California State Parks Foundation is an independent, member-supported nonprofit that mobilizes a diverse network of Californians to be active champions for our state parks. At California State Parks Foundation, our mission is to protect and preserve the California state park system, for the benefit of all.

This work includes grant opportunities centered on our four impact areas:

  • Climate Resiliency
  • Access and Experiences 
  • Park Excellence
  • Park Stewardship

Open grant opportunities will be listed here when available. If you would like to receive grant notifications please contact, Haley Gonzales, Community Partnership and Impact Manager, at, haley@calparks.org.

We believe that California’s state parks are essential to the health, happiness, and quality of life for all Californians. If we truly are to benefit all, we must address justice, equity, inclusion, and diversity (JEID) in our work. You can learn more about our JEID values and commitments here.

We hope you will join us as we work to carry out our vision to have Californians experience, engage with, and champion their state parks, ensuring that they will thrive now and for future generations.

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Apply to Climate Crisis Relief Fund

Climate Crisis Relief Fund
Fund Code: 4650.02
Amount Raised: Salesforce report **Minus 10% to cover program staff salaries

Background
When Big Basin Redwoods State Park burned in 2020, we played a critical role in providing wildfire relief. After learning about Big Basin’s extensive fire damage, California State Parks Foundation quickly reached out to the Santa Cruz District of California State Parks and provided $10,000 to replace equipment lost in the fire. This allowed the park’s interpretive staff to purchase new distance learning equipment and additional equipment to document the recovery of the park’s landscapes and structures.
 
We also found that there were many challenges facing Big Basin staff and volunteers. Many of the staff lived in employee housing within the park or in nearby neighborhoods and lost their homes or other personal property when the fire struck. California State Parks Foundation provided $26,000 that allowed grants of up to $1,000 to be distributed to any park staff or volunteers who were impacted by the wildfire.

In fiscal year 2024-2025, we are seeking key support to establish a Climate Crisis Relief Fund. This Fund will be specifically earmarked for parks that have recently experienced climate impacts from wildfires, winter storms, and other weather-related events. Our goal is to establish a Fund of $100,000 this year to provide a safety net for our beloved parks. This way, we can quickly activate the Climate Crisis Relief Fund in the aftermath of a catastrophic climate event at a state park – helping park staff to immediately replace lost work equipment, personal belongings, and more. We are currently seeking donations to create the fund and 90% of each gift will be placed directly into the Climate Crisis Relief Fund and held until the time comes in which we need to mobilize and activate it toward an emerging crisis. The other 10% of each donation will be used toward staff time in the current 2024-2025 fiscal year to monitor threats to parks and manage the Fund.

Establishing the fund

  1. Programs and development identify a need for fundraising 
  2. Finance sets up the fund in Intacct 
  3. Salesforce Database Manager sets up the fund and campaign(s) in Salesforce 
  4. Creative request to create donation form 


Fundraising
Proposal Template: Climate Crisis Relief Fund.docx
Initial Donation Form: https://act.calparks.org/a/climatecrisisrelief  

Membership donation form during January SoCal fires: https://act.calparks.org/a/climatecrisisrelief2025
Development donation form during January SoCal fires:
https://act.calparks.org/a/climatecrisisrelief_2025  

Process for activation 

  1. Event occurs – wildfire, storm, etc. 
  2. Part or all of park is closed; or other extenuating circumstances 
  3. Programs team reaches out to parks with quick “survey” (phon call or email with 3-4 questions to determine immediate needs) 
  4. Recorded as threat event in Salesforce  
  5. Section for Climate Crisis Relief Fund interview in the threat object, includes the prompts for the questions 
  6. Was any critical equipment lost in the event? 
  7. Is there a need for additional public outreach/education about the situation? 
  8. Has there been specific infrastructure damage – can you use the facilities? 
  9. Has the event incurred any personal hardships for your staff or volunteers? 
  10. Has the event created any issues surrounding the park that are affecting the park (ex: flooded entrance road)? 
  11. Fund is activated for immediate needs: 
  12. Education about dangerous areas of park 
  13. Replace equipment 
  14. Coordinate with finance to deploy the funds 
  15. Climate Program Manager identifies the need 
  16. Researches cost of items needed and creates budget 
  17. Programs and development team confirm use of funds 
  18. Identify award amount and type (ex: purchase materials, provide grant to a partner, provide grant directly to parks) 
  19. Climate Program Manager allocates funds 
  20. Works with park manager to identify process for fund supply allocation 
  21. Purchases supplies or coordinates with finance to cut check 
  22. Follow-up interview 6 months after the event 
  23. Include in section of threat object 


California State Parks Foundation