When wildfires tore through Los Angeles County this January, they left behind more than torched structures and landscapes. The devastating climate disaster upended lives, displaced families, and tore down treasured businesses and community spaces. The California Community Foundation (CCF) immediately mobilized to raise funds, focused on ensuring help reached those most in need. Within 5 weeks of the fires breaking, CCF provided over $30 million in grants to nearly 200 nonprofit organizations across the region across a wide variety of service areas.
These resources are helping Los Angeles’ most vulnerable residents—including renters, seniors, children, small business owners, and displaced workers—access direct financial aid, legal assistance, housing support, and food assistance.
Beyond individual aid, CCF has prioritized restoring vital community spaces that serve as pillars for long-term recovery, including childcare centers, health clinics, and places of worship. And to sustain long-term relief efforts, CCF has also invested in hyperlocal grassroots organizations and regional partners, expanding case management and ongoing assistance to wildfire survivors. This countywide grantmaking approach ensures that resources reach every affected community.
“You have brought light into my world today, giving me the ability to enlist support as we undertake the tremendous task of rebuilding two business districts and supporting the construction of 7,000 homes.” – Barbara Bruderlin, CEO, Malibu Pacific Palisades Chamber of Commerce
Our grants have reached fire survivors across the region.
“We are so grateful for this funding that will allow us to help so many in need of mental health support after the wildfires. Your trust in Didi Hirsch means everything to us.” – Lyn Morris, CEO, Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services
Guiding Wildfire Recovery Efforts with Data-Driven Insights
Guided by FEMA best practices for disasters, CCF is following a “Response-Recovery-Rebuild” model that prioritizes rehousing wildfire survivors, providing relief for displaced workers, reopening small businesses, and restoring essential community infrastructure. Our grants aim to help vulnerable people, such as immigrants, disabled people, and senior citizens, who are often overlooked during crises. These individuals frequently don’t qualify for aid or face barriers when completing applications for assistance, insurance, and other necessary paperwork. To further guide investments, CCF leverages tools like the Healthy Places Index, which helps map out social conditions that can drive health outcomes – like income, access to green space, and housing. All of our quantitative data is then validated by our team of program officers, who leverage their network of community partners to gain a fuller picture of needs on the ground.
“I find myself at a loss of words to adequately communicate just how much the grant of $100,000 means to the Westside Coalition. A number of my closest friends and colleagues received that donation and it was an incredible encouragement to those of us working hard to alleviate pain and suffering in our beloved communities. There is much work to be done but we value collaboration above all. We are committed to working this out, no matter how long it takes, as we work together.”
– Darci Niva, Executive Director, Westside Coalition For Housing, Hunger and Health
Here’s where CCF has allocated over $30 million in grantmaking:
“Your support of My TRIBE Rise is expanding our capacity to meet the immediate needs of the most vulnerable displaced residents and preserve the unique history of Altadena.” – Heavenly Hughes, Founder & Executive Director, My TRIBE Rise
As we move further along the recovery arc, we will continue working in collaboration with trusted nonprofit partners with deep community ties in the impacted areas to ensure our funding is meeting evolving needs and reaching those who need it most.
Follow us at Instagram to stay connected to our community’s progress.