Program
Pre-Application Deadline
Applications Due
December 2026 (tentative) for Invited Full Proposals
Total Funding
Funding Source
Maximum Award
Award Details
$250,000 to $3 million
Eligibility
- Federally recognized Native American Tribes
- Non-federally recognized California Native American Tribes listed on the California Tribal Contact List maintained by the Native American Heritage Commission as described in Section 65352.4 of the Government Code.
- Tribal-serving non-profits with documentation.
Eligible Activities
New This Year: All grants must include implementation. Planning-only projects are not eligible with this funding source. Tribal Wildfire Resilience grants fund planning and implementation projects that serve California Native American Tribes and advance wildfire resilience, forest health, and cultural use of fire. These projects address critical needs in Tribal communities, and may include:
- Cultural and prescribed burns
- Creation and maintenance of shaded fuel breaks
- Forest and wildfire resilience projects such as dead and dying tree removal, understory thinning and/or removal, tree or other native and/or traditional vegetation plantings
- Forest health projects that provide benefits such as increasing biodiversity and improving access to and use of traditional foods and culturally significant species
- Workforce Development and training programs in fire, forestry, and related Traditional Ecological Knowledges
- Mapping projects
- Development of restoration plans, fire or forest management plans
- Biological and cultural surveys
- Environmental compliance and permitting
Duration
Notable Requirements
Match funds are not required but show commitment from the applicant and project partners. Match funds may increase the score. Spatial Data is required as part of Full Applications. Tribal Wildfire Resilience is building a form to assist in submitting and/or drawing the locations where and what work would be done on-the-ground.
In order to provide accountability for this grant funding and to ensure the grant agreements may be enforced in case of default, CAL FIRE may require the Tribe to agree to a limited waiver of sovereign immunity that describes legal jurisdiction over the grant agreement when the primary grantee (party who signs the grant agreement contract with CAL FIRE) is a federally recognized Tribe. This will be determined on a case-by-case basis and is dependent on the type and scope of the project. If required, the grant agreement will include these important terms and conditions.
Preferences
- Concept Proposal: Meets program minimum criteria (50 Points), Supports Tribal Wildfire Resilience (20 Points), Budget (10 Points, Clear “Why” (goals & purpose) (5 Points), Clear “What/how” (project plan & scope of work) (10 Points), and Collaboration, Community Engagement, & Local Support (5 Points) for 100 total points possible.
- Full Application: Meets Program Minimum Criteria (20 Points), Video Interview / Q&A Completed (10 Points), Supports Tribal Wildfire Resilience Program Goals (15 Points), Clear Project Plan (10 Points), Budget (20 Points), Collaboration, Community Engagement, & Local Support (10 Points), Project Readiness and Legal Requirements (10 Points), and Administrative Capacity (5 Points) for 100 total possible points.
How to Apply
All applicants are encouraged to discuss your proposal before applying. Please contact TribalWildfireResilienceGrants@fire.ca.gov to set up a half-hour call. Tribally-led 501(c)(3) non-profits should contact Tribal Wildfire Resilience Grants to discuss eligibility.
Concept proposals, full applications, and any required additional documentation are submitted online through the Grants Portal. Spatial Data is expected to be submitted using a Tribal Wildfire Resilience Survey123 custom form; details will be provided during Full Applications; details will be provided during Full Applications.