The Regarding Her LA Wildfire Business Recovery Grant is now closed.

Thank you to all who applied. We will notify grant awardees by Monday, June 16.

We Couldn't Do This Without You

We’re deeply grateful to our generous lead supporters—thanks to your kindness and commitment, this round of Fire Fund grants is possible.

And thanks to all the compassionate 63 microdonors who showed up with heart and help. Thank you for believing in this work. Your support means everything to the businesses rebuilding in our community. We couldn’t do it without you.

FAQs

Answers to the most frequently asked questions live below. If you need any help beyond what we’ve listed out, please contact Tracey@RegardingHerFood.Org.

  • Applicant must be a Regarding Her member, meaning you:

    • Own a food or beverage business

    • Are an independently owned business

    • Own at least 10% of your business

    • Own a consumer-facing business with at least 25% of gross sales driven by consumers (not businesses)

    • Please see a detailed list of Eligibility Requirements here.

  • Not a member yet? No problem! Just sign up and become a Regarding Her member here before completing the application.

  • We require applicants to be at least 18 years of age.

  • Unfortunately, the business must be open to the public with regular operating hours for at least one full year to be eligible (open since January 1, 2024).

  • Applicants must reside in CA and are required to show proof of CA residency.

    • Business must reside within greater Los Angeles County, including Altadena, Ventura, Long Beach, & Orange County. (A detailed breakdown of this area lives here.)

    • Business must have a brick-and-mortar location including, but not limited to:

      • Restaurants

      • Cafes & Delis

      • Coffee & Tea Shops

      • Bakeries & Dessert Shops

      • Bars, Tavern, Pubs, & Wine Bars

      • Breweries, Wineries, Distilleries, Cideries, Tasting Rooms, & Taprooms

      • Farm Shops

      • Juice & Other Non-Alcoholic Beverage Bars

      • Permanent Food Stands in a Brick-and-Mortar Food Hall or Marketplace

      • Retail Stores

    • The following business categories are not eligible:

      • Consumer Packaged Goods

      • Food Manufacturer & Producer

      • Farms without a Brick-and-Mortar Store

      • Ghost Kitchens, Meal Prep Companies, Cottage Industry

      • Caterers & Private Chefs

      • Mobile Food Stands, Farmers Market Stands, Food Trucks, & Food Carts

      • Pop-Ups

      • Vending Machines

      • Food Education, Hospitals, Schools, Homecare Foodservice

      • Online Retail Stores

      • Nonprofits

  • No, but if your business is not currently open to the public, it must re-open by July 1, 2025 with regular operating hours.

  • Financial Impact refers to:

    • Revenue loss from closures, evacuations, reduced foot traffic/business, or smoke-related disruptions

    • Interrupted operations due to staff displacement or supply chain issues

    • Canceled events, catering, or bookings

    • Physical damage to property, inventory, or equipment

    • Repair or reopening costs necessary to resume business

    • Costs to retain or support staff during closure or reduced operations

    PLEASE NOTE: This grant is intended to support a wide range of impacted businesses. Therefore, eligibility is not restricted to those with physical damage. Businesses that experienced financial losses due to the wildfires also qualify.

  • Unfortunately no. To broaden our reach and assist more businesses, applicants may only apply for one location of one business. If an applicant owns more than one distinct business (defined by a unique concept, name, and brand), they may only apply for only one of those businesses. Similarly, if the distinct business operates across multiple locations, the applicant may only apply for one of the locations.

  • Yes, you are still eligible to receive this grant.

  • You may not be related or employed by any member of the Regarding Her LA &/or DC Board.

  • You must meet all of the eligibility requirements here and submit your application by the Monday, May 26, 2025 @ 11:59pm PDT deadline. Applications must be submitted online.

  • There is no cost to apply for the grant.

