Insights from a Community Foundation’s $100M Investment Following the LA Fires
On January 7, 2025, fires erupted across Los Angeles, and Miguel Santana, CEO of the California Community Foundation (CCF), quickly recognized the scale of the disaster. He witnessed the devastation firsthand as he flew over the flames, observing homes and hillsides engulfed in fire while fierce winds rattled the airplane cabin. The following day, another fire ignited in Altadena, located 30 miles northeast of the Pacific Palisades.
Related: The Return Period for An LA Wildfire-Scale Event May Be Shorter Than You Think
“Flying over it really brought light to how serious the whole thing was,” Santana reflected, drawing from his extensive experience as a civil servant in LA before transitioning to philanthropy. “From the very beginning, I had a feeling this was going to be a really unprecedented disaster.”
In response, CCF activated its wildfire recovery fund, contributing $30 million in the first month to nonprofits assisting survivors with immediate needs. A year later, the fund has raised over $100 million from nearly 50,000 donors globally, presenting both a unique opportunity to aid survivors and a significant challenge in determining where to allocate resources for a prolonged recovery.
Related: Less Than a Dozen Homes Have Been Rebuilt a Year After LA Wildfires
The Palisades and Eaton fires resulted in the tragic loss of 31 lives and the destruction of 17,000 structures, affecting tens of thousands of Angelenos who lost homes, schools, places of worship, and jobs. Alarmingly, an estimated 70% of survivors remain displaced, with only 10 homes rebuilt across both fire zones. The mental health of survivors is deteriorating as they grapple with instability.
In December, Santana discussed the future of LA’s recovery with The Associated Press, with the interview edited for clarity and length.
How Did CCF Approach The Overwhelming Need in Those First Weeks?
We aimed to support communities and survivors most likely to fall through the cracks—senior citizens, children, renters, and those living paycheck to paycheck who lost their jobs. It was crucial to identify systemic issues that would arise and begin advocating for solutions.
Disasters amplify existing inequities, and we were concerned about an uneven recovery.
How Did You Try to Balance Those Inequities?
I reached out to Evan Spiegel, co-founder and CEO of Snap, who grew up in the Palisades. Within days of the fires being extinguished, we gathered survivors from across the country to share their experiences with LA survivors. This meeting led to the formation of the Department of Angels, a nonprofit focused on tracking survivor experiences and addressing barriers to recovery.
We conduct quarterly surveys of over 2,000 survivors to gauge the recovery state and identify real challenges.
What Are Those Challenges?
Currently, insurance is a major issue. The type of carrier you have significantly influences your recovery process. Survivors feel trapped, running out of options as they juggle mortgage payments on burned properties, insurance, property taxes, and rental costs.
Their access to capital is limited, yet their needs are far greater.
Are There New Solutions to Address Those Challenges?
We are collaborating with financial institutions like Bank of America to develop a new product that allows survivors to access capital. This would involve providing a silent second type of financing, where philanthropy acts as a guarantor, enabling families to secure traditional loans.
Philanthropy can play a unique role by providing backstop support, not direct loans. We hope to announce this initiative early in the first quarter of the year.
California is awaiting billions more from the federal government. Can philanthropy fill the gap?
While philanthropy raised $1 billion, it’s not enough. Its role is to act quickly and identify systemic issues, but it cannot provide ongoing support at the necessary scale. Angelenos should expect federal support during crises, just as other survivors do across the country.
As The Second Year of Recovery Begins, What Is Top of Mind for You?
We must advocate for a swift and equitable recovery while caring for one another. If you know someone affected, reach out to check on them, invite them over for dinner, or help with their children. Despite the community’s remarkable unity, many still feel isolated, facing each day alone.
This is a crucial time to support survivors, not just from this disaster but from any disaster nationwide.
Associated Press coverage of philanthropy and nonprofits receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.
Copyright 2026 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Topics
Louisiana
On January 7, 2025, fires erupted across Los Angeles, and Miguel Santana, CEO of the California Community Foundation (CCF), quickly recognized the scale of the disaster. He witnessed the devastation firsthand as he flew over the flames, observing homes and hillsides engulfed in fire while fierce winds rattled the airplane cabin. The following day, another fire ignited in Altadena, located 30 miles northeast of the Pacific Palisades.
Related: The Return Period for An LA Wildfire-Scale Event May Be Shorter Than You Think
“Flying over it really brought light to how serious the whole thing was,” Santana reflected, drawing from his extensive experience as a civil servant in LA before transitioning to philanthropy. “From the very beginning, I had a feeling this was going to be a really unprecedented disaster.”
In response, CCF activated its wildfire recovery fund, contributing $30 million in the first month to nonprofits assisting survivors with immediate needs. A year later, the fund has raised over $100 million from nearly 50,000 donors globally, presenting both a unique opportunity to aid survivors and a significant challenge in determining where to allocate resources for a prolonged recovery.
Related: Less Than a Dozen Homes Have Been Rebuilt a Year After LA Wildfires
The Palisades and Eaton fires resulted in the tragic loss of 31 lives and the destruction of 17,000 structures, affecting tens of thousands of Angelenos who lost homes, schools, places of worship, and jobs. Alarmingly, an estimated 70% of survivors remain displaced, with only 10 homes rebuilt across both fire zones. The mental health of survivors is deteriorating as they grapple with instability.
In December, Santana discussed the future of LA’s recovery with The Associated Press, with the interview edited for clarity and length.
How Did CCF Approach The Overwhelming Need in Those First Weeks?
We aimed to support communities and survivors most likely to fall through the cracks—senior citizens, children, renters, and those living paycheck to paycheck who lost their jobs. It was crucial to identify systemic issues that would arise and begin advocating for solutions.
Disasters amplify existing inequities, and we were concerned about an uneven recovery.
How Did You Try to Balance Those Inequities?
I reached out to Evan Spiegel, co-founder and CEO of Snap, who grew up in the Palisades. Within days of the fires being extinguished, we gathered survivors from across the country to share their experiences with LA survivors. This meeting led to the formation of the Department of Angels, a nonprofit focused on tracking survivor experiences and addressing barriers to recovery.
We conduct quarterly surveys of over 2,000 survivors to gauge the recovery state and identify real challenges.
What Are Those Challenges?
Currently, insurance is a major issue. The type of carrier you have significantly influences your recovery process. Survivors feel trapped, running out of options as they juggle mortgage payments on burned properties, insurance, property taxes, and rental costs.
Their access to capital is limited, yet their needs are far greater.
Are There New Solutions to Address Those Challenges?
We are collaborating with financial institutions like Bank of America to develop a new product that allows survivors to access capital. This would involve providing a silent second type of financing, where philanthropy acts as a guarantor, enabling families to secure traditional loans.
Philanthropy can play a unique role by providing backstop support, not direct loans. We hope to announce this initiative early in the first quarter of the year.
California is awaiting billions more from the federal government. Can philanthropy fill the gap?
While philanthropy raised $1 billion, it’s not enough. Its role is to act quickly and identify systemic issues, but it cannot provide ongoing support at the necessary scale. Angelenos should expect federal support during crises, just as other survivors do across the country.
As The Second Year of Recovery Begins, What Is Top of Mind for You?
We must advocate for a swift and equitable recovery while caring for one another. If you know someone affected, reach out to check on them, invite them over for dinner, or help with their children. Despite the community’s remarkable unity, many still feel isolated, facing each day alone.
This is a crucial time to support survivors, not just from this disaster but from any disaster nationwide.
Associated Press coverage of philanthropy and nonprofits receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.
Copyright 2026 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Topics
Louisiana
