San Diego Regional Disaster Fund
The San Diego Regional Disaster Fund, a supporting organization of The San Diego Foundation, accepts charitable donations following a natural or manmade disaster in the San Diego region and makes grants to support disaster response, recovery, rebuilding, and preparedness activities.
Following a disaster, the San Diego Regional Disaster Fund is a resource for survivors, community members, nonprofit organizations, government entities, and donors for information on disaster impact and recovery. It is also a source of grant funding for nonprofit organizations working in recovery and rebuilding.
October 2007 Wildfires
The October 2007 wildfires comprised one of the largest natural disasters in California’s history. Combined, the fires scorched more than 575 square miles in San Diego County – destroying over 1,600 homes and impacting thousands of residents County-wide.
The Disaster Fund responded by commissioning a disaster-wide community needs assessment, which was published in December 2007. From this assessment emerged a five-point recovery strategy: Community Infrastructure for Recovery (Community Recovery Teams); Recovering Lives; Rebuilding Homes; Restoring the Environment; and Preparing for Future Wildfire Disasters.
Progress in each of these areas as well as updates on each affected community was reported in a follow up assessment nearly a year later in September 2008. A final report, which provides an overview of the Disaster Fund’s work from 2007 through 2010, was published in April 2011.
In total, over $10 million was granted in support of response, recovery, rebuilding, and preparedness efforts related to the 2007 fires. The San Diego Foundation and the San Diego Regional Disaster Fund are extremely grateful to the 2,200+ donors who contributed funds in support of our region’s recovery – none of this work could have been possible without their generosity.
Please visit the links below to learn more about the Disaster Fund’s work.
To get involved, donate or learn more about The Foundation’s Regional Disaster Fund, contact Robyn Sharp at
Robyn@sdfoundation.org or 619-235-2300.
