When wildfires ravaged Los Angeles County in January 2025, they left behind far more than scorched landscapes — they uprooted lives, displaced families, and shattered community spaces. In response, the California Community Foundation (CCF) acted swiftly, raising over $30 million within two weeks to support over 200 nonprofit organizations delivering vital services to those most in need. These resources provided essential aid to Los Angeles’ most vulnerable residents — including renters, seniors, children, people with disabilities, and displaced workers — offering direct cash assistance, legal aid, housing support, food assistance, and more.
To build on this momentum, CCF launched the LA Wildfires Recovery Needs Assessment in April 2025. This assessment sought to deepen the understanding of ongoing challenges and grantee partner contributions as the region transitions from emergency response to recovery. Surveying over 630 community-based organizations across Los Angeles County, the assessment garnered 124 unique responses, revealing key insights into the evolving needs of impacted communities.
Based on the recovery needs assessment findings, communities affected by the wildfires will continue to face significant hurdles, including challenges around: housing and infrastructure rebuilding, displacement and relocation, economic recovery and job loss, mental health and trauma support, financial assistance, and community connectedness. In addition, over 2,000 survivors shared their experiences with The Department of Angels, revealing that more than three in four report that their mental health has worsened since the fires.
The impact of the LA wildfires is profound and there is an urgent need for strengthened networks of mutual support. Building opportunities for friends and neighbors to come together to support each other and establish or maintain social networks is a key strategy for community healing. Data has shown that social ties are a critical aspect of resilience, mental health, and community recovery following a natural disaster.
The California Community Foundation’s Wildfire Recovery Fund in partnership with Pasadena Community Foundation and UniHealth Foundation invites grant applications from nonprofit organizations, grassroots groups, healing practitioners, and community-led initiatives or coalitions to support efforts that foster community healing and restoration. We seek proposals for projects that provide community and peer-based, culturally affirming services aimed at strengthening connections, promoting collective well-being, and addressing the emotional, spiritual, and social needs of those impacted by the 2025 Los Angeles wildfires. Download the full RFP here.
We seek to fund projects that:
- Build and deepen social connections and collective resilience through shared, joyful, and culturally meaningful activities that nurture community well-being and restoration.
- Restore and strengthen the emotional, spiritual, and social bonds within impacted communities, fostering a renewed sense of safety, dignity, and hope.
- Support mental health and collective healing through culturally affirming, creative, and alternative practices that honor shared experiences and resilience.
Our WRF Community Healing & Restoration Request for Proposals (RFP) is grounded in the belief that healing and recovery from the LA Wildfires is most powerful when it is community-led, culturally resonant, and accessible to those most impacted.
We welcome a broad range of community healing & restoration offerings, especially those not often funded in traditional systems. Here are some examples of eligible project activities:
- Community Potlucks & BBQs – Gatherings to share food, build relationships, and exchange recovery updates.
- Local Music & Storytelling Nights – Open mics, concerts, or poetry readings where survivors share experiences and creative work.
- Creative Arts Workshops – Group sessions for painting, collage, pottery, or quilting to process emotions and foster connection.
- Photography & Oral History Projects – Community members document their recovery journey through images and interviews.
- Peer Support Groups –Circles for emotional sharing, resource exchange, and encouragement.
- Family Wellness Activities – Combined activities for caregivers and children with emotional support, games, and healthy food.
- Gentle Movement & Yoga Classes – Trauma-sensitive movement sessions for all ages and mobility levels.
- Community Sports Days – Informal games, walks, or runs that bring people together in a fun, low-pressure way.
And more! Please see the full RFP for complete details.
Applications/proposals must be received between Monday, August 18, 2025, to Friday, September 12, 2025, by 5:00 p.m. Responses received after this deadline will be ineligible for consideration.
WRF Community Healing & Restoration grant proposals/applications should be submitted via the application link here.
Application URL: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CCFWRFCommunityHealingRFPApplication
Please visit our website for more information, including the list of the WRF Community Healing & Restoration RFP Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs). For any additional questions regarding the RFP, please contact Carolina Vallejo, Impact & Outcomes Officer at lawildfires@calfund.org with Subject Line: Wildfire Recovery Fund – Community Healing & Restoration Proposal – Questions.
If you or your loved ones are experiencing mental health distress related to the wildfires in California, do not hesitate to ask for help. 24/7 support and resources are available through the Department of Mental Health Help Line at (800) 854-7771 and through the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
The Disaster Distress Helpline is dedicated to providing year-round disaster crisis counseling. Available 24/7 in multiple languages to all residents of the U.S. and its territories who are experiencing emotional distress related to natural or human-caused disasters. Call or text: 1-800-985-5990
Carolina Vallejo
Impact & Outcomes Officer
lawildfires@calfund.org