FUND PROFILE

Altadena Builds Back Foundation

The Altadena Builds Back Foundation is helping lead the charge of rebuilding residential Altadena, the community hit hardest by the Eaton Fire. Funding is being directed toward a community-centered recovery that focuses on restoring homes, helping renters return, and preserving the soul of this historically diverse, affordable, and vibrant town.

Donate to this fund Eaton Fire Fund

A group of people stand with their backs to the camera - they are all wearing hard hats and green/red shirts that read Altadena Strong

Home Altadena Builds Back Foundation

OVERVIEW

About the Fund

When the Eaton Fire struck in January of 2025, the Pasadena Community Foundation (PCF) mobilized immediately—leveraging decades of relationships, resources, and local knowledge to create the Eaton Fire Relief & Recovery Fund and to respond with urgency and care for our community.

Formed as a supporting organization of the Pasadena Community Foundation, the Altadena Builds Back Foundation is an important part of PCF’s fire response and serves as PCF’s commitment to the long-term recovery of residential Altadena shaped by the people of Altadena. Our goal is to protect long-standing residents – renters and homeowners a like – from displacement and to ensure future generations who have roots in the area can still call Altadena home.

The ABBF Board of Directors includes five deeply rooted Altadena residents—three who lost their homes in the fire and one who experienced long-term displacement—ensuring that every decision is guided by lived experience and a commitment to restoring the heart of the community.

ABBF’s Vision : Our community’s collective generosity and resilience will ensure that those affected by the fire who want to rebuild and remain can do so and Altadena will emerge even stronger and more interconnected.

ABBF’s Mission : To help lead and fund Altadena’s community-centered recovery, ensuring a just, equitable rebuilding process that prioritizes housing and those most affected by the Eaton Fire.

A lawn sign reads Altadena - Our town has soul

Our Role and Approach

Operating as a supporting project of the Pasadena Community Foundation, the Altadena Builds Back Foundation will assist in leadership and funding of the rebuilding of Altadena through a community-centered process that reflects the strengths, opportunities, and priorities of those directly impacted by the Eaton Fire.

The resources of ABBF will be focused on the broad issue of housing with a priority to preserve the demographic, socio-economic, and creative diversity that has always been woven into the fabric of Altadena. ABBF’s goal is to help provide resources and options for people who want to stay and rebuild in Altadena and to preserve and enhance the affordability for both homeowners and renters. To that end, the ABBF will prioritize households for which philanthropic dollars will make the most impact.

The work of ABBF will encompass several stages: Engage in a community needs assessment to gather data; identify the population that will be best served by our resources; define the most impactful housing strategies; determine key partners; and implementation.

PCF has appointed five board members who bring relevant expertise to inform ABBF’s initiatives and who reflect the diverse community of Altadena. Of the five board members, three lost their homes in the Eaton Fire, and one is displaced long term. Candice Kim serves as the Project Director for ABBF. Read Staff & Board Bios.

The ABBF Board of Directors and staff, left to right: Jennifer DeVoll, Candice Kim, Scott Christopher, Greta Mandell, Mark Mariscal, Tony Gronroos, and (inset) Robin Hughes

Fundraising & Grantmaking Numbers to Date

A historic red brick building with a circle sign that reads Full Circle Thrift

$57.8 million

as of October 10, 2025.

Thanks to the generosity of donors, ABBF has raised an extraordinary amount to assist Altadena in its rebuilding efforts.

$4.55 million

Grant to San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity

ABBF’s first grant will support the rebuild of 22 homes in West Altadena that belong to underinsured owners.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Altadena Builds Back Foundation?

The creation of the Altadena Builds Back Foundation (ABBF) serves as Pasadena Community Foundation’s (PCF) commitment to long-term support for Altadena recovery.

Operating as a subsidiary of PCF, ABBF will assist in the leadership and funding of the residential rebuilding of Altadena through a community-centered process that reflects the strengths, opportunities, and priorities of those directly impacted by the Eaton Fire.

Why did PCF create ABBF?

Pasadena Community Foundation established ABBF to focus on the long-term recovery and rebuilding of Altadena. Many donors to the Eaton Fire Relief & Recovery Fund requested that their gifts be directed to the long-term rebuilding of housing for both renters and homeowners.

In the initial weeks following the Eaton Fire, PCF spent countless hours learning from community foundations across the country that had also experienced catastrophic disasters, including the Hawaii Community Foundation (Lahaina Fire), North Valley Community Foundation (the Camp Fire in Paradise), and the Community Foundation of Boulder County (the Marshall Fire). All recommended that PCF reserve significant resources to extend beyond the initial crisis and to focus on long-term recovery.

Who leads ABBF?

ABBF’s founding board has five members: Scott Christopher, Tony Gronroos, Robin Hughes, Greta Mandell, and Mark Mariscal. Tony, Robin, Greta, and Mark are longtime Altadena leaders and residents, and all lost their homes to the Eaton Fire. Learn More.

Together, the founding board brings a professional, collective understanding of affordable housing development, finance, nonprofit organization, community relations, and urban planning. They bring lived experience of residing in the beautiful, creative, and diverse place of Altadena, as well as a vital network of connections throughout the Altadena community.

The ABBF board is supported by two staff members: Jennifer DeVoll, who served as PCF’s President/CEO for 22 years; and Senior Program Director Candice Kim, who has served as a community organizer and nonprofit administrator and brings important experience in getting resources to historically underfunded frontline community organizations.

How will the resources of ABBF be used?

The resources of ABBF will be focused on the broad issue of housing with priority to preserve the demographic, socioeconomic, and creative diversity that has always been woven into the fabric of Altadena. ABBF’s goal is to help provide resources and options for people who want to stay and rebuild in Altadena and to preserve and enhance the affordability for both homeowners and renters. To that end, the ABBF will prioritize households for which philanthropic dollars will make the most impact.

Has ABBF made any grants yet?

Yes, ABBF has made a few grants, most notably a $4.55 million grant to San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity to support the rebuilding of 22 homes in West Altadena owned by longtime, lower-income residents. Read more.

ABBF also provided capacity-building funding for local nonprofit Day One and the Eaton Fire Collaborative in their formation of a Long-Term Recovery Group to address the ongoing needs of Altadena families and individuals affected by the Eaton Fire.

As of mid-August, 2025, more grants are pending and will be announced soon.

Can individuals apply for funding from ABBF or PCF?

PCF and ABBF have determined that the most effective way to get resources to our community is by partnering with trusted community-based organizations that have the infrastructure for intake, case management, or distribution centers.

PCF’s nonprofit partners that have received Eaton Fire Fund grants have provided fire survivors with direct cash assistance, food assistance, interim housing, case management, mental health support, emergency childcare and more during the emergency response phase of recovery.

ABBF resources will be distributed in the same way during rebuilding. While we are unable to make individual grants, we will be partnering with community-based organizations with expertise in financial counseling, affordable housing development, and case management to move resources into our community.

Who is eligible for funding?

ABBF grants are restricted to nonprofit organizations. We are not accepting unsolicited inquiries for long-term recovery and rebuilding efforts at this time.

We have received a high volume of inquiries from architects, manufacturers, builders, and housing developers who wish to help Altadena. ABBF grants will be restricted to nonprofit organizations.