January 9, 2025
California Wildfires: How You Can Help
At Greater Houston Community Foundation, we extend our heartfelt thoughts to the communities impacted by the devastating wildfires in Southern California. The Foundation has prepared a list of community foundations and other national and local organizations that have established relief efforts. Although not an exhaustive list, we hope you will consider utilizing your Donor Advised Fund at the Foundation or contribute directly to provide support. If you are a Foundation fundholder and have questions, please reach out to [email protected].
Photo credit: CNN
Community Foundations
California Community Foundation: Wildfire Recovery Fund
Latino Community Foundation: California Wildfire Relief Fund and the Just Recovery Partnership
Pasadena Community Foundation: Eaton Canyon Fire Relief Fund
Ventura County Community Foundation
Community Foundation Partnerships
People First Fund for Southern California Wildfires: A partnership between community foundations and the Emergency Assistance Foundation. The Fund provides direct cash grants to impacted individuals and families for urgent needs, such as temporary shelter, food, clothing, and other self-identified essentials, filling critical gaps in traditional disaster response systems. People First Fund puts money directly into the hands of those impacted, allowing them the dignity and autonomy to meet their immediate needs as quickly as possible — while supporting long-term recovery and resilience.
National & Local Nonprofit Organizations
SupplyBank.org Disaster Relief Fund
United Way of Greater Los Angeles: Wildfire Response Fund
Support for Families & Workers
Baby2Baby: Provides children living in poverty with diapers, clothing and all the basic necessities.
LAUSD Education Emergency Relief Fund: Offering direct cash assistance and support to families and employees affected by the fires; support teachers and in-class resources for students at impacted schools, ensuring continuity of learning to the greatest extent possible; provide flexible assistance for mental health support; and offer support for other immediate and long-term needs for students, families, and teachers.
National Day Laborer Organizing Network (NDLON): Providing crucial support to immigrant day laborers, undocumented workers, and mixed-status families impacted by the wildfires.
The Black Music Action Coalition: Focus on Black residents and small businesses in Los Angeles.
This Is About Humanity: Front and second-line migrant farm workers, day laborers, and other essential workers and their families severely impacted by the recent fires in Los Angeles.
Support for First Responders
CAL FIRE Benevolent Foundation
California Fire Foundation Wildfire & Disaster Relief Fund
Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation
National Day Laborer Organizing Network (NDLON): Support for incarcerated firefighters are on the front lines of the wildfires across Southern California.
Widows, Orphans & Disabled Firefighters Fund
Support for Pets & Other Animals
Los Angeles County Animal Care Foundation
Last updated: 1.16.25
Greater Houston Community Foundation has a long history of serving as a resource and collaborative partner during great hardship, helping donors provide immediate and long-term disaster relief to Houstonians in need. In addition to partnering with donors, we partner with businesses looking to provide financial assistance to employees who have experienced losses from federally qualified disasters.
To learn more about the Foundation’s disaster and community impact efforts, connect with us to start a discussion.