Some of Hollywood’s most notable names have taken it upon themselves to share the wealth--literally.
It’s no surprise that a number of celebrities have used their respective platforms to advocate for charities and causes that they feel passionate about in order to not only help fund different movements, but also help create awareness on how others can help. While we may not have millions of dollars to donate to certain organizations, we can still get involved in our own way by taking action and diving into our own philanthropic research.
To get started, here are 7 celebrity philanthropists who are taking initiative when it comes to charitable causes.

John Legend: The celebrity activist took it upon himself to make a chance by establishing the Show Me Campaign, which "seeks to give every child access to a quality education," and also partnered with Millennium Promise Alliance to serve African villages in need, along with putting together FREEAMERICA, a multi-year culture campaign that aims to transform America's criminal justice system.
JK Rowling: Rowling paved a way for authors when she made Forbes’ billionaire list, however, the admirable star dropped off the list after donating an estimated $160 million in charitable donations. The Harry Potter writer supports a number of causes through her charitable trust, Volant, and is also the founder and president of the international children’s non-profit organization Lumos, which works to end the institutionalization of children globally and ensure all children grow up in a safe and caring environment. "You have a moral responsibility when you've been given far more than you need, to do wise things with it and give intelligently," Rowling said.
Beyonce: Queen B continues to set an example for fans everywhere. From the Survivor Foundation that she co-founded with best friend and former Destiny’s Child singer Kelly Rowland, to the many donations made through her Beygood Foundation, for causes like relief efforts around the world and toy giveaways for children in need over the holidays, the singer wastes no time in lending a hand (or some stacks). She also recently announced her Formation Scholars program which is geared towards encouraging and supporting young and creative women.
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Chance the Rapper interacts with students during computer education classes at Adam Clayton Powell Jr., Paideia Academy in Chicago. (Source: Benjamin Lozovsky/BFA.com) |
Chance the Rapper: The Grammy winner has become a staple for change in his hometown of Chicago. He launched the New Chance Arts & Literature Fund to support arts in the public school system, and previously co-founded SocialWorks, a charity foundation devoted to empowering the youth that has raised over $2 million for Chicago Public Schools. His efforts clearly don’t go unnoticed, as he was also awarded BET’s 2017 Humanitarian Award by none other than Michelle Obama.
Angelina Jolie: This A-lister definitely has the means to donate large amounts of money to causes she’s passionate about, but Jolie has become one celeb that is about the action. Aside from creating the Jolie-Pitt Foundation in 2006, which aids humanitarian efforts around the globe, the actress was appointed Special Envoy to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in 2012.
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Emma Watson discussing the He for She Movement at a UN conference. (Source: Borgen Magazine) |
Written by out friend Bruna Nessif. Bruna Nessif, an advocate for personal development & a self-proclaimed hopeful romantic, is the author of Let That Shit Go: A Journey to Forgiveness, Healing & Understanding Love and founder of the website The Problem With Dating, a multimedia platform that provides entertaining yet thoughtful pieces about love, dating, self-reflection & spiritual growth. As a Lebanese woman, Bruna also feels strongly about addressing societal and psychological effects that occur for immigrants and their families. Her written work has been featured on multiple publications, including E! News, Playboy, Huffington Post, Cosmopolitan, Esquire and Bravo. She is currently enrolled in the Institute of Professional Excellence in Coaching to become a certified and accredited life coach for high conscious living in hopes of helping women tap into their full potential.
Please note: Many of the organizations listed in this article are not currently rated by Charity Navigator because they do not meet our criteria to be evaluated at this time. This is not either an endorsement or condemnation of their activities or operating behaviors. As always, Charity Navigator strongly encourages donors to do their research before making a gift. Please see our tips for evaluating an unrated charity here.
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