Tahoe Fund donors who contribute $100 or more will receive an annual Watch Duty subscription

As fire personnel work to fully contain another new wildfire just outside the Tahoe Basin, the Tahoe Fund is launching a new fundraising campaign to help reduce the threat of catastrophic wildfire in Tahoe. Anyone who contributes $100 or more to the Tahoe Fund’s Smartest Forest Fund will receive a basic level annual subscription to Watch Duty, providing access to the app’s verified, real-time wildfire alerts.

“Catastrophic wildfires continue to explode throughout the West, and we know the Tahoe Basin is not immune to the threat wildfire poses,” said Amy Berry, Tahoe Fund CEO. “We established the Smartest Forest Fund in 2019 and since then, have actively pursued innovative forest health projects that are increasing the pace and scale of fixing our forests. By contributing to this effort, donors can help us pursue solutions to our forest health challenges.”

Forest density has increased over the past several decades in the Tahoe Basin, causing trees to compete for precious resources, including water. The Tahoe Fund intends to grow the Smartest Forest Fund to $5 million to drive forest health innovation through seed funding of pilot projects and technologies. The Fund has been used to invest in promising new ideas and pilot projects to find and scale meaningful solutions.

To date, the Smartest Forest Fund has supported 23 projects across categories that include innovation and technology, workforce and education, wood utilization, community preparedness and advocacy, and the Fire Smart Community Pilots

Watch Duty is a nonprofit that delivers real-time alerts and situational intelligence for wildfires and floods across all 50 U.S. states. Their network of active and retired firefighters, dispatchers, and emergency responders monitor radio traffic and verified sources around the clock to deliver easy-to-understand disaster intelligence in real time. The basic level annual subscription includes unlimited alerts for wildfires, air quality, weather, and more as well as advanced features like a real-time firefighting aircraft tracker. Learn more at www.watchduty.org. 

Donate to the Tahoe Fund’s Smartest Forest Fund here.

Tahoe Fund will represent the Tahoe/Sierra Region through innovative SPARK Program

The Tahoe Fund announced today that it has received a $750,000 grant from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation to lead a science-driven effort to increase wildfire resilience for communities and forest ecosystems in the Tahoe/Sierra Region.  

“The Moore Foundation is leading the charge in philanthropic wildfire work on a global scale,” said Amy Berry, Tahoe Fund CEO. “It’s an honor to be part of their Wildfire Resilience Initiative. With their support, we will be able to expand our impact in the Tahoe/Sierra region and better prepare our communities for potential fire.” 

The partnership includes funding to support work on forested landscapes and within communities, including the Fire Smart Community Pilots now underway in six neighborhoods in the Tahoe Region, and plans for forest stewardship on Tahoe’s West Shore. By bringing together new technologies, local fire districts, residents, and researchers, these pilots are creating a whole new approach to preparing communities for wildfire and demonstrating how comprehensive stewardship actions can support forest health, community preparedness, and wildfire resilience.

“The Tahoe Fund is co-developing these Fire Smart Community Pilots with fire agencies, land managers, and property owners,” said Genny Biggs, program director, Wildfire Resilience Initiative, Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. “They test the parcel- and community-level ‘mitigations that matter,’ to prioritize and implement place-based interventions that measurably reduce vulnerability to extreme wildfire events—and, ultimately, to scale durable public-private partnerships that turn wildfire risk into resilience.”

This grant is part of the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation’s Wildfire Resilience Initiative, enabling beneficial fire and reducing vulnerability to extreme wildfire, to safeguard healthy fire-adapted ecosystems and resilient fire-prone communities. To learn more, visit https://www.moore.org/wildfire.

To learn more about the Fire Smart Community Pilots, visit www.tahoefund.org/firesmartpilots.

Tara Schoedinger, vice president and general manager of Northstar California Resort, has joined the Tahoe Fund Board of Directors. Schoedinger’s extensive leadership experience spans technology, public service, and mountain resort operations, and will help advance the nonprofit’s efforts to improve the Lake Tahoe environment for all to enjoy.

