How to Help Those Impacted by the L.A. Wildfires (Updating)

Los Angeles County remains in the throes of massive wildfires that began in various locations starting Tuesday (Jan. 7), leading to the displacement of more than 180,000 residents. The wildfires have reportedly destroyed thousands of properties and claimed 10 lives as first responders continue to battle the flames throughout the region.

More and more organizations and companies are stepping up to collect funds and provide resources for those impacted by the disasters. Below is an updating list of ways to help residents, first responders and members of the city’s music community by donating goods and services and even attending benefit concerts.

Music workers looking for relief can navigate here for additional resources.

Support for Families and Outdoor Workers

The LAUSD Education Emergency Relief Fund is providing immediate assistance to families and Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) employees affected by the devastating fires. The fund will offer 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.

The CAA Foundation, the philanthropic arm of leading entertainment and sports agency Creative Artists Agency (CAA), global humanitarian organization Community Organized Relief Effort (CORE) and the Los Angeles Unified School District Education Foundation have come together to launch the SOCAL FIRE FUND. This ongoing collaboration will provide immediate and long-term support for community-centered recovery initiatives that aid the most vulnerable impacted by the January 2025 fires. The fund will be administered by the Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF), the creative community’s trusted partner in philanthropy.

The Black Music Action Coalition has announced an immediate relief fund with a focus on Black residents and small businesses in the L.A. area affected by the ongoing and devastating fires. The organization will disperse 100% of monies received to relief efforts with urgency as funds come in.

Inclusive Action has launched a GoFundMe to provide cash relief for outdoor workers impacted by wildfires. The emergency aid fund will provide $500 in cash assistance directly to “open-air workers,” i.e. people whose jobs require them to work outside, including street vendors, landscapers and recyclers.

This Is About Humanity has launched a fund supporting 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. Through Jan. 31, TIAH is matching up to $50,000 in donations to provide critical relief, housing support, food assistance and essential resources.

Save the Children is helping ensure essential, child-focused supplies are getting into the hands of children and families impacted by the wind-fueled fires. This includes supplies like hygiene kits and caregiver kits – with flashlights, water bottles, blankets, portable chargers and more – as well as children’s activity kits, to enable kids to be kids during stressful times. Contribute to the Children’s Emergency Fund here.

Community organizers The Kindness Hub have put together a Volunteer Spreadsheet for daily opportunities to help out, as well as an overall Aid Tracker spreadsheet with helpful tips for those impacted by the fires.

Support for First Responders

Donations to the LA Fire Department Foundation will go to supporting the heroic firefighters responding in real-time to protect lives, homes and communities.

The CA Fire Foundation is working with local fire agencies and community-based organizations to provide direct financial support to impacted residents as details of the damage emerge. The California Fire Foundation also provides critical support to surviving families of fallen firefighters, firefighters and the communities they serve.

Mercy Chefs, a Virginia-based nonprofit specializing in disaster relief, is on the ground in Southern California in response to the devastating wildfires. First meals are being distributed today to victims, volunteers, firefighters and other first responders. Support Mercy Chefs current efforts here.

Essential Items for Families in Need

Baby2Baby is providing essential supplies like diapers, clothing, hygiene products and emergency kits to families in need through hundreds of their community partners.

World Central Kitchen is supporting first responders and families impacted by wildfires in the Los Angeles area with sandwiches and warm meals.

Mutual Aid LA Network is continually working to compile an extensive list of organizations offering assistance and accepting donations through this spreadsheet.

Instacart has set up Community Carts banners or click instacart.com/donate where people can make donations of essential items directly to YMCAs across Los Angeles.

Support for Music Professionals

The Recording Academy and MusiCares have launched the Los Angeles Fire Relief Effort to support music professionals impacted by the crisis and made a combined pledge of $1 million to kick off a fundraising effort. You can donate here.

The Sweet Relief Musicians Fund has launched a natural disaster relief fund for music professionals in Los Angeles County and the surrounding areas. Funds raised will go to help those recoup the loss of music-related equipment as well as medical bills related to the fires and other vital living expenses. Head here to donate or fill out an application.

The We Are Moving the Needle Microgrants Wildfire Relief Fund is designed to support “early and mid-career producers, engineers, and creators who have lost studio space or gear” in the wildfires. Those wishing to donate can go here.

