Glitzy Giving Donors
Learn about celebrity grants by browsing our curated list of top funders below. Members can also research funding opportunities using the search tool for Grant Finder.
Funding trends in celebrity charitable foundations in the U.S.
Though they may live in the spotlight, the wealth of celebrities in the arts, entertainment, media and sports industries is often a fraction of that amassed by the centi- and decabillionaires of tech and finance.
Of the world’s 500 richest people, just over a dozen hail from the entertainment industry, most of which are media executives rather than creative artists. While the richest tech billionaires have net worths in the hundreds of billions and top finance fortunes are in the tens of billions, the world’s richest celebrities tend to be in the $1 to $5B range. The vast majority of celebrities, meanwhile, are not billionaires. Beyond personal wealth, many celebrities from entertainment to sports are impactful philanthropists.
“The greatest impact of entertainers and athletes might not be in the realm of giving away money, but in their ability to marshal their huge social media followings, brand partnerships, and public personae to raise awareness and funds,” write IP contributors in our State of American Philanthropy brief on celebrity giving. Indeed, well before the era of social media influencers, celebrities used their platforms to inspire fans to give, from the Jerry Lewis Telethon to fundraiser performances to Live Aid and beyond. More recently, Rihanna and Taylor Swift both made IP’s list of Philanthropy’s Most Powerful People Under 40, alongside people with much larger fortunes but less visibility and cultural influence.
In addition, the worlds of art, entertainment, and sports are more diverse than that of tech or finance, so philanthropy here is inspired by a wider range of lived experiences and community connections. All of this means there are no sweeping generalizations to be made about celebrity philanthropy. Fundraisers can find support for a range of issues and organizations from celebrity donors. In IP’s Grant Finder list of celebrity donors, we highlight philanthropists who made their fortunes in arts and entertainment, media, or sports – or leveraged their fame in those areas to grow fortunes through businesses or branding deals.
Major donors and foundations endowed by celebrities
Celebrities conduct their philanthropy through an array of different giving vehicles. Many celebrities, such as Michael Jordan and Taylor Swift, give directly as individual donors or through donor-advised funds.
“Where older models of celebrity philanthropy often relied on benefit concerts or one-off grants, today’s high-profile givers from the world of entertainment are increasingly betting on cultural infrastructure, building platforms that last beyond the glitzy galas,” writes IP’s Ade Adeniji. In many cases, that looks like establishing a foundation. Singer and beauty and fashion entrepreneur Rihanna is a case in point. She gives through the Clara Lionel Foundation, which focuses on climate solutions, women’s entrepreneurship, arts and culture, health access and equity, and youth in Barbados.
Among the many other impactful celebrity-endowed foundations are the Herb Alpert Foundation, Eva Longoria Foundation, Elton John AIDS Foundation, Steph and Ayesha Curry’s Eat.Learn.Play, David Geffen Foundation, and the Newman’s Own Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the socially responsible food company co-founded by actor Paul Newman.
Philanthropy-serving organizations and intermediaries also support celebrity giving. For example, the Social Impact Fund, a fiscal sponsor, helps entertainers and creatives with their philanthropy, and the Giving Back Fund supports charitable giving by athletes.
What causes do celebrity philanthropists support?
There are celebrity philanthropists who give for everything from education to the environment, medical research to the arts, global human rights to their hometowns.
It’s not uncommon for a single celebrity philanthropist to give for multiple causes – for example, Seth MacFarlane has given big for public radio, rainforests, and other causes. Steven Spielberg and Kate Capshaw have multiple foundations, each with different funding priorities. David Geffen makes large donations for LGBTQ+ causes, the arts, disease research, higher education, and other causes. Others are famous for their dedication to a single cause, such as Michael J. Fox’s focused philanthropy for Parkinson’s research or Leonardo di Caprio’s focus on the environment.
There is also a lot of celebrity giving that goes untracked or under-the-radar. Because many give as individuals, they are not required to publicly disclose information about their contributions, so there is limited published data on much celebrity giving. That said, because philanthropy can be part of a celebrity’s brand or image, there may also be a lot of intentional visibility and publicity that makes clear which causes a given celebrity cares most about.
