2025 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:

  • Directly connect community-based organizations to funders
  • 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
  • Direct fire or disaster-impacted individuals to resources. If you have been affected by a recent disaster in California you can call 211 for information on where to find help locally

In order for a fund to be listed on our California Response Funds page, it must meet the following vetting criteria:

  • Must be an experienced grantmaking organization  
  • Must have an anti-discrimination clause in its grantmaking process (this can be on the website, mission statement, or in annual reporting language, etc.)
  • Must have: (a) experience working in the affected community; (b) have pre-existing relationships with organizations with experience working in the affected community; or  
    is planning to transfer all funds to a grantmaker with either (a) or (b) 
  • If community foundation, must be accredited with National Standard or be recommended by a trusted partner.
  • If the fund does not meet above guidelines, must meet an otherwise unmet need.

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:

 

Northern California: Katie Oran, Climate and Disaster Resilience Manager (kaoran@ncg.org).

Southern California: Lily, Bui, Climate & Disaster Preparedness Manager (lily@socalgrantmakers.org).

 

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 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 inequities. Additionally, some funds specifically support long-term resilience building & recovery efforts, which provide support for communities recovering in the years after a hazard event.

 

You can filter funds based on region to view locally established relief/recovery funds, or you can support statewide funds that re-distribute money to disaster-affected communities. Tags for specific disaster events or hazard categories will be added as needed.

805 Undocufund

Ventura and Santa Barbara counties are home to 126,000 undocumented residents – 10% of the region's population. The 805 UndocuFund was launched in 2018 with the belief that during the critical recovery period following a natural disaster, undocumented residents should not be excluded from emergency relief funding made available to all other residents. The 805 UndocuFund is a joint effort of immigrant-serving organizations in Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties to provide disaster relief to local immigrant families. Direct financial assistance is to help with basic needs, such as covering the cost of childcare related to school closures, and rental assistance.

 

VISIT FUND

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.

Since 2003, CCF’s Wildfire Recovery Fund has awarded over $32 million to support relief and recovery efforts. While some Wildfire Recovery Fund grants are made directly to local organizations offering direct service, a large portion of grants each year go to local community foundations, which in turn provide grants to multiple partner organizations positioned in the communities they serve. Past grants have supported replacing and rebuilding homes for the displaced, and to restore lost belongings and/or employment. Resources have also gone to help provide support services including case management services, mental health services and financial assistance as well as to upgrade support services like 2-1-1 phone lines and information systems, follow-up medical care and supplies and updated safety equipment for first responders.

 

VISIT FUND

California Fire Foundation: Wildfire & Disaster Relief

Your donation to the CFF Wildfire and Disaster Relief Fund directly supports victims of wildfires and disasters throughout California. At the California Fire Foundation, our purpose is to support the survivors, firefighters, and communities affected by natural disaster, whether that is a large-scale wildfire, a global pandemic, floods, mudslide, earthquake or other disaster. Our wide variety of programs support critical needs of those touched by natural disaster, from immediate assistance to long-term recovery and at the core of everything we do is our mission of providing emotional and financial assistance to families of fallen firefighters, firefighters and the communities they protect across our beloved state.

 

IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE FOR WILDFIRE AND NATURAL DISASTER SURVIVORS:

During fast-moving and chaotic disaster situations, the California Fire Foundation aims to administer direct financial relief to affected communities effectively and quickly. We work with a network of Community Based Organizations (CBOs) to identify residents whose homes are damaged or who are experiencing extended evacuation orders in their communities. These organizations are in a unique position to understand and recognize the immediate needs within their communities. Just as firefighters are often first to reach the frontline of fires, often CBOs are the first line of support to survivors of large-scale disasters at emergency aid centers and with their involvement in the distribution of the $250 Disaster Relief cash cards, we can quickly get vital aid to those in need.

 

MID & LONG-TERM WILDFIRE RELIEF:

Following the unprecedented devastation of the many catastrophic wildfires of recent years, the California Fire Foundation saw the need to provide ongoing, mid- and long-term support to the communities affected by disaster.

 

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

 

Direct Relief: California Fire Relief

In response to wildfires, Direct Relief provides N95 respirators, prescription medicines, medical supplies, hygiene kits, and financial assistance to local community health centers, free and charitable clinics, other safety-net organizations, and first responders in communities across California.

