Entertainment’s most powerful people in philanthropy

In a digital-age world increasingly shaped by the influence of celebrities and major media figures, we’ve been tracking how the entertainment industry’s power players are leveraging their fame, fortune and platforms to drive meaningful change around the globe through philanthropy. 

Celebrities can bring a lot to the table not just because of their wealth, but because of their influence. Some of this is not new. Back in 1985, the legendary Live Aid concert raised nearly $284 million for famine in Ethiopia headlined by the likes of Queen, David Bowie, Eric Clapton and Tina Turner. Nearly 2 billion people tuned in globally. 

In recent years, many celebrities have moved beyond galas and awareness campaigns to make sustained, high-impact philanthropic investments. With large platforms, growing influence over public discourse, and increasingly sophisticated giving strategies, figures from Hollywood, the music industry, and professional sports are now shaping everything from education reform and global health to climate action.

Some are channeling millions of dollars through their foundations or donor collaboratives. Others are building schools, funding direct service nonprofits, or using their platforms to spotlight overlooked crises. While they often do not command fortunes on the scale of major donors from the world of business, celebrity givers are also part of the wave of very wealthy living donors upending traditional philanthropy, and sometimes even outpacing legacy institutions in size, speed, flexibility and reach. 

Here are 38 of the most influential figures at the intersection of entertainment and philanthropy today — people not just lending their names, but helping to move the needle.

J.J. Abrams and Katie McGrath

Filmmaker J.J. Abrams and his wife, producer Katie McGrath, have built a philanthropic profile that has paired cultural influence with progressive policy aims. Through their family foundation and Bad Robot Productions, the couple has supported a wide range of causes, including racial justice, democracy reform, immigrant rights and public education. McGrath and Abrams have also been active in supporting journalism, the arts and civic engagement. 

Herb Alpert

He’s now 90 years old, but Alpert’s philanthropy still rings out with the same focus that defined his music career. Through the Herb Alpert Foundation, which he launched in the late 1980s with his wife, Lani Hall, Alpert has been one of the most consistent champions of the arts, especially as public-sector support has waned. He’s best known for the Herb Alpert Awards in the Arts, honoring midcareer, risk-taking artists across disciplines. He previously told IP that his approach to grantmaking is “all about the feel.” Alpert’s giving also includes rescue funding for Harlem School of the Arts and significant support for music education at community colleges, including Los Angeles City College.

David Beckham

Beckham has long used his global platform for philanthropy, particularly through his decades-long partnership with UNICEF, where he has served as a Goodwill Ambassador since 2005. In 2015, to mark the 10th anniversary of his UNICEF role, Beckham launched the 7 Fund, named after his iconic jersey number. The fund focuses on protecting children from violence, ensuring access to education, and supporting girls’ empowerment, particularly in El Salvador, Indonesia and Nepal.

Beyoncé

Focused on economic equity, entrepreneurship, education, disaster relief and mental health, Beyoncé’s BeyGOOD has delivered aid to communities across the U.S. and abroad, with a focus on women and marginalized populations. BeyGOOD has partnered with the NAACP, Bread of Life and UNICEF, and provided testing, meals and mental health resources during the pandemic. Beyoncé’s giving often combines financial support with cultural storytelling. Her visual album “Black Is King” and projects like “Homecoming” have been paired with scholarship funds and community reinvestment. In 2023, she launched the Renaissance Scholars program, which provides academic support for students pursuing creative careers.

Bono

U2’s frontman is known for translating his stage presence into global civic action. Bono cofounded Debt, AIDS, Trade, Africa (DATA) in 2002, which evolved into One, a global advocacy network that presses world leaders to expand health, education and antipoverty programming, including helping secure support for PEPFAR. Bono and his main philanthropic partner Bobby Shriver also created (RED) to raise money for the United Nations Foundation’s Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria. 

