Tahitian Terrace and Palisades Bowl mobile home parks were destroyed in the fire. People do not have money to rebuild.
More than $100 million was raised for FireAid victims, in Eaton and Pacific Palisades. Individuals do not receive funds, that money has gone to nonprofits and L.A. County.
CTN contacted spokesperson Chris Wallace about how many nonprofits have directly benefited Palisades and he sent 42 organizational names. He was also asked how much money each nonprofit received, and he said he would see if that was available. If CTN receives a dollar amount, it will be shared with readers.
Tonight we highlight 11 more of the nonprofits that received money, which directly “benefitted” Pacific Palisades.
When Wallace sent the list of the names of the nonprofits, a brief description was included. CTN went to each nonprofit website and then to the 990 tax form.
Neighborhood Housing Services of LA: financial counseling and assistance to mobile park residents.
“Neighborhood Housing Services of Los Angeles County (NHS) serves as a catalyst for local residents, business and government representatives to work together to build stronger neighborhoods, improve the quality of life for low to moderate income families and revitalize communities into neighborhoods of choice.” https://www.nhslacounty.org/
Revenue (2023) $2,348,264 (98.6% from donors), Expenses $1,558,534. Executive Compensation $425,737 and salaries and wages $269,129.
(Editor’s note: The nonprofit specifically said it helped mobile home victims, but owners in Tahitian Terrace had never heard of them—and there was no link for mobile homes on the website).
The Change Reaction: cash and supplies to fire victims.
“The Change Reaction is rooted in the belief that empowering social impact leaders so they can respond to urgent financial situations with immediate, meaningful cash support ignites a Change Reaction. https://www.changereaction.org/
Revenue (2023) was $2,449,809 and expenses $3,665,773. Executive compensation $261,154 and salaries and wages $716,751.
Musicares: cash and support to musicians displaced.
“Every day – all year long – MusiCares saves lives.” https://www.musicares.org
Revenue (2023) $15,259,540 (100 % from donors), Expenses $12,751,561. No executive compensation listed. Salaries and wages $2,916,947. Total net assets for this nonprofit were $29,161, 774.
Baby 2 Baby: supplies delivered in the Palisades and countywide.
“Baby2Baby is a nonprofit that provides children in need across the county with diapers, clothing and all the basic necessities.” https://baby2baby.org/
Revenue (2023) $45,062,608 (100% from donors), Expenses $40,186,301 Net Assets $32,538, 746. Executive compensation $156,132 and salaries and wages $3,567,086.
Alliance For Children’s Rights: care for foster youth displace no matter what the location.
“Clearing barriers to stability and opportunity, we advocate for children, young adults, and families impacted by foster care, so that they can access the support and services they need to thrive.” https://allianceforchildrensrights.org/
Revenue $10,720,432 (97.1% from donors), Expenses $8,431,491. Executive compensation $752,810 and other salaries and wages $4,499,758.
El Nido: provided support for overflow from westside fires. (They have offices in downtown L.A. Pacoima, Panorama City and South Los Angeles.)
“Since 1925, El Nido Family Centers has been creating pathways to long-term well-being for young people and families across Los Angeles.” https://www.elnidofamilycenters.org/
Revenue (2023) $13,440,326 (100% from donations) Expenses $13,238,499. Executive compensation $369,420 and other salaries and wages $6,570,472
Childcare Alliance Of LA County: provided support for childcare providers and families throughout the County.
“Working together to strengthen families and ensure high-quality childcare and early learning across Los Angeles County.” The site has links to resources surrounding the fire, including the Los Angeles Department of Public Health. https://www.ccala.net/
Revenue (2023) $331,261,534 (100% from donors), expenses $31,251,032. Executive compensation $214,533 and salaries and other wages $3,644,476.
Imagine LA: navigation to folks in palisades — about half their users.
“Imagine LA is dedicated to ending the cycle of family poverty and homelessness.” https://www.imaginela.org/
Revenue (2023) $2,844,455 (87.3% from donors) Expenses $3,047,357. Executive compensation $370,998 and other salaries and wages $1,327,435.
Inclusive Action: helped outdoor workers including Palisades.
