Skip to content
 
The Black Ambition Prize provides a platform for eligible applicants to access growth capital, pitch feedback, and mentorship. To that end, the prize competitions features two tracks: a Business Concept track and an Early Business track.
 
The Black Ambition *HBCU Business Concept track is for ventures that have identified a unique and relevant challenge, have ideas about a better solution for solving the challenge (or set of challenges), and have not raised any revenue or dilutive funding to date. Ventures will compete up to $50,000 in funding.
 
The Black Ambition HBCU Early Business track in for ventures that have shown progress against the venture concept (e.g., tested the concept, working prototype, and/or minimum viable product) and have raised no more than $1 million in dilutive funding.
 
Application Deadline: February 18, 2021
 

California Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant Round Two

Round 2 of the CA Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant Program has opened! The application will be open from February 2 to February 8 at 6 pm. Selection notifications will be sent out between February 11 and  February 18.  Businesses and eligible non-profit organizations may qualify for grants between $5,000-$25,000 based on their eligible annual revenue. To apply or for more information please visit: California Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant.

Please note, applicants who submitted their application and submitted all documentation in the first round do not need to reapply; qualified applications will be automatically rolled over into the next funding round for consideration.

Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant Program

Assemblymember Sabrina Cervantes, Chair of the Assembly Committee on Jobs, Economic Development, and the Economy, is pleased to announce the launch of the $500 million Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant program for eligible small business owners and nonprofits who have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Grants ranging from $5,000-$25,000 will be awarded to eligible small businesses and nonprofits to help cover expenses during the pandemic. Applications for Round 1 will open on Wednesday, December 30, 2020, and close on Friday, January 8 at 11:59 pm. Round 2 will be announced in the near future.

Small businesses and nonprofits can visit the newly launched www.CAReliefGrant.com to review eligibility, prepare business documents and get ready to apply.  

CalOSBA Funding Opportunity 

On November 30, Governor Gavin Newsom announced a new $500 million program, the California Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant Program, to provide grants of up to $25,000 to small businesses and nonprofits in California. Nonprofits in either 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(6) categories with yearly gross revenues of $2.5 million or less will be eligible for a grant through the new program. Nonprofits in all fields of work are eligible with arts and cultural institutions explicitly included.

To receive notices directly from CalOSBA about the California Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant Program:      Sign up here

Grant application period: December 18, 2020 – April 1, 2021

How to apply: CalOSBA will select an intermediary organization/firm by December 10; nonprofits will apply to the intermediary for grants

Applicant criteria:

  • In operation since June 2019
  • Currently active
  • 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(6)
  • Annual revenue of $2.5 million or less

Expenses that can be covered by the grant include:

  • Payroll costs 
  • Health care benefits
  • Rent and utilities
  • Costs associated with reopening
  • Other COVID-related costs not covered through other grants

We will share more information with you about this grant opportunity as we have it. But we also encourage you to sign up to get information directly from CalOSBA here.

COVID – Compliant Business Partnership Program

In an effort to support as many businesses as possible that are dealing with state public health restrictions and the arrival of colder weather, the County of San Bernardino has announced an extension of the COVID-Compliant Business Partnership Program with increased funding and adjusted eligibility criteria.

Deadline extended through Dec. 13

California Grants Portal

Your one Destination to find California Grant and Loan Opportunities offered on a competitive and or first-come basis.

As part of the Grants Information Act of 2018, the California State Library has spent the past year building one website that provides a centralized location to find state grant opportunities. Grant seekers will be able to use the Portal to learn about all state grant and loan opportunities that are offered on a competitive or first-come basis.

The San Bernardino County Community CARES Grant

Offered through Arts Connection – the Arts Council of San Bernardino County, a state and local partner to the CA Arts Council – this grant program distributes funding support to arts organizations and fiscally sponsored projects rooted in the community— for the community. Eligible applicants may apply for unrestricted, operational support of up to $2,500. This funding opportunity is anchored in Arts Connection’s mission to elevate and center Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC)-serving organizations and projects advancing the arts and culture field in San Bernardino County.

The Community CARES Grant is allocated from a portion of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES) funds through the CA Arts Council. Grant dollars may be used to support core operating expenses for the selected organizations and fiscally sponsored projects.

Inland Empire COVID-19 Nonprofit Survey (ROUND 2)

This information will inform requests for funding, grant-making and technical assistance (TA) responses for nonprofits in the weeks and months ahead. (PDF Preview of intake form/survey)

Note: organizations who already filled out ROUND 1 of the survey will need to fill out ROUND 2 to receive full consideration.

More information about the IE Funders Alliance Rapid Response Fund (contributions from foundations and other institutional philanthropy) and the IECF COVID-19 Resilience Fund (all contributions, including individual donations welcome).

San Bernardino County Nonprofit Assistance Fund

The San Bernardino County Nonprofit Assistance Fund is a partnership between San Bernardino County and Inland Empire Community Foundation to help nonprofits survive the impacts of COVID-19 on their operations. The fund was developed after the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors approved $5 million in financial support to the nonprofit community using CARES Act funding.

