California Wildfires Long-Term Recovery Grant Program

The 2025 California Wildfires Long-Term Recovery Grant Program is administered by the American Red Cross in response to the severe impact of the Palisades and Eaton Wildfires. As part of its broader recovery initiative across affected Southern California communities, the Red Cross seeks to fund organizations addressing critical recovery needs through innovative and community-centered projects. The grant program is part of the Red Cross's commitment to supporting long-term disaster recovery with a focus on equity, resilience, and capacity-building for affected populations. The grant opportunity supports four major programmatic areas: housing stability, mental health and wellness, disparities in recovery for underserved communities, and organizational capacity building. In the housing domain, the Red Cross is particularly interested in projects that help displaced residents and stabilize legacy communities through transitional or nontraditional housing strategies. However, the program will not fund rental property repairs, smoke or ash remediation, or full home rebuilds. In the mental health sector, projects that provide trauma-informed care, such as domestic violence prevention or family counseling, are prioritized. For disproportionately affected populations, eligible projects may focus on financial literacy, livelihood development, legal aid, or support for aging communities. Lastly, the grant will fund internal organizational strengthening efforts including staffing, technology, or limited capital improvements if approved in advance. Funding awards range from a minimum of $150,000 to a maximum of $1,000,000, with exceptions considered case-by-case. Grantees are allowed to include up to 3% of their requested funding for indirect or overhead costs. Funding may also include reasonable salaries or consultant fees directly tied to service delivery. Applicants with total project budgets exceeding their requested grant amount must identify other funding sources to cover the balance. Capital expenses are permitted only under specific circumstances with prior approval by Red Cross senior leadership. The grant term begins on November 3, 2025, and ends no later than October 31, 2027. To be eligible, applicants must be non-profit organizations with at least three years of 501(c)(3) status and preferably an annual operating budget of at least $250,000. Organizations that do not meet these criteria but address a critical need may apply through a fiscal sponsor. All applicants must also pass a financial due diligence process, which evaluates fiscal health indicators such as liquidity, revenue diversity, and grant-to-revenue ratios. Preference will be given to organizations with a proven track record in disaster recovery, especially those serving communities that face systemic recovery barriers. All projects must follow Red Cross principles of non-discrimination and humanitarian service delivery. The grant application process involves multiple steps beginning with a mandatory information session offered between June 24 and July 23, 2025. Pre-applications are due July 23, 2025, and applicants may be invited to discuss their proposals with Red Cross staff. Selected organizations will receive an invitation to submit a full application by September 12, 2025. Applications will be reviewed through a due diligence process, and awards will be announced on a rolling basis between September 15 and October 31, 2025. Interested applicants must submit documentation such as a 501(c)(3) determination letter, W-9 form, a board list, two years of audited financials or 990s, and a current fiscal year budget. Awarded grantees will be required to submit monthly program and financial reports, maintain licensing and background checks for direct-service personnel, and coordinate all public acknowledgments with Red Cross communications guidelines. For questions, language assistance, or technical support, applicants can contact the Red Cross via email at wildfiresLTR@redcross.org. Additional information and registration links for info sessions are available at http://redcross.org/CAFireGrants.

Must attend one Information Session to be eligible. Sessions run June 24 to July 23, twice weekly.