A week into the devastating wildfires in and around Los Angeles County that have claimed at least 25 lives and destroyed over 12,300 homes, buildings and landmarks, thousands of residents are still displaced by mandatory evacuation orders — and many have lost their homes and businesses.
Amid the destruction and upheaval caused by the Palisades, Eaton and Hurst fires, as well as other blazes, huge numbers of people have begun to fundraise for themselves or for others, using online crowdfunding platforms. These include GoFundMe, which has a list of verified fundraisers using its site for those impacted by the fires. (If you’re looking for other ways to help people affected by the L.A. fires, take a look at our ongoing list of organizations and groups asking for support.)
But there’s one thing that anyone thinking of online fundraising in this way should know before they start: If someone intends to also seek financial assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the agency says it “cannot duplicate benefits you receive from another source” — including platforms like GoFundMe.
Keep reading for what you need to know about applying for FEMA aid if you’re fundraising online through a platform like GoFundMe.
Jump straight to:
- The GoFundMe language to watch for when it comes to FEMA aid
- Why having a GoFundMe doesn’t mean you should hold off applying to FEMA
What does FEMA say about platforms like GoFundMe?
FEMA assistance — which is not dependent on household income — can help disaster survivors with a wide range of needs, from rental assistance to childcare to accessibility requirements. Read our 2020 guide on how fire survivors can apply for FEMA aid.
But according to FEMA’s rules, if a person’s GoFundMe details that they’ll be using any money raised for “a specific disaster-related expense” — which the agency defines as including home repairs, funeral expenses or other emergency needs — they cannot receive funds from FEMA for the same specific purpose.
How does this practically work? In a video posted to social media platform X on Tuesday, FEMA public affairs officer Brandi Richard Thompson says that aid from the agency “may be able to help you replace a vehicle that was damaged during the disaster” — but “if your GoFundMe page clearly states that the funds you’re raising will be used to replace your car, FEMA won’t be able to provide assistance for that specific need.”