Facebook Small Business Grants now Available

The Facebook Grant program is now live for San Francisco, Seattle, and New York. Additional cities will be launched on April 22.

For Teaching Artists

The national Teaching Artists Guild hosted a webinar to address questions and resources for teaching artists. They also compiled links to many helpful resources.

New Instagram Features

In an effort to make it easier for small businesses to create revenue, Instagram is adding a handful of features to their app. Followers can purchase gift cards and food as well as support fundraisers by utilizing the new Sticker options in Stories and on their profiles. Fundraisers open on Facebook to a personal fundraiser created by business owners or their supporters.

Brick & Order Podcast

Brick & Order is a new podcast from Faire. This podcast brings you inspiring stories from independent retailers and shares resources to support you in making the right decisions for your business.

What Editors Need to Know

A super helpful compilation from PR expert Amy Flurry. Hear directly from Editors about what they want to hear right now. It’s good to remember that every single industry is being affected in one way or another, and in this case, that means the rules of pitching and promoting are changing.

Global Open Call for Art with Cash Awards

Amplifier Art is looking for two kinds of artwork submissions: First, public health and safety messages that can help flatten the curve through education. Second, symbols that help promote mental health, well-being, and social change work during these stressful times. They will award $1,000 apiece to 50 artists, with new winning works announced each week, starting the first week of April.  

These artworks will be distributed widely, both online and in the physical locations where they are needed most. All art selected by our jury will also be made available as free downloads for anyone to print and share.

$1 Million in funding for Women of Color Entrepreneurs

Haircare and beauty brand SheaMoisture and its parent company, Sundial Brands, announced a $1 million relief fund to help support women of color entrepreneurs and minority-owned businesses affected by coronavirus.  The fund aims to minimize financial hardships that minority and black-owned businesses are facing from COVID-19 and show the power of small businesses.

Funds will be awarded to businesses that are finding innovative ways to reach and support their community and customers. 10 business owners will be selected and awarded $10,000 each.

Small Biz Heroes

A virtual community to connect small businesses impacted by COVID-10 with “heroes” who can help them for free. Follow to find helpers or offer help to others in the small business community. You can find them on Instagram as well as on Facebook.

Making Do Podcast

An awesome new podcast from Wholesale in a Box, sharing stories of the challenges makers are facing as well as creative approaches they're experimenting with. We especially loved the stories from Windblown Jewelry (Episode #2), hearing how this Indie Craft Parade jewelry maker has made business adjustments over the past few weeks.

Fueled By Purpose Microgrant

To qualify for the Fueled by Purpose Microgrant, you must have a majority women-owned (51%-100%) legally established business entity in the U.S. that is at least one year old and generates less than $100,000 in annual revenue. This $500 grant is being awarded weekly until June.

Small Business Owner's Guide to CARES Act

Official info from the SBA about how the CARES Act can assist small businesses.

Consumer Habits

Morning Consult released a short infographic about the shift in consumer habits due to COVID-19. While brief (and mostly expected), the insights may help shed some light on what is important to consumers right now.

For a much more thorough look at what’s happening, Nielson has detailed 6 Consumer Behavior Thresholds alongs with common timing. Not only is this helpful for understanding current trends, these thresholds help indicate what might happen next. 

Industry-Specific Advice

Tips from Social Deviant for a few main industries. These are a great starting point for those in Retail, Food & Beverage, Fashion & Beauty, and B2B services.

Advice for Retailers

Facebook Hub created a helpful post geared toward retail shops. It includes actual examples of ways businesses are staying engaged with their community in spite of being physically disconnected.

Hire Artists

Hire Artists is a marketplace designed to facilitate creative exchange during an unprecedented economic crisis for the already-precarious arts and creative sector at large.

Built by artists and for artists, this site connects buyers and supporters with experienced practitioners possessing decades of experience, for the purposes of online instruction or to help with creative and non-creative tasks. It’s a way to create new streams of income, to skillshare, and to solve problems.

ArtistRelief.org

Creative Capital has joined forces with several national arts grantmakers to form Artist Relief – an initiative that includes immediate, unrestricted emergency funding of $5,000 for individual artists of all disciplines.

WomensNet Amber Grant - Monthly Award

WomensNet awards a $4,000 Amber Grant to a women-owned business each month. At the end of the year, all monthly winners qualify for a $25,000 grant. To apply, provide an explanation of your business and what you’d do with the grant funding.

Applications are being accepted until April 30, 2020.

Shop Small Resources

AmEx and Shop Small put together a free kit you can download with visual assets and suggested wording for social media posts. Download from a laptop or desktop computer.

Death to Stock Artist Bailout

Death to Stock has come up with a unique way of providing funding for creators. Visit their instagram post for details about how they’ll be distributing $5,000 to creatives.

Sidenote: Death to Stock is an Artist Owned Co-op that regularly funds authentic stock photos and videos. The photo work it has commissioned plays a large part in this Help for Makers website.

Expand vs Contract Webinar

In this free webinar speakers will discuss how to pivot your messaging, serve your clients, and apply lessons learned for the long haul.

COVID-19 has greatly impacted all of our lives and businesses and this conversation aims to provide answers, comfort, and community for all of us.

Wednesday, April 8 4pm CST / 5pm EST