12 Grants and Funding Sources for Black Organizations and Small Businesses Affected by COVID-19

Many organizations and small businesses have shut down temporarily due to COVID-19. Even those operating remotely still face significant revenue shortfalls. Below is a list of federal, state, and privately funded grants for organizations and small businesses focused on people of color. If you need assistance, apply. If you are able, please donate.

Array Grants

Ava DuVernay‘s Array Alliance has launched Array Grants, a $250,000 funding initiative for arts organizations that focus on narrative change by people of color and women of all kinds. ARRAY Grants supports individuals and organizations that advocate for people of color and all sorts of women, with a particular focus on community-building and creativity. We recognize your leadership; we embrace your passion; we celebrate your vision.

A Better Chicago

A Better Chicago is now accepting grant applications for projects and initiatives assisting low-income youth and families experiencing significant hardship due to COVID-19. Funds will support the urgent needs of young people and their families, focusing on Black and Latinx youth due to the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on these communities and the systemic inequities in Chicago.

African-American Relief Fund

Their mission of distributing grants to small black businesses, provide grants to small business owners, help seniors get fresh food, and distribute information in predominantly African American communities. They will also donate safety gear and clothing to frontline workers and provide emergency housing for homeless and low-income families affected by the crisis.

BET COVID-19 Relief Fund

The BET COVID-19 Relief Fund provides emergency support to African-American communities that have been disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Donnie Fund

Social startup Digitalundivided created a new fund called The Doonie Fund, named after the CEO’s grandmother. The fund will provide relief for African American female entrepreneurs who have been impacted by coronavirus. The fund, created in early April, has already helped more than 93 entrepreneurs by providing micro-investments of $500 or less. Those eligible can apply through the company’s site.

Emergent Fund 

“Emergent Fund prioritizes grassroots organizing and power building in Indigenous communities and communities of color who are facing injustice based on racial, ethnic, religious, and other forms of discrimination. They are focusing their grantmaking on organizations that (1) are mobilizing to respond to the impact of COVID-19 on vulnerable communities; (2) are utilizing power-building strategies including but not limited to digital organizing, membership development and outreach, narrative development, direct action; and (3) are led by communities of color.”

Groundswell Rapid Response Fund 

“Groundswell’s Rapid Response Fund provides fast funding to grassroots organizations led by women of color, trans people of color, and low-income women and trans people in critical, but unexpected, fights to protect and advance reproductive and social justice.”

LISC Small Business Relief Grants

The Ford Foundation first conceived of LISC; it envisioned an “intermediary”—a smart and nimble nonprofit that would connect hard-to-tap public and private resources with underinvested places and people working to access opportunities every one of us deserves. Thanks to the support from funders like Verizon and Sam’s Club, they are providing grants to small businesses to keep functioning and remain vital facets of their local economies through this challenging period.

Marketing Grant for Women & Micro-grant for Women

The Marketing Grant for Women provides help with free SEO analysis and recommendations. The Micro-grant for Women will choose one person each month providing $100 a month to a selected business.

Nellie Mae Education Foundation Rapid Response Fund

The Nellie Mae Education Foundation created this rapid response fund to respond to the hate crimes and bias against Asian American communities resulting from COVID-19. The Foundation will provide urgent support to organizations for activities. This includes, but not limited to: holding community meetings, crisis response, culturally responsive training for schools or districts, culturally sensitive therapy, community healing, racial solidarity efforts with organizations serving other People of Color (ex. Latinx, Black, etc.), or other activities intended to hold space for AAPI community members.

Small Business Marketing Grant & Minority Business Micro-grant

SBMG grant program supports Black-owned and minority-owned businesses by providing free SEO evaluations, advice, and planning. There is currently no cap on the number of possible marketing grant recipients per month. Grantees will be selected on a rolling basis. There is no application deadline.

The MB micro-grant provides $100 to one person each month.

The Black Belt Community Foundation

The Black Belt Community Foundation’s mission is to forge a collective stream of giving that transforms 12-county region. This connects those interested in having an impact in this region with nonprofits that are making a difference today.

Women of Color E-Lab

“Under SheaMoisture’s $1Million Community Commerce Fund, the brand will create an e-learning platform for women of color entrepreneurs to continue to gain an education, access to resources, mentorship, and advice on how to prepare for the economic downturn.”

Your Friends in New York Business Relief Fund

They announced on their Instagram page that they would be starting two different initiatives in response to the spread of COVID-19. They will be helping healthcare professionals obtain equipment, as well as aim to support small businesses.

Work Cited

New relief fund aims to help black communities affected by …. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/new-relief-fund-aims-to-help-black-communities-affected-by-covid-19-in-cook-county/ar-BB12oRMh

Seven Companies Offering Coronavirus Relief For Diverse …. https://www.blackenterprise.com/seven-companies-offering-coronavirus-relief-for-diverse-business-owners/

Morgan Heritage – Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morgan_Heritage

COVID-19 Resources for Artists of Color. https://blog.fracturedatlas.org/coronavirus-resources-for-artists-of-color

Related Articles

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

- Advertisement -

Latest Articles