First Foundation Announces Open Application Window for Its 2018 “Supporting Our Communities” Initiative

First Foundation Inc. (NASDAQ: FFWM), a financial services company with two wholly-owned operating subsidiaries, First Foundation Advisors and First Foundation Bank, announced today that the Supporting Our Communities initiative for 2018 is open for all qualified applicants to apply. The purpose of the initiative is to help charitable organizations increase their capacity for sustainable growth and make an impact in the communities they serve.

First Foundation is seeking applications from nonprofits that are looking for assistance with fundraising, donor cultivation, board building, development of critical policies and protocols, organizational planning, and best practices for cash management and investment policies, procedures, and strategies. In addition, the firm is looking for opportunities to support programs and services focused on low- to moderate-income individuals and communities.

Since inception, the Supporting Our Communities initiative has served approximately 100 organizations.

Past recipients of the Supporting Our Communities grant include:

• The Waikiki Community Center in Honolulu – Received input and guidance from a focus group of community leaders organized by First Foundation. Together, they discussed creating earned income, making optimal use of their current property, and leveraging their cultural expertise in hula and ukulele in partnership with the hospitality industry.
• The Actors Fund in Los Angeles – Worked alongside First Foundation to provide the framework for a strategic plan that will focus on developing a stronger voice in Los Angeles and creating a team of storytellers to find the time, talent, and treasure in the community.
• The Child Creativity Lab in Santa Ana – Partnered with First Foundation and creative professionals in the toy, entertainment, branding, and licensing industries to create a product for children that could be monetized through a social venture, which will provide financial support for the organization.

To date, the Supporting Our Communities program has awarded $2.6 million in funding and in-kind services to community nonprofits in Southern and Northern California, Las Vegas, and Honolulu, Hawaii.

“Supporting Our Communities is one of the most exciting initiatives of the year for us,” said Scott F. Kavanaugh, CEO of First Foundation. “Our team members love the communities where we work and live, and take pride in watching them grow. We consider ourselves financial stewards for our clients, and local charitable partnerships are a major part of that mission. We look forward to reviewing the applications, which get stronger every year.”

First Foundation invites nonprofits in its areas of operation, including its most recent expansion, Sacramento, to apply to its 2018 Supporting Our Communities initiative.

To learn more and apply, please visit: https://firstfoundationinc.com/community/soc.

Applications are due by 5:00pm Pacific Time on January 31, 2018.

About First Foundation

First Foundation, a financial institution founded in 1990, provides private wealth management, personal banking, and business banking. The Company has offices in California, Nevada, and Hawaii with headquarters in Irvine, California. For more information, please visit www.firstfoundationinc.com.

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First Foundation Inc.
Tyler Resh
Director of Marketing and Strategy
949-202-4131
[email protected]