East Bay Community Foundation (EBCF) is proud to launch the Oakland Small Business Resiliency Fund, a grant fund supporting diverse small businesses with a physical presence in Oakland. The Fund will provide a one-time infusion of grant capital to Oakland small businesses to boost their resiliency and ability to withstand and recover from the economic and community safety challenges they face or to build their capacity and readiness to take on other forms of capital and investments.
The Oakland Small Business Resiliency Fund is part of EBCF’s larger vision of an inclusive and just economy where all East Bay residents have the economic power and freedom to dream, heal, and belong. Small businesses are the backbone of our local economy, creating jobs, ownership opportunities, and economic activity, stability, and wealth creation in communities of color. Small businesses also contribute to the culture, vibrancy and health of Oakland’s diverse neighborhoods, providing gathering spaces, increasing foot traffic and community-building opportunities, and creating a sense of belonging. Today, small businesses in our region struggle with significant challenges limiting their growth and threatening their survival, such as safety issues, hiring shortages, lack of affordable commercial space, and barriers to accessing low-cost capital.
Diverse business owners (entrepreneurs of color and entrepreneurs that identify as women, non-binary, or transgender) face additional barriers, such as inequitable access to capital, culturally competent technical and technological assistance and mentors, networks, contracting opportunities, and other resources.
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Eligibility criteria:
- Small businesses with at least $50,000 in gross annual revenue.
- Provide goods and/or services at a storefront, pop-up, or other physical location in a priority neighborhood in Oakland for 2 years or more. Priority neighborhoods include commercial districts in East Oakland, Eastlake, Fruitvale, West Oakland, and parts of Downtown. These areas were selected based on OaklandDOT’s Geographic Equity Toolbox.
- Ownership represents the diversity of Oakland, including Black, Indigenous, Latine, Asian & Pacific Islander, South Asian, Southwest Asian, and North African (SSWANA), women, transgender, and non-binary
- Experiencing financial hardship due to community violence, such as vandalism, difficulty accessing financing or repaying debt, increased costs of doing business, or other economic challenges
- Must not have previously received funding from the Oakland Small Business Resiliency Fund
- Ineligible businesses: Businesses whose primary purpose is to sell alcohol, tobacco, pharmaceutical products, cannabis, or firearms. Real estate and rideshare and transportation businesses.
Grant size:
During the first round of funding, administered from November 2024-April 2025, businesses may apply for grants ranging from $5,000-$25,000. We will update this page with information about subsequent funding rounds in Spring 2025.
Application and review process
- Please review the eligibility requirements.
- If eligible, please complete the online application form.
- Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis during Phase 1 of funding (November 2024-April 2025). All applications received by the 1st of each month will be reviewed by a Community Advisory Committee within one week of the deadline. Applications will be assessed based on eligibility (see above), funding available, and equity considerations.
- If approved, the grantee will be sent and required to return a signed Grant Agreement Form.
- Upon receipt of the form, we will verify banking information, and payment will be issued via ACH, wire, or check, typically within 10-15 business days.
The total process from submission of application to receipt of funds takes approximately 6-8 weeks if documents are signed and information is verified in a timely manner.
As part of EBCF’s commitment to shifting power in funding decision-making structures and sharing power with community, we co-created and are collaboratively implementing the Oakland Small Business Resiliency Fund with a diverse ecosystem of partners who are committed to supporting and uplifting Oakland’s beautiful small business community.
Community Advisory Committee
A Community Advisory Committee serves as a group of thought and action partners to EBCF in the design and implementation of the Oakland Small Business Resiliency Fund, including co-design of application, marketing, and evaluation materials and advising on funding decisions.
Community Partners
A broader network of Community Partners promotes the Fund to the small business community.
Thank you to our anchor funder, Kaiser Permanente, for seeding the Oakland Small Business Resiliency Fund.
For more information about the Fund or if you need support with your application, please contact SmallBusinessResiliencyFund@eastbaycf.org
