Climate & Disaster Resilience

About

Through our work, we envision California communities that are protected from the impacts of natural hazards; have equitable access to financial, relational, and political resources so they can mitigate, adapt to, prepare for, respond to, and recover from hazard events; and benefit socioeconomically from a just transition. We believe to advance racial equity, philanthropy in partnership with other sectors, must invest in mitigating climate hazard risks.

Natural hazards like flooding, wildfires, heatwaves, and earthquakes worsen the already dramatic disparities of wealth and power along racial and economic lines. According to the Center for Disaster Philanthropy, philanthropy invests most of its dollars immediately following a disaster, when media attention is at its peak. However, less than 10% of our philanthropic dollars only 2% of global philanthropic giving is earmarked for climate mitigation, with even smaller portion of climate-relating funding going into BIPOC communities and BIPOC-led organizations. The uneven allocation of philanthropic dollars is also a stark reminder that we have more to do when it comes to reducing hazard risks in light of our changing climate.  To advance racial equity, philanthropy, along with other sectors, must invest in mitigating climate hazard risks 

NCG's Approach

NCG’s Climate and Disaster Resilience Team works toward a future where philanthropy in California prioritizes investment in capacity, leadership, and community power - enabling frontline communities to drive solutions that strengthen climate resilience, economic justice, and racial equity. We recognize that while natural hazards are unavoidable, disasters are not; they are the result of systemic marginalization and inaction by those in power. To break this cycle, we mobilize funders to move beyond emergency response and toward long-term resilience, ensuring that investments reduce risk and builds an ecosystem of collaboration and self-determination.

• The space between hazard and disaster lies prevention. There is nothing “natural” about disasters. Society, not nature, creates disasters. Disasters don’t have to happen in our communities if we make the right investments at the right time in the right places. 
• People nearest the harm are also nearest the solutions. Solutions to climate and disaster risks are best designed and carried out by communities closest to the problems, with private and public support. 
• Race matters. Focusing on racial equity and social justice, we prioritize communities of color. 
• Multi-sector problems require multi-sector solutions. Climate challenges cannot be solved by one sector alone – they must be addressed by involving business, government, nonprofits and philanthropy.   

How to Engage

Through collaboration with funders, community partners, the State of California, and other stakeholders, we are committed to advancing a Just Transition—one where every community has equitable access to the resources needed to prepare for and respond to climate challenges. Our goal is clear: to ensure communities are not just recovering from disasters but building the power and infrastructure needed to thrive in an era of escalating climate impacts.

In the wake of this year’s devastating Southern California wildfires and the federal administration’s deregulatory and defunding efforts, NCG’s Climate and Disaster Resilience Team has been creating space for funders to come together, learn from one another, and take collective action. 

• Advocate. We advocate for state and national policies that advance equity in climate mitigation and adaptation, as well as disaster prevention, mitigation, response, and recovery.
• Coordinate. We coordinate funders around emergent issues including wildfire resilience and climate, health, and equity.
• Educate. We host programs on climate and disaster issues, philanthropic best practices, and solutions from the frontline.
• Connect. We connect funders to government partners and organizations responding to climate crises and to disasters. 
• Respond. We publicize trusted funds on behalf of the governor’s office for disaster relief and recovery and advise philanthropy on how best to meet short and long-term needs.

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