FAQ

How do I donate by check?

Please make checks payable to: “Berkeley Relief Fund” and mail to:
East Bay Community Foundation; Attn: Berkeley Relief Fund; 200 Frank Ogawa Plaza; Oakland CA 94612

Is my donation tax-deductible?

Yes, your donation is tax-deductible.  The fiduciary for the fund is the East Bay Community Foundation a 501c3. The City of Berkeley will administer the program for arts nonprofits, small businesses, and residential tenants.

Who will manage the donations?

East Bay Community Foundation is collecting the online and check donations, for a very small management fee of 1%.  Fiscal agent fees can run as high as 15% with other entities.

What is the East Bay Community Foundation's Tax ID?

East Bay Community Foundation Tax ID: 94-6070996

Will the funds be restricted in use?

Donations will be 100% restricted to pandemic relief for arts nonprofits, small businesses and residential tenants, and will be not in not be comingled or used in any way by the Berkeley General Fund.

Will there be any overhead charged?

No other overhead will be charged by the City or any other entity, other than the 1% fiscal agent fee charged by the East Bay Community Foundation.

How will this Fund make a difference?

We recognize that $3 to 6 million  will be just a beginning to address what will be needed during this unprecedented global, national and local emergency is having on our community. However, it is a start to providing gap relief for our many of our arts organizations, nonprofits, small businesses, and workers that have had to close or are hanging on by a thread. We hope to continue to raise funding in the months ahead, and that our gap relief can be augmented by federal and state relief programs, as well as other sources.  Please see the City of Berkeley and Berkeley Chamber website for list of additional resources.

What do I if I do not qualify for Berkeley Relief Fund?

If you do not qualify please visit the Berkeley Chamber website for a list of other resources.

Who is behind the Berkeley Relief Fund?

The Berkeley Relief Fund was initiated by Mayor Jesse Arreguín and was quickly joined by Councilmembers Susan Wengraf, Lori Droste and Ben Bartlett, and then unanimously approved by all other Councilmembers Kate Harrison, Sophie Hahn, Cheryl Davalia, Rashi Kesarwani and Rigel Robinson.  Then several business and civic community leaders then joined the project to make the launch of this fundraising effort possible: Berkeley Community Media, Berkeleyside, Berkeley Chamber, Berkeley Merchants United, Visit Berkeley, Downtown Berkeley Association, Telegraph Business Improvement District, Freight and Salvage, Berkeley Repertory Theatre, The David Brower Center, Berkeley Public Schools Fund, Berkeley Property Owners Association, UC Berkeley, and many others. The program will be overseen by the City of Berkeley Office of Economic Development (OED). We are so very grateful to everyone who worked quickly and tirelessly to get this community-focused effort launched.