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.
Donor Name: East Bay Community Foundation
State: California
City: Oakland
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 04/30/2025
Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000
Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned
Details:
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 the 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 the 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.
Funding Information
During the first round of funding, administered from November 2024-April 2025, businesses may apply for grants ranging from $5,000-$25,000.
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 Oakland DOT’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.
For more information, visit EBCF.
