Questions grow over FireAid’s $100 million and how relief is being delivered
.jpg)
A celebrity benefit called FireAid raised about $100 million after the January 2025 Southern California wildfires, promising to help survivors recover and rebuild. Organizers say they are distributing the money in phases through local nonprofits rather than paying individuals directly. To many skeptics, routing $100 million through layers of nonprofits instead of sending cash to families looks like a maze that slows help and hides who really benefits. They worry “no admin fee” promises still allow costs to pop up at partner groups, that celebrity brands get good press while survivors wait, and that grant choices can tilt toward favored organizations or messaging instead of the hardest-hit blocks. Donors expected rent, groceries, and rebuilding money; instead they see “phased” grants, vague impact reports, and little proof of how many roofs were actually replaced. Supporters answer that direct cash at this scale invites fraud, that vetted nonprofits prevent double-dipping, and that ser...