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The recent fires along Colorado's Front Range including the Alexander Mountain Fire west of Loveland, the Stone Canyon Fire near Lyons, and the Quarry Fire in Jefferson County have brought wildfires back to the immediate area for the first time since 2020 and the Cameron Peak and East Troublesome fires. Evacuations are underway and homes have been lost to these fires, with a long way to go before they are contained.
Nonprofit organizations in our area are already responding by providing services, and there are likely to be many appeals for donations in the coming weeks and months. Organizations are providing services to evacuees and assistance to firefighters at the moment, and rebuilding homes and business and restoring burned areas will take years. It is more important than ever for donors to give wisely during these types of natural disasters which can be a boon for scammers and unscrupulous charities.
- Do your research. Make sure to look up charities before you give on BBB's Give.org or other charity accreditation sites. Look up how a charity intends to use funds provided by donors to assist victims of the fires.
- Look into crowdfunding requests. Not all crowdfunding sites verify that the person raising money is connected to the claimed recipient of the funds. The safest crowdfunding campaigns are those where you personally know the individual running the campaign. Consider donating directly to charities rather than crowdfunding campaigns that will pass the money on.
- Watch out for appeals based on urgency and emotion. The need for donations will exist long after any natural disaster. You will not miss out on your "chance" to donate if you do not give during or in the immediate aftermath of the fire. Take your time to research organizations and give where you feel your donation is most needed or most effective.
- Be wary of 100% claims. These claims are often used by scammers to make their appeals seem more legitimate. The truth is that all legitimate charities have some administrative costs and if your donation is not covering those costs, other funding will. If an appeal makes this claim, research how they will achieve it.
- Find out how donations will be used. Watch out for vague appeals that do not specify how funds will be used. Donors tend to expect that money donated quickly during or after a disaster will be spent just as quickly. Just because a charity provides services in a needed area after a disaster does not guarantee they will be assisting in that particular disaster. If you want your funds to be used specifically to help victims of the current fires, make sure that is specified by the nonprofit.
BBB has even more tips about how to give wisely and effectively in the wake of a disaster.
BBB Accredited Charities providing services to Front Range fire victims and personnel
The following BBB Accredited Charities (accredited by BBB Serving Northern Colorado and Wyoming) are currently providing assistance to firefighting efforts, evacuees, or victims of the fires currently active on the Front Range. This list will be updated as BBB gathers more information.
- The Community Foundation of Northern Colorado is soliciting donations for the Northern Colorado Disaster Recovery Fund. The Northern Colorado Disaster Recovery Fund was established to meet the immediate and long-term relief and recovery needs for the people and places affected following an environmental or man-made disaster in Northern Colorado. In response to the recent devastation of the Alexander Mountain Fire, the Disaster Recover Fund will be directed to help address relief and recovery needs.
- Disabled Resource Services is able to assist those effected by the fires with providing durable medical equipment, prescription assistance, peer counseling, obtaining vital documents and much more. All services are free of charge. Call or walk in to either of their locations.
- The Food Bank for Larimer County is accepting donations on behalf of partner organizations to provide to evacuees. The most requested donations are hygiene items including period products, diapers, toothbrushes and toothpaste. Donations can be dropped off at any of the Food Bank's three locations in Loveland and Fort Collins.
- House of Neighborly Service in Loveland is providing caring neighbor bags with ready-to-go food and toiletries to evacuees. HNS is also collecting donations for partner organizations. Normal hours are 9:00am-4:00pm Mon-Wed and 9:00am-6:00pm Thursday, however HNS has been adding additional hours on Friday and Saturday to assist evacuees, so check their website and social media for any updates if you need assistance.
- NoCo Humane is the designated small animal shelter (animals up to the size of a goat) for Alexander Mountain Fire evacuees who cannot house their animals at this time. NoCo Humane is also providing emergency supplies to evacuees who are able to remain with their pet. The organization is no longer in need of volunteers or in-kind donations, but is requesting monetary donations.