U.S. Chamber Foundation Readiness for Resiliency (R4R) Program
U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation
$5,000 (post-disaster, conditional)
Pre-register now for potential $5,000 post-disaster relief grants for U.S. small businesses with 500 or fewer employees.
The U.S. Chamber Foundation's Readiness for Resiliency (R4R) Program, developed with founding sponsor FedEx and additional support from Allstate, American Express, and Fiserv, helps small businesses prepare for and recover from disasters. Businesses with 500 or fewer employees that are located in the U.S. or territories can pre-register for free. If a qualifying state-declared disaster later impacts the business's county and the business incurs at least $5,000 in uncovered disaster-related losses, the business may be invited to apply for a $5,000 relief grant. Grants are paid via ACH/direct deposit and can be used for rent, utilities, payroll, inventory, equipment, and other disaster-recovery needs.
- Funding type
- Grant
- Level
- Foundation
- Amount range
- $5,000 – $5,000
- Realistic amount
- $5,000 (one grant per calendar year per EIN if activated)
- Deadline
- Pre-register before a disaster; no fixed deadline
- Status
- active
- States
- Nationwide
Who qualifies
- U.S.-based small business with 500 employees or fewer
- Located in the U.S. or territories (includes Puerto Rico, Guam, Virgin Islands, etc.)
- Must have an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
- Not part of a franchise brand with more than 25 corporate-owned stores or more than 250 stores in total
- Must pre-register before a disaster
- Must be located in a county that receives a state-declared State of Emergency order or disaster declaration
- Must incur uncovered disaster-related damages or losses that equal or exceed $5,000
Who is not eligible
- Nonprofit organizations of any type
- Franchises exceeding the store-count limits
- Businesses with more than 500 employees
- Businesses without an EIN
- Businesses that have not pre-registered before the disaster
What it covers
Eligible expenses
- Rent or mortgage
- Utilities
- Payroll
- Inventory
- Equipment
- Other business disaster recovery needs
Ineligible expenses
- Expenses not related to the declared disaster
- Expenses already covered by insurance or other relief
- Non-business personal expenses
How to apply
-
1
Review and complete the FedEx Emergency Preparedness Checklist
Access the free checklist to prepare your business for disasters.
~0.25 hrs
-
2
Register for R4R
Pre-register your business before a disaster. Registration requires your EIN and business information.
~0.25 hrs
-
3
Wait for a qualifying disaster in your county
If a state-declared State of Emergency or disaster declaration is issued for your county, you will receive an email invitation to apply.
-
4
Submit the R4R grant application
Provide a completed IRS W-9, proof of disaster-related loss, and banking documentation for ACH/direct deposit.
~1 hrs
-
5
Complete post-grant reports
Grantees must submit impact reports six weeks and one year after receiving funds and complete an online disaster-related educational course.
~0.5 hrs
The key gate is pre-registration before a disaster; you cannot register after the event. Keep your EIN, W-9, and a recent business bank voided check ready so you can move quickly if your county is activated.
Deadline & timing
Businesses must complete the free emergency preparedness checklist and pre-register before a disaster strikes. Once a qualifying state-declared disaster occurs in the business's county, registered businesses are emailed an invitation to apply.
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Required documents
- Employer Identification Number (EIN)
- Completed IRS W-9 Form
- Proof of disaster-related loss
- Voided business check or banking documentation showing account and routing numbers
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