California Fire Foundation
The California Fire Foundation (CFF) is a 501(c)(3) public benefit charity based in Sacramento, California. Founded in 1987 by California Professional Firefighters, the organization operates with a staff of 11-15 individuals. CFF provides emotional and financial assistance to families of fallen firefighters, firefighters, and the communities they protect. The foundation also maintains the California Firefighters Memorial at the State Capitol in Sacramento, which honors firefighters who lost their lives in the line of duty.
Key facts about California Fire Foundation
- EIN
- 68-0118991
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,492,051
- Grants made (2024)
- 88
- Average grant
- $16,955
- Median grant
- $15,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 53% first-time grantees (47 of 88, 2024)
- Total assets
- $20,669,837
- Primary geography
- California (93% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Who California Fire Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for California Fire Foundation's 88 itemized 2024 grants were California (93%). The most frequent recipient cities were Redding, CA (4 grants), Sacramento, CA (4 grants), Santa Rosa, CA (3 grants) and Quincy, CA (3 grants). None of its 86 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Wildfire Mitigaition" (44 grants), "Wildfire Mitigation" (20 grants) and "Fire Education" (5 grants).
Is California Fire Foundation open to new grantees?
53%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 47 of 88 grantees (53%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $16K; repeat grants $19K. How we count
Medians: $15K first-time, $15K repeat.
- 20% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−17%). Method
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with California Fire Foundation
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Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$20.7M
-6.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.5M
-28.4% YoY
Grant Count
88
+1.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$17K
-29.2% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The California Fire Foundation provides emotional and financial assistance to families of fallen firefighters, firefighters, and the communities they protect.
Primary Program Areas:
- Survivor and Victim Assistance Programs: Including the California Firefighters Benevolent Fund, the Daniel A. Terry Scholarship for children of fallen firefighters, the California Last Alarm Service Team, and the Supplying Aid to Victims of Emergency (SAVE) Program
- Public Education & Fire Safety: The "Firefighters on Your Side" public education campaign teaches members of the public throughout California to prevent and prepare for fires through person-to-person workshops, print media, and electronic media
- Community Initiatives: Public safety campaigns in underserved communities, long-term wildfire relief efforts, and the Pipes and Drums of CPF
- Memorial Services: Annual public memorial ceremony to honor fallen firefighters
- Disaster Relief: Assistance to victims of fires and other major disasters
Grantmaking
CFF operates as both a grantmaker and direct service provider.
Ready to take the next step with California Fire Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
CFF primarily funds in California and Hawaii, with specific recent focus on:
- Southern, Central, and Coastal California
- Los Angeles and Ventura Counties (for wildfire disaster relief and recovery)
- Underserved communities throughout California
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 88 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Financial Data (2023-2024):
| Metric | Amount |
|---|---|
| Total Assets | $20,669,837 |
| Total Revenue | $5,085,617–$5,288,152 |
| Total Expenses | $6,766,000–$7,040,853 |
| Total Liabilities | $296,000 |
Financial Rating: CFF has received a Four-Star rating from Charity Navigator with a score of 92%, reflecting strong overall performance in accountability and finance. The organization demonstrates effective financial management with a strong program expense ratio.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $20,669,837 | $22,135,588 | $23,584,537 |
| Revenue | $5,288,152 | $5,085,617 | $4,881,565 |
| Expenses | $7,040,853 | $6,766,881 | $6,432,496 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $860,206 | $631,513 | $42,365 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
547 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
6 open opportunities from California Fire Foundation
California Fire Foundation Community Grants
California Fire Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
California Fire Foundation FCTC Financial Awards
California Fire Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
California Statewide Wildfire Safety and Preparedness Funding
California Fire Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Projectcamp ($75,000), Northern Valley Catholic Social Ser ($65,000), Hawaii Fire Fighters Association L ($57,166).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| PROJECTCAMP Los Angeles, CA | AWARENESS | $75,000 |
| NORTHERN VALLEY CATHOLIC SOCIAL SER Redding, CA | WILDFIRE MITIGAITION | $65,000 |
| HAWAII FIRE FIGHTERS ASSOCIATION L Honolulu, HI | DISASTER RELEIF | $57,166 |
| THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CA Santa Barbara, CA | WILDFIRE MITIGAITION | $50,000 |
| OTHERS | — | $48,124 |
| THE CALIFORNIA LATINO LEGISLATIVE C Sacramento, CA | EDUCATION&RESEARCH | $45,000 |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF THE NORTH S Redding, CA | WILDFIRE MITIGATION | $25,000 |
| EL DORADO COMMUNITY FOUNDATION Placerville, CA | WILDFIRE MITIGATION | $25,000 |
| NORTH COAST RESOURCE CONSERVATION & Santa Rosa, CA | WILDFIRE MITIGAITION | $25,000 |
| TRAUMA INTERVENTION PROGRAM FOOTHIL Prather, CA | WILDFIRE MITIGAITION | $23,156 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brian Rice | President | 5 | — |
| Rick Martinez | Executive Di | 45 | $163,257 |
| Kara Haynes | DD of Comm R | 45 | $113,108 |
| Joslyn Beile | Dep Dir of P | 45 | $117,502 |
| Mike Lopez | Treasurer | 5 | — |
| Charles Martinez | Director | 1 | $1,880 |
| Rex Pritchard | Director | 1 | $1,225 |
| Tim Edwards | Director | 1 | $470 |
| Freddy Escobar | Director | 1 | — |
| Dave Gillotte | Director | 1 | — |
| Trevor Jamison | Director | 1 | — |
| Jair Juarez | Director | 1 | — |
| Darrell Roberts | Director | 1 | — |
| Daniel a Terry | Director | 1 | — |
| Vince Wells | Director | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
CFF and PG&E Corporation Foundation have announced wildfire safety grants for the eighth consecutive year, continuing their partnership to protect communities from wildfire risks.
CFF and PG&E award wildfire safety grants for eighth yearFrequently Asked Questions
What does California Fire Foundation fund?
The California Fire Foundation provides emotional and financial assistance to families of fallen firefighters, firefighters, and the communities they protect. **Primary Program Areas:** • **Survivor and Victim Assistance Programs:** Including the California Firefighters Benevolent Fund, the Daniel A. Terry Scholarship for children of fallen firefighters, the California Last Alarm Service Team, and the Supplying Aid to Victims of Emergency (SAVE) Program • **Public Education & Fire Safety:** The…
How do I apply for a grant from California Fire Foundation?
CFF operates as both a grantmaker and direct service provider. **Grant Activity:** • Total giving: $2,588,421 (based on most recent IRS Form 990) • Typical award range: $5,275–$671,358 • 2 live grant opportunities identified **Active Grant Programs:** • Southern, Central & Coastal California Fire Prevention & Preparedness Grant • Wildfire Disaster Relief & Recovery in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties **Recent Grantmaking Activity:** CFF partners with PG&E Corporation Foundation to award wildfir…
Where does California Fire Foundation make grants?
CFF primarily funds in California and Hawaii, with specific recent focus on: • Southern, Central, and Coastal California • Los Angeles and Ventura Counties (for wildfire disaster relief and recovery) • Underserved communities throughout California
What size grants does California Fire Foundation award?
In 2024, California Fire Foundation awarded 88 grants totaling $1.5M — an average of about $17K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is California Fire Foundation's EIN?
California Fire Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 68-0118991. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Browse active grant opportunities in California Fire Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.