This page was last updated May 13, 2021.

Several pieces of legislation (including the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act) passed in 2020 established several relief programs available to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations. These include the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) 7(a) loan program, the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant Program, and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Program, administered by the U.S. Small Business Administration, and the Federal Reserve’s now-terminated Main Street Lending Program.

Follow the links below to jump to the section of interest:

To learn about all the COVID-19 relief programs for nonprofits, see this tool from the Independent Sector or this information about finding financial relief and support from the American Alliance of Museums.


Paycheck Protection Program (PPP)

SBA PPP Program logo

The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) provides forgivable loans designed to help small businesses—including nonprofits—keep their staff employed during the COVID-19 crisis. During its first round of funding, the PPP program made more than 5.2 million loans totaling $525 billion (including more than $225 million to ASTC-member organizations).

Borrowers may receive a loan of up to 2.5 times average monthly payroll costs in the prior year (3.5 times for those in accommodations and food service). PPP loans may be completely forgiven if more than 60 percent of the loan is used for payroll costs, essentially turning the loan into a grant. The covered period is at the choice of the borrower, between eight and 24 weeks.

The PPP began accepting new applications through approved lenders for both First Draw loans (for those who did not previously receive a PPP loan) and Second Draw loans (for those who have or will use their first loan in its entirety) during the week of January 11, 2021. Specifically, lenders with $1 billion or less in assets will be able to begin processing applications on January 15, and all lenders on January 19.

The program is available to small businesses—including 501(c)(3) nonprofits that meet the following criteria:

  • Employ up to 500 total employees (for First Draw loans) or up to 300 total employees (for Second Draw loans), including both full- and part-time employees (this is down from 500 employees in the previous round of PPP)
  • Demonstrate at least a 25 percent reduction in gross receipts in at least one quarter of 2020 relative to the same quarter in 2019, as a way to show significant financial harm from the pandemic.

PPP borrowers can set their PPP loan’s covered period to be any length between 8 and 24 weeks to best meet their business needs.

First Draw Loans – Entities that did not receive a PPP loan previously may request up to $10 million.

Second Draw Loans – Borrowers who have or will use the full amount of their first PPP loans may apply to receive a second infusion of up to $2 million.

In addition to payroll, rent, and utilities—that were covered during the first round of PPP loans—the current program expands the list of expenses that may be forgiven to also include the following categories

  • covered operations expenditures,” such as payments for software or cloud computing that facilitate business operations or service delivery
  • covered property damage costs,” for property damage and vandalism or looting due to public disturbances during 2020 that was not covered by insurance
  • covered supplier costs,” for goods essential to operation that were made before the covered period or for perishable goods before or during the loan period
  • covered worker protection expenditures,” for capital or operating expenses to comply with COVID-19 safety and health requirements or guidance issued by Federal, state, or local government—from March 1, 2020 until the end of the national emergency—such as ventilation or filtration systems, sneeze guards, additional business space, health screening capabilities, and personal protective equipment.

The program has also been expanded to also include 501(c)(6) and destination marketing organizations that had previously been excluded. With the passage of the American Rescue Plan in March 2021, there is no longer a prohibition on receiving a Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (described below) after receiving a PPP loan; however, entities are still ineligible for a PPP loan after receiving a Shuttered Venue Operators Grant.

Community financial institutions were able to make First Draw PPP Loans on Monday, January 11 and Second Draw PPP Loans on Wednesday, January 13. Congress provided up to $284 billion to make loans through March 31, 2021. Of this, $25 billion has been set aside for entities with no more than 10 employees.

Once a lender has offered a PPP loan, it must be disbursed within 10 calendar days of the date of loan approval.

A Closer Look at Eligibility

Does my institution qualify as “small”? The PPP is available to organizations with 500 or fewer total employees (for First Draw loans) or 300 or fewer total employees (for Second Draw loans), adding both full- and part-time, not FTEs. Organizations with more than 300 employees are encouraged to consider the Grants for Shuttered Venue Operators program, which is open to entities with more than 300 or 500 employees.

Do I have to retain employees and salaries? Yes. Our understanding is that, to be eligible for loans forgiveness, employers must maintain the number of employees and compensation levels (up to $100,000) during the loan period.

