rapid digitization. The "Checkup Survey" produced important and timely data, which played a role in helping lawmakers, policy leaders and the media better understand small business priorities, how they were responding to challenges and current economic and market conditions, their outlook on their own financial performance, emerging tech and digital tools they were using and the measurable benefits, and where they stand on key issues. SBE Council also produced regular updates and analysis on the historic growth in new business applications and small business tech adoption. Our "Small Business Technology Use Survey 2025" reported on their broad use of artificial intelligence (AI) and how that impacted their workforce and competitiveness, and other digital tools and social media platforms demonstrating their embrace of omni-channel strategies and AI to compete with larger players, operate more efficiently, reach more consumers and drive sales, and to innovate. The Technology Use survey helped policymakers better understand the benefits of the technology and served to check the "doom and gloom" outcomes that some were predicting. SBE Council's daily and weekly economic briefs and blog posts helped both small business owners and members of Congress better understand the data and trends produced in regular government economic reports - such as the monthly jobs report, new business applications data, and monthly reports on trade, manufacturing, consumer credit, productivity, consumer confidence, the Federal Reserve Beige Book and durable goods reports. Members of Congress and their staffs, experts within the Administration, federal regulatory agencies and the media regularly sought and utilized our data, reports and analysis for their own reporting or policymaking purposes.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 65.9%; rating input score 66
• Program expense ratio: 81.6%; rating input score 82
• Fundraising efficiency: $18.8 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 57; 57th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 3 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 50
  • Compensation committee: Pass
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Pass
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: Limited
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 66.7%; rating input score 67; 14th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 6 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 75
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Missing
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Fail

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 19.3%; rating input score 75; 75th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.84; rating input score 37; 37th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0; rating input score 91; 91st percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 25.7%; rating input score 9; 9th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 5.7% per year; rating input score 100; 46th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 12% per year; rating input score 100; 72nd percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 15.3% per year; rating input score 100; 73rd percentile among comparable filings