2022 California Disaster Response

Philanthropy California is an alliance of Northern California Grantmakers, Southern California Grantmakers, and Catalyst of San Diego and Imperial Counties. We partner with the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (CAL OES) to support immediate disaster relief and long-term recovery efforts. Philanthropy California monitors wildfires & natural hazard events and provides individual and institutional funders with vetted funds, resources, and events on this response page.

 

Philanthropy California is deploying its deep work in disaster resilience efforts toward:

  • Publicizing trusted funds for place-based relief and recovery
  • Prioritizing funds that support marginalized or under-resourced communities
  • Sharing emerging issues, and where funders can make the most of their contributions
  • Advising how best to meet short and long-term recovery needs
  • Connecting funders, government partners, and organizations active in responding to disasters
  • Supporting funders with tools, connections, and expertise

Philanthropy California does not:

  1. Directly connect community-based organizations to funders
  2. Provide general public information on wildfire or natural hazard events. For more information on active wildfires/hazard events or emergency response efforts please visit the CalOES webpage or the California Resiliency Alliance (CRA) wildfire quick-links
  3. Direct fire or disaster -impacted individuals to resources. If you have been affected by a recent wildfire in California you can call 211 for information on where to find help locally

Please visit our government & non-profit partner websites, California Resiliency Alliance, CalVolunteers and CalOES, for more information about how you can help, as well as how to prepare for and recover from wildfires and other natural hazards.

 

  

 

If you have questions about Philanthropy California's disaster response, please contact: Katie Oran, Climate and Disaster Resilience Fellow ().

 

Philanthropy California believes that, in addition to funding immediate and long-term recovery efforts, it’s essential for funders to support building long lasting wildfire & disaster resilience. For every dollar spent on building disaster resilience, communities save six on wildfire recovery costs.  If you are a funder interested in supporting wildfire & disaster resilience efforts across the state get in touch with us!

The Philanthropy California team has vetted the list below to help you direct resources to funds supporting non-profits active in place-based relief and recovery efforts with a special focus on supporting communities facing structural impediments. Additionally some funds specifically support long-term resilience building & recovery efforts, which provide support for communities recovering in the years after a wildfire event.

 

You can filter funds based on region to view locally established wildfire relief/recovery funds, or you can support statewide funds that re-distribute money to fire-affected communities.

California Community Foundation: Wildfire Recovery Fund

The California Community Foundation Wildfire Recovery Fund focuses on intermediate and long-term recovery needs that follow wildfires in California, with special efforts to serve the most disaster-vulnerable populations including the disabled, farmworkers and other migrant communities whose homes and employment are impacted by wildfires, Native American populations living on or proximate to impacted tribal lands, economically-disadvantaged populations without resources to respond to and recover from wildfire impacts, and specific impacted vulnerable populations whose lives have also been affected by structural racism which limit their practical ability to access disaster response, recovery and mitigation resources.

 

VISIT FUND

California Fire Foundation: Disaster Relief Programs

The California Fire Foundation administers a variety of programs that provide assistance to the victims, firefighters, and communities that are affected by natural disaster. These programs support critical needs of those touched by natural disaster — from immediate assistance to long-term recovery. 

 

VISIT FUND

Center for Disaster Philanthropy: California Wildfires Recovery Fund

The Center for Disaster Philanthropy’s California Wildfires Recovery Fund supports communities across the state as they work to rebuild and recover from wildfires. Since its inception, CDP has awarded grants to nonprofits and community groups in northern and southern California to help families and entire communities recover through targeted grantmaking that prioritizes medium- to long-term recovery, especially among populations made vulnerable by systemic inequities.

 

VISIT FUND

 

Community Foundation of the North State: Lincoln Heights Community Fund

The Lincoln Heights Community Fund will support short, intermediate, and long-term recovery efforts in the community of Lincoln Heights in Weed, California following the devastation of the Mill Fire that started on September 2, 2022. The Fund will assist wildfire survivors by aiding nonprofits and/or public agencies that support individuals who lost housing or belongings. Types of assistance funded may include help to rebuild homes, case management services, basic needs assistance, mental health services, and financial assistance. Funding will be distributed by the Community Foundation Board and staff in the form of grants directed to the Lincoln Heights community on an ongoing and as needed basis. 

County Served: Siskiyou

VISIT FUND

Community Foundation of the North State: North State Wildfire Recovery Fund

This Fund supports intermediate and long-term recovery efforts for wildfires as well as preparedness efforts. Grants will aid nonprofits or public agencies who assist individuals who lost housing, help rebuild homes, case management services, basic needs assistance, mental health services and financial assistance, provide firefighters with safety equipment, and/or environmental restoration activities. Grants may also support lessening future wildfire impact through mitigation and brush clearing efforts, prevention, and preparedness education. Specific grants will be determined by the CFNS Board and staff on an ongoing and as needed basis. This fund is not specific to any one named wildfire disaster. Counties Served: Shasta, Siskiyou, and Tehama.

 

VISIT FUND

Direct Relief: California Fire Relief

During fire responses, Direct Relief provides N-95 masks, medical aid, portable Wildfire Health Kits, and financial assistance to healthcare agencies and first responders in wildfire-affected communities across California.

 

VISIT FUND

El Dorado Community Foundation: Community Relief Fund

The El Dorado Community Foundation Community Relief Fund acts as the conduit to meet critical community needs in times of disasters.  These can include assistance in housing during prolonged winter power outages, assistance with displacement in mandatory evacuations and supporting our community partners as they strive to meet emerging need. 

