Supporting the people and places of Tahoe

Community Initiatives and Partnerships

Protecting People
And Property

Tahoe Fire Safe Initiative

Fire prevention and safety is one of the Community Foundation’s top priorities. In 2018, the Community Foundation created its Tahoe Fire Safe Initiative to fund fire prevention strategies in the Tahoe Basin, focusing on people and property.

Since its inception, the Tahoe Fire Safe Initiative has supported:

Strategy and Community Preparedness
  • Fire Break Map – The Community Foundation funded a fire break map that will be used to create shaded fire breaks, a halo of fire safety, around all Nevada-Tahoe communities.
  • Pre-Attack Maps – Tahoe Douglas Fire Prevention District and North Lake Tahoe Fire Prevention District worked with the Community Foundation to fund the creation of pre-attack fire maps, helping first responders strategically plan for wildfires in the Tahoe Basin. These maps were first used during the 2021 Caldor Fire.
Innovation and Technology
  • Fire Aside Software – The Community Foundation provided funding to North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District for Fire Aside software to improve community fire preparedness by streamlining the process of defensible space inspections and community chipping events. This funding to North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District is a pilot project with the long-term goal of implementing Fire Aside software basin wide.
  • AlertTahoe Maintenance Endowment Fund – This fund was established at the Community Foundation to ensure the availability of resources for maintaining and fixing cameras in perpetuity.
  • AlertTahoe Cameras – To date, more than 100 fires in the Tahoe Basin have been stopped due to The AlertTahoe cameras, a system of networked cameras designed to protect the entire Tahoe region from catastrophic wildfires, earthquakes, and other natural disasters. The Community Foundation funded the installation of its final two cameras in the Tahoe Basin.
Advocacy and Sustainability
  • Nevada Insurance Survey – Developed and distributed an insurance survey to collect data to demonstrate the need for fire insurance reform in Tahoe Nevada to combat the dramatic insurance premium increases and cancellations of coverage.
  • Tahoe Fire Safe Fund – The Community Foundation established the Tahoe Fire Safe Fund, a fund dedicated to supporting fire prevention projects that are critical to the safety of Lake Tahoe’s communities-protecting people and property.
Education and Awareness
  • Outreach Events – Funded resources and outreach events with Tahoe Resource Conservation District (TRCD) through Fire Adapted Communities, a National Wildfire Coordinating program which focuses on informing the community about wildfire and providing strategies on how to protect their homes and properties, preparing citizens to collaboratively plan in order to safely coexist with wildland fire.
  • Translated Preparedness Guides – Provided funding for publications and translations for Tahoe Living with Fire, which provides tools for homeowners, community members, educators, and fire professionals with recommendations and resources on preparing for wildfire.
  • Tahoe Nevada Community Fire Forum – Hosted a Community Fire Forum featuring Tahoe Nevada Fire Chiefs and insurance experts to educate the community about wildfire and fire insurance concerns in Tahoe Nevada.

Donate To The
Fire Safe Fund!

Tahoe Fire Safe Fund

A catastrophic wildfire is always imminent in the Tahoe Basin. Early detection and thoughtful planning allows firefighters more time to implement strategic responses to protect our communities and environment from devastation. The Tahoe Fire Safe Fund supports initiatives that improve fire safety and community well-being for Tahoe communities. The Community Foundation works with local experts to identify highly impactful community fire mitigation and prevention projects that focus on protecting the people and properties of Tahoe.

As the threat of wildfire continues to plague Tahoe communities, property owners face increasing challenges with finding affordable insurance. The Tahoe Fire Safe Fund also leads efforts to maintain and expand affordable homeowner and property insurance options for Tahoe communities.

Make a Donation

  • Invest in Tahoe fire safety: Donate to the Tahoe Fire Safe Fund

What can
You Do?

What you can do

Join us in the effort to protect the place we know and love

Working
Together

Sustainable Tourism
Travel North Tahoe Nevada: a North Lake Tahoe partner in stewardship

TNTNV is committed to a destination stewardship model for tourism in our community. Recently they have funded TART connect, a successful local micro transit program, as well as funded a sustainable travel outreach program in partnership with the North Lake Tahoe Resort Association. The Community Foundation supports TNTNV in these efforts through participation on the Board of Directors and support of their stewardship programs.


Stewardship Tahoe: a regional approach

Lake Tahoe’s communities and economy are rooted in recreation and tourism, touching the lives of all who work, live, and play here. The region is coming together to create a shared destination stewardship plan that will balance the needs of the environment, businesses, visitors, and local communities. This new shared strategy will inspire all to take care of Tahoe.

Housing

In 2021, the Washoe Tahoe Local Employee Housing Needs and Opportunities Report, which was financially supported by the Community Foundation, was conducted to develop a baseline of data intended to assist the community in making decisions regarding unique housing concerns in the Washoe-Tahoe area. The Washoe Tahoe Housing Partnership (WTHP), led by the Tahoe Prosperity Center, then utilized the study data to create the 2023 Housing Roadmap. The roadmap provides an outline of possible housing solutions for the community to consider. Both the housing study and roadmap can be accessed below.


Economic Resiliency

The Parasol Tahoe Community Foundation is a member of the Catalyst Committee engaged in the Envision Tahoe project of the Tahoe Prosperity Center, helping to create a more resilient regional economy.