LA Fire Recovery Grants

The California Restaurant Foundation (CRF), a nonprofit focused on investing in and empowering California restaurants and their workforce, is launching the LA Fire Recovery Grants program, a new funding initiative aimed at helping independent restaurants recover from the devastating Los Angeles fires. This critical relief effort is made possible by a generous $2 million catalyst lead donation from American Express and Resy, with additional support from FireAid and Postmates. With over $2.4 million in grants available, CRF is committed to ensuring that affected restaurant owners receive the financial assistance they need to regain stability and continue serving their communities.

“This year, we are proud to stand with Los Angeles’ restaurant community by launching the LA Fire Recovery Grants, a vital new initiative dedicated to supporting independent restaurant owners impacted by the heartbreaking wildfires,” said Alycia Harshfield, President of CRF. “Restaurants are the heart of California’s neighborhoods, and through targeted relief efforts, we are helping these businesses and the people behind them overcome hardship so they can focus on rebuilding and continuing to serve as essential gathering places for their communities.”

The LA Fire Recovery Grants will provide $10,000 grants to over 240 independent restaurants and food trucks across Los Angeles County that suffered financial losses due to the wildfires. The grants will help restaurants cover essential business expenses as they work toward recovery. Since the fires, Restaurants Care quickly mobilized to offer direct relief, distributing $953,000 in aid to 953 individuals, including restaurant workers who lost housing, jobs and financial stability. Among those assisted, 34 percent have children and 16 percent have permanently lost their jobs, highlighting the fires' profound impact on the restaurant industry. Restaurants Care has remained a steadfast resource for LA’s hospitality industry, responding to crises ranging from COVID-19 to the Hollywood strikes, and now, the wildfires—ensuring that those who fuel our communities receive the support they need. Now, with the generous support of American Express, Resy, Postmates and FireAid, Restaurants Care will be providing additional support to the Los Angeles restaurant and food truck community as they continue to recover and rebuild.

“Small businesses have faced persistent challenges due to natural disasters, and we have supported them at each stage of recovery,” said Jennifer Skyler, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer. “From assistance and a safe place to stay in the immediate aftermath, to supporting ongoing recovery and rebuilding efforts in the weeks and months after the initial relief funding, our goal is to back these small businesses every step of the way and support their future growth.”

Restaurant goers can also support the LA Fire Recovery Grants program by participating in Resy’s pledge initiative, “Reservations for Recovery," starting April 9. Resy will donate $0.50 per reservation booked and completed between April 9 and April 23, up to $125,000, to The National Restaurant Association’s Educational Fund to benefit restaurants impacted by the Los Angeles wildfires. Terms Apply.

“Restaurants were some of the very first to step up and help their community when the fires started in Los Angeles, providing meals to first responders, fundraising and gathering donated supplies,” said Resy Chief Marketing Officer Hannah Kelly. “Resy and American Express remain committed to keeping a spotlight on the local dining community as they rebuild and with this contribution to Restaurants Care’s LA Fire Recovery Program we hope diners are encouraged to show up for their favorite restaurants as they have shown up for us.”

Applications for the LA Fire Recovery Grants will be open from April 9 to April 26, 2025, and can be found at www.restaurantscare.org/resilience-la-fire. To qualify, restaurants may have up to five locations, but only one location per business can apply. The applying location must generate less than $5 million in annual revenue and must either be currently open or have plans to reopen by July 1, 2025. More information on additional grants to independent restaurants outside of Los Angeles County can be found at www.restaurantscare.org/resilience. 

The California Restaurant Foundation is currently accepting additional support from corporations, foundations and individuals who want to invest in California’s restaurant community. Donations of all sizes are accepted and celebrated at www.restaurantscare.org. For more information about the California Restaurant Foundation, Restaurants Care or the LA Fire Recovery Grants, visit www.restaurantscare.org. 

California is home to more than 90,000 eating and drinking places that ring up more than $72 billion in sales and employ more than 1.6 million workers, making restaurants an indisputable driving force in the state’s economy. The California Restaurant Foundation is a non-profit that empowers and invests in California's restaurant workforce. Founded in 1981, CRF supports the restaurant community through relief grants for restaurant workers facing hardship, job and life skills training for 14,500 high school students each year, and scholarships. For more information visit www.calrestfoundation.org.