Fire Relief Fund Grants
The Monterey County Fire Relief Fund was created August 19, 2020 to help individuals and families impacted by current and future wildfires throughout Monterey County.
Grants from this special purpose fund will support nonprofit organizations assisting with relief, recovery and rebuilding efforts for individuals and organizations affected by the fire. The grant guidelines are subject to change in order to be flexible and responsive to needs as they arise.
Grant Criteria
At this time, grants from the fund will focus on relief and recovery efforts and will be considered for the following types of activities:
Relief Efforts
Funds may be provided to organizations providing immediate direct relief to individuals in Monterey County impacted from the fires. Some possible activities might include:
- Support for emergency shelter
- Support for evacuees and residents (food, housing and immediate needs)
- Financial assistance to those evacuated, and/or to those displaced or affected by the closure of businesses/employment
- Efforts to support firefighters (equipment, etc.)
Recovery Efforts
Funds may be provided to organizations providing programming in Monterey County for communities impacted from the fires. Some possible activities might include:
- Assist nonprofit organizations with program support and related impacts due to the wildfires and evacuations (Ex: program or service interruptions or relocation and reopening due to evacuations in the affected areas, equipment and other supplies due to evacuations and fire damage in the affected areas).
- Programming to address the related-mental health impact
Rebuilding efforts
Due to the size and scope of the fires, we expect the rebuilding efforts to be long-term.
Some possible activities might include:
- Assistance to individuals who lost property (items not covered by insurance)
- Environmental projects to replant and rebuild burn scar areas
- Preparedness projects to help the community build disaster resilience.
Selecting Grants
We expect the needs generated by these fires will exceed the available funds. Applications will be reviewed by CFMC staff for approval by the CFMC President/CEO.
Grant Awards
Grants are expected to range between $2,000 to $30,000. Organizations may apply for more than one grant during the calendar year, as this fund is intended to be responsive to the ongoing needs of the community.
Eligibility
- Grants are open to 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations and other public agencies serving the communities affected by the wildfires that began in Monterey County in August 2020.
- Businesses and individuals are not eligible to apply at this time.
Exclusions
- Activities that are non-secular or promote a religious doctrine
- Academic or medical research
- Funding to schools and public agencies that would supplant tax-supported, mandated services
- Annual fundraising campaigns or events
- Creation of, or addition to, endowment funds
- Payment of debt or legal settlements
- Political or partisan purposes
- Unincorporated Groups
- Fiscally sponsored groups
CFMC does not support organizations that discriminate in their employment practices, volunteer opportunities, or delivery of programs and services on the basis of race, religion, gender, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, or any other characteristics protected by law.
Submitting a Grant Proposal
Monterey County Fire Relief Fund grant applications can be submitted at any time while funds are available. Grantmaking decisions will typically be made within two to four weeks of receipt of the proposal.
Apply for a Grant
Please visit www.cfmco.org/Apply for the grant application, instructions and all materials needed to submit a proposal.
Monterey County Fire Relief Fund Guidelines
Monterey County Fire Relief Fund Application
Organizations that are awarded a Monterey County Fire Relief Fund grant are encouraged to stay in close contact with the CFMC on the progress of their efforts. A final grant report will not be required.
Contact
If you have questions about the Monterey County Fire Relief Fund grantmaking process after reviewing the guidelines and application instructions, please contact Laurel Lee-Alexander, Vice President of Community Impact, laurel@cfmco.org or 831.375.9712 x 112.
Recent Grants
Monterey County Fire Relief fund began making grants to Monterey County nonprofits just five days after the fund opened. As of September 2, 2021, $920,906 was granted, with more grant requests under review.