How to get donations from celebrities
It can be hard to connect with celebrities – especially the most well-known ones. That said, in IP’s SAP brief on celebrity philanthropy, IP identified multiple avenues through which fundraisers can access actors, athletes, and other celebrity donors. Note that sending your executive team to network provides better results. Tips for reaching celebrity philanthropists include:
- Philanthropists, such as athletes who give in the community where their team is based or stars who give back to their hometowns.
- Contacting talent agencies, which often have their own foundations, or social impact firms such as Propper Daley, Oliver+Rose, or Athletes’ Voices.
- Paying a for-profit intermediary to broker a partnership.
- Reaching out through social media.
- Considering lower-profile celebrities, who may be more accessible than superstars.
- Building relationships with local or place-based celebrity.
Celebrity Charitable Foundations
J.J. ABRAMS AND KATIE MCGRATH
The director/producer and his wife Katie McGrath have an active foundation that addresses education, policy, human services, the arts, and more.
JESSICA ALBA AND CASH WARREN
Jessica Alba and Cash Warren do not appear to have a formal family foundation. The couple’s companies have a mission-driven element. They also have shown an interest in criminal justice reform.
ALAN AND ARLENE ALDA
Alda’s foundation focuses on early childhood, youth development, violence prevention, and microenterprise organizations that serve the needs of women and families. Alda also has an interest in making science more accessible to the general public.
MICHAEL AND CHRISTINE ANGELAKIS
Michael Angelakis and his wife Christine move their philanthropy through the Angelakis Family Foundation, which lacks transparency. The couple also support their mutual alma mater Babson College. Other interests include the arts, and health.
JUDD APATOW AND LESLIE MANN
Funding areas include health and human services, education and youth, individual rights and emergency services, arts and culture, environment, and gun violence.
MINORU AND YOKO ARAKAWA
Minoru Arakawa, his wife Yono, and family move their philanthropy through the Arakawa Foundation, which launched in 2016. Modest grantmaking as only focused on backing a prospective performing arts center in Washington State.
KENYA BARRIS
Kenya Barris does not appear to have a formal charitable vehicle as of yet. Philanthropy has focused on schools with which the family has a personal connection rather than targeted funding in this space, suggesting that the family only invests in personal causes.
CHARLES BARKLEY
Charles Barkley conducts philanthropy through the Charles Barkley Foundation. Barkley focuses on scholarships through his foundation, including with select HBCUs.
GREG BERLANTI AND ROBBIE ROGERS
Greg Berlanti and Robbie Rogers move philanthropy through the recently-minted Berlanti Family Foundation, which is dedicated to improving the lives of LGBTQ people.
LES AND LYNN BIDER
The longtime music executive and his wife support Jewish causes and the Los Angeles community.
BONO
While Bono is a leading voice for the world’s poor, particularly those in Africa, and donates a lot of time to philanthropic causes, it’s difficult to track his own personal giving.
JULIAN AND LOIS BRODSKY
Brodsky, a founder of Comcast Corp., and family support arts and culture, Jewish causes, education and youth, and environment.
JERRY BRUCKHEIMER
If Bruckheimer is giving, he’s doing so quietly. He’s hosted fundraisers and produced public service announcements for several organizations, but he hasn’t yet turned to large-scale giving.
DON AND MAGGIE BUCHWALD
Talent manager Don Buchwald and his wife support his alma mater Brooklyn College. Much of their giving focuses on the arts, particularly theater and performing arts.
JIMMY BUFFETT
Buffett’s charitable vehicle, Singing for Change, primarily funds projects that serve children and families, the environment and disenfranchised groups.
JAMES AND SUZY AMIS CAMERON
Cameron is passionate about the environment and exploration, and is just starting to build a foundation to support environmental causes in particular.
JOE AND TRINA CAYRE
Cayre made his money in music publishing and computer games. The bulk of the couple’s philanthropy goes to Jewish causes, with some giving to health and policy organizations.
GEORGE AND AMAL CLOONEY
While the movie star is best known for his work on Darfur, he’s also been involved in other humanitarian and anti-poverty efforts.
