Yelp is collaborating with GoFundMe to enable independent businesses to receive donations through their Yelp pages.
“The impact of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has been incredibly challenging for small businesses… Many businesses have been required to temporarily close, making it seemingly impossible to continue to pay their staff and cover rent.”
To assist loyal customers in contributing directly to local businesses, Yelp is introducing a “Donate” button. This button will appear on the profiles of eligible businesses, allowing users to click and contribute funds.
The donate button will be automatically added to Yelp pages for the following types of businesses:
– Restaurants
– Nightlife
– Beauty and fitness
– Active life businesses
For businesses to be eligible for donations, they must have fewer than five locations and have claimed their Yelp page by March 22, 2020.
### Rolling Out Now Automatically
Businesses do not need to take any additional actions to enable this feature. Yelp handles everything automatically:
“Because businesses have enough to worry about right now, we’ll set up this fundraising opportunity for eligible businesses without requiring any action on your part.”
This nationwide partnership begins with businesses in the hardest-hit areas, including:
– Seattle
– San Francisco
– Los Angeles
– San Diego
The donate buttons will be available to all eligible businesses over the next few days. Businesses that remain open in a limited capacity, such as offering delivery and takeout or virtual fitness classes, are also eligible.
### Claim Your GoFundMe Page
To receive the donated funds, businesses must claim their fundraising page on GoFundMe. Here’s how to do it:
1. Find your fundraiser page on GoFundMe (either search for it or click your “Donate” button on Yelp).
2. Click the “Claim here” link near the bottom of the page.
3. Follow the instructions in the online form and submit it.
### GoFundMe & Yelp Are Matching Donations
GoFundMe, along with the Yelp Foundation, will match donations up to $1 million, with additional companies expected to contribute. Businesses that raise at least $500 will receive an additional $500 matching grant, applicable to the first 2,000 businesses that meet this threshold.
“It’s our hope that with the funds raised through this partnership, businesses will be able to support their employees and cover immediate expenses so that they’re in a better position to continue operating through this crisis, or able to reopen their doors once we overcome it.”
### Additional Efforts From Yelp
This announcement follows a similar one made last week. Yelp is offering $25 million in relief through waived advertising fees, free advertising, and free use of products and services.
Source: Yelp Official Blog