Recent Grants
| American Red Cross of the Central Coast | $30,000 | Recovery efforts for Monterey County fires |
| Big Sur Fire | $38,665 | Firefighter needs for the Dolan Fire: equipment repair and replacement, volunteer firefighter stipends and meals, fuel |
| Big Sur Grange | $20,000 | Fire cleanup and ADA access |
| Big Sur Land Trust | $30,000 | River Fire recovery at Marks Ranch (Salinas) |
| Big Sur Park School | $25,344 | Tuition assistance |
| Cachagua Fire Protection Disctrict | $1,500 | Pagers and Personal Protective Equipment |
| Cachagua Fire Protection District | $11,798 | Firefighting clothing/protection and vehicle repair/maintenance |
| Cachagua Fire Protection District | $1,748 | Generator rental and fuel |
| Cachagua Fire Protection District | $17,500 | Pagers and Personal Protection Equipment |
| Cachagua Fire Protection District | $19,000 | Pagers and personal protection equipment |
| Carmel Valley Kiwanis Foundation | $10,000 | direct financial support for evacuees (food, housing and immediate needs) |
| Carmel Valley Kiwanis Foundation | $20,000 | Carmel Valley Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) mobile incident trailer and training |
| Carmel Valley Kiwanis Foundation | $20,000 | Community Emergency Response Team mobile incident trailer and training |
| Carmel Valley Rotary Club Foundation | $2,000 | “Chipper Day” for Robles del Rio, Carmel Valley |
| Carmel Valley Rotary Club Foundation | $2,000 | Chipper Day For Robles del Rio, Carmel Valley |
| Catholic Charities Of The Diocese Of Monterey | $10,000 | direct financial support for evacuees (food, housing and immediate needs) |
| Community Association of Big Sur | $10,000 | direct financial support for evacuees (food, housing and immediate needs) |
| Community Association of Big Sur | $50,000 | Financial support for workers |
| Community Association of Big Sur | $50,000 | Dolan Fire: Firefighter relief and fire recovery |
| Community Association of Big Sur | $16,000 | Dolan Fire Relief for the 15 Firefighters at the Nacimiento Station Incident |
| Community Emergency Response Volunteers of the Monterey Peninsula | $30,000 | MontereyCoRecovers Relief Fund – basic needs |
| Community Emergency Response Volunteers of the Monterey Peninsula | $12,250 | CERT training and PPE |
| Community Emergency Response Volunteers of the Monterey Peninsula | $15,000 | MontereyCoRecovers Relief Fund Efforts #2 |
| Community Emergency Response Volunteers of the Monterey Peninsula | $135,000 | Financial assistance to families impacted by the Carmel Fire |
| Community Emergency Response Volunteers of the Monterey Peninsula | $120,000 | Recovery support for individuals and businesses impacted by debris flow and mudslides |
| Community Emergency Response Volunteers of the Monterey Peninsula | $1,000 | CERT Radio Coverage on Monterey Peninsula |
| Community Emergency Response Volunteers of the Monterey Peninsula | $70,000 | Recovery support for residents impacted by debris flow and mudslides (River Fire, Salinas) |
| Community Emergency Response Volunteers of the Monterey Peninsula | $120,000 | Recovery support for individuals and businesses impacted by debris flow and mudslides |
| Community Emergency Response Volunteers of the Monterey Peninsula | $1,000 | CERT Radio Coverage on Monterey Peninsula |
| Community Emergency Response Volunteers of the Monterey Peninsula | $70,000 | Recovery support for residents impacted by debris flow and mudslides |
| Conservancy for the Range of the Condor | $15,360 | Repairing fire break damage on Anastasia Canyon property (hand crew restoration) |
| Conservancy for the Range of the Condor | $15,360 | Repairing fire break damage on Anastasia Canyon property |
| Foundation for Monterey County Free Libraries | $14,000 | Fire relief activities and supplies for evacuees in libraries |
| Friends of Cachagua Children’s Center | $15,000 | Grocery gift cards for Cachagua/Tassajara families |
| Hope, Horses & Kids | $11,500 | Evacuation operating support |
| Meals on Wheels of the Monterey Peninsula | $30,000 | Home Delivered Meals Program Expansion |
| Monterey County Youth Museum | $20,000 | Relief support for evacuees with children/organizational support |
| Monterey Firefighters Community Foundation | $45,000 | Monterey Firefighters emergency evacuation vehicle |
| Monterey Firefighters Community Foundation | $45,000 | Monterey Firefighters emergency evacuation vehicle |
| Monterey Firefighters Community Foundation | $2,241 | Wildland Fire Home Preparation Tools |
| Monterey Firefighters Community Foundation | $2,241 | Wildland Fire home preparation tools |
| Salinas Valley Fair | $30,000 | Fairgrounds digital infrastructure upgrade |
| Salvation Army-Monterey Peninsula Corps | $10,000 | direct financial support for evacuees (food, housing and immediate needs) |
| Ventana Wildlife Society | $30,000 | Rebuild the Condor Sanctuary |
Resources
The CFMC’s Center for Nonprofit Excellence has curated a list of Monterey County Fire Relief resources to support individuals and families.
Donate
Learn more or make a gift to support the Monterey County Fire Relief Fund.
