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Small Business Readiness for Resiliency (R4R) Grant Program is sponsored by U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation (in partnership with FedEx). This program helps small businesses prepare for disasters and become eligible for a $5,000 grant if a qualifying disaster impacts their area. Businesses must complete a preparedness checklist and register to be in the fast lane for recovery funding after a qualified disaster.
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Small Business Readiness for Resiliency | U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation Site search Enter your search query Submit Small Business Readiness for Resiliency Use our proven checklist to prepare your business now and become eligible for a $5,000 grant if a qualifying disaster impacts your area.
The Readiness for Resiliency (R4R) grant program is offered in partnership with FedEx and supported by trusted corporate partners who care about small businesses and their communities. The return on being prepared is significant. Prepared businesses are more likely to continue operating through disasters and recover faster.
Taking small steps now – by preparing and registering – can pay off in many ways when it matters most. Step 1: Review the Checklist Start with the Red Cross preparedness checklist and choose the steps that make sense for your business. Registration takes about 10 minutes and puts you in the fast lane for recovery funding after a qualified disaster.
If a qualifying disaster affects your community, we’ll reach out with clear instructions on how to apply for the $5,000 relief funding. We’ll also share preparedness resources and updates. To be eligible to receive a grant from the Small Business Readiness for Resiliency Program, a business must meet the following criteria.
Complete the free checklist (5 minutes) Located in the U.S. or territories (includes Puerto Rico, Guam, Virgin Islands, etc.) A Business Employee Identification Number (EIN) is required Not be part of a franchise brand with more than 25 corporate-owned stores, or more than 250 stores in total Not be in an ineligible business category (as defined in the Terms and Conditions ) Be located in a county that receives state-declared State of Emergency order or disaster declaration Have been financially harmed by a disaster and incur an uncovered loss Incur applicable disaster-related damages or losses that equal or exceed $5,000 Agree to all the program terms and conditions More information on eligibility and process can be found here .
FAQs Last updated: June 2025 Note: Please check our FAQs on a regular basis for any updates. WHAT BUSINESSES ARE ELIGIBLE? Any small business (500 employees or less), with an Employee Identification Number (EIN) that meets the additional program criteria outlined in our Terms and Conditions is eligible to receive a grant from the Small Business Readiness for Resiliency Program (R4R).
Please note that we do not fund nonprofit organizations of any type. Selected businesses receive $5,000 and must document at least $5,000 in disaster-related losses. WHAT TYPES OF DISASTERS DOES R4R OFFER GRANTS FOR?
Once a state-declared State of Emergency order or disaster declaration is made, the U.S. Chamber Foundation retains sole and absolute discretion to identify and determine whether (i) such event qualifies as a Disaster and (ii) grant support is appropriate to achieve the charitable purposes of the program. R4R will not activate for disasters that receive a declaration more than 45 days after the date of a disaster.
CAN I REGISTER FOR R4R WITHOUT COMPLETING THE EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS CHECKLIST? Applicants must perform Step 1 of the R4R process before registering, which is to review and complete the FedEx Emergency Preparedness Checklist for Small Businesses. WHEN WILL MY BUSINESS BE ABLE TO APPLY FOR A GRANT?
You must register BEFORE a disaster. Once registered, if a qualifying disaster occurs in your area, we'll email you an invitation to apply. That's why acting now is critical, you can't wait until after the disaster.
Refer to the question “WHAT TYPES OF DISASTERS DOES R4R OFFER GRANTS FOR? ” for more information about when R4R activations occur. DOES EVERY BUSINESS IN AN IMPACTED REGION RECEIVE A GRANT?
No, the number of grants we distribute for any disaster is based on the number of eligible applicants, size of the region, impact of the disaster, and the amount of remaining funds for the year. If there are more eligible businesses than available funding, then we will randomly allocate grants. Applicants that are not selected to receive a grant will still be considered, should another disaster strike in their community.
WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO AFTER BEING INVITED TO APPLY FOR A GRANT? You will need to complete and submit the R4R grant application.