Chance the Rapper

Born Chancelor Bennett, the hip hop star has made his hometown of Chicago the centerpiece of his philanthropy. Through SocialWorks, the nonprofit he cofounded in 2016, Chance has helped raise millions to support arts education, mental health resources, and youth empowerment across the city. SocialWorks’ initiatives include New Chance: Arts and Literature Fund, which supports public school arts programs, and My State of Mind, which increases access to mental health services in underserved communities. Chance has also given personal gifts, including $1 million to Chicago Public Schools in 2017 after a public disagreement with former Gov. Bruce Rauner about the state’s education budget.

Stephen and Ayesha Curry

The couple’s Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation has become a standout example of place-based philanthropy that’s both deeply personal and highly strategic. Based in Oakland, California, the foundation aims to support children’s holistic development by way of food security, education and physical activity — all areas the Currys consider pillars for lifelong success. In its first five years, Eat. Learn. Play. has invested more than $70 million into community programming, partnerships and direct services. When I interviewed the Currys in 2025, they talked about focusing on systemic change, working with the Oakland Unified School District to improve literacy rates, and supporting community-based organizations to ensure safe recreational spaces in historically underserved neighborhoods. 

Ellen DeGeneres  

The talk show host has quietly been a steady donor, giving away tens of millions via direct gifts and cultivating audience-driven philanthropy. Through her long-running “Ellen DeGeneres Show,” she matched donations, including toward ALS research. She is also a major supporter of animal welfare, and through the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, created the Ellen DeGeneres Campus in Rwanda for gorilla conservation. In addition, she’s given for disaster relief, including during Hurricane Katrina.

Michael J. Fox

Diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease at age 29, Fox turned personal crisis into a research juggernaut. The Michael J. Fox Foundation has become the largest nonprofit funder of Parkinson’s research in the world, known for its venture-style approach to drug development and data sharing. The foundation pushes for speed, collaboration and measurable outcomes, often funding high-risk projects that traditional funders might avoid. 

David Geffen

The music mogul’s philanthropy reflects his taste for scale, with seven-figure-plus gifts reshaping institutions in health and the arts. His donations include $200 million to UCLA’s medical school, now named the David Geffen School of Medicine, and major support for Lincoln Center and MoMA. Through his David Geffen Foundation, launched in 1987, he focuses on funding arts, health, LGBTQ causes, and education, particularly in Los Angeles and New York.

Selena Gomez

Selena Gomez’s Rare Impact Fund is quickly becoming a major player in youth mental health philanthropy. Launched in 2020 alongside her cosmetics brand Rare Beauty, the initiative aims to raise $100 million over 10 years to support organizations that expand access to mental health resources — especially for young people and underserved communities. In addition to grants, Rare Impact backs storytelling and advocacy. As Gomez told me in 2023, “We want to reach people that may feel not heard. I just want to get down into all of those areas and break down the stigma as much as I can and continue to share my platform.”

LeBron James

The LeBron James Family Foundation is among the most ambitious education-focused efforts in modern celebrity philanthropy. Its flagship initiative is the I PROMISE School, a public school in Akron, Ohio, designed to support at-risk students with a holistic “wraparound” model — including free tuition, meals, transportation and support services for families. James’ philanthropy runs deep, with over $100 million committed to philanthropy, primarily through the foundation.

Elton John

The legendary singer has built one of the most influential celebrity-backed health philanthropies of the modern era through the Elton John AIDS Foundation, which has raised more than $650 million for HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and advocacy worldwide. The foundation focuses heavily on marginalized communities, including LGBTQ+ people and those in the criminal justice system, pairing support for services with policy reform. John’s giving stands out for its longevity and institutional seriousness, operating more like a global health NGO than your stereotypical star-driven philanthropy. 

Rene Jones

A partner at United Talent Agency, Rene Jones, chief of social impact, leads one of Hollywood’s most established philanthropic engines: the UTA Foundation, which has mobilized employees and talent to step up for a variety of causes. “The fact that they really invested in this role was really special. And it really gave me the freedom to build out our blueprint of what impact could mean at the agency,” Jones told me in 2023. 

