Chabaa Thai Bistro

Chabaa is an intimate Thai BYOB in Manayunk. TMF supported Chabaa Thai Bistro with a $5,000 grant to help them recover from flooding caused by Hurricane Ida.

Art History 101

Jay Pross launched streetwear brand Art History 101 in 2008; it was so successful that he opened his first brick and mortar store on Frankford Ave.

Cantina la Martina

TMF supported Cantina La Martina with a $10,000 grant to help with repairs and increase seating capacity; TMF also provided coaching through our Beyond the Grant program.

Vientiane Bistro

Vientiane Café is a small family run business established in 2002. Sunny received a Covid relief grant which she credits with helping to ease the challenges of rising costs.

Flakely LLC

Chef Lila works tirelessly to create her own versions of pastries and breads that gluten-free foodies miss the most.

Artesanía Mundo De Queen

This grant really helped me expand my inventory, now I’m making more and can better support my family.

Grant Blvd

Thanks to The Merchants Fund we’re moving forward with the opening of a flagship location on the University of Pennsylvania’s campus where we’ll be able to introduce more people to our company’s commitment to locally made garments.

El Sabor Chapin

We were able to completely pay off the debt, so we are much more solvent, more free, not drowning anymore.

STRATEGIC PLAN

In 2022, TMF completed a strategic framework and a new grant strategy, as well as shifted from being a private foundation to a public charity.

grants

Grantee stories

Industry

Grant

Year

Chabaa Thai Bistro

Chabaa is an intimate Thai BYOB in Manayunk. TMF supported Chabaa Thai Bistro with a $5,000 grant to help them recover from flooding caused by Hurricane Ida.

Art History 101

Jay Pross launched streetwear brand Art History 101 in 2008; it was so successful that he opened his first brick and mortar store on Frankford Ave.

Cantina la Martina

TMF supported Cantina La Martina with a $10,000 grant to help with repairs and increase seating capacity; TMF also provided coaching through our Beyond the Grant program.

Annual funding reports

The Merchants Fund is a Philadelphia charity established in 1854 to provide charitable gifts to business persons facing financial hardship. Check out our recent annual reports to see how we deliver on this mission today. (2023 Report is coming soon!)

2022

2020/2021

2023 emergency

What TMF means to you…

TMF is a one-of-a-kind institution in Philadelphia (and the nation); there needs to be an entity like The Merchants Fund addressing the full spectrum of needs, challenges, and opportunities for the small merchant class of enterprises in Philly. After 170+ years, the work to build and sustain a city-wide support system for micro and small entrepreneurs – from issuing emergency grants to one-on-one advisory to managing large-scale funding program on behalf of government partner – is more critical than ever.

James Johnson-Piett, Board Member

TMF is an incredible organization that meets the needs of those businesses that we all say we value, but don’t provide enough support to, especially in hard times. It’s an honor to contribute to such an organization with such a unique mission.

Carey Morgan, Board Member

Because of this grant we are still open today. I don’t know how else to express that it saved us during this ongoing pandemic. In addition to receiving monetary relief, connecting us with other business owners really meant a lot. It helped us gain more business as well as build relationships.

Idalia & Yasin Adan, Beyond the Seams

I’ve been with The Merchants Fund about 15 years and it has been a lifesaving relationship.

Retired merchant

We want to express our heartfelt thanks to The Merchants Fund team for their continuous collaboration and unwavering support of our local businesses in this BIPOC community. Your commitment to assisting during these circumstances has made a significant difference. Once again, thank you for your dedication to our community

Patrick Sherlock, Fairmount CDC

TMF provided us the capacity to see what is possible with the business. The ability to think critically about how we can grow the business without the strain of finances opened our eyes to what is possible.

Lee Locklear, Avenues Cafe

Without this grant, I would not have been able to continue running our family business. Our family would have hand to take on debt without the necessary means in place to be able to pay them off. This grant has given us a new confidence in our ability to survive the pandemic.

Grace Chen, Ray's Cafe & Tea House

Serving on the board of TMF is important to me because it is an opportunity to use my experience and training to provide assistance to the small business community of Philadelphia. As small businesses are stabilized they are better able to empoy more people who then are able to stabilize their communities – all to the good of all of us.

Elbert Sampson, Board Member

TMF provides a critical lifeline for businesses that are the soul of communities, anchors providing a link to the past and vital for their prosperous futures.

Adnan Zulfiqar, Board Member

Stay updated

FOLLOW OUR INSTAGRAM

Connect with The Merchants Fund on social media to stay updated on grant cycles, applications, and inspiring grantee stories.

Vault + Vine is a cafe and thoughtfully curated retail space founded in 2017 in East Falls, Philadelphia. At the heart of their shop is love for their community and a desire to create, promote, and connect with their neighbors. Their vision is to create a community of businesses and customers that supports, promotes, and celebrates the local and global economy and by demanding accountability in every aspect of the supply chain.
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#smallbusinesssupport #phillymerchant #phillysmallbusiness #communityempowerment #communitywealthbuilding #businesscoaching #financialassistance
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Check out @vaultandvine.co for more details about this inspiring small business. If you’re one of our grantees interested in having your story told, please feel free to DM us!

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We are excited to announce that the Spring cycle of our ‘2024 Stabilization Grant Program’ is now live!

Stabilization Grants provide funding of up to $10,000 to help a business stabilize in the face of adversity, take advantage of an opportunity to grow, or increase profitability.

Visit merchantsfund.org/grants/stabilization for more info and when you’re ready to apply, click the link in our bio!

