Announcing $780,000 to support wildfire and flooding recovery and resilience in California

Since creating the Center for Disaster Philanthropy California Wildfires Recovery Fund in 2020, we have developed deep community relationships throughout the state. Working closely with local, place-based funders, we are proud to fund alongside them to support efforts to better prepare for, prevent and respond to climate disasters in California.

Continued drought, wind and water

Beginning in December 2022 and continuing throughout spring 2023, Californians saw historic levels of rain and snow that flooded roads and homes and forced evacuations as millions lost power. They also faced rare tornadoes and winds that caused even more destruction. And, despite the historic rains, drought and water access issues continue to loom large for California, affecting those already struggling or systemically marginalized.

Supporting response, recovery and resilience

We are pleased to announce the following grants – from both the California Wildfires Recovery Fund and the CDP Disaster Recovery Fund – to support response and recovery from the winter and spring storms and to build community resilience in the face of continuing drought and fire risk in California:

• Corazon Healdsburg – A $30,000 response grant to provide direct financial assistance to cover expenses such as food, rent, utilities and other urgent unmet needs for farmworkers and low-income residents affected by the flooding in Northern Sonoma County. Assistance is distributed via check or gift cards between $100 – $1,000. This funding ensures that vulnerable farmworkers’ immediate needs are met, and they can remain housed and continue to work and support themselves and their families.
• La Familia Sana – $250,000 to address trauma related to specific disasters such as fires and floods and to prevent further mental health decline in individuals and families impacted by housing insecurity, immigration status stressors and food insecurity. The project aims to increase individual and family resilience and improve coping skills in the face of trauma and disaster exposure.
• North Bay Jobs With Justice – $250,000 to provide training and work opportunities for and by immigrant and Indigenous farmworkers that build resilience in the community while creating good jobs with family-sustaining wages and a deep respect for workers’ traditional ecological knowledge.
• Northern Valley Catholic Social Service – $200,000 to increase wildfire resilience levels while reducing associated risks among vulnerable populations. The Wildfire Resilience and Risk Reduction program will focus outreach and educational efforts on communities in high fire danger areas in Shasta, Siskiyou, Trinity, Butte, Tehama and Glenn counties.
• United Way of Santa Cruz County – A $50,000 response grant to help stabilize families affected by the flooding and storms. United Way provides those in need with disaster relief and recovery coordinated services and additional resources, helping keep residents in the community connected to support while waiting for longer-term financial assistance.

We continue to track and assess the needs throughout California as communities recover from the effects of drought, fire, wind and water, and we will work to support those populations most disproportionately affected by climate-caused events. We are grateful to our grantee, philanthropy and government partners for our collective focus on equitable disaster recovery and resilience.