  • Calculating total employees: Guidance from SBA suggests that this should be calculated as the average number of people employed for each pay period over the business’s latest 12 calendar months. Any person on the payroll must be included as one employee regardless of hours worked or temporary status. However, this does not include independent contractors (who are eligible to apply for PPP independently).

What if my institution or organization has closed? Entities that have permanently closed or who have declared bankruptcy are ineligible, but those who are only temporarily closed or temporarily suspended its business remain eligible.

How much can I request? Employers may request a loan of up to 2.5 times of your average monthly payroll costs , up to a maximum of $10 million ($2 million for Second Draw loans). The loan proceeds will provide support for payroll and benefits (including paid leave, insurance premiums, retirement contributions, and state and local taxes) and most mortgage, rent, and utility payments over the 8- to 24-week period of the loan.

Am I likely to get the loan? The CARES Act relaxed requirements for determining repayment ability and creditworthiness, including suspending collateral or personal guarantees, and experiences have shown that most applications were approved. Applicants will be asked to make a “good-faith” certification that current economic uncertainty makes a loan request necessary to support their ongoing operations. Although the PPP is available through March 31, 2021, institutions are encouraged to apply as quickly as possible because there is a funding cap, and lenders will need time to process applications.

  • SBA, in consultation with the Department of the Treasury, has established a safe harbor provision for any loans less than $2 million that borrowers “will be deemed to have made the required certification concerning the necessity of the loan request in good faith.” Loans over $2 million are subject to review by SBA on the necessity of the loan request, including both economic harm due to COVID-19 and the lack of access to adequate sources of liquidity.

How much will be forgiven? Loans for which at least 60 percent are used to cover payroll costs and otherwise adhere to the requirements can have 100% of their loan forgiven, essentially turning the loan into a grant. Failure to spend this amount on payroll may result in no forgiveness at all. Note that any compensation to employees above $100,000 is not eligible for loan forgiveness.

How do I apply for forgiveness? You must apply for loan forgiveness from your lender within 10 months of the end of the covered period. Loans of less than $150,000 will have a streamlined application for forgiveness of not more than one page.

How long do I have to repay the loan? The PPP Flexibility Act (PPPFA) extended the loan term to five years, though businesses with loans originating before PPPFA can keep their original term of two years. All borrowers can wait to begin repayment on the date that their lender responds to their application for forgiveness.

What if not all of my loan is forgiven? PPP loans have an interest rate of 1 percent and have a maturity date of five years (for loans issued after June 5, 2020).

How do I apply? You will be apply through an SBA-approved lender, not directly to the agency. Consult the SBA Lender Match to find a lender. You may download a copy of the First Draw or Second Draw application to preview the information that will be required.

What is the deadline for applying? As of now, SBA has extended the deadline for accepting First and Second Draw PPP loan applications through May 31, 2021, through approved lenders. Keep in mind, however, that if the current Congressional appropriation is expended prior to that date, loan applications will close.


Shuttered Venue Operators Grants (SVOG)

Icon for Shuttered Venue Operators Grants

The Economic Aid to Hard-Hit Small Businesses, Non-Profits, and Venues Act (passed at the end of 2020 as part of the omnibus spending bill and COVID relief provisions) established a new grant program for Shuttered Venue Operators—which explicitly includes museums. This new grant program will provide a total of $16.25 billion in support for “a live venue operator or promoter, theatrical producer, or live performing arts organization operator, a relevant museum operator, a motion picture theatre operator or a talent representative” who was fully operational on February 29, 2020 and who intends to reopen—and who can demonstrate a reduction in gross earned revenues of at least 25 percent as compared with the previous year, calculated on a quarterly basis.

After technical issues were experienced at the initial launch on April 8, applications for these grants opened on April 26, 2021, with funds to be used for rent, utilities, mortgage or other debt obligations, state and local taxes, payments to contractors, regular maintenance, administrative costs, taxes, operating leases as well as the procurement of personal protective equipment (PPE) and capital expenditures related to meeting state, local, or federal public health guidelines. SBA says that grantees may use SVOG funds for allowable expenses going back as far as March 1, 2020.

Grants may be up to 45 percent of gross revenue in 2019, up to a maximum of $10 million. Grants are expected to provide approximately six months of operating assistance for small and independent live venue operators and their industry partners. SBA estimates that it will make approximately 1,500 SVOG awards with an average amount of $1 million.