SARAH MILLER COULSON
The telecommunications business leader funds education, arts and culture, human services, environment and animals, and health.
KATIE COURIC
Couric’s charitable work has been shaped by family tragedy, which led her to co-found the National Colorectal Cancer Research Alliance in honor of her late husband.
MIKE AND LINDA CURB
The music producer and songwriter prioritizes higher education, particularly university music and music industry programs. He’s given to other causes, as well.
STEPHEN AND AYESHA CURRY
Eat. Learn. Play. is the philanthropic foundation of the basketball star Steph Curry and his wife, Ayesha. The organization supports food systems, education and recreation for Oakland’s underserved children and youth.
JAMIE LEE CURTIS AND CHRISTOPHER GUEST
Curtis and husband Guest support education, the arts, health, environmental and Los Angeles community causes.
CLIVE DAVIS
The record producer has given to NYU for a music institute that bears his name. But health, particularly cancer research, is another interest.
BARRY DILLER AND DIANE VON FURSTENBERG
Diller and his wife, fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg, are active philanthropists who have given away tens of millions of dollars to a wide variety of charitable causes through their family foundation.
TOM AND BARBARA DOOLEY
Dooley is a longtime Viacom executive. The family’s giving focuses on health and human services, and education and youth.
MICHAEL DOUGLAS AND CATHERINE ZETA-JONES
Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones don’t appear to have a formal family foundation. Douglas supports his alma mater UCSB.
PETER DOUGLAS
Peter Vincent conducts philanthropy through the Peter Douglas Foundation, which prioritizes Southern California, including the Santa Barbara area.
DR. DRE
The recording artist, record label mogul and audio electronics executive, Dr. Dre (and business partner Jimmy Iovine) gives widely, especially to education.
KEVIN DURANT
The NBA player Durant prioritizes grantmaking for at risk-youth, the University of Texas, social and athletic programs through the Kevin Durant Charity Foundation (KDCF).
MICHAEL AND JANE EISNER
The former Disney chief has a robust foundation focusing primarily on the underserved children and elderly of Los Angeles County, but he’s given to many other issues, as well.
EMINEM
The rap musician-songwriter-producer funds education and youth, human services and health, and Detroit community causes.
CHARLES AND CANTEY ERGEN
The founder of EchoStar and DISH Network, and his wife, fund education and youth, health and human services, religious, and global causes.
GLORIA AND EMILIO ESTEFAN
The singer’s philanthropy focuses on Miami, health, human services, youth, and animal care.
KENNETH J. FELD
Funding areas include higher education, performing arts, and conservation, including that of the endangered Asian elephant. Feld Entertainment has operated Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, Disney on Ice, and other shows.
FRANK AND LORENZO FERTITTA
The billionaire Fertitta brothers made their money through UFC fight promotion. Giving interests include education and youth, health, human services, arts and culture, and veterans. Las Vegas is a focus.
JOSEPH AND MARIE FIELD
The Fields’ giving focuses on arts and culture, education and youth, environment, and global development. Philadelphia is an important region for their philanthropy.
MICHAEL J. FOX
In 2000, Fox established the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, which has become the largest and most recognizable funder for such research and treatments.
MORGAN FREEMAN
The actor’s philanthropy focuses on Mississippi, where he resides, and grantmaking mainly involves support of education and the arts.
VICTOR AND PATRICIA GANZI
The couple fund projects and organizations that address arts and culture, and education and youth.
ELIZABETH GEORGE
George’s foundation makes artistic grants to unpublished fiction writers, poets, emerging playwrights and to organizations benefiting disadvantaged youth.
ALAN AND SANDRA GERRY
Alan Gerry and his wife Sandra move their philanthropy through the Gerry Foundation. The couple’s giving centers on revitalizing Sullivan County in upstate New York.
DRAYMOND GREEN
The NBA player’s giving focuses on education and youth, and his home state of Michigan. His $3.1 million gift to Michigan State University Athletics is the largest-ever from an active pro athlete to their alma mater.