County Served: El Dorado County

VISIT FUND

Humboldt Area Foundation & Wild Rivers Community Foundation: Disaster Response & Resilience Fund

 The Disaster Response & Resilience Fund supports residents of Humboldt, Trinity, Del Norte, and Curry counties, as well as adjoining Tribal lands during current and future disasters, including fires, earthquakes, flooding, and other natural and man-made disasters. Grants are made to nonprofit agencies, public benefit organizations (schools, government agencies, federally recognized Tribes, etc.), charitable organizations and groups with a qualified fiscal sponsor. There is no written application process, and we strive to have funds in place for both immediate disaster response and to help communities become more resilient in the face of future disasters.

 

County Served: el Norte, Humboldt, and Trinity counties in California and Curry County in Oregon

 

VISIT FUND

 

Inland Empire Community Foundation: Inland Empire Disaster Relief Fund – Riverside County

A fund established in 2019 by the Board of Directors to provide relief funds to those affected by disasters in Riverside County. Donations to the fund will be used to help residents impacted by the fires in Riverside County.

 

County Served: Riverside

 

VISIT FUND

Inland Empire Community Foundation: Inland Empire Disaster Relief Fund – San Bernardino County

A fund established in 2019 by the Board of Directors to provide relief funds to those affected by disasters in San Bernardino County. Donations to the fund will be used to help residents impacted by the fires in Yucaipa and surrounding communities.

 

County Served: San Bernardino

 

VISIT FUND

Latino Community Foundation: California Wildfire Relief Fund

Contributions to this fund support Latino-led organizations responding to the immediate needs of Latino and farmworker families impacted by the current wildfires across all the state of California. Funding provides emergency food and financial assistance, rapid rehousing, and relief and recovery support to low-income, undocumented, Latino and indigenous workers and families. 

 

VISIT FUND

League of California Community Foundations: Disaster Relief, Recovery, and Resilience Fund

This fund supports relief, recovery and resilience for natural hazard events in communities across the state of California. Through a statewide coalition of community foundations, funds support:

 

Relief

  • Provide emergency disaster relief for individuals, families, and communities
  • Fill critical gaps in local safety net services that may include food and housing security, physical and mental health access and support, and emergency assistance

Recovery

  • Support the long-term recovery of impacted individuals, families, and communities
  • Support the capacity of organizations to provide long-term recovery services
  • Support case management, project management and construction management associated with recovery
  • Support community-based leadership activities such as convening recovery committees

Resilience

  • Prepare for and minimize damage from catastrophic events
  • Invest in hazard mitigation and prevention for communities at risk of and impacted by natural hazards
  • Support coordinated planning with public/private sector entities, reduce duplication of efforts, and increase the overall effectiveness of disaster prevention and preparedness activities

 

VISIT FUND

Placer Community Foundation: Mosquito Fire Relief Fund

Mosquito Fire Relief Fund is actively collecting donations that will provide direct support to those affected and to the recovery efforts. The Foundation works with local public officials to identify areas where philanthropy can have the greatest impact. In past fire events, such as the River Fire in 2021, dollars went to assist with needs such as food, clothing, long-term rental assistance or hotel stays, and much more.

 

County Served: Placer County

VISIT FUND

 

Seventh Generation Fund for Indigenous Peoples: Flicker Fund

The Flicker Fund provides crisis relief, climate fire response, and is designed for emergency response. The Flicker Fund directs support basic and urgent health and wellness needs of the most vulnerable with a focus on elders, multi-generational households and families with children; engage with traditional healing practices and remedies, food systems and immune support; and amplify historic and cultural teachings, stories and lifeways that advance traditional knowledge systems informing community members on health, healing and moving forward with vitality.

 

VISIT FUND

United Way of Northern California: Wildfire Recovery and Disaster Relief

Several wildfires have ravaged Northern California over the past few years. United Way of Northern California is accepting donations, offering help and supporting programs to assist with relief and long-term recovery operations. The fund provide emergency cash grants to those who lost their homes  and assist nonprofit partners in their provision of direct services to survivors. It also provides help for survivors through our mid- to long-term wildfire recovery programs. Counties Served: Butte, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Plumas, Shasta, Siskiyou, Tehema, and Trinity.

 

VISIT FUND

California Governor's Office of Emergency Services

The California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (CAL OES) connects residents with a wide range of services and programs targeted specifically at those who have been affected by wildfires.

 

California Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters (VOAD)

 VOAD associations improve outcomes for people affected by disasters by facilitating cooperation, communication, coordination, and collaboration among nonprofit organizations, community-based groups, government agencies, and for-profit companies. Contact your local VOAD to learn how your organization can support disaster relief and recovery efforts.

 

California Resiliency Alliance (CRA)

The California Resiliency Alliance (CRA) is a 501C(3) non-profit sitting at the nexus between the public and private sectors facilitating cross-sector information sharing and partnerships to empower local and regional resilience. The CRA facilitates information sharing across public-private sectors and across industry sectors. For information on active wildfires visit CRA’s wildfire quick-links webpage

 

Disaster Relief Guide

You'll find support for business assistance, capital programs, cybersecurity for business, and additional resources.

 

Guide to Disaster Assistance Services

The State of California’s Guide to Disaster Assistance Services for Immigrant Californians provides information on health, housing, emergency supplies, employment and other services available to all Californians, regardless of their immigration status.

Buckling up for the Peak of California Wildfire Season: What Funders Can do Now

 

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Philanthropy California and our organizational partners at the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services, the Center for Disaster Philanthropy, and the League of California Community Foundations are hosting a conversation with interested funders about what they can do NOW to prepare communities most likely to be impacted by wildfires and their consequences, including displacement, income losses, and health challenges.

 

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