Michael Jordan

Michael Jordan’s philanthropic legacy, once overshadowed by his commercial empire, has come into sharper focus in recent years. In 2020, he and Jordan Brand pledged $100 million over 10 years to advance racial equity and social justice, marking one of the largest commitments ever made by an individual athlete. Jordan has also spoken up about structural health disparities, creating four Michael Jordan Family Medical Clinics in North Carolina to provide affordable care to uninsured and underinsured communities.

Colin Kaepernick

Kaepernick’s philanthropic legacy is inseparable from his activism. Since boldly kneeling during the national anthem in 2016 to protest police brutality, the former NFL quarterback has built a robust, multipronged giving infrastructure that includes Know Your Rights Camp, direct charitable giving and strategic support for racial justice movements. Know Your Rights Camp began as a youth education initiative, offering camps across the U.S. that teach Black and brown youth about self-empowerment, legal rights, financial literacy and community organizing. Over time, it has grown into a broader nonprofit organization that provides bail support and legal assistance for victims of police violence.

Jason and Travis Kelce

The NFL brothers turned cultural icons are increasingly using their spotlight to support local communities and youth. Though they run separate foundations, the two often collaborate to support charitable causes in their respective hometowns. Jason, longtime center for the Philadelphia Eagles, is involved with multiple charitable initiatives in Philadelphia, including work with autism services, childhood education and youth sports. His annual Team 62 fundraiser benefits the Eagles Autism Foundation, and he’s also supported underfunded school music programs through surprise instrument donations. 

Travis Kelce, tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs, founded 87 & Running, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering underserved youth through education, mentorship and wellness programming. The foundation has hosted coding camps, provided STEM learning opportunities and funded scholarships — particularly for students of color.

Lady Gaga

The singer cofounded Born This Way Foundation with her mother, Cynthia Germanotta, in 2012. Since then, the foundation has emerged as a force in youth mental health advocacy, offering resources, conducting research, and funding grassroots projects across the U.S. Initiatives include Channel Kindness, a storytelling platform for young people, and the Kindness in Community Fund, which provides microgrants to local organizations. The foundation has also partnered with institutions like the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence and Harvard’s School of Public Health to study mental health trends and stigma reduction strategies. Gaga herself has been outspoken about her struggles with trauma, PTSD and mental health, helping to destigmatize these topics for a global audience. 

John Legend and Chrissy Teigen

Legend’s FREEAMERICA campaign aims to end mass incarceration by promoting alternatives to punitive justice and uplifting the voices of formerly incarcerated people. He has worked with justice reform organizations like The Bail Project and Equal Justice Initiative, raising funds and pushing policy change. Teigen, meanwhile, has supported reproductive rights and maternal health causes, particularly after her own experience with pregnancy loss. Together, the couple has funded scholarships at HBCUs, backed legal defense for immigrants and asylum seekers, and contributed to disaster relief and COVID-19 aid.

George Lucas and Mellody Hobson

“Star Wars” creator George Lucas has quietly directed millions toward educational causes through the George Lucas Educational Foundation, which promotes project-based learning and classroom innovation through its Edutopia platform. Lucas and his wife, investor Mellody Hobson, also move funding through the Hobson/Lucas Family Foundation, focused on arts and culture, film, education, and human services, primarily in the Bay Area and Chicago. The foundation has also invested heavily in the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, which will house Lucas’ collection of movie memorabilia, illustrations, pop art, and props, worth approximately $1 billion. It is set to open in fall 2026 in Los Angeles.

Trevor Noah

The former “Daily Show” host launched the Trevor Noah Foundation in 2018 to expand access to quality education for underserved youth in South Africa. The foundation partners with schools like New Nation School in Johannesburg, offering scholarships, teacher training and psychosocial support. “I think of education as a holistic container… I think about the space that a person is in when they’re learning,” Noah told me. Noah has also funded literacy and tech programs with proceeds from his tours and books, while backing pandemic relief and mental health initiatives in the U.S. 

Dolly Parton

The country icon’s philanthropy is anchored by the Dollywood Foundation, through which Parton launched Imagination Library in 1995, mailing free books to millions of children worldwide. In 2020, she donated $1 million to Vanderbilt University Medical Center for COVID-19 vaccine research, funding that helped accelerate development of the Moderna vaccine. 