  • In the grant application, you will be required to provide the following:

    • Headshot or a high-definition photo for your profile

    • Proof of lease agreement or mortgage

    • Two proof of ownership documents, such as a copy of a business license, ownership agreement, health certificate, liquor license, or other government document showing the name of the business and the name of the owner

    • Business bank statements for January through March of 2024 and January through March of 2025

    • Documentation showing 2024 revenue is within $250k - $5MM requirements. Acceptable documents include a 12 month bank statement report or a report from your POS system (e.g. Toast). We do not need to see your 2024 tax return unless you have it completed and it showcases your revenue for 2024.

    • If applicable, documentation of physical damages

    • Photo of government-issued ID

    • Proof of CA residency - If your ID does not show your CA residence, you will need to provide alternative documentation for proof of California residency. Acceptable documentation includes:

      • A copy of a recent (within the last three months) utility bill (gas, electric, water, or internet) with the applicant's name and California address.

      • A copy of a current California property tax bill or lease agreement.

      • A copy of a recent California state income tax return.

      • A copy of a voter registration card.

    • Social Security Number

    • TIN or EIN

    • Grant recipients will be asked to submit the following reports and materials explaining how the grant funds were used.

      • Use of Funds Plan (required during time of application): This is a simple itemized budget outlining the proposed allocation of grant funds including expense categories and their corresponding estimated amounts. This does not have to be set in stone, and applicants may list multiple possible ideas.

      • 60-Day Grant Impact Report (required within 60 days of notification of grant):  If you are selected to receive a $5,000 Wildfire Recovery Grant from Regarding Her, you’ll be asked to submit a brief impact report. You'll be asked to share how you used the grant, provide basic documentation (such as receipts or screenshots), and describe the impact the funding had on your business. We’ll also ask for a few photos and a short story that helps bring your experience to life—something we can share with our supporters to illustrate the power of this grant. The report takes about 20–30 minutes to complete, and support will be available if you need help. This step is required in order to remain eligible for future funding opportunities.

      • Copy/Video Testimonials (required within 60 days of notification of grant): As part of the 60-day impact report, we also ask recipients to provide a short written testimonial quote and a brief selfie video (0:30 - 2:00 max) sharing how the grant helped your business. These personal stories are incredibly powerful for helping our donors and community understand the real-life impact of their support. Your testimonial may be used in reports, social media, or fundraising materials to inspire continued investment in wildfire recovery efforts. The selfie video doesn’t need to be professionally produced—just a heartfelt message filmed on your phone is perfect. You might share what the grant allowed you to do, how it made you feel, or why this support mattered during such a challenging time.

  • No, all applications submitted before the deadline will be reviewed for eligibility and entered into the lottery selection process. Details on how this lottery process will be executed live here.

  • Recipients will be selected through a fair and randomized lottery.

  • Winner will be announced publicly by no later than Monday, June 16, 2025

  • At this time, we are planning for one round of grant distribution. We hope to offer additional rounds to support more businesses, but this will be contingent on securing additional funding. We encourage all eligible businesses to apply during this initial period.

    • Monday, May 12 - Applications open

    • Monday, May 26 - Grant closes at 11:59PM PDT

    • Thursday, June 5 - Privately announce grant recipients and provide MOU for signature

    • Friday, June 6 - Privately announce to those who DID NOT receive grants

    • Thursday, June 12 - MOU must be signed and returned

    • Monday, June 16 - Publicly announce grant recipients

    • Monday, June 30 - Grants will be distributed and confirm reporting requirements

    • Tuesday, August 5 - Final deadline for recipients to deliver their impact reports

  • Businesses must agree to use the grant exclusively for purposes that support their operations and wildfire recovery efforts. Eligible uses include, but are not limited to:

    • Operational expenses (e.g., rent, utilities, payroll)

    • Equipment repair or replacement

    • Marketing and customer outreach

    • Technology upgrades

    • Staff training or rehiring

    • Consulting or professional services to support recovery (e.g., accounting, HR, legal)

    • Cleaning and smoke remediation services

    • Temporary relocation or reopening costs

  • The following uses of grant funds are strictly prohibited and will result in the forfeiture or repayment of the grant:

    • Personal expenses not related to the business, including but not limited to personal bills, household expenses, or non-business-related purchases

    • Travel or entertainment expenses, including travel costs, event tickets, meals, and other leisure or entertainment-related expenses

    • Long-term investments not directly tied to the immediate recovery and rebuilding efforts of the business, such as real estate purchases or non-essential capital expenditures

    • Paying off unrelated debt, including any personal or business debts not directly connected to wildfire recovery

  • This is not a loan. No direct services or goods are required in exchange for the grant funds. However, recipients will be required to participate in brief reporting and provide a testimonial about the impact of the grant.

  • Grant funds will be distributed via ACH payment or a mailed check on Monday, June 30, 2025.

Primary Resources

Below is a collection of the additional resources we’ve gathered and shared on Instagram.

The most recent additions are listed first.

  • Here are some recommendations for managing your Toast account in the wake of a natural disaster. Toast also recommends reaching out directly to Customer Support via chat or phone so that they might best serve you during this challenging time.

    • No Power/Internet (Operate in Offline Mode)

      Toast is equipped to operate in limited capacity without an internet connection. In the event your business is operational but without power or Wi-Fi, here’s how to use Toast during a local network outage. Alternatively, you may be able to connect your Toast devices to a personal hotspot and process orders. A personal hotspot will enable you to take and process orders, but note that you will not be able to print receipts or kitchen tickets. Here’s how to use Toast devices on a hotspot. 

    • Manage Your Toast Subscription During Recovery

      If you’re temporarily unable to operate, please reach out to Customer Support to discuss options with our team.  

    • Raise Money to Support Your Community

      Toast Fundraising enables you to ask guests to round up to a whole number on a check or contribute a flat donation to an eligible charitable cause. Fundraising campaigns can be displayed on Online Ordering, Local by Toast app, Guest-facing display, and digital receipts. In the wake of a disaster, you can set up Toast Fundraising to start collecting donations for your community. Check out Get Started with the Toast Fundraising Product to learn how. Note that Toast Fundraising is not available in California or outside of the United States.

    • How Is Toast Contributing to Relief Efforts?

      Toast.org partners with World Central Kitchen, and supports a number of organizations that provide crisis support to restaurant operators and workers such as Giving Kitchen. You can learn more about Toast.org, their mission and the organizations they work with on their website. Toast also matches Toast employee donations to eligible organizations up to $1000 per person.

    • Manage Repayment on a Toast Capital Loan

      Please reach out directly to the Toast Capital Loan Operations Team at 617-209-3198 or capital@toasttab.com.

  • Restaurants Care is offering two grant opportunities to help restaurants thrive: $10,000 grants for LA County restaurants and food trucks impacted by the 2025 LA Fires and $5,000 grants for restaurants and commercial caterers in select CA counties to build resilience.

    Applications close on April 26, 2025 at 11:59pm PST

    Apply now here.

  • In honor of Women’s History Month, Paris Hilton’s nonprofit 11:11 Media Impact along with GoFundMe.org will award 11 small business owners with a $25,000 grant plus 1:1 advising through 2025.

    This initiative prioritizes businesses that have suffered severe losses—whether from major property damage, significant revenue decline, or near closure—but have strong potential for recovery. 11:11 Media Impact’s Wildfire Relief Fund has committed $150,000 in direct grants to 11 women-owned businesses, a contribution that will be matched by GoFundMe.org, bringing the total relief fund to $300,000. Each selected small business will receive a $25,000 grant, while an additional $25,000 donation will be granted to the Pasadena Women’s Business Center at Pasadena City College to provide technical assistance and expert guidance, equating to approximately 300 hours of business coaching and free advising, to over 100 businesses.

    Apply here.