Under the new program, grants will be awarded to nonprofits that demonstrate reimbursable COVID-19 expenses that were incurred in response to the pandemic or to mitigate the effects of COVID on their operations.

Nonprofit organizations in San Bernardino County that have experienced a loss of revenue and increased expenses during COVID-19 are encouraged to apply.

IECF, which is managing the grant program, will oversee the application and review process, in collaboration with the IE Funders Alliance. Grant awards will be dispersed directly by San Bernardino County to IECF-approved nonprofits.

Grants range from $2,500 – $20,000

Opening Date: October 20, 2020
Closing Date: November 16, 2020

Organizations are encouraged to contact IECF staff at any time should they have questions about their application. Because IECF offices are currently closed, the best way to reach staff with general questions and inquiries about the Fund is through sbconpaf@iegives.org.

Riverside County Nonprofit Assistance Fund – County of Riverside

This new fund is intended for Riverside County nonprofits experiencing a loss in funding, The Riverside County Nonprofit Assistance Fund is a collaborative effort to provide financial support to #nonprofits significantly impacted by #COVID. In response to the pressure COVID has placed on our nonprofits, the Riverside County Board of Supervisors approved $5 million in CARES funding to establish the Fund. Administered by IECF, grants will range from $2,500 -$10,000 to support nonprofit operations during COVID. Under the new program, grants will be made in the amounts of $2,500 -$10,000 to support nonprofit operations during COVID. Organizations with 501(c)3 or 501(c)6 status that are interested in applying for a grant are encouraged to review the grant guidelines and application process

Coronavirus Grantee Rapid Response Fund – Heising-Simons Foundation

Heising-Simons Foundation is offering a rapid response fund to offset unexpected costs incurred for disruptions to operations as a result of the coronavirus outbreak. Applicants must be current Foundation grantees that have experienced unexpected costsincurred due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The unexpected costs must be incurred between March 1, 2020 and July 1, 2020.

SJH Community Partnership Fund – St. Joseph Health

The Community Partnership Fund awards grants to nonprofit organizations that serve low-income, minority and other vulnerable populations in our service areas – regions in which California PSJH hospitals are located. Special consideration is given to programs that meet one of their funding priorities – community-building, emergency food and shelter, and disaster relief.

COVID-19 Nonprofit Hardship Fund – Sempra Energy Foundation

Sempra Energy Foundation is providing grants ranging from $500 to $50,000 to small to medium-sized non-profit organizations serving people and families significantly affected by COVID-19. Organizations must have a charitable status under section 501(c)(3) and be in good standing with the IRS; be currently providing critical services to individuals and families significantly affected by COVID-19; and be providing health, education, welfare or social services in response to COVID-19 in the areas of the U.S. where Sempra Energy and its family of companies operate, including California, Texas and Louisiana.

Disaster Loan Applications – U.S. Small Business Association

SBA is providing information on Economic Injury Disaster Loans/Loan Advance, Home Loans/Sole Proprietor Loans, mailing instructions, and other useful links. Paycheck Protection Program – U.S. Department of the Treasury

Paycheck Protection Program – U.S. Department of the Treasury

The Paycheck Protection Program prioritizes millions of Americans employed by small businesses by authorizing up to $349 billion toward job retention and certain other expenses. Small businesses and eligible nonprofit organizations, Veterans organizations, and Tribal businesses described in the Small Business Act, as well as individuals who are self-employed or are independent contractors, are eligible if they also meet program size standards.

Recovery Grants for Orgs and Individuals – California Humanities

In recognition that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a serious impact on the public humanities field across the state, California Humanities will direct funds from the federal CARES Act, through the National Endowment for the Humanities, to meet the emergency relief needs of organizations and individuals in order to help sustain and grow the public humanities field in California. Funding from the State of California will provide capacity-building recovery grants to assist organizations as they consider new approaches to public humanities programming and organizational strength. Eligible individuals and organizations applicant organizations must demonstrate a track record for supporting rich and engaging public humanities work that is accessible to the people of California. 

COVID-19 Grant – Public Health Institute

Are you a community-based-organization working in a California community experiencing high rates of COVID-19? You may qualify for a grant from the Public Health Institute to help keep your community safer. PHI is deepening its work addressing COVID-19 disparities in California’s most impacted communities, with a specific focus on representation for Black, Latinx, Native, immigrant and low-income populations.Awards will vary in size and will support community based organizations to deepen efforts to address COVID-19, such as outreach, engagement and information sharing. Rolling application intakes and review begin in October 2020.

CARES ACT

How to Apply for Nonprofit Relief Funds – Independent Sector

This resource will help nonprofit organizations understand how the CARES Act will apply to them and how to proceed with filing for assistance. This resource is categorized between assistance for individuals, small nonprofits (less than 500 employees) and large nonprofits (over 500 employees), and includes latest information on eligibility criteria, timelines, and application information.