The Merchants Fund Small Business Grants

Posted by on December 21, 2009

The next grant deadline for The Merchants Fund is Monday, February 15, 2010 (postmarked).  Please forward this email to your clients, colleagues, business owners, community partners, etc.   If you would like to join the list serv, send an email with the subject line “join the list serv” and include your contact information.

Please note that you must email or call to have a preliminary discussion about your project and application.  The staff can help you focus your request on projects which are more likely to be funded.  Applications which have not been screened are the most likely to be turned down.

TMF has four core grant making areas for businesses that have been legally established for at least three years in Philadelphia:

Business Stabilization grants up to $10,000 to help small businesses remain stable, viable and grow in the face of economic challenges and opportunities.

Business Loan matches up to $20,000 to match accredited government programs or bank loans.

Emergency grants between $1,000 and $20,000 to offset unavoidable harm caused by nature or man.  The staff must determine if your case fits the criteria for an emergency grant.  The downturn in the economic climate is not considered a valid reason for an emergency application.

The Merchants Fund selectively awards grants to foster the betterment of a group of merchants on a corridor or in a business district.  The application for this grant  is not available on the web.  Call and we can talk about your ideas and plan an application.

Please visit our web site http://www.merchantsfund.org/ for printable applications and detailed guidelines or contact us directly at info@merchantsfund.org   or  call 215-399-1339.  There are also brief descriptions of past grants on the web site to inspire and guide your efforts.

I wish everyone a quiet and restful holiday.  I will be around off and on until after the first of the year but I will be picking up email at least once a day.