Small businesses every where are feeling the pressures of COVID-19 on their businesses. From Big Business to your mom-and pop shops in your neighborhood, everyone is struggling to keep doors open. At Proxie, we wanted to our first post to be about funding for you in this time. Here’s a short list of grants primarily focused on COVID-19 relief. There are also a couple open grants for unrelated to the pandemic. Good luck and don’t forget to share with another Boss! ⭐️
COVID-19 Relief Grants
The Red Backpack Fund
Spanx Founder, Sara Blakely has teamed up with Global Giving to give 1000 women-owned businesses $5,000 each to support their businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the fund’s website, “The lucky red backpack is a symbol of starting small while dreaming big. It’s become the official icon of The Spanx by Sara Blakely Foundation. It’s a wonderful reminder that everything you need to succeed is already on your back,”.
Act Fast! Applications are open now and will close after 5,000 applications have been received.
Facebook Small Business Grant
Facebook announced two weeks ago that they will be opening up a $100M fund for small businesses to support them during the COVID-19 pandemic. In order to qualify, you must have 2 - 50 employees, been open for more than a year, have experienced challenges from COVID-19 and be in a city where Facebook operates.
The application has not opened yet but you can go to the website to check if you qualify and sign up for email updates.
Start Garden: The Comeback
Typically, Start Garden hosts their Annual 100 Small Business grant to fund business ideas but due to COVID-19, they have changed their platform to support existing small businesses with their personal expenses during this time. What’s cool about this grant is you have 100 hours (starting April 7th at 8a) to share your story in a 100 sec. video on why you need the cash, which will sustain you for the next 100 days. Pretty cool right?
Applications are only open to Kent County, MI residents and former Start Garden 100 participants. As stated, the application is open and will close April 11th.
For those who don’t need COVID-19 relief, don’t worry! They’ll be back with their Demo Day late this year or in 2021.
Alice Emergency Relief Fund
Alice has launched a $10,000 emergency relief grant for small businesses. These grants will be distributed on a rolling basis so apply as soon as possible!
Verizon Small Business Recovery Fund
LISC partnered with Verizon to provide small businesses COVID-19 relief to get back to business as usual or pick back up when the time is right. Currently Round 1 is closed but another round will open back up in mid-April.
https://www.lisc.org/covid-19/verizon-small-business-recovery-fund/
Shea Moisture COVID-19 Relief Fund
Shea Moisture recently announced that they will be releasing a grant application and a series of resources to help minority-owned small businesses stay afloat during the pandemic. They have released two grant options: A $10,000 Grant for Unsung Businesses who are helping their communities and a $5,000 COVID-19 relief grant through We Buy Black
Both applications are now live! Unsung Businesses will be open until April 13th and the We Buy Black COVID-19 Relief grant will be open until April 15th.
The Small Business Administration does have other resources and loans to support small businesses. Check out the website or contact your local SBA Representative for more information.
Startup Growth Grants
If you’re not an existing business that needs COVID-19 relief there’s still grants out there to grow your business.
Alice Business for All Grant
Alice provides grants up to $50,000 for businesses who need funding to grow their business. Alice has also teamed up with celebrity mentors like Gwyneth Paltrow, Kristen Bell and Lisa Price, founder or Carol’s Daughter, to mentor Business For All Grant Winners.
The grant is awarded on a rolling basis.
ESSENCE x Pine Sol Your Legacy Grant
Essence has partnered with Pine Sol to award one Black Women businesses owner a $100,000 grant and a trip to Essence Fest! This application is open to any startup with an LLC that needs funding to grow their business.
Applications close April 15 so apply ASAP!