Photo Credit: Cedric Letsch
In the wake of the massive wildfires that ravaged Los Angeles in January 2025, the FireAid benefit concert united the music industry and millions of global viewers. The event raised an impressive $100 million for wildfire relief and recovery—but recent questions swirl about how those funds were allocated. Now FireAid says a full accounting will be made public in December 2025.
FireAid was established and administered by the non-profit Annenberg Foundation. The $100 million relief funds raised for wildfire recovery has prompted intense scrutiny from donors, wildfire survivors, and lawmakers. According to organization statements and independent press investigations, all $100 million of the fund was earmarked for direct relief efforts rather than administrative costs. The distribution process has not been as transparent as many hoped, however.
As of July 27, 2025, FireAid has distributed $75 million across two grant tranches, supporting 188 non-profits that serve more than 150,000 Angelenos. The first round released $50 million of funds in February, targeting immediate needs for those displaced by fire including food, shelter, trauma counseling, and animal care.
A second round released in June 2025 saw $25 million designated for longer-term recovery initiatives. These including housing stability, mental health services, community infrastructure, environmental remediation, educational support, and strengthened small business aids. Calls for a full audit of these distributed funds have escalated, with Congressman Kevin Kiley (R-CA) requesting an investigation. At least one non-profit that received funds has returned those funds after the intense calls for investigations into funding amounts for non-profits not traditionally associated with fire relief and recovery.
FireAid itself has committed to a year-end audit of all the funds distributed. “By the time the year-end results are audited in December 2025 by Klynveld Peat Marwick Goerdeler (KMPG), stakeholders will have a clear understanding of how the funds have been utilized and the tangible outcomes achieved,” the organization said in a statement.
The Los Angeles Times recently detailed how some recipients of the grants have worked to help Angelenos impacted by the wildfires. They’ve also released a searchable database to showcase how those non-profits chosen to receive funds helped those in the community and their direct actions after receiving the funds.
Content shared from www.digitalmusicnews.com.