Relief Funds & Nonprofits
Last verified: June 27, 2026
Established organizations offering aid to Palisades Fire survivors. Grant programs open and close in rounds — check each for current availability. We list only reputable, verifiable organizations; always confirm before giving money or personal info.
Direct help for residents
LA County Relief Fund
County-run direct grants for fire-affected residents: household relief up to $18,000, small-business grants up to $25,000, and worker relief grants up to $2,000 (by eligibility & round).
lacounty.gov/relief → verify current roundCalifornia Fire Foundation
Immediate financial assistance to wildfire victims through its disaster relief program.
cafirefoundation.org →Global Empowerment Mission (GEM)
Cash assistance, shelter kits, supplies, and small-business grants directly to families hit by the Palisades and Eaton fires.
globalempowermentmission.org →American Red Cross
Shelter, food, health and recovery services for displaced households.
redcross.org → confirm local linkLocal Palisades organizations
Steadfast LA
Founded and led by Rick Caruso. Recovery nonprofit serving the Palisades, Malibu & Altadena: free modular homes for low-income survivors who can't afford to rebuild, small-business grants (up to $50,000), and help cutting through permitting red tape.
steadfastla.com →Palisades Recreation Center Rebuild — LA Sports Strong
Led by Lakers head coach JJ Redick, whose family lost their Palisades home in the fire — the rec center is where his kids played. His charity LA Sports Strong and Caruso's Steadfast LA are funding a public-private rebuild with the City of Los Angeles: fire-resilient buildings and roughly 50,000 sq ft of restored green and community space, targeted to reopen within about two years of the 2025 groundbreaking plan.
Via Steadfast LA → Project coverage →Pali Long-Term Recovery Group (LTRG)
President & board chair: Jim Cragg · Executive director: Jessica Rogers. The central group coordinating long-term recovery services for Palisades households — case management and programs for the most vulnerable residents.
paliltrg.org →Palisades Recovery Coalition
Founded and led by Maryam Zar, longtime civic leader and PPCC chair emeritus. Coordinates rebuilding logistics, connects neighbors with agencies and resources, and runs community care days and the "Art for Healing" program.
palirecovery.org → CTN profile →American Legion Palisades Post 283
One of the few standing community buildings — an in-person hub with meeting space, utilities, and a Wildfire Community Support Center.
alpost283.com/fire →Pacific Palisades Community Council (PPCC)
President: Allison Holdorff Polhill (sworn in July 1, 2026). All-volunteer 501(c)(3) (est. 1973) advocating for the community and maintaining ongoing Palisades Fire information and recovery updates.
pacpalicc.org → CTN story →Pali Strong
Founded by Larry Vein in the days after the fire — an Instagram page that grew into WhatsApp groups, a website, an app, and one of the community's most trusted information networks. Larry, who survived the fire himself and became a beacon for other survivors, passed away in April 2026; the organization carries his work forward.
palistrong.org →Team Palisades
A neighbor-led support network built on a Block Captain framework, with a Wellbeing arm for mental-health support.
teampalisades.org →Pali Builds
A directory of local, neighbor-organized rebuilding groups across the Palisades.
palibuilds.com →Major funds & where to give
These large funds raise money and distribute it mostly through partner nonprofits — not as direct payments to individuals. How much actually reaches survivors directly has drawn scrutiny, so if you need direct help, start with the sections above.
California Community Foundation — Wildfire Recovery Fund
Has raised $100M+ and grants ~200 vetted nonprofits providing direct aid, legal help, housing, and food. For residents: find services via its grantee network.
calfund.org →United Way of Greater L.A. — Wildfire Response Fund
Supports low-income survivors, displaced workers, and community organizations; hosts a broad recovery-resources directory.
unitedwayla.org →FireAid — read this before assuming it helps you directly
The January 2025 benefit concerts raised roughly $100 million — and none of it goes directly to fire victims. From the stage, the message audiences and artists understood was that the money would help the victims; in practice FireAid distributes only through partner nonprofits (120+ grantees, administered under the Annenberg Foundation) and has said direct payments to individuals "were never the plan." Many Palisades households who expected checks received nothing, while a long list of nonprofits — many serving this one small community — received substantial grants. The distribution has drawn public scrutiny, including a January 2026 House Judiciary Committee report alleging some grants had little connection to fire relief, which FireAid disputes as misinformation. The board of directors is chaired by Gillian Zucker (L.A. Clippers) and includes Rick Caruso, among others.
Practical takeaway: you cannot apply to FireAid as an individual — if its money reaches you, it arrives through the local organizations above. Ask any nonprofit you work with whether they hold a FireAid grant.
fireaidla.org → CTN: "Where's the Money?" →Following where the relief money goes? For ongoing local accountability reporting:
Latest news →

