12/30/2022: A STRONGER COMMUNITY AND SENSE OF BELONGING FOR ALL
On December 30th, 2021 the most destructive wildfire in the state's history, the Marshall fire, destroyed nearly 1,000 homes in Boulder County.
The global outpouring of generous support for the Boulder County Wildfire Fund has been overwhelming and has raised over $43.06 million from over 77,000 donors.
I HAVE BEEN AFFECTED DIRECTLY BY THE MARSHALL FIRE; HOW CAN I GET HELP?
ANYONE, whether you lost your home, suffered smoke or wind damage, or have some other ongoing need related to the Marshall Fire, should contact The Navigating Disaster for Boulder County Program.
- access to funding for rebuilding and unmet needs
- connections with local jurisdiction building departments
- access to additional resources from area nonprofits
- help developing individualized recovery plans
- providing referrals to legal and insurance claims advisors
- comprehensive recovery planning resources
- mental health services
The recovery navigators are intended to provide a singular point of contact for survivors to apply for variety of funding opportunities, including those provided by the Wildfire Fund.
How much does it cost to utilize the Recovery Navigator services?
Nothing. This service is free.
DO I HAVE TO HAVE AN APPOINTMENT TO SEE A RECOVERY NAVIGATOR OR CAN I JUST WALK-IN?
HOW LONG ARE THE APPOINTMENT TIMES WITH A RECOVERY NAVIGATOR?
The average appointment with a Navigator is about an hour.
HOW OFTEN CAN I MEET WITH MY RECOVERY NAVIGATOR?
As often and for as long as needed to help you get through your recovery?
IF I AM REBUILDING, DO I HAVE TO HAVE A BUILDING PERMIT IN ORDER TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT WITH A RECOVERY NAVIGATOR?
No. A permit is not required to schedule an appointment. However, if you are planning to apply for Community Foundation rebuilding funds, you will need to be in the permit application process in order to access those funds.
What took so long to set up the Navigating Disaster program?
In most disasters, traditional Disaster Case Management services are not available for close to a year post-event. In the case of the Marshall Fire, Boulder County and the Community Foundation of Boulder County decided to partner and fund these services outside of typical funding streams and timelines.
You can sign up at BoulderCountyNavigatingDisasters.gov >
HOW ARE FUNDS BEING USED?
In addition to the $8.165 million distributed for immediate needs in the weeks after the fire, the Wildfire Fund is prioritizing rebuilding and the needs of the most vulnerable survivors of the Marshall Fire. It is important that we also provide wrap-around supports such as mental health and navigation of the recovery process.
IMMEDIATE NEEDS:
- $5.5 million in direct financial assistance to households that were damaged or destroyed (both renters and homeowners; citizens and undocumented)
- $1.5 million in direct financial assistance to workers that lost wages or livelihood equipment (excluding computers)
- $235,000 to United Policyholders for insurance policy navigation
- $265,000 to Impact on Education to ensure adequate mental health advocates at the most fire-affected schools in the Boulder Valley School District
- $250,000 to Boulder Jewish Family Service to provide crisis counseling to anyone who needs it in individual and group settings, with trauma-informed practices
- $500,000 in direct assistance to those mobile or manufactured homes with confirmed wind damage within the wildfire and straight-line winds major disaster declaration approved in Boulder County (DR4634)
SMOKE / ASH REMEDIATION:
- $1 million to assist with smoke/ash remediation
SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE:
- $300,000 to support Marshall Together
- Up to $200,000 for additional social infrastructure / community resiliency
COMMEMORATIVE EVENTS:
- $100,000 Available in open RFP
LANDSCAPING SUPPORT:
- $175,000 to Resource Central
REBUILDING:
- Up to $20 million to support rebuilding efforts (through Recovery Navigation)
UNMET NEEDS:
- Up to $2.5 million to support Unmet Basic Needs (through Recovery Navigation)
eviction prevention assistance
childcare
child support
communications and technology (computers, internet, mobile phone)
transportation (auto payment, insurance, non-cosmetic repairs)
medical bills
utility bills (electric/gas)
renter’s insurance
homeowner’s insurance
HOA fees
legal services (non-criminal, eviction, foreclosure, family)
cremation, burial, and funeral services
car repair
mental or behavioral health needs
appliances and furniture
tools of trade
other needs may also be considered
MENTAL HEALTH:
- $250,000 additional to Boulder Jewish Family Service to provide crisis counseling to anyone who needs it in individual and group settings, with trauma-informed practices
- Up to $500,000 for additional mental health supports
SUPPORTS PROVIDED THROUGH OTHER NONPROFITS:
- Up to $750,000 to support nonprofit organizations assisting with disaster response
RECOVERY NAVIGATION:
- $1 million to support the establishment of recovery navigation
DEBRIS REMOVAL:
- Up to $2 million to Boulder County for debris removal