  • LA County and partners have launched an LA Region Small Business Relief Fund for small businesses and nonprofits impacted by the 2025 wind and wildfire disaster. The program will provide grants up to $25,000 for eligible applicants to access relief, start to recover, and rebuild their business in LA County and will be administered by Community-Based Organizations with the Department of Economic Opportunity.

    Eligibility requirements:

    • Grants will provide support to small businesses and nonprofits in LA County directly impacted by the 2025 wind and wildfire disaster either physically, economically, or both

    • Must have an average annual gross receipt of $6 million or less

    • Must have 100 or fewer employees

    • Grant amounts will vary from $2,000 to $25,000, corresponding to economic impact

    • Applications will open soon in February 2025

    We recommend moving quickly on the grant submission to remain competitive. Please be patient, as the most urgent needs will be prioritized, but assistance should eventually reach everyone regardless of their circumstances.

    Apply now here.

  • LA County and partners have launched an LA Region Worker Relief Fund for workers displaced and impacted by the 2025 wind and wildfire disaster. The program will provide grants up to $2,000 for eligible applicants to access relief and find economic security and new employment opportunities. The Fund will be administered by Community-Based Organization(s) with the Department of Economic Opportunity.

    Eligibility requirements:

    • Grants will be awarded to workers with employment and wage loss due to the emergency who reside in LA County and are 18 years or older

    • Grants will be awarded based on impact and direct ability to access relief

    • Eligible workers with employment or wage loss will receive $2,000 in cash assistance

    • Applications will open soon in February 2025

    Apply now here!

  • Hospitality workers impacted by a natural disaster may apply here for disaster relief aid. Aid may come in the form of grocery store vouchers, direct financial assistance or other relief resources depending on community needs and available resources.

    Eligibility requirements:

    • Must work in, or must have most recently worked in, hospitality

    • Must be a U.S. resident

    • Must be facing financial hardship as a result of a natural disaster that occurred within the past two months

    • Typically the disaster relief grants awarded are between $250-$1000 (depending on funding available).

    Applications can be submitted here.

    Please Note: Completing the application does not guarantee receiving a grant.

  • WEBINAR  Small Business Wildfire Recovery Webinar

    Thursday, February 6, 11:00 AM

    Join Mayor Karen Bass’ Office of Business and Economic Development and the PaliBu Chamber of Commerce for a focused webinar for business recovery resources and support available to business owners and workers impacted by the firestorm.

    RSVP here.

  • Here are some new resources to help you navigate the disaster and its aftermath:

  • Team Friday supports impacted small businesses with cash based mutual aid to help cover the cost of deductibles for insurance claims. Submit your application for potential award.

  • The LA Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) just created a really lovely aggregation of essential emergency programs and services for LA County workers and businesses impacted by the recent wildfires here. They’re regularly updating their list of available resources—be sure to check for updates!

  • The Southern Smoke Foundation is offering crucial support, including free mental health counseling for California’s F+B workers. Applications are open now! Visit here.

  • TMC Community Capital is providing relief grants to small businesses as a demonstration of their unwavering commitment to community, ensuring that no one is left behind on the path to recovery.

    The fund offers immediate relief in the form of $5,000 grants to entrepreneurs whose livelihoods have been impacted. Eligible applicants will receive the grant within two days of selection to help our community rebuild and recover. Eligibility requirements include:

    • Small business owner/self-employed and this is your primary source of income

    • You are/were unable to work because of evacuation orders, physical damage and/or you live/work in an impact area as a result of the wildfires that began on 1/7/25 in the LA area

    • Annual revenue is under $250,000

    Apply here.

  • You asked for the need for a clear story to share with customers, press, employees, local government, and Angelenos about how this disaster has impacted us. It’s crucial to highlight the effect on women-owned businesses and the urgent need for support, while also recognizing the immediate challenges faced by those who have been evacuated and/or displaced. With the help and support of incredible members like Uyen of Bé Ù, we’ve developed a narrative and social script to help you craft your own story. Both are evolving resources, and we welcome your feedback.

    • NARRATIVE: Lives here.

