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California

These resources – like the public health crisis itself – are constantly evolving and are only current as to the date of publication. This page was last updated on September 25, 2020.

For more up-to-date information on the relief programs available in California, we recommend that you visit the Secretary of State's website or the California COVID-19 portal.

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Description of Program and Relief

Berkeley Relief Fund

The City of Berkeley has established the Berkeley Relief Fund, which commits $3 million to emergency grants to small businesses, nonprofit arts organizations, and residential tenants affected by COVID-19. The City will manage the Fund, which is seeking additional funds from the federal and state governments as well as private donations. The East Bay Community Foundation is collecting donations for the Fund, which are tax deductible.

Grant funds will be distributed through three programs. The Berkeley Business Continuity Grants program will make grants of up to $10,000 available to Berkeley-based small businesses and nonprofits. The Berkeley Arts Organization Continuity Grants program will make grants of up to $25,000 available to Berkeley-based nonprofit arts organizations. The Housing Retention Program is an ongoing program that provides one-time grants of up to $5,000 to households at risk of eviction, and will now provide additional one-time grants of up to $10,000 to assist households that have been financially impacted by COVID-19, totaling up to $15,000 in financial assistance for approved households.

Government or Lead Agency

Berkeley City Council

Dates Available

Applications opened on March 30, 2020. For application deadlines for each of the three programs, please see below.

Eligibility Requirements/Restrictions

Grant recipients must be Berkeley-based arts nonprofits, small businesses, or residents. For full eligibility requirements, please directly consult the City of Berkeley guidance for Berkeley Business Continuity Grants, Berkeley Arts Organization Continuity Grants, and Housing Retention Grants.

Application Deadlines (If Applicable)

The application window for the first round of applications for business grants closed on April 6, 2020 at 5:00 p.m. A second round will subsequently occur.

The application window for the first round of applications for arts organization grants will end on April 20, 2020 at 5:00 p.m.

The Housing Retention Program is ongoing and will make assistance available for COVID-19 related financial hardships until at least 60 days after the shelter-in-place order is lifted.

Contact for More Information

For small businesses and nonprofits: oedmailbox@cityofberkeley.info or (510) 981-7530

For arts organizations: civicarts@cityofberkeley.info or (510) 981-7539

For residents: (510) 548-4040, ext. 629

For general information about the fund: http://berkeleyrelieffund.org/contact

List of Additional Information

For general information about the Berkeley Relief Fund, see here.

For the City’s press release about all three emergency relief programs in the Fund, click here.


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