What is the IRC and Chase Disaster Relief Fund?

The IRC and Chase Disaster Relief Fund provides one-time grants to help independent restaurants, bars, cafés, pubs, and food carts recover from declared natural disasters. It is administered by the Edward Charles Foundation, a 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor, in partnership with the Independent Restaurant Coalition (IRC).

Is this grant a loan?

No. This is not a loan and does not need to be repaid.

Who is eligible?

To qualify, you and your business must meet all of the following:

Business Requirements (Entrant):

To qualify, applicants must meet all of the following criteria:

  • Be a for-profit independent food or beverage business (restaurant, bar, cafe, pub, or food cart) whose primary business activity is the on-site preparation and sale of food and/or beverage to the public.
  • Be located within the United States or S. Territories, including Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, or the Northern Mariana Islands.

Have been actively operating at the time of the declared disaster and demonstrate direct and significant financial loss resulting from it.

  • Operate no more than 20 locations under the same
  • Not be a franchise, publicly traded company, or owned by a larger chain or holding
  • Not be engaged in activities or industries prohibited by these Terms & Conditions

Applicant requirements (Officer):

  • Be a legal resident of the U.S., D.C., or Puerto Rico.
  • Be at least 18 years old (19 in AL and NE).

Are IRC members or board members eligible?

Yes. As long as the business meets all eligibility requirements, IRC members and board members may apply. All applications are reviewed equally and fairly.

Who is not eligible?

You cannot apply if:

  • Your business is primarily a catering service, entertainment venue, or food manufacturer.
  • Your business is permanently closed.
  • You or any principal owner are under investigation for fraud or criminal misconduct.
  • Your business or submitted content promotes violence, discrimination, or other prohibited activities.

Can I apply if I’ve already received aid from FEMA, SBA, or other programs?

Yes—but you must disclose any other aid received in your application.

Does receiving this grant disqualify me from receiving federal aid?

Receiving a grant from the IRC and Chase Disaster Relief Fund does not disqualify you from federal aid. However, if you receive both this grant and federal assistance for the same disaster-related expenses, you may be required to report it.

We recommend keeping detailed records of how each source of aid is used and consulting a tax advisor or the relevant federal agency to ensure compliance.

What types of disasters qualify?

Only State or Federally declared natural disasters (e.g., hurricanes, wildfires, floods, tornadoes, earthquakes) that have caused direct and significant financial loss to your community are eligible.

How much funding can I receive?

The maximum grant amount is $25,000. Grant amounts vary based on demonstrated need, available funding, and application volume. All grants are one-time awards.

What can the grant be used for?

Funds may be used for recovery-related business expenses, including:

  • Rent/Mortgage Payments
  • Payroll
  • Utilities
  • Repairs/Construction
  • Inventory Replacement
  • Equipment Replacement
  • Debt Payment

Acceptable examples of “Other” may include:

  • insurance deductibles,
  • relocation expenses,
  • permitting costs,
  • temporary operating space,
  • legal or accounting fees related to recovery,
  • other unforeseen disaster-related business expenses not listed above.

Grants cannot be used for political activities, legal settlements, or unrelated personal expenses.

Will I have to pay taxes on the grant?

Grants may be considered taxable income. Recipients are responsible for reporting and paying any applicable taxes.

How do I apply?

1. Complete the eligibility screening form online.
2.If eligible, you’ll receive an invitation to submit a full application, including:

  • Business details
  • Disaster impact description
  • Intended use of funds
  • Required financial and supporting documents

3. Certify that all information is true and complete.

Only one application per business will be accepted. Applications must be submitted online by the deadline.

What is the application period?

  • Opens: September 3, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. ET
  • Closes: October 3, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. ET

How will applications be reviewed and selected?

All eligible applications submitted by the deadline will be reviewed after the application period closes.
 Applications are scored on:

  • Demonstrated financial need
  • Feasibility and clarity of recovery plan
  • Commitment to community and team

This is not a first-come, first-served program—every eligible application will receive equal consideration. An independent panel of experts, using a scoring metric reviewed by the IRC, will make recommendations for funding.

How will I receive the grant if selected?

If approved, you’ll receive your grant via check or ACH transfer from the Edward Charles Foundation.

Are there rules about the content I submit?

Yes. All content must be appropriate for all ages and must not contain any content or activities that promote, suggest or encourage:

  • gambling, including without limitation, any content related to online casinos, sports books, bingo or poker;
  • the use of firearms/weapons/ammunition, any illegal drugs, prostitution, pornography, nudity, profanity or other adult content, violence, or the use of alcohol or tobacco products;
  • the taking up of arms against any person, government or entity or otherwise challenge or seek to overthrow any government;

Or otherwise contains or reflects:

  • obscene, indecent, defamatory, libelous, slanderous and/or unlawful content;
  • content that infringes upon, or otherwise violates, the rights of any third party, including copyright, trademark, privacy, publicity or other personal or proprietary rights;
  • information that is false, misleading, deceptive or fraudulent;
  • hate speech, or other discriminatory, disparaging or denigrating content, whether directed at an individual or a group, and whether based upon race, age, gender, disability, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religion, political orientation, national origin, citizenship, ancestry, marital status, veteran status or mental or physical disability or condition;
  • content that disparages, denigrates, or uses adversarial or confrontational tactics to impact a product, service, person, industry, or organization including, but not limited to, Sponsors or participants in the Program;
  • content that is primarily intended to advance a religious denomination, expand membership or encourage conversion.

Who should I contact with questions?

Email the IRC team at [email protected] for assistance with eligibility or the application process.