“Our mission is to serve underinvested communities and build thriving local economies by improving access to transformative capital, and advancing policy through collaborative research and community-driven advocacy.” https://www.inclusiveaction.org/The site also notes that “in 2025, Inclusive Action is proud to be championing five state bills to advance economic justice in California. This package will transform laws to defend street vendors and immigrant workers against federal attacks, advance economic inclusion for entrepreneurs of color, and expand the social safety net and resources for workers and small business owners to equitably recover from the LA fires and build a stronger future.
Revenue (2023) $8,722,982, (83.7% from donors), Expenses $5,749,930. Executive compensation $681,691 and other salaries and wages $1,534,210.
211LA: fielded emergency calls from all fire victims. (Also known as the Information and Referral Federation of Los Angeles County.)
“For over 40 years, 211 LA, a nonprofit organization, has operated on public, private, and charitable funds to provide comprehensive, streamlined care to the Los Angeles community, matching people with the needed services.”
Also on the website, one can learn about social, racial and gender justice and cultural equity. According to the 211 site, “during the recent wildfires, the organization quickly partnered with Airbnb.org and the American Red Cross, placing over 17,000 households and 150,000 individuals in temporary housing and securing $24 million in direct aid for affected individuals.” Did 211 help any Palisades residents with housing? Editor@circlingthenews.com
Revenue (2023) $21,583,310 (98.9% from donors), Expenses $21,694,123. Executive Compensation ($432,780 and other salaries and wages $7,313,132.
IDEPSCA: (Institute of Popular Education of Southern California) very focused on Palisades impacted workers.
“To create a more humane and democratic society by responding to the needs and problems of disenfranchised people through leadership development and educational programs based on Popular Education methodology. Specifically, our goal is to organize and educate immigrants concerned with solving problems in their own communities.” https://www.idepsca.org/
Revenue (2023) $2,314,113 (100% comes from donors) Expenses $1,418,664. Executive compensation $106,343 and other salaries and wages $849,645.
After looking at the many of the nonprofits that received FireAid money, one reader wrote “this a strong case for California’s Attorney General’s Office to get involved in this fundraising effort. Donors believed they were helping victims directly.
“I have seen or been directly involved with charities where they are required to call every donor after the fact and at all donor levels – $10 to $10M – to ask permission to change gift restriction. In this case, the change would be from direct relief to victims to funds for supporting organizations.
“The charity would then be required to return donations where a gift restriction is not lifted. This is a nightmare situation and could influence Annenberg to distribute remaining funds to all victims.”
The reader pointed out that direct financial support from FireAid could benefit a lot of victims, and said people across the United States and the world gave because of the messaging. “Imagine if you told people giving money that it would not go to victims but rather to random organizations that have nothing to do with helping the victims?
“The emotional connection and incentive for giving was to help victims. Donors responded to seeing folks on TV crying, viewing their destroyed homes, searching for missing pets, feeling lost and uncertain about futures. That is why people gave.”
This cross from the Methodist Church was one of the few things salvaged from the building.
It’s criminal. I know many Palisadians, myself included, who are struggling to pay high rents which were raised by the day when we had to secure housing. Not one has received help with this terrible situation. Or with anything for that matter. The money should be given to us directly for the ongoing need to put our lives back together.
The selection process for awarding grants to these non-profits should be immediately reviewed by the Attorney General… it doesn’t pass the smell test
Change reaction did give money to many of the health care workers whose homes were destroyed or so damaged that they were displaced. This was done through the hospitals. Everyone who identified as being in this group, including volunteers, was included in this. They said it was to support the healthcare workers and institutions who had to keep working during the event, some even operating while their families were evacuating their homes. Their support was greatly appreciated. I heard a rumor that they did this with other frontline worker groups as well, but I don’t have personal knowledge of that part. I had never heard of this group prior to the fire.
Just looking at the executive salaries is so disheartening. It’s clear that people are making money well beyond normal salaries in these charities. The mayor should have set up a fire victim organization with a board of directors and people could directly apply for grants under very specific guidelines. This is just another example of the inefficiency of Los Angeles government right now. We need to begin to hold our leaders accountable for where our money gets spent and for better assistance for fire victims, more safety for our streets and a Cleaner healthier environment.