News & Updates

Lighting the Path Ahead: Reflections on an Inspirational Convening of WRF

By Kayla Calkins •

Wildfire Resilience Funders hosted its third annual convening in May of 2025, bringing together more than 40 representatives from network member organizations with leading issue experts in Santa Barbara, California. Some in attendance were old friends, others had never met in person, and a few were new to the network, so the meeting proved to be a great way for members to build relationships while learning from issue experts and exploring shared strategic interests.

WRF’s planning committee developed an agenda that balanced learning from local experiences and broader efforts too.  After the three days of in-depth panel discussions with a wide array of experts; informative site visits to the headquarters of Direct Relief, Arroyo Hondo Preserve, and Roblar Vineyards; and inspirational side conversations, three important themes emerged.

  • Engaging community members in preparedness and action: Many of the panelists and member discussions focused on the importance of early and ongoing community engagement, often building upon the insights gathered from  local experiences. On-the-ground experts stressed the importance of working closely with community members, and understanding their interests, needs, and barriers as a means of moving together from engagement to education to activation. 
  • Building relationships and collaborations among funders: Participants stressed that for funders to be successful, coordination and collaboration is absolutely essential. They shared their appreciation for the network, and, especially, the opportunity to meet in person at this convening. In addition, they offered feedback on the network’s ongoing Wildfire Action Groups.1  (For grantmaking members interested in joining an Action Group, one active group on insurance, or another potential group focused on the water wildfire nexus, it is not too late! Please contact kayla@climateresiliencefund.org) 
  • Maintaining hope and momentum for the future: While the discussions during the convening often referenced the increasing and undeniable challenges that have come with a changing climate, and remain top of mind after the recent fires in Los Angeles County, there also was an underlying sense of hope. Many of the speakers emphasized the increase in understanding and the notable improvements in integrated approaches to wildfire resilience in recent years, which together suggest that the field is increasingly focused on the need to effectively live with fire on the landscape and near communities. On behalf of all who were able to attend, a sincere thank you to all of the speakers and sponsors, as well as the other participants who made this convening a success.  And to those grantmaking members who were not able to join, we hope to see you next year! 

Thanks to the planning committee: 

Lily Bui, SoCal Grantmakers; Keytra Meyer, Humboldt Area Foundation; Laura Seaman, League of California Community Foundations; and Marion Wittmann, Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation

Thanks again to all of the grantmaking organizations whose participation and support made the convening such a success:  

Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, Resources Legacy Fund, Direct Relief, Santa Barbara Foundation, League of California Community Foundations, SoCal Grantmakers, Tahoe Fund, Marin Community Foundation, March Conservation Fund, Center for Disaster Philanthropy, The Community Foundation San Luis Obispo County, Bezos Earth Fund, Conservation X Labs, Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, Humboldt Area Foundation, Latino Community Foundation, Walton Family Foundation, McCall MacBain Foundation, National Forest Foundation, Pacific Gas and Electric Company, Pasadena Community Foundation, The Pew Charitable Trusts, The Waltons Trust, Water Foundation, and anonymous funders

And gratitude also to those who joined panels and discussions to share their expertise: 

Community Brigade, U.S. Fire Administration, UC Santa Barbara, Western Fire Chiefs Association, National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis (NCEAS), Santa Barbara County Fire Safe Council, Community Environmental Council (CEC), California Environmental Nonprofit, Ventura County Community Foundation, California Fire Foundation, USDA Forest Service, Land Trust For Santa Barbara, Cachuma Water Board, and Santa Barbara County

Special thanks to the following organizations that provided support to make this convening possible:

Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, Resources Legacy Fund, Direct Relief, Santa Barbara Foundation, League of California Community Foundations

Coming soon: Members may access the full meeting report via the member portal.

  1. Wildfire Action Groups comprise WRF members working together on time-limited efforts to better understand a particular issue of shared interest and strategize collaborative actions to leverage each others’ efforts and move the needle on wildfire resilience through new and creative initiatives.