The legislation defines museums as needing to have the following characteristics in addition to the being included in Section 273 of the Museum and Library Services Act (20 U.S.C. 9172), which explicitly includes science and technology centers:

  1. Serving as a relevant museum as its principal business activity.
  2. Indoor exhibition spaces that are a component of the principal business activity and which have been subjected to pandemic-related occupancy restrictions.
  3. At least 1 auditorium, theater, or performance or lecture hall with fixed audience seating and regular programming.

Despite efforts by ASTC and our partners, SBA has determined that the legislation requires them to take a fairly narrow reading of “fixed audience seating.” An FAQ released on January 28, says that “Fixed seating is seating permanently fixed to the floor or ground, per the Economic Aid Act.”

Entities must not have received more than 10 percent of gross revenue from Federal funding during 2019, excluding disaster assistance; please note that Federal grants are included in this calculation. There is no similar limit on funding from state or local governments. Museums associated with a public university are not subject to this 10 percent cap.

Unlike the Paycheck Protection Program, museums with more than 500 employees and venues associated with universities or with state or other governments are eligible for SVO Grants, as long as they do not own or operate venues in more than one country or in more than 10 states.

Originally a part of the stand-alone Save Our Stages Act (SOS Act) introduced by Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) and Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) in July, this legislation was expanded from the original focus on concert and theatrical venues to also include other entities including museums, zoos, and movie theatres.

The legislation sets out a tiered priority system for the initial round of grants. Although you may apply at any time, SBA will process the applications in this priority order:

  • During the first 14 days of grants, the program is only available to entities that have experienced at least a 90 percent reduction in gross revenue between April 1 and December 31, 2020, as compared to the same period of 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • During the next 14 days of grants, the program will award grants to those entities that have experienced at least a 70 percent reduction in gross revenue.
  • After 28 days, the program will be available to all eligible entities that have experience at least a 25 percent reduction in earned revenue, as described above. At least 20 percent of the total appropriated funds ($3 billion) will be held back to ensure that not all funds are expended for the hardest-hit entities.

Government-owned entities will not be eligible in the first two priority groups. The program sets aside $2 billion for venues that employ no more than 50 staff members during the first 60 days of implementation. The initial information that all grants within the first 60 days would be made to small venues is no longer applicable.

The Small Business Administration (SBA) may provide supplemental grants up to 50 percent of the initial grant for recipients of first round awards who suffered a 70% or greater revenue loss for the most recent calendar quarter, as long as the total is less than $10 million per entity. No supplemental grants will be provided until after applications for the first three priority groups are processed; if the currently appropriated funds are expended prior to the awarding of supplemental grants, but SBA plans to issue $0 placeholder awards that can be amended if additional funds are allocated to the program.

We can expect increased scrutiny of grants under this program, including oversight by the SVOG program, the SBA Office of Inspector General, Government Accountability Office, and/or Congressional committees.

WEBINAR: SBA hosted a national informational webinar to highlight the application process for potential eligible entities on Tuesday, March 30, 2021. A recording is available on SBA’s YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/CNWsgR9ESUs.

SBA released a list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) that provides additional details on the application process and a new set of FAQs for the post-application period.

In addition, SBA hosted an introductory webinar about the Shuttered Venue Operators Grants on Thursday, January 14, 2021. A recording is available on SBA’s YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/PdfQGb6z-gg

When can I apply? The portal to submit SVOG applications reopened on Monday, April 26, 2021; please continue to check www.sba.gov/svogrant and www.svograntportal.sba.gov for the most current information. ASTC and our fellow museum associations have been in regular contact with the SBA as they roll out this grant program; please feel free to let us know about your questions with the program as additional details are made available and as you go through the application process.

When should I apply? Because applications will be considered in the order received—within the priority groups noted above—you are most likely to receive a grant if you apply early. You may submit your application as soon as the portal opens, even if you are not eligible for the first priority group, and it will be processed once eligible.

What can I do to prepare? The SBA encourages potential applicants, including museums, to take some preparatory actions to be positioned to move quickly when the process opens. Be sure that your registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) at www.sam.gov is active, especially because registration may take up to seven business days. You can find instructions for grantees here or view a 15-minute training video focusing on entities registering solely for Federal financial assistance. The SBA also is recommending potential applicants to start organizing their financial statements, tax documents, and other governing documents (e.g., articles of incorporation) to be responsive to any data required to support the application. You will also need documents demonstrating the number of employees, monthly revenue, the extent of gross earned revenue loss experienced between 2019 and 2020, and copies of floor plans, contracts, and other evidence that will be needed to apply for SVO Grants.

