Overview

• FireAid has distributed about $75 million through 120 nonprofits, with no direct individual payments reported to wildfire victims.
• Only a few intermediary groups, including Change Reaction and Inclusive Action, have passed on funds directly as cash assistance checks or prepaid cards to a small segment of displaced residents.
• Attention has turned to grants awarded to organizations with tenuous fire-relief missions, such as preschool cleaning services, as well as politically connected entities like CalVolunteers and the California Native Vote Project.
• Local stakeholders, led by the Pacific Palisades Community Council and Fox 11 anchor Marla Tellez, have petitioned Attorney General Rob Bonta for a comprehensive audit of FireAid’s grant allocations.
• Although FireAid’s website says early grants reached over 150,000 Angelenos, numerous survivors report never receiving assistance or guidance on accessing funds.