An interim staff report January 6, 2026, from the U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary Committee noted that some FireAid funds had not been used for the intended purpose click here.
The committee wrote “based on internal documents reviewed by the Committee, instead of helping fire victims, donations made to FireAid helped to fund causes and projects completely unrelated to fire recovery, including voter participation for Native Americans, illegal aliens, podcast shows and fungus planting.
“Finally, despite FireAid’s promise that ‘funds be used solely for direct community support for relief, recovery and rebuilding — not for overhead or salaries,’ donations went to pay salaries and bonuses for those working at non-profits and other organizations.”
The investigation is ongoing.
After the deadly and devastating fires in Altadena and Pacific Palisades, a FireAid concert was held in January. At the time the stated purpose of the concert was to help victims.
More than $100 million was raised. In April 2025, Circling the News received a query from a reader asking how they could apply to receive FireAid funds.
When FireAid officials were asked about individual help, CTN was told that FireAid would not go directly to individuals but instead was going to nonprofits.
This contradicted what had been advertised during the concert.
It was easy for a nonprofit to get a FireAid grant in the first two rounds in which about $75 million was given out: show an EIN number (employer identification number) and answer six simple questions, including how the nonprofit would help fire victims, and give an estimate of people served in the Fire Areas.
It is also easy to start a nonprofit, which many locals did. It can take a while to get an EIN number from the IRS. But, a new nonprofit could partner with one of two larger nonprofits, the California Community Foundation or Community Partners, who will share their number for a price.
On its website, Community Partners notes that once it shares a number, the fee is 9% of funds from private grants (such as FireAid) and 15 percent of government grants. In return a new nonprofit can began receiving “grants immediately, operate professionally, receive expert guidance, boost credibility and insure your organization.”
Although CTN had asked California State Attorney General Rob Bonta to investigate where FireAid funds were going, that plea went unheeded. After numerous news show brought attention to FireAid fund, U.S. Representative Jim Jordan and Representative Kevin Kiley launched an investigation in October 2025.
The Judiciary report noted several nonprofits used the money for staff stipends, which was against guidelines for receiving money. Final nonprofit reports, required by FireAid were due December 31. Those nonprofit reports have to prove money was not allocated for administrative purposes and should include names, the number of people helped, and the amount spent on each person.
To see the 172 nonprofits who received funds go to the Latham and Watkins report (click here.)
In earlier reporting, CTN was curious about the nonprofits (below) and hope they will also be investigated by the Judiciary to find out how they helped either a Palisades or Altadena fire victim, and how much money was given to each resident.
Lift Los Angeles https://whywelift.org/ received a quarter of a million: LA Coalition of Community Clinics https://www.lacountyhcc.org/home a half a million: Nami Westside LA https://namiwla.org/ a quarter of a million: Neighborhood Housing Services of Los Angeles County https://www.nhslacounty.org/ received $1.5 million: Pacific Clinics https://www.pacificclinics.org/ a quarter million: St. Joseph Center https://stjosephctr.org/ $100,000: The People Concern https://www.thepeopleconcern.org/ received a quarter million: and Union Station Homeless Corporation https://ushs.org/ a quarter million, United American Indian Involvement https://uaii.org/ $100,000 and Vision y Compromiso https://visionycompromiso.org/ a quarter million.
What you continue to do for our community is extraordinary. Thank you, Sue, for the time, care, and heart you pour into this work – for digging deep, even on days when you’re running on empty, and for your unwavering pursuit of accountability. I hope you find your way back to the place you can truly call home again sooner than you imagine. This is a long road for all of us, and your dedication lights the way.
DITTO to Christel’s comment…..Thank you, Sue.