Philanthropy California is an alliance of Northern California, Southern California, and San Diego Grantmakers.
This website provides essential information about how funders can help during this fire season.
Philanthropy California is working with key state and local partners to monitor these various fires, compiling vetted funds, resources, and events on this response page. Please visit our Government Partner website, CalVolunteers for more, information about how you can help and prepare for wildfires.
Philanthropy California is deploying its deep work in disaster resilience efforts toward:
Sharing: What’s needed now, emerging issues, where funders can make the most of their contributions
Publicizing: Trusted funds for relief and recovery
Advising: How best to meet short and long-term needs
Connecting: Funders, government partners, and organizations active in responding to the disaster
Supporting: Funders with tools, connections, and expertise
If you have questions about Philanthropy California's Wildfire Response, please contact Alan Kwok, Director of Disaster Resilience at akwok@ncg.org.
Operational Status
Northern California, Southern California, and San Diego Grantmakers are fully operational.
Overview of the Historic 2020 California Wildfire Season
According to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, as of September 9, there have been 7,606 wildfires in California, burning 2,277,922 acres. There have been eight fatalities and over 3,800 structures destroyed. Today approximately 14,000 firefighters are battling 28 major wildfires across California.
To learn ways to be prepared and protect everyone in your family, visit www.ReadyForWildfire.org.
For the latest information on California statewide fires, please visit the CalFire website.
Critical Needs
Immediate needs include shelter, food, evacuation support, family reconnection, wage replacements, health care, and case management. Due to COVID-19, evacuation supports will require additional resources to accommodate non-congregate housing.
Recovery needs for each wildfire area vary, but attention should be given to long-term support for rehousing, income recovery, agricultural needs, and additional preparedness support to vulnerable populations. Due to the continuing threat of fire combined with the stress of the pandemic, there will be a significant demand for mental health and counseling services.
Many of the areas with fires are critical agricultural communities where laborers are often migrant workers or undocumented individuals. Many of them are impacted economically due to wildfire evacuations or temporary closure of work sites. Support and information need to be provided in the appropriate languages and with cultural competency.
As with most disasters, cash donations are recommended by disaster experts as they allow for on-the-ground agencies to direct funds to the greatest area of need, support economic recovery and ensure donation management does not detract from disaster recovery needs.
Many firefighters are volunteers and responding to a fire could result in a loss of their primary income source, so support is needed to support their basic needs.