Which documents will I need? SBA has released a Preliminary Application Checklist outlining some of the documents that will be required to submit an application. Some of the documents requested are listed below, but please note that this is not a comprehensive list:

  • Certification of need and assurance – brief document that confirms that the entity was fully operational on February 29, 2020, that the funds will be used only for the allowable purposes, that the entity is currently in operation and will remain so, and that the entity is either currently reopened or intends to reopen (with an estimated reopening date).
    • The latest version of the FAQ includes a framework for such a certification: “Due to the uncertainty of current economic conditions, a grant is necessary to support the ongoing operations of [name of entity]. [name of entity] started in business on [date], but was forced to close its doors on [date] due to the pandemic. If it receives a grant, [name of entity] intends to reopen on [date] or sooner, as conditions and restrictions permit.”
  • Relevant corporate documents (e.g., Articles of Incorporation)
  • Employee list with job titles, employee status, and the number of hours worked per pay period
  • Tax Exempt Status Letter
  • Tax return from 2019
  • Tax return from 2020, if already filed; if not yet filed, submit the 2018 and 2019 tax returns at the time of application and the 2020 return when available
  • Form 4506-T, which will allow SBA to access tax records directly from the Internal Revenue Service (additional information)
  • Quarterly income statements for 2019 and 2020, demonstrating all sources of revenue and expenditures
  • Copy of most recent Audited Financial Statement (2019) or Single Audit (which is required for entities that expended more than $750,000 in Federal funds in 2019)—or a link to a website where the report is located
  • Indirect cost rate agreement from cognizant agency (if applicable)
  • Payroll statements covering February 29, 2020
  • Floor plan (and plan of grounds if outdoor space is used for the performance venue), as used for insurance purposes or local fire inspections, which demonstrates the location of the defined performance space(s)
  • State or local COVID occupancy restrictions demonstrating limits on occupancy that affected the museum

How will I submit the application and required documents? Once it reopens on April 24, you will log in to the SVOG Portal to complete the application. You will be able to save your application in process and return to it later. The portal will accept documents in.pdf, .jpg, .jpeg, .xls, .xlsx, .doc, and .docx formats. There is a maximum file size of 35 MB per file.

What will I need to access the portal? The SVOG Portal requires multi-factor authentication upon login, so you will need access to an authenticator app (such as Salesforce, Google, Authy) on a smartphone. SBA recommends the latest versions of Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, Firefox, or Safari web browsers; the portal will not work with Internet Explorer.

How much can I request? The SVOG program will provide up to 45% of gross revenue from 2019, up to a maximum of $10 million. The amount will be automatically calculated as part of the application, based upon the budgetary information provided. SBA will confirm the loan amount when a Notice of Award is made. You may request less than the maximum by adjusting your budget accordingly.

How do I decide whether to pursue SVOG or PPP? Applying for an SVOG and PPP are no longer mutually exclusive as you can submit your application for a First or Second Draw PPP loan and subsequently apply for an SVOG. (Please be aware that the PPP must be received before applying for an SVOG, while the reverse is not possible.)

Can I apply for both an SVOG and a PPP loan? Yes! With the passage of the American Rescue Plan, eligible entities may now apply for an SVOG even after receiving a PPP loan in 2021 (please note that the order matters, as you may not receive a PPP after receiving a SVOG). SBA will deduct the amount of a First or Second Draw PPP loan received after December 27, 2020, from the amount of an SVOG (PPP loans received prior to December 27 will not affect a SVOG payment).

What if I received or am applying for EIDL? Applying for or receiving an Economic Injury Disaster Loan has no bearing on the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant program.

Can I update my application after submission? Consistent with Federal grant policies, applicants are generally not able to make corrections on a submitted application, but will be able to address two specific issues if requested by SBA:

  • If there is an issue with the SVOG-specific IRS Form 4506-T, you will have 3 calendar days to complete and upload the correct form. (Additional information about Form 4506-T)
  • If your organization appears on the Department of Treasury Do Not Pay (DNP) List, you will have 30 days to resolve the DNP issue.

