Working Groups
Issue-based Working Groups
Wildfire Resilience Funders’ Issue-based Working Groups are curated spaces where funders in any geography can learn and connect with each other and experts across a variety of longstanding issues of interest amongst the network. Our issue-based working groups are a flexible house for shared learning, collaboration, convening, and connection. These groups may meet regularly, or on an as needed basis throughout the year. Issue-based Working Groups are open to WRF funder members and funder affiliates (upon invitation).
Regional Wildfire Philanthropy Tables
Wildfire Resilience Funders’ Regional Philanthropy Tables are spaces curated by funders in a specific geography where peer-funders learn and connect with each other and experts across a variety of longstanding issues of interest. These tables are a flexible house for shared learning, collaboration, convening, and connection led by a rotating pair of funder co-hosts. These groups may meet regularly, or on an as needed basis throughout the year. Regional Wildfire Philanthropy Tables are open to WRF funder members and funder affiliates (upon invitation).
To join a WRF working group reach out at [email protected].
Current Working Groups
In recent years, Colorado has experienced a significant increase in wildfires affecting landscapes and communities. Philanthropy is investing across the wildfire continuum, from forest health and preparedness to disaster response and long-term recovery, yet funders have had few opportunities to come together, understand the broader funding landscape, and explore where greater alignment could strengthen existing efforts. This roundtable – convened in response – is open to Colorado funders working on wildfire through a variety of perspectives: disaster preparedness and response, long term recovery, forest health and stewardship, Indigenous and cultural fire, policy and advocacy, technology, watershed health, research and science, and cross sector collaboration.
This roundtable is a partnership between Philanthropy Colorado and Wildfire Resilience Funders.
This is a standing working group that provides timely updates, opportunities for collaboration, and convening space on the state of wildfire policy across federal and state landscapes in the United States.
Completed Working Groups
The members of the group drafted and funded a proposal for the creation of the WRF Network Directory. This action group holds the distinction of creating the first collaboration enabled by WRF, in the form of pooled funding by five network members.
This action group was active in the spring of 2024. Chaired by Jennee Kuang of Resources Legacy Fund and Helen Wagenvoord of Wildspaces, the policy action group identified federal policy change priorities to guide grantmaking alignment and action, including support of field-level policy advocacy and communications. Several co-funding opportunities were advanced through the WAG, which will continue to meet for check-ins on a periodic basis.
The FireTech action group worked to identify fire tech investment opportunities and selected highest priorities to guide co-funding and other actions. FireTech cochairs are Genny Biggs of the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation and Shefali Lakhina of Wonderlabs. The group continues to meet and discuss Fire Tech trends on a quarterly basis.
The Local/Regional Capacity Building action group engaged in learning, strategic planning, and the exploration of collaborations focused on regional and community-based capacity building in support of efforts to plan, develop, and implement wildfire resilience strategies and programs. The L/R Capacity action group was chaired by Alex Carter of the McConnell Foundation and Marion Wittman of the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. Though the formal action group has closed, work continues to define mechanisms for local and regional capacity funding.