The 100 Percenters has launched an LA Wildfire Relief Fundraiser to benefit professional songwriters, producers, artists and music professionals “with verifiable industry contributions” who reside “in wildfire-impacted areas” in Los Angeles County and “can demonstrate wildfire-related loss and financial need.” The fund will provide immediate financial assistance with grants up to $2,500 for housing, transportation and essentials; support rebuilding efforts with grants of up to $10,000 to replace equipment and “restore creative spaces”; and offer mental health support with grants of up to $2,000 for counseling and wellness services. Donate here.

Songwriters of North America (SONA) relaunched its Songwriters Fund to provide emergency relief for songwriters and composers impacted by the wildfires. In order to qualify for $500 emergency grants, songwriters can visit the organization’s website and provide examples that demonstrate professional-level work as a musician, prove they were based in and around the area of the fires, and provide three recent songwriter and/or composer credits. Qualifying writers and composers will then receive payment via direct deposit, check or digital wallet. You can donate to the fund here.

Mid/Long-Term Relief

California Community Foundation‘s Wildlife Recovery Fund focuses on mid-term and long-term recovery efforts for those affected by the fires.

Pasadena Community Foundation‘s Eaton Canyon Fire Recovery and Relief Fund is mobilizing local resources to support resilience and immediate and long-term recovery initiatives in the L.A. County cities of Pasadena and Altadena.

The PLUS1LA Fires Fund will help local nonprofits offering shelter and care to those who have lost their homes, including PPE to prevent smoke inhalation, food, clothing, diapers, formula, hygiene items and mental health support to help those coping with trauma. Over the long term, it will support efforts to help individuals, families, communities and the environment recover from the destruction.

Team Rubicon is a veteran-led humanitarian organization that assists disaster response across the globe based here in LA. The organization is currently assisting with a point of distribution (POD) to give out much-needed supplies to survivors, such as food, water, ice and other essential items.
In Malibu, volunteers are assisting those directly impacted by the wildfires.

Benefit Concerts

An all-star list of artists including Billie Eilish, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Jelly Roll, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Stevie Nicks, John Mayer and Joni Mitchell are set to play FireAid, a pair of benefit concerts spanning both Intuit Dome and Kia Forum on Jan. 30. A partnership between Live Nation, AEG and the Azoff family, the benefit concert will be broadcast by select AMC Theatres, Apple Music and the Apple TV App, Max, iHeartRadio and more platforms, with viewers able to contribute while the watch. Tickets will go on sale Wednesday (Jan. 22) at noon PT via Ticketmaster. Proceeds from the shows, which will be distributed with the help of the Annenberg Foundation, will span creating an organization to rebuild Los Angeles’s infrastructure, supporting displaced families, and preventing future fire disasters. You can find more information and donate here.

L.A. Gives Back: Fire Relief is set for Jan. 29 at The Bellwether in downtown L.A. The show — organized by IHEARTCOMIX, Brownies & Lemonade, Another Planet Entertainment (which owns The Bellwether) and Teragram — has yet to announce a lineup. One hundred percent of proceeds from the show will go to supporting victims of the fires, along with first responders and animals. You can buy tickets here.

The Get Together Foundation, in cooperation with Rock Cellar productions, announced a wildfire relief concert to be held Jan. 28 at The Canyon in Agoura Hills, Calif. One hundred percent of proceeds will go to organizations supporting wildfire relief efforts including the Guitar Center Music Foundation (to help replace musical instruments lost in the blazes), the Los Angeles Firemen’s Relief Association and others. L.A.-based musicians set to perform include Micky Dolenz, Laurence Juber (Wings) & AIRFOIL, Jeff Alan Ross (Peter Asher, The Lovin’ Spoonful), Carl Verheyen Band, Bernard Fowler (The Rolling Stones), Rob Morrow, Rosemary Butler and others, with more to be announced. You can buy tickets to the event here.

In New York, Canadian singer-songwriter JP Saxe is hosting a benefit concert with “friends” in lieu of his single release show to benefit victims of the wildfires. Dubbed NY for LA – A Benefit Concert, the show is set to take place on Wednesday (Jan. 22) at the Bowery Ballroom in New York City, with all proceeds going to Mutual Aid LA. You can buy tickets to the concert here.