Through the Scranton Area Community Foundation, Women in Philanthropy has established the Women in Philanthropy Business Relief Fund, a non-endowed hardship fund for women-owned small businesses in Lackawanna County who are facing challenges due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The Women in Philanthropy Business Relief Fund will provide ten (10) $1,000 mini-grants to support women-owned small businesses in Lackawanna County. This funding aims to bridge the gap until the Small Business Association loan program becomes available to business owners. Through the Scranton Area Community Foundation, WIP will provide the initial seed funding of $10,000 and will have the opportunity to fundraise to build additional resources through the fund.
Who can apply?
Women-owned small businesses in Lackawanna County who are facing challenges due to the COVID-19 outbreak are encouraged to apply. Applicants committed to community service and who serve a low-to-moderate-income population or who operate in a low-to-moderate-income neighborhood will be given preference. To remain compliant with charitable requirements, an advisory committee will review all applications and make funding recommendations.
Applicants will need to meet the requirements (operate in Lackawanna County, be at least 51% or more owned by a woman/women), explain their need for the grant, detail their projected use of the grant, and commit to “paying it forward”—either through a future monetary donation or through service/volunteering.
Applicants must apply online, through an online grants management portal, managed by the Scranton Area Community Foundation. Please note that all grant requests are handled through the online portal; no paper or emailed applications will be accepted. The online grants management portal can be accessed here. Questions about this process can be answered via email at grants@safdn.org.