Beyond answering questions about the physical and/or economic loss you experienced from the disaster in the application, you will need to upload the following details: An image or documentation showing proof of your business’s loss from the disaster A voided business check or banking documentation showing your business’s bank account and routing numbers IF I HAVE MULTIPLE BUSINESSES OR BUSINESS LOCATIONS IN THE DISASTER-AFFECTED COUNTIES, CAN I RECEIVE MORE THAN ONE GRANT?
No, an eligible business or owner can only apply for a grant on behalf of one (1) business (regardless of how many businesses they own) and only receive one $5,000 grant per calendar year. IF MY BUSINESS IS SELECTED FOR A GRANT, HOW WILL I RECEIVE MY FUNDING? Grant funding will be sent to businesses selected for a grant via ACH/direct deposit.
Applicants will be required to provide their business’s bank account information in the R4R grant application. WHAT CAN GRANT FUNDS BE USED FOR? The funds can be used for business disaster recovery needs, including expenses such as rent, utilities, payroll, inventory, and equipment.
WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO AFTER RECEIVING A GRANT? You must complete two post-grant impact reports asking you about the state of your business as part of your grant agreement. The impact reports will be sent six weeks and one year, respectively, after you receive the grant.
In addition, you must complete an online disaster-related educational course prior to completing the one-year impact report. Information regarding this course will be sent to you in the months after you receive the grant. Grantees that do not fulfill these requirements will not be eligible for potential media coverage related to the program and may not be eligible for future grant opportunities.
In addition, the Foundation reserves the right to require repayment of the Grant if a Grant recipient does not fulfill these requirements. CAN I RECEIVE A GRANT MORE THAN ONCE? Yes, each business by EIN can receive one grant per calendar year.
WILL THE R4R PROGRAM EVER END? The U.S. of Commerce Chamber Foundation reserves the right in its sole discretion to cancel, terminate, modify, or suspend the R4R Program at any time. Continue Your Preparedness Journey R4R is a first step in preparedness and a proud partner of the American Red Cross Ready Rating program.
Ready Rating offers additional tools, resources, and guidance to help strengthen your organization’s readiness. Thanks to the U.S. Chamber Foundation's help, we are able to say we are still restaurant owners. — Marina Martinez, R4R Grantee The grant was a beacon of light.
I strongly recommend every small business tap into this resource and prepare yourself so that you're ready for any possibility. — Mityne Lewis, R4R Grantee I am very grateful for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation for this grant. It comes at a very difficult time in life and business and helps tremendously for the business to sustain.
It also provided a great up-lifting spiritual support with hope and encouragement. — Susan Su, R4R Grantee Don’t wait until something happens to get organized. Having a game plan, whether it’s knowing how you’ll reach your clients, protect your gear, or shift locations, can make all the difference.
Even small steps ahead of time can save you big headaches later. — Jamal Gaines, R4R Grantee Extreme weather nearly killed my business...
What I wish I’d known Building Resilience On and Off the Court Small business owner Jamal Gaines shares how he sustained operations and supported his local community after Hurricane Helene with a $5,000 grant from the U.S. Chamber Foundation's Readiness for Resiliency program, and why disaster preparedness is so important for small businesses.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation partners with FedEx to build solutions that strengthen communities and support small businesses through disaster preparation and recovery. FedEx is proud to continue its long history of supporting small business resiliency and recovery.
This multi-year commitment with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation allows us to contribute directly to small businesses that actively prepare for natural disasters.
— Jenny Robertson, SVP, Integrated Marketing and Communications, FedEx Turning Vision into Action: 2025 Impact Report In our annual impact report, see how we're harnessing the power of business to move from vision to real impact in communities across America and around the world.
Winter Storm Fern: How Small Businesses Can Prepare and Access $5,000 in Support Winter Storm Fern could severely disrupt small businesses across multiple states. Learn how to prepare now and complete the R4R checklist to become eligible for a $5,000 grant if a disaster is declared in your state.
10 Things Small Business Owners Can Do to Better Prepare for Natural Disasters Learn how to proactively prepare your small business for natural disasters with a 10-step checklist, including risk assessment, emergency planning, employee training, data protection, and community partnerships.
