Skip nav to main content.

How Donations Helped Fire Survivors (North Bay Fire Relief Fund Distribution Information)

The North Bay Fire Relief Fund was created to support the immediate needs (relief phase, or phase 1-of-3 in disaster recovery) of North Bay fire survivors. The fund was created by The Press Democrat, Senator Mike McGuire and Redwood Credit Union, and was housed within Redwood Credit Union Community Fund, a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit fund. Following is information about how funds supported North Bay fire survivors.

RCU paid all administrative costs, so 100% of donations supported fire survivors.

Who/what did the donations support?

The North Bay Fire Relief Fund supported the immediate needs of people and businesses in the four affected counties (Sonoma, Napa, Mendocino and Lake) who were impacted by the North Bay fires, including:

  • People/residents who lost homes
  • People who experienced economic hardship due to lost or interrupted employment as a result of the fires
  • First responders who lost homes while fighting fires and protecting our communities
  • K-12 and college students who lost homes
  • Small businesses who lost business or were impacted by the fires
  • Fire survivor health and well-being
  • Grants to 56 nonprofits supporting immediate needs of fire survivors were provided. For a list of these nonprofits, please visit: www.rcucommunityfund.org/north-bay-fire-relief/grants

Who made fund distribution decisions?

The RCU Community Fund, Inc. Board determined allocations from the North Bay Fire Relief Fund, with recommendations from representatives from The Press Democrat, Senator Mike McGuire and Redwood Credit Union. For grants provided to nonprofits, a grant committee comprised of North Bay leaders was formed to review applications and make recommendations based on criteria that included supporting the immediate needs of fire survivors. The RCU Community Fund Board was/is the decision making body for all grants provided from the North Bay Fire Relief Fund.

Where did the funds go/Who received funds?

Total funds donated & distributed/allocated: $32,028,981

The generous contributions of over 41,100 donors from 23 countries to the North Bay Fire Relief Fund supported immediate needs of fire survivors and the community in the four affected counties in the following ways:

$20,498,854 supported:

  • People who lost homes
  • People who experienced economic hardship due to lost or interrupted employment as a result of the fires
  • First responders who lost homes while fighting fires and protecting our community
  • K-12 and college students who lost homes in the fires, for replacing school clothes and supplies

$9,587,586 supported:

  • Nonprofits providing services to aid immediate needs of fire survivors, including financial assistance, urgent food, housing, and family support needs. For a list of these nonprofits who assisted fire survivors, please visit: www.rcucommunityfund.org/north-bay-fire-relief/grants

$1,000,000 supported:

  • Small businesses in the four affected counties whose business were impacted by the fires

$942,541 supported:

  • Fire Survivor Health and Well-Being, including:
    • Temporary-to-permanent housing
    • Health and dental care
    • Lost sports equipment to support impacted kids
    • Holiday programs for fire survivors

Our heartfelt gratitude to our generous donors, and to our nonprofit partners who assisted in providing incredible support. We're especially grateful to these nonprofits who provided resources to receive applications & distribute checks from the North Bay Fire Relief Fund to fire survivors:

  • United Way of the Wine Country
  • La Luz
  • North Coast Opportunities (NCO)
  • Center for Volunteer and Nonprofit Leadership (CVNL)

Additionally: California Human Development, Catholic Charities of Santa Rosa, Community Action Napa Valley, Community Action Partnership, Lake Area Rotary Club Association, Petaluma People Services, Redwood Empire Food Bank and UndocuFund. We also thank the 56 nonprofits who are receiving grants from the North Bay Fire Relief Fund for your support of the immediate needs of fire survivors in the four impacted counties.

Together, we made a difference!

RCUCF is s 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization - Tax ID #47-5084832.  All donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.  

Last updated 7/18/18