Small Business Readiness for Resiliency

Protect Your Business Now. Sign Up for a $5,000 Disaster Grant.

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 Verizon, made possible by founding partner FedEx and additional support from 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.

Get Started

Step 1: Review the Checklist
Start with the Red Cross preparedness checklist and choose the steps that make sense for your business.
Download Now
Step 2: Sign Up
Registration takes about 10 minutes and puts you in the fast lane for recovery funding after a qualified disaster.
Sign Up Now
Step 3: Stay Connected
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.
Check Eligibility

To be eligible to receive a grant from the Small Business Readiness for Resiliency Program, a business must meet the following criteria. 

500 employees or fewer
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.

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.

HOW MUCH IS THE GRANT?

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:

A completed IRS W-9 Form

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.

Visit Ready Rating

Grantee Testimonials

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

By the Numbers

Small Business Resilience: Examining Optimism, Risk, and Ability to Recover

Research from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation and Verizon reveals a major gap between small business confidence and disaster preparedness. This new partnership will help small businesses access tools and resources to better prepare, respond to, and recover from disasters.

Program Sponsors

Verizon

Premier Supporter

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation partners with Verizon to help small businesses access the tools they need to thrive in the face of natural disasters and other disruptions and build more resilient communities.

Donna Epps, Chief Responsible Business Officer, Verizon

We’ve seen, both in this research and in our interactions with them, that small business owners know resilience is important and want to enhance their resilience. What they need is support in identifying steps to take, tools to use, and the resources to make use of those tools and guidance. That’s the goal of this new partnership: to combine our expertise and resources to help small businesses nationwide.— Donna Epps, Chief Responsible Business Officer, Verizon

FedEx

Founding Partner

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

Supporting Partners

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