Building Resilience On and Off the Court Small business owner Jamal Gaines shares how he sustained operations and supported his local community after Hurricane Helene with a $5,000 grant from the U.S. Chamber Foundation's Readiness for Resiliency program, and why disaster preparedness is so important for small businesses.
Small Business Readiness for Resiliency 2024 Impact Report The Race to Resilience: The Role of Small Business in Driving America's Success NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin shares pit-stop wisdom on small business preparedness and resilience.
Small Business Readiness for Resiliency 2023 Impact Report National Preparedness Month: Empowering Small Business Resilience Through The R4R Program This month marks National Preparedness Month, which reminds us all to prepare for disasters and emergencies of all kinds.
It’s especially pertinent this year as we face uncharacteristic and unpredictable weather patterns, with impacts of wildfires, hurricane season, and severe storms impacting communities across the U.S. and the globe.
U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation Teams Up with FedEx to Launch Multi-Year Fund to Support Small Businesses Impacted by Disasters The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, along with founding sponsor FedEx, announced the launch of the Small Business Readiness for Resiliency Program (R4R), to provide financial assistance to small business owners impacted by a natural disaster. Q&A with Rob Glenn, Vice President of Global Resilience
Key questions and narrative sections extracted from the solicitation.
Complete Red Cross Emergency Preparedness Checklist
Online registration form (~10 minutes)
Grant application (completed after qualifying disaster, by invitation)
Based on current listing details, eligibility includes: U. S. -based for-profit small businesses with 500 employees or fewer and an Employee Identification Number (EIN). Applicants should confirm final requirements in the official notice before submission.
Current published award information indicates $5,000 Always verify allowable costs, matching requirements, and funding caps directly in the sponsor documentation.
The current target date is rolling deadlines or periodic funding windows. Build your timeline backwards from this date to cover registrations, approvals, attachments, and final submission checks.
Federal grant success rates typically range from 10-30%, varying by agency and program. Build a strong proposal with clear objectives, measurable outcomes, and a well-justified budget to improve your chances.
Requirements vary by sponsor, but typically include a project narrative, budget justification, organizational capability statement, and key personnel CVs. Check the official notice for the complete list of required attachments.
Yes — AI tools like Granted can help research funders, draft proposal sections, and check compliance. However, always review and customize AI-generated content to reflect your organization's unique strengths and the specific requirements of the solicitation.
Review timelines vary by funder. Federal agencies typically take 3-6 months from submission to award notification. Foundation grants may be faster, often 1-3 months. Check the program's timeline in the official solicitation for specific dates.
Many federal programs offer multi-year funding or allow competitive renewals. Check the official solicitation for continuation and renewal policies. Non-competing continuation applications are common for multi-year awards.
The purpose of this FOA is to provide funding for up to four (4) Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs) that will provide entrepreneurial development services to Native American communities, focusing on supplying services to socially and economically disadvantaged entrepreneurs in locations that are outside of the geographical areas of existing SBA resources. Eligible applicants must be Tribal Colleges and Universities as defined in the Higher Education Act HEA 316 (U.S.C. 1059c). Funding Opportunity Number: SB-GC7J-23-002. Assistance Listing: 59.007. Funding Instrument: G. Category: BC,ED. Award Amount: Up to $250K per award.
The purpose of this FOA is to provide funding for up to two (2) private, non-profit organizations that will provide entrepreneurial development services to women, with an emphasis on socially and economically disadvantaged entrepreneurs in locations that are outside of the geographical areas of existing WBCs for the District of Columbia (DC) and the State of Oregon. There will be one award for each location. Eligible applicants must be private, non-profit organizations with 501(c) tax exempt status from the U.S. Treasury’s Internal Revenue Service and must provide services to the District of Columbia (DC) and State of Oregon. Funding Opportunity Number: SB-OEDWB-23-002. Assistance Listing: 59.043. Funding Instrument: G. Category: BC,CD,RD. Award Amount: $75K – $150K per award.