Why the California Wildfire & Disaster Relief Fund?
Climate change is reshaping California, with wildfires, droughts, and extreme heat events increasing in severity each year. Latinos are twice as likely to live in high-risk areas, yet less than 1.3% of U.S. disaster philanthropy reaches Latino communities. Without targeted investment, these disparities will continue to grow, leaving our families and businesses vulnerable.
LCF has invested over $4M into grassroots organizations on the frontlines of wildfire relief, recovery, and long-term resilience efforts. We are building the infrastructure necessary for Latino communities to lead recovery efforts and take their future into their own hands.
The wildfires in Los Angeles have devastated countless families, including homeowners, tenants, small business owners, and low-wage workers such as domestic workers and day laborers, who form the backbone of their communities. LCF will ensure that Latino and immigrant families are not left in the shadows of relief efforts and have a voice and an active role in the rebuilding of their communities. Utilizing our Just Recovery framework, LCF will strengthen the local Latino and BIPOC nonprofit ecosystem to amplify their voice and power as LA realizes a new vision forward.
To date, LCF has raised $6 million and rapidly deployed $2.1 million to equip grassroots nonprofits with the robust resources needed to effectively mobilize and support impacted communities. LCF is both investing in and standing alongside community-based organizations that are deeply rooted in and trusted by impacted communities, are led by strong leadership, and have the capacity to respond to the immediate needs of Latino and BIPOC families while also advocating for long-term systemic change. These powerful and diverse hyperlocal and county-wide organizations provide direct services and financial assistance to low-income communities as well as advocate for the coordination of regional resources to drive an equitable and just recovery.
The Just Recovery Partnership
Through this fund, LCF co-designed a new model for disaster philanthropy in deep collaboration with community leaders. We named it the Just Recovery Partnership.
Across Napa and Sonoma Counties, we built a regional coalition of Latino leaders and nonprofits to leverage resources, coordinate relief efforts, and advance civic engagement. We invested in local leadership and resilience, an approach that has strengthened communities during wildfires, the COVID-19 pandemic, and ongoing economic challenges.
Help Us Achieve a Just Recovery for Latino Communities
Your support is key to helping us fulfill our Just Recovery goals. By donating to LCF, you can sustain Latino grassroots leaders with the resources they need to proactively shape their communities and respond to crises. Disaster philanthropy can shift from short-term charity to long-term power-building that secures lasting wins in housing, jobs, education, and civic engagement. With your help, we can empower Latino communities to lead the charge on disaster resilience.
Our Strategy: A Three-Phase Approach
1. Emergency Preparedness & Immediate Relief
During an emergency, public generosity skyrockets. We leverage this moment to drive long-term change while ensuring Latino, Indigenous, and BIPOC families are safe. Our grassroots partners mobilize to provide:
● Financial aid
● Rehousing support
● Food and transportation assistance
● Language translation services
In 2022, our Promotoras distributed over 300 emergency to-go bags to farmworker families ahead of wildfire season. The families we support in times of crisis become the foundation for ongoing community engagement.
In 2025, LCF raised more than $5 million within 30 days of LA Wildfires from foundation partners and more than 2,000 donors across the nation that contributed an average of $88.32 to the Fund. In the first phase of our response, LCF awarded $2.1 million to sixteen organizations providing immediate relief to workers and families affected by the LA wildfires. Through our fund, we were able to prioritize direct cash assistance and financial relief for day laborers, domestic workers, street vendors, and small business owners. We also enabled grantees to provide tenant protections, worker rights, culturally rooted mental health services, and youth and family services.
2. Strengthening Organizations for a Just Recovery
Latino nonprofits are the gateways to the community. We fund organizations that can serve as anchor institutions during crises and in rebuilding efforts. This includes:
● Hiring staff, including Promotoras and youth organizers
● Expanding organizational capacity to meet evolving community needs
● Developing long-term disaster response plans tailored to Latino families
3. Building Power for Systemic Change
Recovery involves creating systemic change. That’s why the California Wildfire & Disaster Relief Fund connects directly to our broader Latino Power Fund. Together, we invest in:
● Latino voter mobilization and civic engagement efforts
● Census and election participation to ensure representation in policymaking
● Advocacy for tenant and worker rights, securing long-term protections for Latino families
Your Support Matters
By supporting the California Wildfire & Disaster Relief Fund, you’re helping Latino communities, who are hit hardest by climate change, take the lead in the fight for a fair and sustainable future.
Impact
$6.9M+
Total Grantmaking Dollars
53
Number of Grantees
$4M+
Total Grantmaking for Immediate Relief – Phase I
$1.2M+
Total Grantmaking for Recovery – Phase II
$1.6M+
Total Grantmaking for Resilience – Phase III
