Relief Funds & Nonprofits

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. All rounds have closed (the last application window ended in March 2025) and no 2026 round has been announced — the page remains useful for status checks on grants already awarded.

California Fire Foundation

Disaster-relief program — $250 SAVE cash cards handed out through fire departments during active disasters, plus grants to community organizations (not an open application channel for past fires).

Global Empowerment Mission (GEM)

Cash assistance, shelter kits, supplies, and small-business grants directly to families hit by the Palisades and Eaton fires.

American Red Cross

Shelter, food, health and recovery services for displaced households.

Steadfast LA

Founded and chaired by Rick Caruso (managing director Nick Geller). 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.

Palisades Recreation Center Rebuild — LA Strong Sports

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 Strong Sports and Caruso's Steadfast LA are funding a $40M public-private rebuild with the City of Los Angeles. Circling the News reports that the groundbreaking took place September 15, 2026. LA Strong Sports hopes to have children back on the fields in 2027; a firm opening date for the whole center has not been confirmed. Check Recreation and Parks for current access during construction. Details on our Community page.

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 "Recovery Talks," Community Recovery Labs, weekly construction consultations, and the monthly "Art for Healing" program.

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.

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.

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 (no successor leader has been publicly named as of September 2026).

Team Palisades

A neighbor-led support network built on a Block Captain framework, with a Wellbeing arm for mental-health support.

Pali Builds

A directory of local, neighbor-organized rebuilding groups across the Palisades.

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.

United Way of Greater L.A. — Wildfire Response Fund

Supports low-income survivors, displaced workers, and community organizations; hosts a broad recovery-resources directory.

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 (170+ grantees across three rounds, 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.