How long will the funds last? Even though the American Rescue Plan added an additional $1.25 billion to the SVOG program, there is a real concern that the appropriated funds will not meet demand. This is especially true if you do not fall into the first or second priority group (i.e., loss of gross revenue of 70% or greater from 2019). For this reason, you are encouraged to apply as soon as possible after the portal opens.

What if the funds run out before my supplemental grant is considered? SBA has said that it will issue zero dollar “placeholder” supplemental awards that could subsequently be modified to add funds in the event that Congress appropriates additional resources for the program. Under this approach, an eligible entity that received a zero-dollar placeholder grant would still be entitled to the six-month extension afforded to recipients of supplemental phase awards.

How will the funds be disbursed? SBA expects that for most SVOGs under $1 million that are deemed to pose a low risk, it will provide funds in one or two installments. Awards for larger amounts or that are deemed to be a higher risk are likely to be disbursed in 2-4 installments. Payments made via installments will be based upon the grantee’s submission of documentation through the SF-425 form on the use of prior installments and a 2020 Federal tax return, if available.

When will the funds be paid? SBA has said that it expects to begin making grant awards in “late May.” Once decisions are made, those awarded grants will have to complete and return required paperwork before funds can be disbursed.

Is there a size limit for eligible institutions? Unlike the PPP (which limits applicants to those who have at most 300 employees), the SVO Grant program does not have a single upper limit. However, entities are not eligible if more than two of these conditions are true:

  • Owning or operating museums in more than one country.
  • Owning or operating museums in more than 10 states.
  • Employing more than 500 employees as of February 29, 2020.

What if I operate two eligible entities, such as a theatre in addition to a museum? If both entities use the same employer identification number (EIN), only one application may be submitted. If you apply under the parent organization, please note that it must meet the statutory definition of an eligible entity rather than subsidiaries or internal divisions.

If my museum is associated with a state or local government, am I eligible? In general yes, as long as you meet other eligibility requirements. However, be aware that no more than five eligible entities owned by the same state or local government may simultaneously apply for or receive SVOGs. In addition, government-affiliated entities will generally not have their applications considered until the third priority group.

If my museum is a hybrid nonprofit/government al entity, am I eligible? In general yes, as long as you meet other eligibility requirements. SBA encourages such institutions to apply under the nonprofit’s name and provide documentation of the public/private partnership in its application.

If my museum is associated with a college or university, am I eligible? In general yes, as long as you meet other eligibility requirements. Entities associated with private universities should calculate the percent of revenue from Federal sources as follows (those associated with public universities will not need to do so):

  • If your museum does not have a separate legal existence from its parent institution or if it is majority owned or controlled by the university, you will have to use the gross revenue of the parent university to calculate whether more than 10% of the gross revenue comes from Federal source (excluding any disaster assistance).
  • If your museum has a separate legal existence that is not majority controlled by the university, you need only consider your own 2019 gross revenue.

What does “fixed audience seating” mean? What if I don’t have an auditorium or theatre with fixed seating? SBA released an FAQ that says that “Fixed seating is seating permanently fixed to the floor or ground, or which is so heavy or cumbersome as to make removing it impractical, per the Economic Aid Act.” Elsewhere in the FAQ, “the Economic Aid Act specifically requires fixed seating and makes no allowance for temporary, removable, modular, convertible, or other non-fixed seating arrangements.” We understand this interpretation is challenging for many institutions that have flexible spaces for their live events.

How many seats need to be fixed? According to the FAQ from SBA, “a majority of the seating provided in that space must meet the definition of fixed seating.”

What if the only fixed seating I have is at an outdoor amphitheater? The FAQ from SBA does confirm that venues that have outdoor spaces with fixed seating do count, as the legislation does not require these spaces to be indoors. Even if you are not able to use this space year-round, the space would qualify as long as you have an average of at four events monthly.

What does “regular programming” mean? According to the FAQ from SBA, the define regular programming “to mean programming provided on an ongoing and near-continuous basis of an average of at least four times a month over the course of a year in its qualifying theater, lecture hall, or similar venue.” You may aggregate programming across all qualifying performance spaces rather than calculating each individually.

What is the definition of “earned revenue”? According to the FAQ from SBA, “earned revenue” is defined only as “monies organizations receive from the sale of goods or services.” This generally does not include other sources of funds such as donations, sponsorships, foundation grants, governmental assistance, or returns on investments.

