Chico, CA, hit by the massive Park Fire in July 2024, leads with $51M in requested donations. Why? Time Bias: Chico is now deep in the rebuilding phase, driving focused fundraising efforts. Meanwhile, areas in LA are still in the displacement stage, where families are beginning to assess damages.
This chart highlights how different regions are faring in their @gofundme.com wildfire recovery campaigns. Chico, CA: $51M requested, but only 17% funded, reflecting the massive need after the Park Fire. Altadena, CA: Nearly 88% of the goal met, showing strong donor response.
As wildfires become more frequent, families find insurance harder to secure/unaffordable. The CA FAIR Plan offers minimal coverage; many are caught without insurance when disaster strikes. Crowdfunding platforms like @gofundme.com have become a last resort for those left behind by the system.
We've analyzed over 2,200 wildfire campaigns on @gofundme.com as of 1/12/25. If you’re interested in accessing the full dataset and slicing the data further, DM me to get involved. Let’s use this data to amplify these stories and help communities rebuild.