UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 14A

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section

14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act

of 1934

Filed by the Registrant x

Filed by a Party other than the Registrant ¨

Check the appropriate box:

¨ Preliminary Proxy Statement

¨ Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))

¨ Definitive Proxy Statement

x Definitive Additional Materials

¨ Soliciting Material under Section 240.14a-12

FIRST FOUNDATION INC.

(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

N/A

(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if Other Than the Registrant)

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

x No fee required.

¨ Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.

¨ Fee computed on table in exhibit required by Item 25(b) per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.

Your Vote Counts! BROADRIDGE CORPORATE ISSUER SOLUTIONS C/O FIRST FOUNDATION INC. PO BOX 1342 BRENTWOOD, NY 11717 FIRST FOUNDATION INC. 2024 Annual Meeting Vote by May 27, 2024 11:59 PM ET Vote in Person at the Meeting* May 28, 2024 10:00 A.M., Central Time Crescent Club Mirror Room 200 Crescent Court Suite 1700 Dallas, Texas 75201 *Please check the meeting materials for any special requirements for meeting attendance. At the meeting, you will need to request a ballot to vote these shares. Smartphone users Point your camera here and vote without entering a control number For complete information and to vote, visit www.ProxyVote.com Control # V42742-P08095 You invested in FIRST FOUNDATION INC. and it’s time to vote! You have the right to vote on proposals being presented at the Annual Meeting. This is an important notice regarding the availability of proxy materials for the stockholder meeting to be held on May 28, 2024. Get informed before you vote View the Proxy Statement and Annual Report online OR you can receive a free paper or email copy of the material(s) by requesting prior to May 14, 2024. If you would like to request a copy of the material(s) for this and/or future stockholder meetings, you may (1) visit www.ProxyVote.com, (2) call 1-800-579-1639 or (3) send an email to sendmaterial@proxyvote.com. If sending an email, please include your control number (indicated below) in the subject line. Unless requested, you will not otherwise receive a paper or email copy.

THIS IS NOT A VOTABLE BALLOT This is an overview of the proposals being presented at the upcoming stockholder meeting. Please follow the instructions on the reverse side to vote these important matters. Vote at www.ProxyVote.com Prefer to receive an email instead? While voting on www.ProxyVote.com, be sure to click “Delivery Settings”. V42743-P08095 Voting Items Board Recommends 1. Election of Directors Nominees: 1a. Max Briggs For 1b. John Hakopian For 1c. Scott F. Kavanaugh For 1d. Ulrich E. Keller, Jr. For 1e. David Lake For 1f. Elizabeth A. Pagliarini For 1g. Mitchell M. Rosenberg For 1h. Diane M. Rubin For 1i. Jacob Sonenshine For 1j. Gabriel V. Vazquez For 2. To approve the First Foundation Inc. 2024 Equity Incentive Plan. For 3. To ratify the appointment of Crowe LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accountants for the year ending December 31, 2024. For 4. To approve, by non-binding advisory vote, the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers for the year ended December 31, 2023. For NOTE: In their discretion, the proxies are authorized to transact such other business and to vote on such other matters as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof, including procedural and other matters relating to the conduct of the meeting.