Forward Giving
On a Mission.
Our Mission
Each year Forward Giving will identify an issue impacting marginalized communities and reach out to existing non-profit organizations that provide services to members of that community.
Together, we will learn about the most critical needs facing our society today, their impact on our greater community, and how to support the organizations that try to meet those needs. We can contribute as a community, resulting in a grant to one or more non-profits.
For more information on what Giving CIrcles are and what they do, click this link: https://whatisagivingcircle.com/3/
2025 Focus:
Helping Young Victims of the Los Angeles Fires
As we move forward in 2025, we recognize that recovery is a long-term process—especially for young people who have been deeply impacted. This year, we are prioritizing relief efforts for individuals ages 5 to 26, ensuring they have the resources, stability, and support needed to heal and rebuild their futures. From providing basic necessities to funding educational and community programs, Forward Giving remains committed to empowering the next generation through recovery.
Why Support Young Wildfire Victims?
The Aftermath of the Los Angeles Fires
The devastating Los Angeles Fires in Pacific Palisades and Altadena left behind more than just scorched earth—they shattered homes, uprooted families, and deeply impacted the most vulnerable in our community: the children.
Disasters like wildfires don’t just take away physical possessions; they leave emotional scars, disrupt education, and create long-term instability for young victims. Children who experience traumatic events often face challenges that extend far beyond the initial disaster, affecting their mental health, emotional well-being, and future opportunities.
Some Facts:
According to FEMA, children are among the most vulnerable during and after natural disasters, often struggling with feelings of anxiety, fear, and loss.
Over 40% of children displaced by disasters report symptoms of post-traumatic stress, depression, or anxiety.
Families impacted by wildfires often face financial hardship, making it difficult to access basic necessities, let alone specialized support services like counseling, education assistance, or community programs.
The Urgent Need
This year, Forward Giving is focused on helping young victims of the fires—those who have lost not just their homes, but their sense of security. Our mission is to provide access to resources that help them heal and rebuild, from emergency supplies to educational support and mental health services.
A Community That Cares
We want to ensure that every dollar donated reaches the children and families who need it most. By contributing to the Forward Giving Circle, you become part of a compassionate community dedicated to helping these young survivors recover and thrive.
2024 Focus:
Maternal Care
The 2024 Forward Giving Circle granted $40,000 to Casa de los Angelitos and $10,000 to Happy Mama, Healthy Baby Alliance to address inequities in maternal health.
Read their presentations here:
What is Maternal Care?
Maternal care refers to all aspects of antepartum, intrapartum, and postpartum care. It includes low-, moderate-, and high-risk care; defining what constitutes these levels of risk should be individualized by facilities and regions, with input from their obstetric care providers.Who is affected by maternal health?
Maternal mortality is highest among women living in rural areas and poorer communities. Younger adolescents (ages 10-14) face a higher risk of complications and death as a result of pregnancy than other women. Skilled care before, during, and after childbirth can save the lives of women and newborns.What are the benefits of maternal care?
In other cases, maternal health can reduce maternal morbidity and mortality. Maternal health revolves around the health and wellness of pregnant women, particularly when they are pregnant, when they give birth, and during child-raising.Examples of Maternal Health Care Services
Physical exams, blood tests, and calculations of due dates. Prenatal tests to check for issues such as anemia, infection, gestational diabetes, hypertension, and birth defects. Regular checkups throughout pregnancy to assess factors such as weight and fetal growth. Additional services for the following are also included:Antenatal care (during pregnancy)Intrapartum care (during labor)Postpartum care (following delivery)Family Planning/CounselingHIV TreatmentChildcare
2023 Focus:
Mental Health
Counseling 4 Kids was awarded $20,000 to create more workshops for parents to lessen the stigma associated with mental health.
Compassion Prison Project was awarded $30,000 to expand its reach and help even more prisoners heal decades of trauma.
Why Mental Health?
From the CDC
Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make healthy choices. Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood.
Some facts:
Over 50% will be diagnosed with a mental illness or disorder at some point in their lifetime.
1 in 5 children, either currently or at some point, have had a seriously debilitating mental illness.
1 in 5 Americans will experience a mental illness in a given year.
CDC Mental Health Info
Even Ted Lasso is weighing in. The cast of the hit soccer-themed comedy Ted Lasso appeared at the White House to discuss mental health. Jason Sudeikis, who plays the show’s namesake coach, said that everyone has known someone — or has been someone — who's struggled. "The big theme of the show is to check in with your neighbor, your co-worker, your friends, your family, and ask how they're doing and listen," he said.
Our goal at Forward Giving is to give access to mental health services to those who would not otherwise be able to afford treatment.
Why do some people have so much and others not enough?
There are over 40,000 nonprofit organizations in the Los Angeles area, and yet it remains incredibly difficult for people who want to give to create change in an impactful way. Giving Circles are filling the gap by creating a model where individuals can collectively pool their resources to address the most urgent needs of marginalized communities.
“Each one of us is responsible for the whole of humankind. We need to think of each other really as brothers and sisters and to be concerned for each other’s welfare. Rather than working solely to acquire wealth, we need to do something meaningful, something directed seriously towards the welfare of humanity as a whole.”
— Dalai Lama