California Fire Foundation Grants (CA Fire Foundation)
Competitive grants to California fire departments, firefighter associations, tribes, and community organizations for local prevention, preparedness, mitigation, and resiliency projects. Much of the funding focuses on wildfire and climate-related prevention and preparedness, including vegetation and fuels reduction, community outreach, and PPE or specialized firefighting equipment.
Who it is for
California-based fire departments, local firefighter associations, federally recognized tribes, and nonprofit community organizations. Some funding cycles are regional (for example tied to a specific utility's service area), so eligibility can depend on location.
Department types: Career, Volunteer, Combination, Any department
An honest note on fit
A strong California-specific option, but heavily weighted toward wildfire and climate prevention and preparedness rather than general equipment or staffing. Some cycles are limited to a particular region or utility service area, so check that your location qualifies before applying.
Before you start
How you apply: Apply directly to the funder.
Apply directly to the foundation through its grant portal. Watch for the specific cycle that matches your region and project.
Match required: No match required for the foundation's wildfire prevention and preparedness cycles. Confirm current terms for your cycle.
How to apply
- Check the foundation's funding opportunities page for the current open cycle and whether it is statewide or regional.
- Confirm your organization type is eligible and your project fits the cycle's focus (often wildfire prevention and preparedness).
- Prepare the project description and budget within the cycle's funding range.
- Submit through the foundation's online grant portal by the cycle deadline.
Deadline: Multiple cycles open and close through the year, some statewide and some regional. Confirm the current open cycles and deadlines on the funding opportunities page. (Deadline varies)
Funding: Varies by cycle. Many awards are up to about $15,000 to $25,000, with larger requests considered as needed. Confirm the current range for the cycle you are applying to.
Verified as of 2026-05-31. Programs are checked periodically against their official source. Funding details and deadlines change. Confirm the current requirements on the official program page before you apply.