    • SOCIAL SCRIPT: Lives here.

  • If you are an LA-based woman-owned business that has been affected by the LA Wildfires and needs assistance to rebuild, apply for our grant to get the support and resources you need most right now. Applications will be accepted through February 13, 2025 at 11:59pm PST. Apply here.

  • Grant amount will be up to a maximum of $5,000. Must live and/or work in FEMA designated affected regions. Must have faced negative economic impact as a result of the wildfires. Apply here.

  • If submitting your SBA loan application or a specific grant is feeling overwhelming, we're here to support you. Join us for a group call where we’ll walk through key applications and troubleshoot any challenges together. For an invite, reach out to Leah@RegardingHerFood.org.

  • Restaurants Care opened a temporary fund to provide emergency relief grants to food and beverage workers impacted by the Los Angeles Area Fires. Grants will range between $350-$1,500. Grants will be awarded based on need and available funding. Apply here.

    Not all qualified applicants will be awarded funding due to the tremendous need and limited funds. To be eligible for funding, applicants must:

    • Be a California resident working in California

    • Be currently employed by a restaurant or foodservice operation during the time of the fire

    • Have worked in the foods industry for a minimum of 6 months

    • Have proof of a financial hardship due to: Permanent loss of housing, temporary loss of housing, restaurant burned down or restaurant is temporarily closed.

  • The #IFW4LA fund supports IFundWomen members affected by the recent fires in Los Angeles. It provides immediate financial assistance to help rebuild homes and businesses lost in the devastation. 100% of contributions go directly to supporting the recovery efforts of entrepreneurs who have lost both their homes and businesses. Apply here.

  • Legal support offered through the County of Los Angeles Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO), the City of Los Angeles Economic and Workforce Development Department (EWDD), Bet Tzedek Legal Services, and Public Counsel. Apply here.

  • In response to the recent wildfires in Los Angeles County, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is offering low-interest federal disaster loans to assist affected businesses, facing operational and physical damage. Eligible entities can borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster-damaged real estate, machinery, equipment, inventory, and other business assets. Additionally, Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) are available to provide working capital for operational expenses such as payroll and fixed debts, even if the business did not incur physical damage. Be sure to apply for “Disaster Assistance Loans” akin to Covid’s EIDL support. Apply here.

  • The DoorDash Restaurant Disaster Relief Fund provides $10,000 grants to support local restaurants affected by natural disasters including fires. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, with the next round closing on March 3, 2025, at 6 PM ET. Apply here. Requirements include:

    • Business Type: Restaurants, gastropubs, or bakeries with a brick-and-mortar location.

    • Number of Locations: No more than three total locations.

    • Employees: Fewer than 50 employees per location.

    • Operational History: Open for at least six months.

    • Revenue: Annual revenues of $3 million or less per location in the past 12 months.

    • Disaster Impact: Experienced a loss in revenue due to a state or federally declared natural disaster within the last 12 months.

  • The Jewish Free Loan Association (JFLA) provides interest-free loans to individuals and families experiencing financial challenges. These loans are offered as a means to help borrowers achieve stability and address urgent needs without the burden of interest payments. Loans are completely free of interest, ensuring borrowers repay only the amount they borrow. Loans are typically available to individuals regardless of religious affiliation. Repayments are made in manageable monthly installments, often over a 12 to 24-month period, depending on the loan size. Apply here.

  • The Economic & Workforce Development Department (EWDD) of Los Angeles offers a range of resources for businesses and workers affected by the January 2025 wildfires. Their BusinessSource Centers provide free consultations, business support, and assistance with applications for upcoming microenterprise grants and microloans. Additionally, WorkSource Centers and America's Job Centers offer employment assistance, including subsidies for training new hires and existing workers, development of new training programs, and hiring youth workers. These services aim to support economic recovery and workforce development for those impacted by the wildfires. Visit here.

PLEASE NOTE Grants listed with an asterisk (*) are closed and no longer accepting applications.