Salesforce Helps Back San Francisco Small Businesses with $1M Fund

Salesforce today announced a grant program to help support small businesses in San Francisco. The 2021 Salesforce San Francisco Small Business Grants program is designed to provide support for area small businesses impacted by the continued emphasis on virtual work and events resulting from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Applications for the program are open now through October 17, 2021. 

The Salesforce San Francisco Small Business Grants program was developed for San Francisco-based small businesses with between two and 50 employees who have been in business for longer than a year. Funds can be used for rent, salaries, and plans to pivot and grow their businesses.  

“Small businesses represent the best of us. They have spirit, hustle, creativity, and kindness. And they make our communities feel like home,” said Enrique Ortegon, SVP, SMB, Salesforce. “We’re so glad the Salesforce San Francisco Small Business Grants can help support these wonderful businesses in our own backyard.”

Last week, Salesforce brought customers, partners and Trailblazers together for the company’s annual Dreamforce conference in San Francisco. Although attendance was lower than typical Dreamforce turnout due to COVID-19 safety precautions, it’s one of the first in-person conferences since the pandemic started — and it’s proving to be a lift for the local San Francisco economy. 

However, local small businesses are still struggling, and that is why Salesforce decided to offer $10,000 grants through this program. 

“Our hope is that the grants distributed will help offset some of the reduced business created by a virtual Dreamforce,” said Ortegon.

The application will close at 11:59 p.m. PT on October 17, 2021, and winners will be announced a few weeks later. To implement the program, Salesforce is partnering with Ureeka, a community that connects small businesses with tools, mentors, and resources to help them grow and thrive.

This is the second time that Salesforce has sponsored a grant program specifically for San Francisco small businesses. A 2020 program reached a diverse group of businesses, including 50% women-owned, 22% Black or African American-owned, 30% Latinx-owned, and 13% LGBTQ+-owned. Recipients included a broad range of businesses including coffee shops, restaurants and bars, salons, childcare, gyms, retailers, auto repair, and more. 

For more information on the Salesforce Small Business Grants program, go here.