Michael Phelps

Through the Michael Phelps Foundation, launched in 2008, the swimmer has focused on promoting healthy lifestyles, emotional wellness, and access to swimming education for youth around the world. The foundation’s signature program, IM, operates in Boys & Girls Clubs and Learn to Swim sites across the country. In recent years, Phelps has expanded the foundation’s focus on mental health after publicly disclosing his own struggles with depression and suicidal ideation.

Rihanna

Through her Clara Lionel Foundation, founded in 2012 and named after her grandparents, Rihanna supports global education, climate resilience and emergency preparedness — particularly in underserved communities across the Caribbean, Africa and the U.S. During COVID, Rihanna emerged as one of the most agile celebrity donors, committing millions to PPE, testing and support for front-line workers. CLF’s giving has been increasingly strategic, with partnerships spanning the WHO, the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City, and the International Rescue Committee.

Will and Jada Pinkett Smith

For Will and Jada Pinkett Smith, philanthropy has been a family endeavor rooted in education, health and global empowerment. Through the Will & Jada Smith Family Foundation, the Smiths have funded a diverse range of organizations — from youth art centers in Philadelphia to clean water projects in Ethiopia. The foundation has also supported college scholarships at Howard University, domestic violence shelters, and educational reform through partners like KIPP and the Lupus Foundation of America.

Steven Spielberg 

The director’s philanthropy spans Jewish life, education, and cultural preservation, most notably through the Shoah Foundation, which has recorded tens of thousands of Holocaust survivor testimonies, and also through the Righteous Persons Foundation. He has also backed arts institutions and civic causes through the Hearthland Foundation. True to his range of movies, Spielberg’s giving often centers around memory and storytelling, using media and archives as tools to combat historical erasure.

Taylor Swift

Swift has made major contributions to food banks, paid off student debts, supported Nashville flood recovery, and helped victims of sexual assault. She’s also donated to advocacy groups like GLAAD and Equality Now, and has encouraged political engagement on issues like voter registration and LGBTQ+ rights. Though she lacks a formal foundation, her Eras Tour became a philanthropic platform in itself, with Swift reportedly distributing over $50 million in bonuses to tour staff and making local donations to food banks and community nonprofits in each city she visited. 

Natalie Tran

As executive director of the CAA Foundation, Tran leads one of the most influential philanthropy arms in the entertainment industry. The foundation, which operates within Creative Artists Agency, connects talent and resources with high-impact social initiatives. Tran has overseen major campaigns including support for public school arts programs, election protection efforts, and relief following natural disasters and mass shootings. She also cofounded the Civic Alliance, a coalition of over 1,300 companies committed to strengthening democracy.

Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union 

Miami Heat legend Dwyane Wade and actress Gabrielle Union have turned their family values into activism through the Wade Family Foundation, backing after-school programs, health clinics, and literacy initiatives in cities like Chicago and Miami, while also championing trans rights alongside their daughter Zaya. Wade also cofounded the Social Change Fund United with Carmelo Anthony and Chris Paul to push for police accountability, voting access, and economic justice. Together, Union and Wade use their platform to tackle issues from gun violence to bullying.

Serena Williams

The tennis legend has put her global platform to use uplifting underserved communities, especially women and girls. Her philanthropic work coalesces most visibly in the Yetunde Price Resource Center, named in honor of her late sister, who was killed in a drive-by shooting in her native Compton. Williams has also supported Black maternal health, funded education initiatives, and donated to disaster relief and hunger efforts — and she’s an outspoken advocate for equity in sports and business. 

Oprah Winfrey

Through the Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation and individual donations, the billionaire talk show host and media mogul has invested hundreds of millions in causes centered on education, empowerment and opportunity, particularly for women and girls. One of her most enduring legacies is the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls, a South African boarding school that opened in 2007. Oprah funded the school with an initial $40 million and remains actively involved. In the U.S., Winfrey has backed scholarship programs, donated to historically Black colleges and universities, supported humanitarian efforts, and backed the arts, including the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture.