Cross-sector collaboration fills capacity gaps in building community resilience
Since 2017, California has experienced record-breaking wildfires and fire seasons. The Center for Disaster Philanthropy has long supported recovery from disasters in California – as a funder, advisor and partner. Through partnerships developed over the years, CDP has helped align funding to community-based organizations with policy and advocacy to ensure a fully integrated system addressing climate change and disasters in the state.
Though there is more work to do, we are sharing the impact that collaboration can have on sustaining and strengthening the capacity of local, mostly rural, Indigenous and BIPOC communities in the face of a rapidly changing climate.
Philanthropic collaboration
In 2023, we awarded Northern California Grantmakers (NCG) a grant from the California Wildfires Recovery Fund to help increase philanthropic investments in reducing the community’s risks and vulnerability to disasters and climate crises and support equitable long-term disaster recovery efforts.
Though the funding we provided NCG is not a typical grant for CDP, we realized making this investment in California would ultimately catalyze significantly more support for climate and disaster resilience for marginalized communities in the state.
Through this grant, NCG, in collaboration with CDP and other philanthropy-serving organizations in California, was able to:
- Increase capacity to coordinate and connect the philanthropic sector around climate and disaster resilience.
- Expand and implement funder education programs (training thousands of individuals in grant writing practices and principles).
- Advocate for equitable public and private funding for climate resilience & disaster preparedness and recovery.
- Leverage $3 million in additional disaster response, resilience & relief funding across California (2022-2024).
- Strengthen relationships with government and non-governmental partners like the California Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) and the League of California Community Foundations.
- Develop a joint plan with the League of California Community Foundations to build a disaster-resilient California.
Challenges
As the NCG team dove into the work this grant allowed them to do, they faced some challenges. California’s frequent disasters, including flooding in spring 2023, required ongoing support, shifting focus away from this critical long-term resilience planning. And, of course, there was a need for additional funding to fully implement the strategy.
Who the funding ultimately served
Though the primary audience for the funded project was the philanthropic sector, disaster-affected communities across California (estimated 39 million people) were indirect beneficiaries of this investment.
Examples of how this funding supported communities include a proven increase in funding for staff translators in disaster evacuation centers, immediate cash assistance provided more equitably to displaced households, critical case management and rapid-rehousing efforts funded and stood up more quickly, and an overall increase in the advocacy efforts for marginalized populations most disproportionately affected by disasters.
Successes
Through this funding, NCG was able to train over 1,600 individuals in grant writing through virtual and in-person programs. They significantly increased the number of funders advocating on climate and disaster bills through education efforts throughout the state.
NCG and its partners have solidified a plan for a disaster-resilient California and have begun to implement the plan. They also leveraged CDP’s funding to secure additional resources from other funders to continue the work.
Long-term sustainability
Though funding from this grant has been spent, NCG continues working to build a disaster-resilient philanthropic sector in California. They’ve permanently hired a director of climate and disaster resilience with experience in public funding in resilience. They’ve expanded their policy and advocacy work and include many local and national funders in making the case for removing vulnerabilities BEFORE hazard strikes. They continue to work with and encourage local community foundations to establish and permanently fund rapid-response and long-term recovery disaster funds.
“CDP’s catalyzing investment in our work has substantively evolved the field of disaster philanthropy in California,” shared Dwayne Marsh, President & CEO of Northern California Grantmakers. “It is a testament to the power of how well-aligned strategies can transform the sector in service of the communities we serve. We know the work is not yet done, and that continuing to grow the cadre of philanthropic partners that are engaged with us and with CDP will produce better outcomes throughout the region.”
Key learnings
Through this grant, we witnessed how investment in capacity can help leverage other support and expand the work. Providing flexible philanthropic funding is critical for immediate relief, long-term recovery and critical resilience efforts. This funding proved that collaboration across the philanthropic sector is essential to maximize our collective impact. Ongoing education and advocacy are necessary to build a disaster-resilient California and beyond.
Story by Sally Ray