The Nevada County Relief Fund collects donations to provide disaster relief to Nevada County residents following the official declaration of a local emergency.

The Nevada County Relief Fund, formed in April 2020, is a trusted organization run by community leaders with the fiscal sponsorship of the Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital Foundation.

Focus of Donations:

  • Provide emergency disaster relief for individuals, families, small businesses, and nonprofits.
  • Support case management associated with recovery.

Funds May be Disbursed as Follows:

  • Survivors that qualify may receive gift cards from $50 to $500 to assist in the immediate aftermath of the locally declared disaster.
  • Survivors that qualify may apply for awards ranging from $500 to $5000.
    • First round of funding is intended to address survivor’s immediate needs (clothing, food, shelter, medication, etc.).
    • Subsequent rounds of funding are intended to address survivor’s longer term needs to re-establish secure habitation (building repairs; temporary housing; replacement of tools, household goods, appliances; medical needs not covered by insurance; etc.).

Qualifying Events:

This fund will support relief and recovery efforts in response to natural hazard events that meet the following minimum criteria:

  • Federal, state, or county emergency declaration resulting from natural hazards and associated events, including wildfires, flood, severe weather events and other natural hazards.
  • Significant loss of life, loss or significant damage of primary structures, evacuations, and/or local economic impact.

Eligibility:

  • Eligible applicants for any fund amount must be verified Nevada County residents (homeowners, renters, small business owners, nonprofits).
  • Small businesses, including nonprofits, must be physically located in Nevada County
  • Applicant’s primary residence or place of business must be significantly impacted by the disaster and/or the premises have been rendered uninhabitable with the CC qualifying parameters based on the local emergency declaration. Vacation/income/rental properties are ineligible.
  • Applicants requesting $500 or more must meet with an assigned case worker to:
    • Demonstrate what resources are available to them (savings, familial support, homeowner’s or renter’s insurance, social media fundraiser, etc.).
    • Demonstrate that the need is based on gaps in resources that are not already provided by other sources (local organizations, State resources, Federal Aid, etc.).

Guiding Principles:

  • Equity: Funds will be granted with an equity lens to ensure that individuals, families, and small businesses most vulnerable to the impacts of disasters from natural hazards will be prioritized for support.
  • Trust: Grants from this fund will be made with minimal restrictions and reporting requirements to deploy funds quickly when needed most.
  • Need: Grants will be prioritized based on uninsured/underinsured; limited income, limited social assets, and degree of damage.

Decision-making Process:

The Fund’s Community Advisory Council (CAC) will review and approve funding recommendations in the amount of $500 or more provided by assigned case workers. Caseworkers will distribute gift cards, review applications, vet edibility and need, and prepare recommendations to the CAC. CAC decisions are based on a simple majority and are not appealable.

The CAC will also determine when it is closing funding on a locally declared disaster.