Facebook has announced an update to its Small Business Grants Program as well as digital gift cards and fundraising for small businesses.
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to ravage small businesses across the globe, Facebook is working on different ways to help small business owners make it through this difficult time.
Apart from pledging $100 million as part of its Small Business Grants Program, Facebook also announced gift cards and the ability for business owners to create personal fundraisers.
Gift Cards
To help people support their favorite local businesses, Facebook is rolling out a new “gift cards” feature in the US. Users will start seeing the option to support local businesses with digital gift cards in their News Feed, and businesses interested in promoting their gift cards will need to sign up with one of Facebook’s program partners. Instagram is also working on offering gift cards soon.
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Fundraising
Business owners are now also able to create a personal fundraiser on Facebook for their business, to ask their customers to support it during this difficult time.
In addition to the above, Facebook has pledged to donate $40 million in the US, providing grants to 10,000 businesses. The company will be working with Ureeka – a third party partner – to distribute the grants in the 34 locations where its employees live and work.
Business owners can find more information about eligibility criteria, here. Applications for the grants will open in the US this week.
Finally, businesses can now inform their customers about temporary changes like different operating hours or different delivery options during the lockdown.
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Update Temporary Service Changes
Businesses can update their Temporary Service Changes by going to Page Settings > Page Info > Hours > Select “Temporary Service Changes.” There, they can indicate whether a business is “Temporarily Closed” or choose from multiple options under “Open with Service Changes,” such as Online Services, Delivery, Pickup, Other Changes.
Businesses that choose “Other Changes” should post about special hours for the elderly, access to gift card purchases, or similar options.