This is an initiative from Etsy to help create awareness for small business owners and creators. If you own an Etsy shop, include the #StandWithSmall tag on social media posts or use it to share photos of items in your home created by fellow makers.
Durham Artist Fund
These are funds available to visual artists in Durham, NC who have been financially impacted by cancellations due to COVID-19. Priority is given to BIPOC artists, transgender & nonbinary artists, and disabled artists.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdEJKTP91h5e7MuUITHj96J6eKWeZjgVLZjLG4Wp-WMhyQ4mg/viewform
Greensboro Artist Fund
The Greensboro Artist Fund is for artists who reside in the greater Greensboro, NC area and are in need of support due to cancellations from the outbreak of COVID-19. Funds are disbursed weekly based on donations.
https://www.artsgreensboro.org/emergency-fund-artist-application/
Paycheck Protection Program vs Economic Injury Disaster Loans
There are plenty of articles talking about government aid available for small businesses, but this summary of two options from Faire is one of the most helpful. This is a side by side comparison of the Paycheck Protection Program and Economic Injury Disaster Loans to help you decide which one might be a better fit for your business.
Navigating Rent and Lease Options
A great overview from Faire about rent and leasing options for anyone with a brick and mortar space. Includes an example email to send your landlord.
The Red Backpack Fund
The Spanx by Sara Blakely Foundation has donated $5 million to support female entrepreneurs in the wake of COVID-19 and teamed up with GlobalGiving to establish the Red Backpack Fund. GlobalGiving will be overseeing the fund, making 1,000 grants of $5,000 each to female entrepreneurs in the U.S. to help alleviate the immediate needs and support the long-term recovery of those impacted by this crisis.
COVID and The Arts
Art Storefronts CEO share his thoughts on the impact the pandemic will have on the art industry and explains why independent artists are uniquely positioned to weather it.
For Online Entrepreneurs
If you run an online business, fellow-entrepreneur Haley Burkhead wants to help. She’s created the Take Back Control Fund that will award $500 to 6 entrepreneurs affected by Covid-19. Applications are open until April 6.
For Artists and Printmakers
Columbia based printer The Half and Half has come up with a beautiful way to support other artists during this time. Their Print Alliance partners their printing abilities with the artistic abilities of other artists to create a limited edition of screen printed posters to sell. All profits from the sale would be split 50/50.
Tips for Working at Home
If you’re trying to navigate being at home and also trying to get work done, Jeff Sheldon of Ugmonk is sharing a few tips that he’s learned during his last ten years of working from home.
Innovate Grant
The Innovate Grant awards $550 quarterly to one Visual Artist and one Photographer. Their goal is to made grants simple, so you can focus on making your innovative work. Application is very straightforward and simple.
Deadline to apply is Thursday May 7, 2020
PayPal help
PayPal is implementing new policies, like instant fund transfers and extended timeframes for resolving customer disputes.
Facebook or Instagram Live
Wondering how to interact with your existing community in real time? You can use Facebook or Intagram Live to host a workshop, demo a new skill, host a giveaway, answer questions about your art, but most importantly, stay connected with your audience.
https://www.facebook.com/facebookmedia/solutions/facebook-live
AWAW Grant (Update: Now Closed)
A new grant from Anonymous Was a Woman (AWAW) to support artists impacted by the Covid-19 crisis. This program will award $25,000 to artists who have experienced financial hardship from loss of income or opportunity as a direct result of the crisis.
As with AWAW’s annual award, the program is open to women-identifying visual artists over the age of 40 in the United States and territories, and aims to address the unique challenges faced by artists in middle age or older, particularly at this critical time.
Free Business Counseling
Need help navigating changes for your small business? Search for business counselors in your area through the SBA and reach out for free advice.
Livestreaming Tips from Kickstarter
If you’re looking to livestream a performance or art experience, Kickstarter has collected some great tips from people who do this all the time. Learn from the pros.
The Photographer Fund
A fund created to help photographers impacted by COVID-19. Self-employed photographers who are facing financial hardships are invited to apply.
Big Cartel Relief Fund (Update: Now Closed)
Big Cartel just announced a $50,000 financial relief fund to give micro-grants to users with immediate and essential needs. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
MailChimp Small Business Support
Current MailChimp customers who have 25 or fewer employees in categories including restaurants and hospitality; brick and mortar retail; travel and leisure; entertainment; health, beauty, and wellness; and other select Main Street businesses are eligible for up to three months of free Mailchimp service. Eligible small business customers can fill out this form to request funding.
How Safe is Shipping?
Custom packaging company Lumi answers questions about the risk of COVID-19 contamination via packages and how long shipping carriers will be delivering shipments. Great information if your company is fulfilling online orders.
https://www.lumi.com/blog/ask-lumi-coronavirus-transmission-packaging