JOHN AND RENEE GRISHAM
The bestselling author gives mainly to causes in Mississippi and Virginia, but he’s also given to national justice groups and global causes.
KEVIN HART
Kevin Hart founded Help from the Hart Charity to help youth gain access to educational opportunities. He has supported UNCF and KIPP to help students attend HBCUs.
STEVE AND MARJORIE HARVEY
The TV and radio host and his wife fund work in children and youth, human services.
TONY HAWK
The world’s most famous professional skateboarder established a foundation to create public skateparks, particularly in low-income communities, and to support youth.
AUSTIN AND GABRIELA HEARST
The grandson of media baron William Randolph Hearst and his wife have supported arts and culture, health, education and youth, and global causes.
KATHERINE HEIGL
Katherine Heigl, and her mother, founded the Jason Debus Heigl Foundation, which aims to “eliminate the needless suffering inflicted on animals by human cruelty, indifference and ignorance.”
AMOS AND BARBARA HOSTETTER
The cable TV billionaire funds arts, climate and clean energy, education, and global causes.
ROBERT HOWARD
Robert Howard’s legacy conducts philanthropy through the Howard Charitable Foundation, which predominately supports healthcare, educational, and domestic humanitarian charities.
RON AND CHERYL HOWARD
The director and his wife Cheryl have a foundation, making modest grants that reflect a variety of interests, including the environment, global development and film.
ROBERT A. IGER
The Iger Bay Foundation is the charitable organization of former Walt Disney Company CEO Robert Iger and his wife, television journalist Willow Bay. Giving prioritizes Los Angeles.
BILLY JOEL AND ALEXIS RODERICK
Billy Joel and family move philanthropy through the Joel Foundation, whose grantmaking focuses on the arts and arts education according to tax filings. The foundation gives modest sums to a select few organizations annually, with an eye towards New York City.
MICHAEL JORDAN
Michael Jordan once had a foundation, but it dissolved in the 1990s. His latest grantmaking prioritizes communities and civil rights.
TOM JOYNER
Tom Joyner conducts philanthropy through the Tom Joyner Foundation, whose mission is to provide programming initiatives and partnerships in support of historically black colleges and universities (HBCU) and its communities.
CATHERINE HUGHES AND ALFRED LIGGINS III
Hughes, the first African-American woman to chair a publicly held company, founded the Radio One media giant and leads it with her son Liggins. Their philanthropy includes gifts to education, and arts and culture.
ROBERT IGER AND WILLOW BAY
The Disney chief and his wife Willow Bay have a foundation that supports education, youth, and other areas. Health is another interest.
HUGH JACKMAN AND DEBORRA-LEE FURNESS
The actor and his wife Deborra-Lee have a family foundation, which funds children’s welfare, including adoption, the arts and global humanitarian concerns.
STEPHEN AND KAREN HILLENBURG
Stephen and Karen Hillenburg move their philanthropy through the United Plankton Charitable Trust. The couple focuses on arts and education in Southern California.
SAMUEL AND LATANYA JACKSON
Top actor and film producer supports causes in health, education and youth, and African American arts and culture.
LEBRON JAMES
Lebron James primarily conducts philanthropy through the Lebron James Family Foundation, which funds K-12 education and youth.
MORTON AND LINDA JANKLOW
Funding areas by the literary agent power couple include arts and culture, education and youth, health, and human services. The Janklows are top collectors of contemporary art.
ELTON JOHN
Elton John gives primarily through the Elton John AIDS Foundation, but he’s still found time to raise money for other causes.
ROBERT L. JOHNSON
Robert Johnson primarily funds arts, culture, and global work. He once moved philanthropy through the Robert L. Johnson Foundation, but the current status of the vehicle is unclear.
ANGELINA JOLIE
Jolie and her ex, Brad Pitt, have donated around $30 million through their foundation, which funds health, education, conservation and sustainable development efforts.
JON BON JOVI
The rock star’s philanthropy focuses on housing and poverty issues in his home state of New Jersey.
LILLY TARTIKOFF KARATZ
Tartikoff Karatz devotes much of her time and energy to raising funds for cancer research.
