A Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) officer is seen as a Cal Fire search and rescue team looks through with a rescue dog for possible human remains in the debris of burned houses after a massive wildfire in Altadena of Los Angeles County, California, on January 13, 2025. | Source: Anadolu / Getty
As the old saying goes, no good deed goes unpunished.
That adage may be truer than it lets on when it comes to victims of the California wildfires who have specifically been benefiting from the slew of online crowdfunding efforts, particularly those on the GoFundMe website.
MORE: Notable Black People Who Lost Their Homes To The Wildfires In California
That’s because the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) – which is charged with providing aid following disasters – issued a warning of sorts this week about such online fundraisers. The cautionary advice carries significant implications for California wildfire victims planning to apply for monetary aid from the federal government.
“Recovering from a disaster is tough, and @GoFundMe can help—but did you know it might impact FEMA assistance? Learn how to avoid issues and maximize your support,” FEMA posted on X, formerly Twitter, accompanied by an explanatory video.
“We understand that recovering from a disaster is incredibly challenging, and many people turn to resources like GoFundMe,” an unidentified FEMA official says in the video. “GoFundMe can be a great way to cover immediate expenses, but it’s important to know that using it for certain purposes might affect your eligibility for FEMA assistance.”
Danny Robinson (R) and Sharon Beckford sift through the rubble of their family’s home that was destroyed by the Eaton Fire on January 10, 2025, in Altadena, California. | Source: Justin Sullivan / Getty
In short, FEMA policy dictates in part that any monetary aid it grants can be influenced – i.e., limited – based on how much money an applicant receives from outside fundraisers.
“If you receive money from a GoFundMe page for something specific, such as repairs, funeral expenses or other aid, this may affect your FEMA eligibility, but survivors should still apply for assistance and let FEMA determine if you are eligible,” FEMA’s website says before adding later: “By law, FEMA cannot duplicate benefits you receive from another source.”
FEMA clarified its position as dozens of GoFundMe Accounts have been launched specifically to benefit victims of the wildfires across the greater Los Angeles region.
That includes those GoFundMe accounts that were started to help Black families from Altadena, a neighborhood rich with decades of African American history, culture and tradition that was decimated by the Eaton Fire.
Altadena, located just 13 miles northeast of Los Angeles and directly north of Pasadena, has a population that is 18% Black, with a significant portion (65%) aged 65 and older, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Per Archives, historically, Altadena played a key role during the Great Migration, serving as a refuge for African Americans fleeing the Jim Crow South in the early 20th century. Seeking better opportunities and a sanctuary from systemic racism, many found a welcoming community in Altadena, where they established Black enclaves that became cultural and artistic hubs. These neighborhoods nurtured African American artists, activists, and entrepreneurs, creating a tight-knit community built on shared experiences and mutual support.
It was decidedly in that context that GoFundMe accounts to help those families displaced from Altadena have exploded with donations, including one earmarked for the “underserved Black community impacted by the LA County fires” that’s raised nearly $200,000 of its $5 million goal. Another GoFundMe campaign created to support 83-year-old Walt Butler, a beloved and longtime community member in Altadena, was nearing $900,000, well exceeding its $250,000 goal. A separate spreadsheet showing hundreds of GoFundMe accounts to aid “displaced Black families” has since gone viral and continues to attract donations.
However, depending on the distribution of all of the above funds, the beneficiaries could be limited in the amount of federal aid they can apply for and receive from FEMA.
A couple looks at the charred remains of their home burned in the Eaton Fire in Altadena, California, January 9, 2025. | Source: ZOE MEYERS / Getty
Those prospects could be particularly damning for Black applicants from Altadena, a community founded out of “redlining” that denied Black families access to housing, including in certain areas of Altadena in the ‘60s and ‘70s.
Altadena boasts a strong homeownership rate of over 70%, according to Altadena Heritage, reflecting the resilience and determination of its Black community. It also reflects the possible loss of generational wealth accumulated specifically from homeownership, something that has historically evaded about 50% of Black-led households in the U.S.
But with the proliferation of GoFundMe accounts particularly for the Black victims of the Los Angeles wildfires coupled with FEMA’s warning about eligibility for federal aid based on GoFundMe accounts, the displaced residents and their future in Altadena remains unclear.
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