The coronavirus pandemic continues to burden small and mid-sized businesses. Fortunately, there are private and nonprofit entities who are offering resources to help companies overcome the unprecedented challenges they may face. Here are some private and nonprofit organizations providing coronavirus-related assistance.
Click on an entity below to learn more.
Amazon
Amazon announced a $5 million Neighborhood Small Business Relief Fund to provide cash grants to local Seattle small businesses. From March 26 to April 30, Amazon Lending is also pausing repayment from sellers that have outstanding loans, and seller loans will not accrue interest during this time period.
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Bacardi
Bacardi has pledged $3 million in relief to bars and restaurants affected by the COVID-19 shutdowns as part of its #RaiseYourSpirits campaign.
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Facebook
Facebook announced a $100 million grant for small businesses impacted by COVID-19 and launched the Business Resource Hub, which features recommendations to help small businesses stay connected to customers and stay on track.
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Fattmerchant
Fattmerchant, a payment technology provider, has partnered with Gift Up! to allow its clients to sell virtual gift cards. Gift Up! is waiving its usual 3.49% fee for Fattmerchant’s members’ first $5,000 in gift card sales.
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GoFundMe
GoFundMe has partnered with Yelp to allow independent businesses to start fundraisers and accept donations through Yelp’s pages. The Yelp Foundation and GoFundMe also both pledged to donate up to $1 million to the GoFundMe.org Small Business Relief Fund.
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Google
Google pledges to donate $800 million for COVID-19 relief, including efforts to help small and medium-sized businesses gain access to capital.
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James Beard Foundation
James Beard Foundation started a Food and Beverage Industry Relief Fund to provide microgrants to independent food and beverage small businesses in need.
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JPMorgan
JPMorgan pledged $50 million to help struggling customers, and $8 million in aid to small businesses, specifically.
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Kabbage
Kabbage launched an online hub to help boost sales for U.S small businesses impacted by COVID-19, including a system through which businesses can sell gift cards to consumers for use at a later date.
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Kangaroo
Kangaroo wants to support business owners that are unable to be physically present at their offices: The security startup is offering free (for 3 months) security camera and monitoring kits.
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Kiva
Kiva is urging small businesses to apply for 0% interest loans for up to $15,000. The company is also offering a longer grace period: New borrowers can access a grace period of up to 6 months.
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MainVest
MainVest, a crowdfunding platform, announced its new Main Street Initiative: a $2,000, 0% interest, 120-day loan for restaurants or other brick-and-mortars affected by the shutdown, in addition to its normal fundraising offerings.
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Opportunity Fund
Opportunity Fund, which specializes in money lending to small businesses owned by women, immigrants and people of color, is collaborating with investors and nonprofits to put together a coronavirus relief fund that will provide grants and low-interest-rate loans to business owners in need.
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The National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation
Announced the Restaurant Employee Relief Fund that will provide grants on a first-come, first-served basis to restaurant owners and employees in need.
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Ring
Ring announced its Neighbor Pledge initiative, which encourages individuals and groups to create pledge groups to support local businesses.
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Restaurant Workers’ Community Foundation
The Restaurant Workers’ Community Foundation formed a COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund for small businesses and their restaurant workers, which is accepting donations.
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Wefunder
Wefunder, an investment crowdfunding platform, launched a Coronavirus Crisis Loans Program enabling small businesses to crowdfund loans of $20,000 to $1 million from supporters.
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Yelp
Yelp CEO Jeremy Stoppelman announced the company is providing $25 million in coronavirus relief for independent restaurant and nightlife businesses in the form of waived advertising fees, and free advertising, products and services.
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