Overview
The California Fire Foundation (CFF) is a statewide nonprofit 501(c)(3) charitable organization based in Sacramento, CA. Formed in 1987, CFF’s mandate includes an array of survivor assistance projects and community initiatives. Since launching our first funding cycle, over 80% of Governor declared disasters have been wildfire related. The last few fire years in particular have been the deadliest and most destructive in California’s history.
Catastrophic, climate-caused disaster events pose a significant risk to the public’s safety. But, too often, under-resourced communities in high-threat areas lack the resources and information needed to stay safe. CFF, fire departments, local firefighter associations and other community-based organizations are positioned to work in partnership -- providing needed resources to help mitigate the risk of wildfires and other climate-caused disasters. Our grantees are tackling some of the state’s toughest disaster risk needs. Each year, requests for grant funding steadily increase -- with every funding cycle often more competitive than the last.
Focus Areas
The California Fire Foundation supports projects that actively address wildfire preparedness and/or prevention needs, which protect and enhance the public’s safety or the safety of California’s firefighters and other first responders, including:
In this cycle, funding priority will be given to applicants whose climate-caused wildfire or other disaster prevention or preparedness projects serve under-resourced communities at heightened risk and/or socially vulnerable populations, including low-income/impoverished, minority status, limited English proficiency, disability, and seniors/older adults, to name a few, with particular emphasis given to those serving areas of heightened fire risk.
Funding Priorities & Guidelines
STATEWIDE GRANT
OPPORTUNITY
Contact Us Grants Portal
Vegetation Mitigation & Fuels Reduction
Education, Planning and/or Community Outreach Campaigns Personal Protective Equipment
Specialized Firefighting Equipment
Guidelines
Applicant must be a California-based fire department, firefighter association or a nonprofit organization. Other groups may apply when doing so in collaboration with one of the three above-referenced entities, including fiscal agents;
Fire departments serving and firefighter associations representing the same community, or whose personnel/members serve the same geographic region, are eligible to individually apply for funding;
Project must benefit communities in California, with priority given to disinvested communities and historically marginalized populations located in high-threat areas; Requested amount should not exceed $25,000 (requests outside of this range will be considered on an as-needed basis);
CFF does not require matching funds; and
Funding decisions are generally communicated several weeks after the application window closes. Applicants may track the status of their submissions on their grants portal dashboard.
Should You Apply?
Yes No
Your project serves a community located in a
high disaster-risk area of California?
X
Fire Department X
Firefighter Association X
Nonprofit Organization X
Tribal Entity X
Individual X
Private Business (Corporation, LLC, sole proprietorship) X Political Campaign or Lobbying Effort X
Capital Project X
Annual Fundraising Appeal X
Grantees: In Their Own Words
“A huge thank you to the California Fire Foundation! CFMC has been able to increase our capacity to protect the Yurok community from catastrophic wildfire while contributing to the cultural lifeways of the Yurok People...” -Cultural Fire Management Council
“Receiving this grant means everything to our staff, smaller departments like ours don't have the funds to purchase new equipment like this. Without the California Fire Foundation, we would not have the wildland equipment we need to protect our community.” -Tuolumne Fire District “The California Fire Foundation grant enabled us to perform much needed fuel reduction work to make our community more fire safe and to increase our firefighting capability. We could not have been done this without the Foundation’s help.” -Stewards of the Sequoia “With funding opportunities from the California Fire Foundation, we are able to spread awareness and create preparedness for our underserved rural communities who reside in fire prone areas of California.” -Kern River Conservancy
“The California City Fire Department is grateful for being selected and awarded this much-needed grant, especially with limited city budget funds. This grant opportunity allowed us to better ensure and enhance the safety of our firefighters so they can better serve our community...” -California City Fire Department