JEFFREY AND MARILYN KATZENBERG
Katzenberg’s giving is extremely well rounded, though he’s been especially interested in health-related issues, particularly AIDS, and organizations that work on behalf of children.
RYAN KAVANAUGH
The film financier/producer and founder of Relativity Media gives to causes in children and education, animals, medical research, and Jewish causes.
JAMES AND SARAH KENNEDY
James Kennedy and his wife Sarah have made large personal contribution in health, conservation, and education. The James M. Fox Foundation also focuses on these causes. The Southeast and intermountain west serve as important regions of giving.
SIDNEY KIMMEL
The film producer is best known for his major giving toward cancer research, but he has also given heavily to the arts and education.
STEPHEN AND TABITHA KING
The horror writer’s philanthropy focuses on the state of Maine, giving to libraries, higher education, and health.
SIDNEY KNAFEL
The cable television businessman funds education and youth, environment, arts and culture, and health causes.
BEYONCE KNOWLES-CARTER
Beyoncé’s philanthropic efforts focus on girls and women, as well as poverty and other causes.
EMERIL AND ALDEN LAGASSE
The celebrity chef and restaurateur, and his wife Alden, focus their philanthropy on children’s education, wellness and arts.
NORMAN AND LYN LEAR
Lear and his wife Lyn give to a range of causes, with interests in civil liberties, education, arts, media, and more.
MICHAEL LEEDS
The Leeds family has supported education and youth, and health causes. A major gift went to Leeds’ alma mater, University of Colorado.
DAVID LETTERMAN
Letterman’s philanthropic interests include education, global development and humanitarian efforts, and local causes, mainly in Indiana and Montana.
JAY AND MAVIS LENO
Leno and his wife Mavis invest in education, women’s rights, animals and more. However, public grantmaking has been so far modest.
KEVIN AND ERIKA LILES
Kevin Liles and his wife Erika have steadily supported educational outfit SEED Foundation. Liles founded the Make It Happen Foundation and the Kevin Liles for a Better Baltimore Foundation, exposing Baltimore youth to social, educational, economic, cultural and civic opportunities.
EVA LONGORIA
The actor’s foundation concentrates on education and entrepreneurship for Latinas, and children’s health. Longoria favors causes in Texas, Mexico, and other regions.
GEORGE LOPEZ
George Lopez founded the George Lopez Foundation, which seeks to create positive, permanent change for underprivileged children, adults and military families confronting challenges in education and health, as well as increasing community awareness about kidney disease and organ donation.
JENNIFER LOPEZ
The Lopez Family Foundation supports increasing women and children’s access to quality health care and health education.
CHUCK LORRE
Funding areas include education and youth, health and human services, global causes. The television producer has funded scholarships at Los Angeles area schools.
KEVIN LOVE
Kevin Love recently launched the Kevin Love Fund, which strives to inspire people to live their healthiest lives while providing the tools to achieve physical and emotional well being.
GEORGE LUCAS AND MELLODY HOBSON
Lucas is a major longtime supporter of education, though lately, he’s been focused on building the Lucas Cultural Arts Museum.
DAVID LYNCH
Lynch’s giving is laser-focused on transcendental meditation, which he believes is a powerful tool that can transform education, positively impact people’s lives, and ultimately lead to world peace.
MICHAEL AND JAMIE LYNTON
Lynton and his wife Jamie mainly fund schools in the Northeast, but they have given for human services, health, and other causes.
SETH MACFARLANE
The producer of television’s Family Guy and other series has begun to develop his philanthropy with support for journalism and media integrity.
MADONNA
Madonna’s Ray of Light Foundation supports organizations around the world working to promote peace, equal rights and education for all.
GREG AND SHARON MAFFEI
Funding interests from the Liberty Media executive and his family include education and youth, health, and the Denver community.
STEVE MARTIN
Through his charitable foundation, Martin mainly gives for arts and culture, but also supports the environment and health.
GILBERT AND ANN MAURER
Gilbert, a longtime Hearst Corporation executive, and his family focus their philanthropy on the arts, including poetry, music, and theater.