“Tara brings a unique perspective and diverse experience to our Board of Directors that is sure to be a tremendous asset to our efforts,” said John Jones, Tahoe Fund board chair. “As we continue to pursue new opportunities to improve the Tahoe environment, her contributions will be invaluable.”

A graduate of the University of Colorado Boulder with a degree in Business Information Systems, Schoedinger spent the first two decades of her career in IT, including with Vail Resorts. In 2010, she was elected Mayor of Jamestown, Colorado, and led the town’s recovery following the devastating 2013 Colorado floods. She returned to Vail Resorts in 2016 in a Chief of Staff capacity before being named Vice President and General Manager of Crested Butte Mountain Resort in 2021. During her tenure, she served on the board of the Crested Butte Land Trust, supporting conservation and public access efforts in the Gunnison Valley, as well as the board of the Crested Butte Center for the Arts.

Schoedinger was appointed Vice President and General Manager of Northstar California Resort in 2024, and currently serves on the Ski California executive committee. In her free time, Schoedinger and her husband ski, bike, camp, and enjoy spending time on the lake.

“I look forward to contributing to the Tahoe Fund’s efforts to improve Lake Tahoe for all to enjoy—both now and in the future,” said Schoedinger.

Learn more about our Board of Directors here.

Featuring the work of artist Anne-Sophie Gaudet, the mural celebrates outdoor recreation and inspires people to take care of Lake Tahoe

Visitors to Cascade Kitchens Food Hall & Bar will now be greeted by a new mural designed to encourage everyone to get outside and help take care of Lake Tahoe. The large-scale exterior piece, painted by artist Anne-Sophie Gaudet and commissioned by the Tahoe Fund, captures and celebrates the beauty and essence of Tahoe’s natural environment. 

The mural and bike racks were made possible by the generous support of Tahoe Fund donors, as part of the organization’s efforts to make it easier to get around, enjoy, and take care of Lake Tahoe. 

“This mural is such a wonderful example of what can happen when we invest in our community and give artists a place to shine,” said Deb Howard, Tahoe Fund board member and longtime South Lake Tahoe resident. “It brings color, creativity and a real sense of place to a building where our community gathers, and is a beautiful reminder that through the power of philanthropy, we can foster greater stewardship and pride in Tahoe while creating the connections and sense of community that make this place so special.”

After issuing a call for artists this spring and receiving over 20 submissions, the Tahoe Fund, Cascade Kitchens, and a panel of reviewers from the local art community selected Anne-Sophie Gaudet’s mural design. In her piece, A Tahoe Day, Gaudet plays off of the bike racks, turning them into a starting point of a winding bike trail that leads viewers into a vibrant Tahoe landscape, inviting viewers to explore the lake, forests, and mountains through the artwork. 

“As a muralist deeply inspired by nature, I was thrilled to design a mural for Cascade Kitchens that captures Tahoe’s outdoor identity while also highlighting the important conservation work of the Tahoe Fund,” said Gaudet. “I hope that this piece will move people to action — whether that’s riding a bike, snapping a photo with the mural, or taking better care of this very special place.” 

Gaudet taught visual art in Palo Alto for seven years before leaving the classroom to start a mural business. Based in the Bay Area, her work focuses on large-scale, nature-inspired designs that bring color and character to public and private spaces. She has created murals across California and beyond, including two in Canada and one in Gerlach, Nevada. Her art celebrates the beauty of the outdoors, often featuring desert landscapes and wildlife. Learn more at www.annesophiegaudet.com. 

Although this one-of-a-kind food hall and community gathering space has only been open for a year, it has quickly become a South Lake staple. With a variety of food, drinks, and entertainment, Cascade Kitchens is more than just a place to eat—it’s a space to gather, graze, and celebrate what makes Tahoe special. Join the Cascade Kitchens community for their first anniversary party on Sunday, September 6th. Learn more at cascadekitchenstahoe.com. 

Paint for the mural was generously supplied by Kelly Brothers Painting.