If you are a small and local food business, your main focus is to satisfy hungry customers. DoorDash helps to fulfil this mission with its delivery and takeout service, connecting people with its favourite restaurants to enjoy a nice meal.
However, at any moment, some of these restaurants might face a natural disaster that wrecks everything and puts them out of business. These can go from floods and fires to hurricanes, which can endanger the restaurant’s future.
But all hope is not lost; thanks to a collaboration between DoorDash and Hello Alice, you can get the Restaurant Disaster Relief Fund as a grant awarded in case these things happen. Considering that a natural disaster is unpredictable, applying for this grant can save you from financial ruin.
How Does the Restaurant Disaster Relief Fund Work?
Applications are received every quarter of the year. Then these submissions are reviewed, and applications will be notified the month after the application period closes. If lucky enough, you will be accepted and receive the grant for your restaurant.
These funds are providing up to $10,000 in relief grants to restaurants in the US that have been affected by natural disasters. But remember that these disasters must be eligible state or federally declared.
This means that other situation affecting your business that is not considered natural disaster will not count for applying for the Relief Fund.
The grant can be used for any revenue-related damages related to or caused by the natural disaster, such as maintenance, materials, inventory, supplies, rent or utilities, supplier costs, etc.
Eligibility Criteria
Aside from the impact of a natural disaster, you must fulfil these to fit among the applicants:
- Have between one and three brick & mortar total locations (physical restaurants that offer face-to-face service)
- Be located in the US, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, Australia, or Canada
- Have 50 or fewer employees per location
- Open for at least six months
- Posses revenues of $3M or less per location in the last 12 months
- The business must be independently owned.
It is not necessary to be a DoorDash partner to apply for relief. Just ensure you fit the criteria and submit the application within 12 months of the declared disaster.
If you plan to apply for the Disaster Relief Fund, then you must not have any insurance. These funds are intended for businesses that suffered during a crucial event and are not insured. If you have an insurance, then it will help you rebuild and cover the costs. This also applies to nonprofits.
How to Apply for DoorDash’s Restaurant Disaster Relief Fund
- For US and Puerto Rico applications, click here to go to DoorDash’s website and click on Apply Now to get redirected to Hello Alice’s website.
- Click on Apply Now. You will need to sign up for your account; if you do not have one, follow the prompts to create one.
- Complete the Restaurant Disaster Relief application and follow the prompts.
After submitting your application, you will have to wait at least 30 days after the submission period ends to be notified of your request. You can also check the application status on Hello Alice’s website. When the reviewing process starts, they will analyze the application and choose depending on these factors:
- Reasonable needs for funds
- Clear explanation of how the funds are going to be used
- Demonstrated commitment to the community
When Can I Apply for the Grant?
There are four instances when you can apply at the moment:
- First round: May 1 – June 30, 2024
- Second round: July 5 – September 29, 2024
- Third round: October 2 – December 31, 2024
- Fourth round: January 2 – March 29, 2024
At first, restaurants from Canada, Australia, and New Zealand could not apply for the funds, but with the start of the second round, they will be able to.
DoorDash’s Restaurant Disaster Relief Fund Has Impacted Greatly in the Food Industry
After the program’s launch in 2021, DoorDash has awarded grants to 100 restaurants all around the US. The impact has been so enormous that, as you read above, restaurants from Canada, Australia, and New Zealand can also apply for it.
DoorDash’s Restaurant Disaster Relief Fund stands as a shining example of corporate social responsibility within the food service industry.
By recognizing the challenges restaurants face during crises, DoorDash has taken proactive steps to alleviate their burdens through financial assistance.
DoorDash’s support for small businesses is astounding, and people continue to recognize it. Natural disasters can happen from time to time, and one can cause the ruin of your restaurant.
It is sad to hear this, but there are people who, after a disaster, no longer reopen their businesses. However, with DoorDash’s Relief Fund, you can expect your business to regrow to what it was before the disaster. So do not miss this opportunity now that the second round of submissions is open until September 29, 2024!
References
-
Restaurant Disaster Relief Fund. (2023, August 11th). In DoorDash. https://get.doordash.com/en-us/about/disaster-relief-fund
- DoorDash Launches Disaster Relief Fund in Canada to Support Restaurants Impacted by Natural Disasters. (2023, August 11th). In Cision. https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/doordash-launches-disaster-relief-fund-in-canada-to-support-restaurants-impacted-by-natural-disasters-885832590.html