#phillysupportphilly #phillymerchants #phillysmallbusiness

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We are excited to announce that the Spring cycle of our ‘2024 Stabilization Grant Program’ is now live!

Stabilization Grants provide funding of up to $10,000 to help a business stabilize in the face of adversity, take advantage of an opportunity to grow, or increase profitability.

Visit merchantsfund.org/grants/stabilization for more info and when you’re ready to apply, click the link in our bio!

#phillysupportphilly #phillymerchants #phillysmallbusiness

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Coffee Cream & Dreams is a cafe that offers an inviting atmosphere whether you’re looking to relax with a refreshing beverage outdoors or curl up in one of their cozy chairs indoors. With a commitment to delighting customers with every sip of coffee or tea they enjoy in-store or take home with them, they earn our small business spotlight for their the excellent quality and utilization of their grant to create an impact on their community.
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#smallbusinessempowerment #phillysupportphilly #phillymerchants #smallbusinessspotlight #coffeeshop
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Check out @coffeecreamanddreams and stop by their shop on Fairmount Ave to taste their quality beverages for yourself!

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Vientiane Cafe is known to locals as a Lao and Thai fusion restaurant. Established in 2002, it became the first restaurant in the Philadelphia area to offer Lao dishes with a twist. The bistro’s rich history combined with their commitment to utilize their grant to improve their business and the community around them earns them this week’s inspiring grantee spotlight.
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#smallbusiness #phillymerchants #smallbusinessupport #equitableaccess #diverseentrepreneurs
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Check out @vientianebistro at their West Philly and Kensington locations to see for yourself how this inspiring grantee continues to thrive.

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Grant Blvd is one of our inspiring grantees from 2022. Grant Blvd is not just a retail clothing store, but a mission that serves as a response to persistent economic injustice and marginalization. They use fashion to create employment opportunities and points of exposure to the skills we all need to find long term peace, making it their mission to design radically inclusive pathways that pursue the long term plan of progressing our collective good. Grant Blvd is about the only way forward. For more information, visit their website: https://www.grantblvd.com/pages/our-story

#smallbusinesssupport #diversemerchants #sustainablebusiness #empowerphilly #merchantstories #womenentrepreneurs #equitableacess

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#smallbusinesssupport #diversemerchants #sustainablebusiness #empowerphilly #merchantstories #womenentrepreneurs #equitableacess

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#smallbusiness #businesscoaching #phillysmallbusiness #philadelphiabusiness #merchantstories #diversemerchants #smallbusinesssupport #smallbiz

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#smallbusiness #businesscoaching #phillysmallbusiness #philadelphiabusiness #merchantstories #diversemerchants #smallbusinesssupport #smallbiz

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Enjoy all-you-can eat authentic Mexican food from some of the best restaurants in town all in one location at Bok on Thursday, September 28th at 6:00 pm. The 2nd Annual Taco Fiesta is a celebration of Mexican cuisine and culture in support of the work of the Association of Mexican Business Owners of Philadelphia. Desserts, aguas frescas, giveaways, live music and a fashion design performance included!
Be sure to invite your friends and colleagues to network while supporting our mission to empower immigrant-owned businesses in Philadelphia.
Thank you to our participating restaurants!

o Adelita Mexican Taqueria & Restaurant
o Alma del Mar
o El Mezcal Cantina
o Los 4 Soles
o Los Taquitos de Puebla
o Marco`s Fish & Crab House
o Mole Poblano Restaurant
o PhillyTacos
o Tamalex Resturant
o Taqueria Morales
o Tortilleria San Roman

Link in bio!

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Link in bio!

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“Marcos and Alma own a beloved, local seafood spot in South Philly — @marcosfishandcrabhouse — and are also known for also being featured on Season 5 of Queer Eye on Netflix! Down the street, Nacho owns another loved Mexican-owned business named — "Taquitos de Puebla" and serves a very special Sopa Azteca, grilled nopales, and other exquisite Mexican dishes.

Both businesses have unfortunately been victims of vandalism and recently had their vehicles stolen in the summer of 2023. One was a refrigerated truck, which has been especially difficult for `Marco`s Fish` as their fish is fresh each day and requires transit to the restaurant. Now, without the truck, Marcos and Alma`s business is at stake. Nacho also cannot make required pickups for his restaurant`s ingredients.”

Link in bio to donate

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Link in bio to donate

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We’re a proud recipient of @phillysjunited’s Partnership Grant Program. And we’re in great company! TMF is one of 100 grantees from a diverse network of organizations in Greater Philadelphia whose work helps people and families thrive. Learn more > https://unitedforimpact.org/nonprofit-partners/

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Six months ago, @leesdeliphilly was destroyed. With grit, determination, and a community of support behind them, they re-opened last week.

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Six months ago, @leesdeliphilly was destroyed. With grit, determination, and a community of support behind them, they re-opened last week.

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Our spring grant cycle is now open! Application and eligibility requirements can be found at the link in our bio. This cycle will be open until 11:59pm on 5/31/23. #smallbusiness #phillysmallbusiness

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Our spring grant cycle is now open! Application and eligibility requirements can be found at the link in our bio. This cycle will be open until 11:59pm on 5/31/23. #smallbusiness #phillysmallbusiness

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Check out this story about @cosmicphilly in @phillyinquirer! #smallbusiness #supportsmallbusiness #phillysmallbusiness #philly

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Check out this story about @cosmicphilly in @phillyinquirer! #smallbusiness #supportsmallbusiness #phillysmallbusiness #philly

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