YET TO BE ALLOCATED:
- $6.6 million
| Grantee | Amount Approved | Amount Paid | Purpose | Balance |
| Boulder County | 1,500,000 | 675,900 | Livelihood and Lost Wages and Small Business Support | 824,100 |
| Boulder County / CFBC | 5,500,000 | 5,315,396 | Damaged & Destroyed - County | 184,604 |
| United Policyholders | 150,000 | 150,000 | Insurance Navigation | 0 |
| Impact on Education | 265,000 | 265,000 | Mental Health Supports | 0 |
| Jewish Family Service Of Colorado | 250,000 | 250,000 | Boulder County Crisis Counseling | 0 |
| Boulder County | 500,000 | 500,000 | Wind Damage | 0 |
| United Policyholders | 85,000 | 85,000 | Legal & Insurance Supports | 0 |
| Jewish Family Service Of Colorado | 250,000 | 250,000 | Boulder County Crisis Counseling | 0 |
| Impact Development Fund | 20,000,000 | 4,900,000 | Rebuild Fund | 15,100,000 |
| Impact Development Fund | 2,500,000 | 625,000 | Unmet Needs | 1,875,000 |
| Colorado Nonprofit Development Center | 300,000 | 150,000 | Marshall Together | 150,000 |
| Boulder County | 1,000,000 | 522,500 | Smoke & Ash Remediation | 477,500 |
| Boulder County | 1,000,000 | 500,000 | Recovery Navigation | 500,000 |
| Resource Central | 175,000 | 175,000 | Garden in A Box | 0 |
| Louisville Rising | 3,000 | 3,000 | Weekend of Healing | 0 |
| Louisville Rec & Senior Center | 4,000 | 4,000 | Weekend of Healing | 0 |
| United Policyholders | 150,000 | 150,000 | Roadmap to Recovery | 0 |
| Total Approved | 33,632,000 | 14,520,796 | 19,111,204 |
| Total Raised (As of 12/30/22) | 43,068,223 |
| 2% administrative fee | 858,674 |
| Interest accrued | 134,504 |
| Total Approved | 33,632,000 |
| Allocation balance subtotal | 3,543,000 |
| Balances to be reallocated | 1,486,204 |
| Yet to be approved or allocated | 6,655,257 |
The $20 million for rebuilding will be available to all those whose homes were damaged or destroyed and choose to rebuild. We set an ambitious goal of 75% of homes being rebuilt, which would triple the national average for communities rebuilding after a disaster. Based on these estimates, each household (HH) that chooses to rebuild will be awarded a baseline amount of $20,000 while each household with members: living with a disability, 65+, having single heads of household (HOH), containing children will each receive additional support.
More Details on the Wildfire Fund Discussed in Town Hall with Marshall Fire Survivors >
ARE WILDFIRE FUND DOLLARS ONLY AVAILABLE TO THOSE REBUILDING?
No. There is, as of today $2.5M available to those with unmet needs. About half of the fund has been allocated for those who are rebuilding.
WHAT DEFINES UNMET NEEDS?
- Rent or mortgage assistance
- Eviction prevention assistance
- Childcare
- Child support
- Communications and Technology (computers, internet, mobile phone)
- Transportation (auto payment, insurance, non-cosmetic repairs)
- Medical bills
- Utility bills (electric/gas)
- Renter’s insurance
- Homeowner's insurance
- HOA fees
- Legal services (non-criminal, eviction, foreclosure, family)
- Cremation, burial, and funeral services
- Car repair
- Mental or behavioral health needs
- Appliances and furniture
- Tools of trade
- Vehicles
- Vacation homes
- Store front properties
- Savings loss
WHO ARE THE MEMBERS OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE?
The selected advisory committee of volunteers are:
- Heather Balser, former City Manager, City of Louisville
- Scott Beard, Trustee, Community Foundation Boulder County; representative of the LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce
- Probir Ghosh, President & CEO, Virtual Source Networks Inc.; Superior resident
- Carly Hare, National Director, Change Philanthropy; Board Chair, Impact on Education
- Stuart Kingsbery, CPA, J.D., Kingsbery CPAs
- Jonathan Lev, Executive Director, Boulder JCC
- Richard Lopez, Board President, Calwood
- Ann O’Connell, former member of the Planning Commission, City of Louisville
- Edwina Salazar, former Executive Director, OUR Center
- Isaac Sendros, CEO, Avista Adventist Hospital
- Chuck Sisk, former Mayor, City of Louisville
- Narayan Shrestha, business owner; community leader
HOW MUCH HAS BEEN RAISED?
HOW ARE FEES ASSESSED ON MY DONATION?
CFBC earns a 2% administrative fee on all incoming gifts to help cover the costs of operating the fund.
Additional transaction fees for online donations vary depending on the donation site.
Colorado Gives: 2%
Network for Good: 3%
HOW CAN I HELP?
If you are interested in volunteering: https://volunteer.coloradoresponds.org/
MORE RESOURCES FOR SURVIVORS:
(ENGLISH) www.boco.org/MarshallFireAssistance
(SPANISH) www.boco.org/MarshallFireEspanol
If you would like to send a check directly to the Wildfire Fund please include Wildfire Fund in the memo line and send to:
Is my donation tax deductible?
All donations to Community Foundation Boulder County, including to the Wildfire Fund, are tax deductible.
Our Tax ID (EIN):
84-1171836
Financials:
We will continue to work closely with our government and nonprofit partners to support the needs of the community as they emerge. We want to thank everyone for your support and generosity in this difficult moment for Boulder County.
