2025 Fire Transparency Report

January – April 2025

The 2025 Los Angeles wildfires were some of the most destructive the region has seen, and further exacerbated existing vulnerabilities (while also creating new ones). Throughout this event, Mutual Aid LA Network saw a dramatic influx in donations, unlike any others we’d ever received before. Our team of volunteers was simultaneously overjoyed and overwhelmed, to say the least.

In addition to continuing to update our Fire Response Resource database (the famous spreadsheet), we also pivoted to figuring out opportunities to quickly redistribute this money- predominantly in the form of reimbursements, though we wer also able to make purchases for groups and individuals, and continued to work on identifying a way to also start getting cash to mutual aid groups across the city.

This is a fiscal transparency report, and isn’t reflective of the countless physical donations we received from individuals and businesses, but we want to express our gratitude for this generosity.

January

In January, MALAN received $785,928.93 in donations. Our fiscal sponsor, Hack Club, takes 7% of all donations, receiving $45,480.88 in fiscal sponsorship fees for January. Our total expenditures in January (excluding the fiscal sponsorship fee) were $175,999.87.

Over half of that, $137,538.86, was given to other groups (some conducting fire response, others continuing their regular services– unhoused outreach, harm reduction, meal service, etc.), through donations, purchases, and reimbursements. Of the group giving expenditures, almost $10,000 was used for unhoused needs, and over $30,000 was used for PPE. Our group giving efforts allowed us to support almost 50 groups.

We spent $111,420.08 on fire related transactions, which include both group giving and individual outreach. Our individual outreach costs totaled $34,649.72, and covered expenses like gift cards, temporary housing, and personal reimbursements. We gave to other groups in the form of donations, purchases, and reimbursements.

Finally, our internal MALAN expenses were $3,811.29, these were used for our ongoing projects Produce in the Park, Open Art Supply, and Hygiene Hello, as well as supporting fire relief projects. At our January Hygiene Hello!, we made 238 menstrual kits and 268 hygiene kits.

February

In February MALAN received $451,867.47 in donations. Our fiscal sponsorship fees (7% of donations) totaled $37,336.55. Our total expenditures in February (excluding fiscal sponsorship fees) totaled $198,295.96.

Over half of that, $176,979.04, was given to other groups (some conducting fire response, others continuing their regular services– unhoused outreach, harm reduction, meal service, etc.), through donations, purchases, and reimbursements. Of the group giving expenditures, almost $50,000 was used for unhoused needs, and almost $45,000 was used for PPE. Our group giving efforts allowed us to support over 50 groups.

We spent $110,730.09 on fire related transactions, which include both group giving and individual outreach. Our individual outreach costs totaled $20,423.63, and covered expenses like gift cards, temporary housing, and personal reimbursements. We gave to other groups in the form of donations, purchases, and reimbursements.

Finally, our internal MALAN expenses were $893.29, these were used for our ongoing projects Produce in the Park, Open Art Supply, and Hygiene Hello, as well as supporting fire relief projects.

March

In March MALAN received $140,841.70 in donations. Our fiscal sponsorship fees (7% of donations) totaled $12,973.30. Our total expenditures in March (excluding fiscal sponsorship fees) totaled $233,166.70.

Over half of that, $191,859.49, was given to other groups (some conducting fire response, others continuing their regular services– unhoused outreach, harm reduction, meal service, etc.), through donations, purchases, and reimbursements. Of the group giving expenditures, about $40,000 was used for unhoused needs, and almost $40,000 was used for PPE. Our group giving efforts allowed us to support almost X different groups.

We spent $123,371.40 on fire related transactions, which include both group giving and individual outreach. Our individual outreach costs totaled $36,248.01, and covered expenses like gift cards, temporary housing, and personal reimbursements. We gave to other groups in the form of donations, purchases, and reimbursements.

Finally, our internal MALAN expenses were $5,059.20, these were used for our ongoing projects Produce in the Park, Open Art Supply, and Hygiene Hello, as well as supporting fire relief projects.

April

In April, MALAN received $65,661.92 in donations. Our fiscal sponsorship fees (7% of donations) totaled $4,766.39. Our total expenditures in April (excluding fiscal sponsorship fees) totaled $260,953.33.

Over half of that, $216,127.88, was given to other groups (some conducting fire response, others continuing their regular services– unhoused outreach, harm reduction, meal service, etc.), through donations, purchases, and reimbursements. Of the group giving expenditures, about $30,000 was used for unhoused needs, and over $55,000 was used for PPE. Our group giving efforts allowed us to support almost X different groups.

We spent $108,813.69 on fire related transactions, which include both group giving and individual outreach. Our individual outreach costs totaled $26,951.67, and covered expenses like gift cards, temporary housing, and personal reimbursements. We gave to other groups in the form of donations, purchases, and reimbursements.

Finally, our internal MALAN expenses were $17,873.78, these were used for our ongoing projects Produce in the Park, Open Art Supply, and Hygiene Hello, as well as supporting fire relief projects.