Funder Briefing: January 2025 Firestorm & Wildfires in Southern California

In the last week, a series of devastating wildfires associated with an extreme wind event swept through Southern California, prompting swift action from local, state, and federal authorities. Thousands of structures have been affected, over 200,000 residents have been displaced, and at least 24 civilians have lost their lives. Government officials, including Governor Gavin Newsom, issued emergency declarations as the fires intensified, allowing for the rapid deployment of resources to protect lives, property, and critical infrastructure. These declarations were followed by a major presidential disaster declaration, signed by President Biden within days of the fires' peak intensity.

Philanthropy California – the alliance of SoCal Grantmakers, Northern California Grantmakers, and Catalyst of San Diego & Imperial Counties comprising 600+ funders across the state – is working in close partnership with the Governor's Office, The California Governor's Office of Emergency Services, and the League of California Community Foundations to coordinate cross-sector response to these devastating incidents. We invite you to join us for a special funder briefing on the January 2025 firestorm and wildfires in Southern California, where we will provide an update on the current philanthropic response in the region. Panel speakers will include representatives from emergency management, government, community foundations, and other organizations addressing unmet needs on the ground.

Speakers to be announced soon.

Gentle note: This webinar will be recorded and shared if you are unable to attend for any reason. Our hearts go out to the members of our community and their loved ones who have been impacted by the devastating wildfires in our region. We hope everyone who has been affected is safe and has been able to evacuate to a secure location. 

Response Funds & Resources

While our sector is grateful for the fast-moving support from the federal government, we know that disasters such as wildfires often exacerbate existing inequalities, especially in low-income communities and communities of color. We believe philanthropy plays a crucial role in resourcing resilience while centering those often overlooked in disaster response and recovery. 

In addition to this briefing, our team is vetting active funds and resources supporting disaster response and community preparedness to mitigate further damage, which you can find below. 

Philanthropy California's Disaster Response Page
Cal OES - California Donations Portal
United Philanthropy Forum - PSO Resource Page