Tribal Wildfire Resilience Grant Solicitation 2025

The Tribal Wildfire Resilience Grant, administered by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), supports wildfire resilience projects for California Native American tribes. This funding program aims to help tribal communities manage ancestral lands, integrate Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) into wildfire mitigation efforts, and enhance overall fire resilience. The grant provides financial resources for planning and implementation projects, with a focus on improving forest health, conducting cultural burns, and restoring traditional food sources. For fiscal year 2024-2025, CAL FIRE has allocated up to $5 million in funding, with individual grant awards ranging from $250,000 to $3,000,000. The grant period extends from the project start date upon agreement signing until March 30, 2028. The primary objectives of this grant include supporting tribes in executing wildfire resilience projects that align with their cultural, ecological, and community safety priorities. Eligible activities encompass planning efforts such as environmental compliance, development of forest management plans, and mapping of fire-prone areas, as well as implementation projects that include prescribed burns, fuels reduction, biodiversity restoration, and workforce training programs. Additionally, projects that incorporate Traditional Ecological Knowledge, tribal-led fire prevention strategies, and conservation partnerships are strongly encouraged. Funding under this program is available exclusively to federally recognized tribes, non-federally recognized tribes listed on the California Native American Heritage Commission’s Contact List, and tribally led non-profit organizations. To qualify, non-profit applicants must demonstrate tribal leadership and provide documentation of tribal support. Additionally, applicants must have long-term access to the project site, either through ownership or a co-management agreement lasting at least three years, with preference given to projects securing access for ten years or more. The application process consists of two steps. Step 1 requires the submission of a detailed project proposal, budget, deliverables list, and supporting documentation by March 28, 2025. Eligible applicants will then proceed to Step 2, which includes a video interview with the grant review panel scheduled for April 7-18, 2025. Applications will be evaluated based on eligibility, alignment with tribal goals, project readiness, environmental compliance status, and organizational capacity. Implementation projects that have completed environmental compliance requirements will receive higher scores. Grant funding is provided on a reimbursement basis, with grantees required to submit monthly invoices along with supporting financial documentation. Some projects may be eligible for a six-month advance payment of up to 25% of the total award, contingent on additional documentation requirements. Compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) is mandatory for all projects, and applicants must discuss CEQA requirements with CAL FIRE’s environmental compliance staff before submitting an application. Final funding decisions are expected to be announced in the summer of 2025, with awarded projects commencing in the fall. CAL FIRE reserves the right to partially fund projects based on the availability of resources and alignment with funding priorities. Interested applicants are encouraged to schedule a consultation with CAL FIRE staff to discuss project proposals and eligibility requirements. For further inquiries, applicants may contact the Tribal Wildfire Resilience Grants program at TribalWildfireResilienceGrants@fire.ca.gov.