LOWRY AND PEGGY MAYS
The giving of the Clear Channel co-founder is quite diverse, mostly concentrated in Texas.
PAUL MCCARTNEY
McCartney is known primarily for his support of animal rights and environmental organizations, though he’s also championed a number of humanitarian causes, and supports charities that fight cancer.
RED AND CHARLINE MCCOMBS
The Clear Channel co-founder and his wife focus their giving in Texas. They give major amounts to higher ed, but also to arts and culture, and human services and health.
MATTHEW AND CAMILA MCCONAUGHEY
The actor’s foundation focuses on youth well-being and fitness. It also funds health causes.
SARA MILLER MCCUNE
Sara Miller McCune cofounded the McCune Foundation with her late husband George McCune. The foundation supports projects that address critical issues in Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties by empowering and mobilizing excluded populations. She also launched The Social Justice Foundation.
LUIGI CAIOLA AND SEAN MCGILL
Luigi Caiola and his husband Sean McGill move their philanthropy through the recently-minted McGill Caiola Charitable Foundation. The couple focus much of their giving on the arts.
VINCENT AND LINDA MCMAHON
The wrestling promoter and his wife Linda provide support for youth and women, focusing mainly in Connecticut; they also fund human services outfits and health.
BARRY AND WENDY MEYER
The longtime Warner Bros. Entertainment executive and his wife fund causes in education, children’s and civil rights, arts and culture, health and human services, humanitarian, and Jewish causes. Los Angeles is a region of giving.
LORNE AND ALICE MICHAELS
This successful television producer has interests in education, health and more. He and his wife Alice primarily fund causes in New York City and the greater Northeast.
BETTE MIDLER
Midler gives to the environment and civic space, arts and culture, health, education, human services and humanitarian causes.
ARNON MILCHAN
The film producer’s philanthropy does not go through a formal family foundation and so is hard to track fully, but funding has gone to his native Israel and to the arts. He is an avid art collector and a former soccer star.
LIN-MANUEL MIRANDA AND VANESSA NADAL
The celebrated writer of the Broadway musical Hamilton, and his wife, support humanitarian and Latino causes.
JERRY AND TINA MOSS
The former music mogul gives away a million or more every year through the Moss Foundation, spreading his money out pretty evenly among a number of causes, including arts, health, education and the environment.
ALONZO AND TRACEY WILSON MOURNING
Alonzo and Tracy Mourning conduct philanthropy through the Mourning Family Foundation (MFF), which focuses on youth development through advocacy, education and enrichment. MFF focuses on the South Florida community.
JAMES AND KATHRYN MURDOCH
Murdoch launched the Quadrivium Foundation with his wife Kathryn in 2013. They’ve set their sights on a variety of causes, most notably the environment.
RUPERT MURDOCH
Media mogul Murdoch has long been criticized for his lack of philanthropy, but his massive fortune has to go somewhere eventually.
GABE NEWELL
Gabe Newell does not appear to have a formal charitable vehicle. He funds and co-founded an educational company called Foundry10, which explores non-traditional learning.
MO OSTIN
The former Warner Bros. Records executive has a foundation that’s given to various causes over the years, predominately to UCLA, the arts, and more.
RICHARD AND LAURA PARSONS
The family’s philanthropy focuses on New York City and the Northeast, with an emphasis on education and the arts.
JAMES PATTERSON
Novelist James B. Patterson’s philanthropy focuses on youth reading and literacy, supporting libraries, reading programs and bookstores.
SEAN PENN
Sean Penn founded Community Organized Relief Effort CORE which works on the ground to not only rebuild communities in the face of emergency, but to also create programs that focus on preparedness and resilience.
ISAAC AND LAURA PERLMUTTER
Isaac Perlmutter and his wife Laura move their philanthropy through the Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Foundation. The Perlmutters prioritize health causes and support the Jewish community.
TYLER PERRY
Perry’s foundation aims to transform “tragedy into triumph by empowering economically disadvantaged youth, seniors, and families to overcome adversity by achieving a better quality of life.”
