Community Directed Grant Program

The 2025 Community Directed Grant Program, offered by the Whitebark Institute with funding from Edison International, aimed to support fire prevention and resilience efforts in high-fire-risk areas of Southern California Edison’s (SCE) service territory, specifically in Inyo and Mono counties, California. The program was developed in response to pressing needs in these communities to reduce wildfire risk, restore natural habitats, and empower locally-driven environmental stewardship. Through this initiative, the Whitebark Institute sought to fund small-scale but impactful projects led by community-based organizations working to improve wildfire preparedness and environmental resilience. Eligible projects had to demonstrate tangible improvements in wildfire safety and align with at least one of the program’s three priority areas: defensible space and home hardening; fire prevention infrastructure and equipment; and wildfire mitigation through vegetation management. For example, funded activities could include contracting with landscaping professionals for challenging defensible space projects, renting dumpsters for green-waste disposal, purchasing personal protective equipment (PPE) for firefighting teams, or implementing small-scale fuels reduction programs using prescribed grazing. All proposals needed to show direct benefits to forest health, ecosystem restoration, or the protection of wildlife and plant habitats. The maximum grant award was $5,000 per project. Applications requesting more than this cap were not considered, although applicants were allowed to seek funding as a supplement to broader, multi-source projects. Importantly, the funding was restricted to tangible project expenses and could not be used for salaries or general administrative costs not directly linked to project completion. Eligible applicants included a diverse array of community-serving organizations such as Tribes, Fire Safe Councils, FireWise Communities, Fire Protection Districts, Fire Departments, Community Service Districts, Homeowner Associations, and nonprofits. Applicants had to demonstrate that their proposed project would take place within SCE’s service area in Inyo or Mono Counties. For entities without the appropriate tax status to directly receive contributed funds, the use of a qualified fiscal agent was required. For-profit businesses and individuals were not eligible to apply. The application process required two components: a completed application form submitted via Adobe Acrobat Sign, and a separate budget template emailed directly to the Whitebark Institute with a specific subject line format. Incomplete submissions were not considered. The application period opened on February 12, 2025, and closed on March 12, 2025. Optional applicant assistance was provided via virtual office hours on February 24 and 27. Award notifications were issued on March 28, 2025, and funded projects were expected to be completed by November 15, 2025. All grantees were required to submit a mid-project report by July 31 and a final impact report by November 15. These reports included narratives, photos documenting project progress and outcomes, and detailed budget summaries. The grant selection process was overseen by a panel of experts with regional knowledge, who evaluated applications based on potential community impact, environmental benefit, and the clarity of proposed outcomes.

Avoid general/administrative expense requests; focus on specific, measurable outcomes and confirm project location within SCE service area.