 

VISIT FUND

Entertainment Industry Foundation: Defy:Disaster

Defy: Disaster, a program of the Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF), is the entertainment community's collective and immediate response to natural disasters. Defy:Disaster mobilizes the industry and the public to deliver funding and support of vital services for the immediate relief, as well as long-term recovery, in affected areas.

 

See media coverage on their current support for the January 2025 Palisades Fire: Variety and The Hollywood Reporter

 

VISIT FUND

Latino Community Foundation: California Wildfire Relief Fund

Contributions to this fund support Latino-led organizations responding to the immediate needs of Latino families impacted by the current wildfires across the state of California. Funding provides emergency food and financial assistance, rapid rehousing, and long-term 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

Los Angeles Unified School District Educational Foundation: 2025 Fire Response: Emergency Relief

The Foundation has established an emergency relief fund for those in the LAUSD community impacted by the fires. This Fund will support immediate relief, support for continuity of learning, mental health, and other short and long term needs for the community.  

VISIT FUND

National Forest Foundation: Southern California Forest Fund

Funds will be used on Southern California National Forests primarily for three purposes:

 

Post-wildfire Restoration. Conducting restoration activities such as reforestation, soil stabilization and erosion control, rebuilding damaged infrastructure, and ensuring safe hiking and road corridors for forest visitors.

 

Wildfire Mitigation Work. Mitigating the risk of unnaturally severe wildfire in the future through activities to improve forest health and resilience such as forest thinning, prescribed burning, invasive species management, and ecological restoration.

 

Recreation Improvements. To build out and maintain recreation infrastructure including trails, trailheads, campgrounds, visitor centers, and picnic areas for the benefit of the millions of residents and visitors who recreate on National Forests each year.

 

The NFF will implement projects directly with the Forest Service, through other nonprofit partners, with commercial vendors, or through agreements with state or local authorities to achieve the greatest impact with contributed funds. Funds will be applied to the greatest need as determined by the NFF in consultation with the Forest Service.

 

 

VISIT FUND

Pasadena Community Foundation: Eaton Canyon Fire Relief and Recovery Fund

The Pasadena Community Foundation (PCF) has opened the Eaton Canyon Fire Relief and Recovery Fund providing an opportunity for those who want to support immediate and pressing needs even as the fire continues to spread. The Pasadena Community Foundation Eaton Canyon Fire Relief and Recovery Fund provides flexible support to local nonprofit organizations as they respond to the local Eaton Canyon fire.

 

 

 

VISIT FUND

United Way of Greater Los Angeles: Wildfire Response Fund

Wildfires in LA County are affecting tens of thousands of people. United Way focuses on longer-term recovery efforts to support members of our community, and we are working with our community partners to assess the impact on the ground.

 

VISIT FUND

Ventura County Community Foundation: Disaster Relief & Recovery Fund

The County of Ventura, in partnership with the Ventura County Community Foundation, has established an emergency fund accepting donations to support community members and local nonprofit organizations most affected by the Mountain Fire. The Ventura County Wildfire Relief and Recovery Fund is open for giving and is dedicated to supporting individuals and nonprofit organizations that provide essential aid to those most affected in times of crisis. One hundred percent of contributions go directly toward relief efforts, focusing resources on those who need it most.

 

VISIT FUND

2-1-1

211 is a free information and referral service that connects people to health and human services in their community 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  211 serves people of all income levels, languages and cultural backgrounds and is available to 96% of Californians and to 85% of U.S. households. 211 also plays a critical role in providing information and support in times of disaster, such as evacuation, shelter, food, medical and recovery information, and provides public officials with feedback from callers about changing conditions.  211 programs are supported by United Way, public and private funders, city and county agencies and more. California United Ways operate and/or provide major funding for 2-1-1 programs throughout the state.

 

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.

 

Get Earthquake Alerts: MyShake

Earthquake Warning California is the country’s first publicly available, statewide warning system providing California residents crucial seconds to take cover before you feel shaking. Managed by the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES), Earthquake Warning California uses ground motion sensors from across the state to detect earthquakes before humans can feel them and can notify Californians to “Drop, Cover and Hold On” in advance of an earthquake.

 

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.

 

Listos California Resource Hub

Listos California has free materials in many languages that you can use and share to promote disaster preparedness in your home and community.

 

National Weather Service

Provides information on weather conditions across the United States and California. Includes current active alerts, forecast maps, radar, rivers, lakes & rainfall information, air quality, satellite, and past weather data.

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