First Foundation's $1 Million "Supporting Our Communities" Non-Profit Initiative is Seeking Applications for 2015

First Foundation Inc. (NASDAQ: FFWM), a financial services company that provides investment management, wealth planning, consulting, trust and banking services primarily to high-net-worth individuals and businesses, today announced that it is opening the application window for its annual “Supporting Our Communities” program. In its third consecutive year, the program is designed to help build the strength and impact of local non-profits by offering a powerful combination of cash grants along with consulting expertise from First Foundation’s team of professionals. Each year employees at First Foundation select approximately 20 charities to participate in the firm’s “Supporting Our Communities” program.

“Our goal has always been to help these organizations flourish by providing strategic consulting and financial support,” states Doug Freeman, Director of Trust Services and Consulting at First Foundation. “It has been extremely rewarding to witness the positive impact of the charities we serve, and we are thrilled at the opportunity to continue this important initiative.”

Since its inception in 2012, First Foundation’s “Supporting Our Communities” has provided cash grants and in-kind consulting services valued at over $2 million to selected non-profits. In total, it has served over 40 organizations to date. Recipients have included Human Options in Irvine, the Oceanside Museum of Art, Pasadena Child Development, Women In Film in Los Angeles, the Grant a Gift Autism Foundation in Las Vegas, the Idyllwild Arts Foundation, Imperial Valley Food Bank, and Communities in Schools of Los Angeles.

"We benefited tremendously from being a part of First Foundation’s ‘Supporting Our Communities’ program,” stated Kristal Granados, Executive Director of United Way of the Desert. “In fact, the true impact went well beyond the actual dollar amount of the grant. As an organization in transition, the insight and support provided by the professionals at First Foundation was immeasurable and empowered us with the tools we needed to make thoughtful, impactful changes that have set us for future success.”

Organizations accepted to the 2015 “Supporting Our Communities” program will receive from First Foundation a cash grant of up to $5,000 to be used for any of its capacity-building programs. In addition, First Foundation will provide up to 20 hours of consulting services designed to support the non-profit’s philanthropic efforts and fundraising capabilities.

This year’s “Supporting Our Communities” program is open to charities in Orange County, Los Angeles, Pasadena, Coachella Valley, Imperial Valley, San Diego County, and Las Vegas as well as First Foundation’s newest community, Hawaii, given the announced and pending merger with Pacific Rim Bank. All organizations interested in participating are invited to learn more about the program and key dates, and submit their applications online at ff-inc.com/soc/.