Doordash’s Restaurant Disaster Relief Fund

The DoorDash Local Business Disaster Relief Fund, presented by DoorDash in partnership with Hello Alice, is designed to provide urgent support to small businesses across the United States that are recovering from natural disasters, severe weather events, or major infrastructure failures. DoorDash has committed significant resources to this initiative, awarding nearly $10 million to date to help hundreds of small businesses rebuild. The program underscores the company’s dedication to local economies by investing directly in small business recovery efforts, ensuring that the businesses at the heart of communities have access to capital when they need it most. The purpose of the fund is to help local businesses stabilize and thrive in the aftermath of disasters that have impacted their operations. Eligible businesses include restaurants, flower shops, liquor stores, convenience stores, pet stores, and local grocery stores. Grants are intended to cover critical expenses such as rent, utilities, maintenance, payroll, equipment replacement, and inventory replenishment. The initiative is framed not only as immediate disaster relief but also as a long-term investment in the resilience of small businesses that provide essential services in neighborhoods nationwide. Funding is awarded in the form of grants ranging between $5,000 and $15,000. This range allows flexibility for different levels of business need, whether addressing immediate shortfalls in payroll or supporting longer-term rebuilding costs. The fund imposes no explicit cost-share or matching requirement, making it accessible to independently owned businesses that may lack additional resources in the wake of financial strain. By focusing on small businesses with fewer than 50 employees per location and revenues under $3 million, the program ensures support reaches those most vulnerable to financial disruption. Eligibility is clearly defined: applicants must be the leading executive of the business, at least 18 years old (19 in Alabama and Nebraska), and operate a for-profit, brick-and-mortar business in the United States, the District of Columbia, or Puerto Rico. The business must have been open for at least six months, own no more than three locations, and demonstrate a loss in revenue directly attributable to a qualifying disaster within the last 12 months as declared by a state, tribal, or federal authority. These criteria reinforce the fund’s focus on independently owned, community-based enterprises. The application process is straightforward and administered through Hello Alice’s online platform. Applications for the current round open on September 30, 2025, at 9:00 AM Eastern Time and close on January 6, 2026, at 6:00 PM Eastern Time. Recipients will be announced within 60 days after the application period ends. There is no pre-application gating requirement, such as a letter of intent, making the process accessible to all qualifying applicants. The timeline is structured to allow businesses adequate opportunity to gather materials and submit applications within a defined window. While the announcement of Spring 2025 recipients highlighted restaurants, the program has since expanded to include additional local business types, such as pharmacies and grocery stores, reflecting its broader community impact. Recipients are celebrated publicly, reinforcing the program’s transparency and encouraging broader participation. Although specific evaluation criteria are not detailed, the emphasis on disaster-related losses suggests a need for applicants to demonstrate clear, documented impacts to be competitive. Overall, the DoorDash Local Business Disaster Relief Fund provides timely and flexible financial relief tailored to the needs of small businesses. Its focus on accessibility, clear eligibility guidelines, and alignment with disaster recovery efforts makes it a critical resource for business owners striving to recover and continue serving their communities. The initiative’s recurring nature ensures that support will be available to future businesses facing similar challenges, helping strengthen the resilience of local economies nationwide.