Chan Zuckerberg Initiative Commits $3 Million in Response to California Wildfires

The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI) today announced $3 million in grants in response to the destructive wildfires impacting the San Francisco Bay Area and communities across the state. The organizations supported through these grants are providing emergency relief and recovery assistance, and helping communities build resilience to future wildfires.

As part of the commitment, CZI has granted $1 million to support wildfire response efforts in the San Francisco Bay Area: 

• $350,000 to the Community Foundation Santa Cruz County
• $250,000 to the Silicon Valley Community Foundation’s San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties Wildfire Relief Fund
• $250,000 to the United Way Bay Area’s Greater Bay Area Central Coast Wildfire Relief Fund
• $150,000 to Undocufund for Disaster Relief in Napa, Solano and Sonoma Counties

These grants will help individuals and families affected by the fires with access to basic needs—  like food, shelter, PPE, and cash assistance; and direct assistance for undocumented community members. These funds also support long-term recovery, including mental health services, and case management and navigation for relief programs.

CZI is also committing $2 million to broader statewide initiatives to respond to the fires, and to help build wildfire-resilient communities.

• $1 million to the League of California Community Foundations to support a pooled, statewide fund developed in partnership with the State of California and Governor Gavin Newsom focused on wildfire relief, recovery, and community resilience. 
• $500,000 to the Latino Community Foundation to provide immediate relief to Latinx and immigrant families impacted by the fires, and to rebuild a more just and equitable future for these communities.
• $500,000 to Listos California to expand public communications campaigns that engage and mobilize diverse and vulnerable populations around wildfire and other disaster preparedness. Listos California is anchored at the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services.

“During a season of unrelenting wildfires, we share in our community’s pain and concern, and are committed to supporting those who have lost so much,” said Cristina Huezo, Director of Community at the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative. “Wildfires are not going away, and as communities recover and rebuild, we are focused on supporting ongoing wildfire prevention and preparedness efforts.”

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About the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative

Founded by Dr. Priscilla Chan and Mark Zuckerberg in 2015, the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI) is a new kind of philanthropy that’s leveraging technology to help solve some of the world’s toughest challenges — from eradicating disease, to improving education, to reforming the criminal justice system. Across three core Initiative focus areas of Science, Education, and Justice & Opportunity, we’re pairing engineering with grant-making, impact investing, and policy and advocacy work to help build an inclusive, just and healthy future for everyone. For more information, please visit chanzuckerberg.com.