The Caltech and JPL Disaster Relief Fund
In times of hardship, loss, and uncertainty, we depend on the collegiality, caring, and resilience of our community.
The Caltech and JPL communities—our dedicated staff, faculty, and students—have been greatly impacted by the devastating fires in Southern California. Thousands in our community have been displaced under mandatory evacuation orders, and hundreds including their families have lost their homes in the fires.
In response to this crisis, we have established a special Caltech and JPL Disaster Relief Fund to support our affected staff, faculty, and students. Every gift to this fund will support individuals whose lives have been interrupted by this tragedy, whether they've lost their homes or are experiencing some other dire situation due to this crisis.
Please consider making a contribution to this special fund that will be used by Caltech and JPL to directly support affected individuals and their families. Your generosity will make a profound difference during this time of outsized need and will help many rebuild and start to recover from this crisis.
Your gift to the Caltech and JPL Disaster Relief Fund will be exempt from all indirect costs and fees. While the magnitude of destruction from this firestorm is widespread, we can unite and lift our Caltech and JPL community together.
Donate by Check
Please make your check payable to Caltech and specify "Caltech and JPL Disaster Relief Fund" in the memo line or include this designation in an accompanying note. Mail to:
Advancement and Alumni Relations
P.O. Box 102963
Pasadena, CA 91189-2963
Other Ways to Give
For instructions on how to give via wire or electronic funds transfer, Donor Advised Funds, stocks and securities, IRA charitable rollover, and other options, visit Ways to Give.
For questions about making a gift or how to support our community in other ways, please contact give@caltech.edu.
"I'm not sure I've ever seen a faster or more efficient turnaround to help a community. My first thought was immense gratitude that I have Caltech as my extended community, and they could help in this very specific way."
—Christy Jenstad, Altadena resident and department administrator for the Division of Engineering and Applied Science
Outpouring of Support
Thank you to the many individuals and organizations who have already given in support of the relief fund. Our global community of supporters has been essential to our ongoing recovery. We are humbled by the outpouring of support from so many who are inspired by the work of Caltech and JPL, and the many who also helped raise awareness across social media and through grassroots fundraisers. Moreover, we are deeply indebted to the firefighters and first responders who worked tirelessly to protect both lives and facilities.
While the coming months and years will present many challenges, thanks to our community we will emerge stronger.
It is our pleasure to share the latest information about the significant impact of the Caltech and JPL Disaster Relief Fund:
- Thankfully, more than $5 million has been contributed to the fund from more than 4,200 donors. Gifts came in from as far as Iceland and Germany and as near as our own campus and JPL neighbors.
- 775 current and former Caltech and JPL staff and faculty members were inspired to donate and support our colleagues and students.
- 2,308 of those who gave to the fund are first-time donors to Caltech.
- 2,000+ heartfelt notes and messages of hope accompanied fund donations.
- More than 1,700 grant applications have been processed and more than $4.3 million has been distributed.
- Each beneficiary has received up to $10,000 in grant support based on need.
- Common expenses include temporary housing, repairing damaged homes and property, safely cleaning smoke-damaged belongings, child and elder care, and unanticipated personal incidentals.
- 100% of the Caltech and JPL Disaster Relief funds raised will be distributed to faculty, JPL employees, staff, postdocs, and students impacted by the Los Angeles wildfires to help them navigate the challenges of recovery.
from over 2,000 comments included with gifts from donors to the relief fund.
Additional Resources
For campus updates and resources such as mental health and emergency services, please visit the Caltech emergency updates page: https://www.caltech.edu/emergency.
To assist members of the community as they respond to the fires, the Institute has curated information and resources on a centralized website at Caltech.edu/fires.