This story highlights grants we gave to help communities recover from the January 2025 wildfires that devastated Southern California.
Disaster recovery is one of WoodNext’s funding priorities, and we respond quickly to emergencies. When the wildfires started, we sent funds to the following grantees, relying on both old and new partners to reach the people affected.
California Community Foundation Wildlife Recovery Fund
A community foundation is a public charity that serves a specific geographic area by collecting and directing resources from donors to local nonprofits. Because of these strong connections, WoodNext frequently partners with community foundations on local initiatives. The California Community Foundation (CCF) serves Los Angeles County, and we supported CCF’s wildfire recovery fund to work with local partners to help the communities of Altadena, Pasadena, the Palisades, and more.
Pasadena Community Foundation Eaton Fire Relief & Recovery Fund
This community foundation serves Pasadena County. Like CCF, Pasadena Community Foundation (PCF) created a dedicated fund to help individuals displaced by the Eaton wildfire. It is working with nonprofit partners to provide food, shelter, emergency childcare, and medical care. PCF is also collaborating with residents to plan how to rebuild Altadena.
Good360
Good360 works with corporations and funders to send donated goods directly to communities in need. We have partnered with them before, and our donation to their California program provides essential supplies to thousands of students and their families from five destroyed public charter schools. Good360 is distributing books, backpacks, computers, clothing, hygiene products, and household items to those in need.
World Central Kitchen
WoodNext has frequently funded World Central Kitchen (WCK) to provide fresh meals during emergencies. In response to the California wildfires, our grant supported WCK to partner with more than 70 local restaurants and food trucks and mobilize 350 volunteers to provide fresh, nourishing meals. Its Relief Team continues to work with local partners to support first responders and displaced families.
LiftFund
LiftFund is a nonprofit bank and also a previous WoodNext grantee. We contributed to its Los Angeles Wildfires Small Business Relief Grant program to provide immediate financial relief to prevent small businesses from shutting down due to the wildfires.
