Grantmakers In Health (GIH) is watching with the rest of the country as Southern California continues to battle wildfires devastating communities in and around the Los Angeles metropolitan area. Our thoughts are with the many thousands of people who have been displaced from their homes and seen their neighborhoods and towns destroyed.
The disaster is affecting people and communities across the economic spectrum, from affluent neighborhoods in the Pacific Palisades to working class enclaves in Altadena. Although the fires are still burning, as we move into recovery, it is critical that resources are distributed equitably to all communities involved to ensure all whose lives have been disrupted by the tragedy have access to the support they need to rebuild.
There is much that philanthropy can do to augment local, state, and federal government recovery efforts. If you are interested in engaging your organization’s support, please consider the following opportunities and resources:
- Philanthropy California, an alliance of Northern California Grantmakers, Southern California Grantmakers, and Catalyst of San Diego and Imperial Counties, is partnering with the Governor’s Office of Emergency Service (Cal OES) to support immediate disaster relief and long-term recovery efforts. Visit Philanthropy California’s 2025 California Disaster Response page to learn more.
- The Center for Disaster Philanthropy’s California Wildfires Recovery Fund works directly with local nonprofits to identify specific needs and gaps in funding. They consult with many in-state partners, including Cal OES and other agencies to assess the long-term needs of affected communities and build collaborative partnerships.
- As a California-based disaster relief and medical assistance organization, Direct Relief has responded to wildfires in California and throughout the U.S. for decades and is currently actively responding to Los Angeles-area wildfires. They have deployed multiple emergency response teams to deliver critically needed relief items, including N95 respirators, personal care kits for evacuees, prescription medications, field medic backpacks, and other supplies, to several distribution hubs, evacuation shelters, and community health centers throughout the Los Angeles area.
- California Community Foundation’s Wildfire Recover Fund supports an array of critical recovery services, including housing, case management, mental health, and medical care for displaced residents. It also aids in rebuilding essential infrastructure like emergency communication systems and offers financial disaster assistance, labor law education, and immigration services to low-wage workers and immigrant families.
Recovery from the California wildfires will require long-term investments and engagement, and GIH will support health philanthropy in its efforts to help those affected.