Emergency Preparedness and Recovery Fund FAQs

1. What is the Marin Preparedness and Recovery Fund?

The Marin Preparedness and Recovery Fund is a community-based charitable fund established through a partnership between the County of Marin and West Marin Fund.

The Fund supports two core purposes:

• Disaster Preparedness – Helping unincorporated communities prepare for emergencies before they happen.
• Disaster Recovery – Providing flexible support after disasters when other assistance may be unavailable or insufficient.

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

2. Why was this Fund created?

Disasters disproportionately affect underserved communities and those with access and functional needs, including low-income residents, older adults, immigrants, and people with disabilities.

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.

3. Who manages the Fund?

The Fund is sponsored and administered by West Marin Fund, in partnership with the Marin County Office of Emergency Management. While West Marin Fund holds and manages the funds, grantmaking decisions are guided by a five-member advisory Committee (see below). 

4. Who serves on the advisory Committee?

The Fund is guided by a five-member Committee composed of:

• Two representatives appointed by the County of Marin Office of Emergency Management
• Two representatives from Community Resiliency Teams (CRTs) lead organizations
• One representative from West Marin Fund

The Committee reviews funding priorities, evaluates proposals, and makes grant recommendations to West Marin Fund.

5. What is a “Committee-Advised Fund”?

A Committee-Advised Fund is a charitable fund where a designated committee provides guidance and recommendations on how funds should be distributed.

In this case:

• The Committee reviews community needs, project proposals, and makes grant recommendations.
• West Marin Fund retains legal and fiduciary responsibility.
• This model balances community input with nonprofit governance and compliance.

6. What types of activities does the Fund support?

The Fund supports two main categories:

A. Disaster Preparedness

Examples include:

• Community preparedness trainings
• Multilingual public education campaigns
• CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) programming
• Distribution of emergency supplies (e.g., go-bags)
• Community resilience planning
• Stipends or resources that support local preparedness initiatives

B. Disaster Recovery

During active emergencies or declared disasters, the Fund may support:

• Housing stabilization
• Food and clothing assistance
• Medical and mental health needs
• Small business stabilization (through nonprofit partners)
• Gaps not covered by FEMA, state aid, or insurance
• Support for incidents that do not qualify for federal/state aid

7. When are Disaster Recovery funds activated?

Recovery funds would be received and distributed during active disasters or emergencies as declared by the Marin County Board of Supervisors. 

This ensures:

• Funds are pursued and used when they are most needed.
• Resources are deployed quickly and equitably.
• Administrative complexity is minimized.

8. Who is eligible to receive funding?

Eligibility varies depending on preparedness or recovery funding.

For Preparedness Grants:

• Nonprofit organizations based in Marin County or primarily operating in Marin County.
• Projects serving unincorporated areas of Marin County.
• Individuals served must live or work in unincorporated Marin.

For Recovery Grants:

• Nonprofits serving Marin County.
• Individuals and businesses may receive support through nonprofit partners based on the specific disaster event and associated recovery needs.
• Funds would go toward disaster-impacted areas.
• Funds are used where other assistance is insufficient or unavailable.

9. Are funds limited to unincorporated Marin County? 

Preparedness funds are focused on unincorporated communities in Marin County, with approximately:

• Two-thirds of funds received directed toward West Marin (due to geographic and logistical challenges).
• One-third of funds received directed toward other unincorporated areas such as Marin City, Tamalpais-Homestead Valley, Marinwood/Lucas Valley, Greenbrae, Almonte, and unincorporated San Rafael and Corte Madera.

Recovery funds may support impacted communities throughout Marin County, depending on the specific needs of each disaster event.  

10. How is equity incorporated into the Fund?

Equity is a core principle of the Fund. Disasters often disproportionately impact underserved communities and communities of color. The Fund prioritizes:

• Communities with the fewest resources.
• Culturally responsive and multilingual outreach.
• Community-informed funding decisions.
• Support for populations facing barriers to traditional aid.

The Committee structure ensures local insight and lived experience from Marin’s Community Resilience Team organizations inform grantmaking.

11. How are donations handled?

All donations and gifts received:

• Are deposited into dedicated accounts managed by West Marin Fund.
• 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.

12. How much of donations go directly to programs?

The Fund directs 83% of all donations to disaster preparedness and recovery efforts, while the remaining 17% covers necessary administrative and operational costs, including financial management, legal compliance, reporting, donor stewardship, grant processing, and maintaining capacity to respond effectively during large-scale disasters

13. Is there reporting tied to the Marin Preparedness and Recovery Fund?

Yes. 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 (excluding administrative fees)

14. Does the Fund replace government disaster assistance?

No.

The Fund complements, but does not replace, federal, state, or local disaster assistance. It is designed to:

• Fill gaps.
• Provide flexible support.
• Act quickly where government programs may be delayed or limited.
• Support particular disasters that may not qualify for federal or state declarations.

15. How does this Fund improve response times?

Because the Fund is pre-established and locally managed:

• Donations can be accepted immediately.
• A standing Committee is in place.
• Grantmaking can begin more quickly than creating a new fund after a disaster.

16. How long will the Fund exist?

The Memorandum of Agreement establishing the Fund is for five years, with the option to extend for an additional five-year term by mutual agreement. The initial five year term goes through October 2030. 

17. How can community members or organizations get involved?

Community members and organizations can:

• Donate to the Fund.
• Partner on preparedness initiatives.
• Apply for grants (when available).
• Participate in Community Resilience Teams (CRTs).
• Help promote multilingual preparedness education.

Information on donation and grant opportunities will be shared publicly.

18. How will success be measured?

Performance metrics will be developed on a year-by-year basis based upon the types of projects awarded. Examples may include:

• Number of households stabilized after disasters.
• Restoration of essential services.
• Reopening of affected businesses.
• Participation in preparedness trainings.
• Distribution of emergency resources.
• Community engagement and feedback.
• Equity outcomes in funding distribution.

19. Where can I learn more or donate?

Please access the Marin Preparedness and Recovery Fund webpage here to learn more and to access a link that will take interested residents to our donation page.