BRAD PITT
Brad Pitt took the lead creating an organization to rebuild New Orleans and has been outspoken on marriage equality.
WOLFGANG PUCK
Puck is involved in food and hunger groups and supports health and Jewish causes.
JACK REHM
Jack Rehm and family conduct philanthropy through the Rehm Family Foundation, which gave away around $103,000 in a recent year. The family supports schools with which they have a personal connection, particularly College of the Holy Cross.
SHONDA RHIMES
The Grey’s Anatomy television producer has funded arts, education and cultural inclusion, giving at least $10 million to the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture.
RIHANNA
Rihanna launched the Clara Lionel Foundation (CLF), which funds primary and secondary education, health and emergency response initiatives in the Caribbean and other regions.
TONY AND SAGE ROBBINS
Tony Robbins and family move philanthropy through the Tony Robbins Foundation, which is committed to making a difference in the quality of life for youth, senior citizens, the hungry, homeless and the imprisoned population.
BRIAN AND AILEEN ROBERTS
The Comcast CEO and his wife Aileen have given mostly to schools with ties to the family, but have also been involved in medical research efforts.
NORA ROBERTS
The bestselling author oversees a grantmaking operation with a focus on literacy. It also supports children’s programs, arts organizations, and humanitarian efforts.
SHAUN ROBINSON
An Emmy award-winning TV host and reporter, Robinson’s philanthropy focuses on girls. Her foundation supports work in STEM education, health, arts, and other topics, particularly for girls of color and underserved girls.
PHILIP ROSENTHAL AND MONICA HORAN
Funding areas for the TV industry couple include education and youth, arts and culture, Jewish causes, and health and human services.
HAIM AND CHERYL SABAN
Saban and his wife Cheryl have given millions to Jewish causes, hospitals, and women’s empowerment, as well as the Los Angeles community.
JEFFREY SELLER AND JOSH LEHRER
Jeffrey Seller and his partner Josh Lehrer, a prominent photographer and documentarist, conduct their philanthropy through the Seller-Lehrer Family Foundation (SLFF), which funds educational, cultural, and environmental organizations and initiatives.
M. NIGHT AND BHAVNA SHYAMALAN
Domestic interests involve education reform in Philadelphia. Globally, efforts focus on livelihood opportunities, education, food and water access, and agricultural projects in Africa, India, and Central America.
RUSSELL SIMMONS
Simmons supports efforts to combat slavery and sex trafficking, encourage young people to vote, and fight poverty in New York City. Arts education programming is another top cause.
BUI SIMON
Bui Simon conducts philanthropy through Angels Wings Foundation, which is dedicated to providing vital assistance to underserved Thai children and empowering them through education.
PAUL SIMON
Simon is a longstanding supporter of children’s health issues but has also raised funds for groups such as amfAR, the Nature Conservancy, and Autism Speaks.
WILL AND JADA PINKETT SMITH
Along with his wife Jada, Smith supports education, health and social justice. Climate change is also an interest.
EDWARD W. SNOWDON JR.
Snowdon, through his foundation, primarily funds arts and LGBT causes. Another interest is human services.
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN
Through his Thrill Hill Foundation, Springsteen’s giving mainly focuses on human services and anti-poverty efforts.
DANIELLE STEEL
Steel lost her son to mental illness, which is her main cause. But she’s also given to homelessness.
STING AND TRUDIE STYLER
Sting backs the Rainforest Foundation and Rainforest Fund, which he and wife Trudie Styler founded in 1989. But the couple has also given to other causes.
MERYL STREEP AND DONALD GUMMER
Streep has been an active philanthropist for decades, with a foundation and interests in arts and culture, education, women, and more.
MAYO AND ELIZABETH STUNTZ
The AOL Time Warner executive and his wife focus philanthropy on health and human services, the Westchester County community, education and youth, and arts and culture.
TIM SWEENEY
While Tim Sweeney does not appear to have a formal family foundation, his company’s Epic MegaGrants has committed $100 million to support game developers and others working with the Unreal Engine. Sweeney is a strong backer of environmental causes.