What is the definition of “gross revenue”? Gross revenue, which is used for determination of the priority phase, includes all sources of revenue except for disaster assistance. For this calculation, donations, sponsorships, grants, investment income

What if my organization is new? The SVOG program is available to any eligible entity that was in operation as of February 29, 2020. For entities that were in operation on January 1, 2019, applicants may apple for the lesser of an amount equal to 45% of their 2019 gross earned revenue OR $10 million. For entities who began operation after January 1, 2019, the lesser of the average monthly gross revenue for each full month you were in operation during 2019 multiplied by 6 OR $10 million.

How should I determine how many employees I have? SBA sets out a tiered system for calculating the number of employees (detailed below), which is used to determine if the entity qualifies for the small-employer set-aside, to determine if the entity is subject to the certification regarding labor rights, and to see if the entity might be ineligible because it operates in more than 10 states or more than one country (see above). Once the qualifying employees are determined, an entity must then calculate the average number of employees it had over the prior year by adding up the number of qualifying employees in each individual pay period and dividing that amount by the number of pay periods over the 12-month period from March 1, 2019 to February 29, 2020.

  • Employees that work at least 30 hours per week are considered full-time.
  • Employees that work 10–29 hours per week are considered to be half-time.
  • Employees that work less than 10 hours per week should not be considered employees for this purpose.

Can I reallocate funds from one budget line to another? In general, you may shift funds among approved cost categories by up to 10% without prior approval. Changes of more than 10%, or the allocation of costs to categories not included in the approved budget will require prior approval. SBA has said that is exploring ways to “potentially liberalize this policy as it applies to SVOG recipients.”

How long do I have to use the funds? SVOG recipients will have one year from the date of the award to use grant funds, however the costs must be incurred before December 31, 2021. For those receiving a Supplemental Phase SVOG, that period will be extended to 18 months for the use of both grants, for costs incurred by June 30, 2022.

What if I have questions? How can I get help? SBA has a network of district and regional offices around the country. However, once the program opens for applications on April 8, SBA staff will be unable to provide specific support. However, SBA has engaged a group of resource partners who are able to provide continuing help including SCORE mentors, Small Business Development Centers, Veteran’s Business Outreach Centers, and Women’s Business Centers. You can search for resource partners near you on the SBA website.

Additional Information:


Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL)

EIDL logo

Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) provide small businesses with working capital loans of up to $2 million to help overcome the temporary loss of revenue that they are experiencing due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Unlike other SBA programs described above, EIDLs are loans that must be paid back.

Loan proceeds may be used to meet financial obligations and operating expenses—including working capital and normal expenses—that could have been met had the pandemic not occurred.

These loans, which have a term of 30 years, have a 2.75% interest rate for nonprofits (3.75% for for-profit companies). There are no pre-payment penalties or fees. Payments are deferred for one year, although interest will still accrue. Collateral is required for loans over $25,000. A $10,000 EIDL Advance that had been part of the program in 2020 is no longer available as all Advance funds have already been allocated.

On June 15, the SBA re-opened its EIDL program after temporarily limiting applications to only agricultural business due to a high volume of applications and dwindling funds. A number of science and technology centers and museums have applied for and received EIDLs previously.


Main Street Lending Program – no longer active

Main Street Lending Program

The Main Street Lending Program, which is run by the Federal Reserve Board and administered by the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, offered three types of loans to medium-sized businesses who have 15,000 employees or less. The program ended on January 8, 2021. These loans ranged in size from $250,000 to $50 million and are not forgivable.

In mid-June, the Federal Reserve drafted a proposal to expand the program to nonprofit loans, requesting public feedback. ASTC, in partnership with other museum associations, submitted feedback. The final loan facilities have yet to be released.

All loans in the program had a term of five years, and principal and interest payments on the loans can be deferred for two years. Businesses must be of sound financial condition prior to the COVID-19 pandemic to be eligible. Read the FAQs (last updated after the Federal Reserve announced a program expansion on a June 8).

To apply for a Main Street Lending Program loan, borrowers needed to work with a registered lender, including banks, savings associations, and credit unions. Loans could be made through September 30, 2020.

In order to lessen the credit risk to lenders and free up more of their capital, the Main Street Lending Program intends to purchase 95% of each eligible loan that is submitted to the program and plans to spend up to $600 billion to this end. 


Additional Resources

Several organizations have created guides comparing the CARES Act loan programs:

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