Emergency Preparedness and Recovery Fund

The Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Recovery Fund was established through a community-based partnership between the County of Marin’s Office of Emergency Management and West Marin Fund. Our goal is to strengthen community resilience before, during, and after disasters. This fund helps strengthen local disaster readiness in disproportionately affected areas of unincorporated and West Marin and provides timely, flexible support during emergencies across Marin, with a focus on communities that may be underserved or face barriers to accessing traditional forms of aid. 

The Fund receives private donations and other contributions and distributes grants to support communities throughout Marin County.

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• Immediate relief and long-term recovery after disasters
• Emergency kit distribution
• Multilingual outreach and education
• Community disaster training programs

All donations and gifts received are deposited into dedicated accounts managed by West Marin Fund and are used solely for preparedness and recovery purposes. 

Donations of $250 or more receive a tax-deductible receipt. Donations under $250 receive a receipt upon request.

Disasters don’t wait. With your support, we can help communities strengthen their preparedness and recover with greater resilience.

Disasters disproportionately affect underserved communities and those with access and functional needs, including low-income residents, older adults, immigrants, and people with disabilities. Therefore, the Fund was created to:

• Strengthen preparedness in under-resourced communities.
• Ensure faster, more flexible recovery support after future disasters.
• Address gaps where federal, state, or insurance assistance may not reach.
• Create a trusted, transparent local funding mechanism before emergencies occur.

Our Fund focused on two categories: 

Emergency Recovery Fund: Focusing on immediate relief and long-term recovery across all of Marin County, this fund delivers rapid financial support to communities impacted by emergencies, particularly in situations where federal or state assistance is unavailable or delayed. Funding is allocated based on the specific needs of each affected area, with a strong emphasis on supporting vulnerable households. This ensures that recovery efforts are equitable, timely, and responsive to the unique challenges faced by different communities throughout the county.

Emergency Preparedness Fund: Focusing on long-term resilience in unincorporated Marin County, this fund supports proactive strategies that prepare communities before disaster strikes. The initiatives this fund supports are shaped through collaboration with local emergency response teams, nonprofit organizations, and community leaders, ensuring that preparedness efforts are both community-driven and tailored to the unique needs of unincorporated areas.

The Fund supports two main categories of activities: 

For Preparedness Grants, nonprofit organizations are eligible if they are based in Marin County or primarily operating in Marin County, and funds are used for projects or to serve individuals living in unincorporated Marin. 

Recovery Grants are for nonprofit organizations serving Marin County, focusing on disaster-impacted areas. Funds are used where other assistance is insufficient or unavailable. Recovery funds would be received and distributed during active disasters or emergencies as declared by the Marin County Board of Supervisors. 

The fund is held and administered by the West Marin Fund, a nonprofit community foundation with experience in emergency response grantmaking. A Grants Committee made up of representatives from the Office of Emergency Management, local Community Resilience Teams, and West Marin Fund guides funding decisions to ensure they are grounded in local knowledge, community priorities, and neighborhood-level priorities. On an annual basis, West Marin Fund will provide reporting information to ensure transparency and project accountability through bi-annual financial reports; annual reports to the County Office of Emergency Management; documentation of balances and expenditures.

This structure allows for both transparency and flexibility in grants decisions, helping resources reach those most in need, when they need it most.

Note: Initial emergency preparedness grants from this fund are anticipated to be available Fall of 2027. Emergency response funds will be raised and distributed during active disasters or emergencies as declared by the Marin County Board of Supervisors.