TAYLOR SWIFT
Taylor Swift may not have a formal foundation, but she has been quietly engaging in philanthropy for years in a wide variety of focus areas.
JAYSON TATUM
Jayson Tatum launched the Jayson Tatum Foundation to positively impact and inspire children, teens and their families through education, athletics and other individual & family building initiatives, and to encourage them to strive to fulfill their dreams and aspirations.
MARGARETTA TAYLOR
Margaretta Taylor does not appear to have a formal family foundation. She supports charities involved with conservation and health.
TIM TEBOW
Tim Tebow launched the Tim Tebow Foundation, whose mission is to bring faith, hope and love to those needing a brighter day in their darkest hour of need. The foundation focuses on children’s health, including in the Philippines.
STEVE TISCH
The film producer and New York Giants chairman gives to education, arts and media, youth, health and human services, and Jewish causes.
KENNETH AND LISA TROUTT
Kenny Troutt and his wife Lisa once moved philanthropy through the White Cake Family Foundation, though the current status of the foundation is uncertain . He and Lisa are interested in areas such as health, education, and the arts.
THOMAS AND ALBA TULL
The founder of film production company Legendary Entertainment and his wife fund education, medical and scientific research, health, social services, and other issues.
TED TURNER
Turner supports environmental causes, famously giving a $1 billion gift to create the United Nations Foundation, and $250 million to the Nuclear Threat Initiative. Despite big giving, Turner still has plenty of money left.
DWYANE WADE AND GABRIELLE UNION
Dwyane Wade conducts philanthropy through Wade’s World Foundation, which funds community-based organizations that promote education, health and social skills for children in at-risk situations.
JOHN WALL
John Wall and family move philanthropy through the John Wall Foundation, which strives to improve the quality of life for disadvantaged families and to impact the lives of at-risk youth through mentorship, education and physical activity.
BARBARA WALTERS
Journalist Barbara Walters gives toward education and youth, arts and culture, and health.
DENZEL WASHINGTON
The actor-director-producer and his family support education and youth, including HBCU institutions, human services, and global causes.
SAM AND LYNN WATERSTON
Veteran actor well known for his work in the long-running Law & Order TV series is a supporter of the arts and environmental causes, including protection of fisheries.
THOMAS C. WERNER
Co-founder of Carsey Werner Television and co-owner of the Boston Red Sox. Funding interests include education and youth, health, human services, arts and culture, Jewish causes.
TOM AND ELLIE WERTHEIMER
The TV producer former honcho at home video and television company MCA and family support health, education and youth, Jewish causes, and community. Steady support has gone to Princeton University.
KANYE WEST
Kayne West founded Art of Culture, which provides free access to the arts for youth. He recently gave a $10 million gift to support a James Turrell piece.
RUSSELL WESTBROOK
Russell Westbrook moves philanthropy through the Russell Westbrook Why Not? Foundation, which seeks to inspire the lives of children, empower them to ask “Why Not?,” and teach them to never give up.
OPRAH WINFREY
The bulk of Winfrey’s giving goes to education, including charter schools, programs that support African-American students, and the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy in South Africa.
KATE WINSLET
The actress is chiefly interested in autism, but has supported other causes, as well.
DICK WOLF
Dick Wolf and his former wife Noelle moved philanthropy through the Wolf Family Foundation, which historically has focused on education. The current status of the vehicle is unclear.
KERRY AND SARAH WOOD
Former Chicago Cubs pitcher and his wife have been active funders of children’s charities.
TIGER WOODS
Woods conducts philanthropy through the TGR Foundation, which he started with his late father, Earl, in 1996. The foundation has since grown to include the Earl Woods Scholar Program and the TGR Learning Lab. The foundation is laser-focused on expanding STEM educational opportunities for youth.
BOB AND LEE WOODRUFF
Bob Woodruff, an ABC News television journalist, suffered a traumatic brain injury while reporting from Iraq. The Woodruff family started a foundation to help service members, veterans, and their families deal with such injuries, including post-traumatic stress.
TRAE YOUNG
Trae Young recently launched Trae Young Foundation with the goals of continuing education for mental health problems, particularly cyber and social media bullying.
