GoFundMe Has Created a Relief Page to Support Small Businesses Affected by the Coronavirus Outbreak

From restaurants and gyms to hair salons and clothing boutiques, nearly every business has been deeply impacted by the coronavirus outbreak across the country. GoFundMe, a crowdfunding platform, has created a national fundraiser page to help relieve small businesses and their employees who are suddenly out of work. "The GoFundMe Coronavirus Small Business Relief Initiative is intended to support our friends and neighbors at local businesses facing financial loss from the COVID-19 pandemic. Make a difference today by donating or starting a small business fundraiser," the fundraiser's landing page reads.

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To donate to a small business in your community, go to GoFundMe's website and search by business name, zip code, or both. Donate any amount to help relieve your favorite spot of the financial burden during this time. Funds raised may help offset operating costs or benefit employees who have been laid off.

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As part of the initiative, GoFundMe teamed up with Yelp and Intuit QuickBooks, each of which donated $500,000 to the small business relief fund. "Small businesses need relief today to manage their cash flow. By joining forces with GoFundMe, we can connect millions of small businesses and their local communities. We're helping to give the community a platform to quickly put cash in the hands of small businesses who need it the most," says Intuit QuickBooks' executive vice president and general manager, Alex Chriss. The Small Business Relief Fund will issue $500 matching grants to small businesses that raise at least $500 on GoFundMe from family, friends, and community members.

Other ways to support small businesses is by purchasing merchandise via social media or a store's website; order takeout food (and in some cases, beer and wine) from local restaurants; maintain your membership at a local fitness studio or gym and participate in their online workout classes; purchase a gift card to use at a future time; and spread the love for your favorite spot via word of mouth and on social media.