Merchants Fund

Posted by on August 6, 2007

The Merchants Fund is pleased to announce that it is resuming operations in downtown Philadelphia.

The Merchants Fund is a Philadelphia charity established in 1854 to provide charitable gifts to business persons facing financial hardship. It evolved from the Mercantile Beneficial Association, an organization dedicated to providing business advice, networking opportunities, and protection from financial failure or default due to illness, old age, or disability at a time in our nation?s history when there was no health or disability insurance, or pension plans.

The Merchants Fund has succeeded for nearly 150 years by keeping the goals and objectives of its early founders in a constantly changing social and economic environment.

TMF has four core grant making areas:

? Business Stabilization grants of up to $10,000 are available to help small businesses remain stable and viable in the face of economic challenges, changes and crisis.

? Emergency grants of between $1,000 and $20,000 to offset harm caused by nature or man are available to current merchants.

? Business Loan matches of between $1,000 and $20,000 are available to current merchants for accredited government programs or bank loans.

? The Merchants Fund selectively awards grants to foster the betterment of a group of merchants on a corridor or in a business district.

We are focusing on Philadelphia for the first phase of implementing our new goals. Please visit our web site for printable applications and detailed guidelines or contact us directly at info@merchantsfund.org or 215-399-1339.