Actresses Who Donate The Highest % Of Their Net Worth

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Giving back is still a big part of Hollywood, with many actresses using their wealth to support important causes. They donate to fund medical studies and provide help to communities facing hardship. Often, they create their own organizations to make sure their money goes where it’s needed most. Their support goes beyond just donating money – they also actively speak out and serve on the boards of charities. This list showcases actresses who are known for generously donating to make the world a better place.

Oprah Winfrey

Throughout her successful career, Oprah Winfrey has given away hundreds of millions of dollars to various causes. She founded the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa to help provide better educational opportunities. Her foundation works to support women and children around the world. Oprah is also well-known for quickly offering aid after natural disasters like hurricanes and wildfires, and she famously paid off student debt for graduates of Morehouse College.

Meryl Streep

Meryl Streep directs her charitable donations through the Silver Mountain Foundation for the Arts. Along with her husband, she’s given millions to schools like Vassar College. She also supports groups working to solve worldwide problems, such as Oxfam America and the Rainforest Alliance. Remarkably, Streep frequently donates her entire paycheck from movies to charity. Her giving is known for being generous and impactful, especially in the areas of arts and social justice, but she prefers to keep it private.

Angelina Jolie

Angelina Jolie donates a large amount of her money to help people around the world through her Jolie-Pitt Foundation. She has also worked with the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) to raise awareness and support for refugees and those forced to leave their homes. Her foundation supports health clinics and schools in countries like Cambodia and Ethiopia, and she funds projects to protect endangered animals in the areas where she’s been involved. Jolie consistently uses her income to provide legal assistance to women and children in need.

Sandra Bullock

Sandra Bullock is famous for quickly donating large sums of money after big natural disasters. She’s consistently supported the American Red Cross during events like Hurricane Katrina and the Japanese tsunami, and she also helped rebuild Warren Easton Charter High School in New Orleans. Her donations usually focus on providing immediate help to those affected by events like earthquakes and wildfires. While she generally keeps the details of her giving private, her contributions make a significant difference.

Charlize Theron

Charlize Theron started the Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project to combat HIV and AIDS in South Africa. She donates a large portion of her wealth to programs that teach young people about health and how to stay safe. The organization also helps local groups that provide services directly to teenagers. Theron leverages her fame to raise money internationally for research into preventing these diseases, and she is also dedicated to supporting women’s rights and stopping violence against them.

Emma Watson

You know, I’ve always admired Emma Watson, not just for her acting but for what she does off-screen too. She’s really committed to making the world a better place. I’ve been following her work with gender equality and environmental causes for a while now. She’s donated a lot of money to groups like the UK Justice and Equality Fund to fight sexual harassment, which is amazing. And she’s a big advocate for sustainable fashion – trying to lessen the impact the clothing industry has on the planet. As a UN Women Goodwill Ambassador, she’s always championing things like the HeForShe campaign, and a lot of her charitable work focuses on helping women who’ve faced discrimination at work by providing them with legal support. It’s genuinely inspiring to see someone use their platform like that.

Jennifer Lawrence

As someone who’s followed Jennifer Lawrence’s career for years, I’ve always admired her talent, but her dedication to philanthropy is truly inspiring. She founded the Jennifer Lawrence Foundation to champion organizations like the Boys & Girls Clubs and the Special Olympics, and she’s been incredibly generous to her hometown of Louisville, donating a significant amount of her income to Kosair Children’s Hospital – they even named a cardiac unit after her! What I find particularly clever is how she uses her films – organizing screenings as fundraisers for local charities. It’s clear she’s passionate about two key areas: giving kids access to quality healthcare and fostering creativity through arts education. It’s refreshing to see a star use her platform so effectively.

Viola Davis

Viola Davis focuses her charitable work on helping children and fighting poverty in the United States. She works with the Hunger Is campaign to raise money and awareness for programs that provide food. She also supports the Rape Foundation, offering free medical and legal help to survivors of sexual assault. Additionally, Davis donates to schools in her hometown to improve learning environments for students. Her overall goal is to support those in need and create opportunities for young people.

Reese Witherspoon

Reese Witherspoon is a strong advocate for women’s success and financial independence, demonstrated through her work with both businesses and charities. She supports Girls Inc., helping them offer guidance and educational opportunities to young women. Witherspoon also donated to the Time’s Up Legal Defense Fund, assisting those who have experienced sexual harassment. Through her media company, she funds projects led by women and supports literacy initiatives. Additionally, she actively works with the Children’s Defense Fund, pushing for policies that improve the lives of children.

Jennifer Aniston

Jennifer Aniston is a strong supporter of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and frequently helps with their fundraising efforts. She’s also generously donated to organizations like Doctors Without Borders and the Red Cross, providing aid during times of disaster. In addition, she’s made significant contributions to Color of Change, which promotes racial justice. Aniston often uses her celebrity status to raise money for medical research by auctioning off personal belongings and attending charity events. She combines direct donations with using her platform to raise awareness for important causes.

Miley Cyrus

Miley Cyrus started the Happy Hippie Foundation to help young people facing hardship, specifically homeless youth and those in the LGBTQ community. She personally covers the foundation’s operating costs, meaning all public donations go directly to programs that help people. Cyrus also supports Los Angeles shelters by providing them with food and housing, and she raises money for these communities through concerts held in her backyard. Her charitable work centers on promoting acceptance and making sure vulnerable teens have access to essential resources.

Lady Gaga

Lady Gaga is dedicated to helping young people with their mental health through her Born This Way Foundation. She uses her resources to fund programs that fight bullying and depression, and she’s worked with the World Health Organization to support COVID-19 relief. Gaga also provides funding and support for homeless LGBTQ youth shelters and research focused on promoting kindness. Ultimately, she wants to break down the stigma surrounding mental health around the world.

Rihanna

As a huge Rihanna fan, I’m always impressed by how much she gives back. She started the Clara Lionel Foundation, and it’s seriously making a difference around the world with education and disaster relief. She’s put millions towards helping Caribbean communities become more resilient to climate change, and during the pandemic, she stepped up big time, donating to food banks and supporting medical heroes. It’s not just about immediate help either – her foundation also offers scholarships so students from developing countries can study at universities here in the US. She really focuses on things like global health and getting communities prepared for disasters, which I think is amazing.

Beyoncé

Beyoncé’s BeyGOOD initiative helps people facing crises, whether from natural disasters or financial difficulties. She’s particularly focused on supporting Black-owned businesses with significant donations to help them stay afloat. Beyond that, Beyoncé funds scholarships for students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities and provides clean water access to communities in Burundi. She also regularly teams up with local groups to deliver food and essential supplies during her concert tours.

Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift is well-known for her generosity, often surprising fans with financial help and supporting music programs. She’s donated significantly to the Country Music Hall of Fame to create a new education center. During her recent Eras Tour, she also provided support to food banks in every city she performed in. Beyond that, Swift has helped communities recover from disasters, like floods in Louisiana and tornadoes in Tennessee. Her charitable giving is usually quick and directly addresses pressing local needs.

Scarlett Johansson

Scarlett Johansson uses her platform to support several charities. She works with Oxfam, traveling to raise money for poverty relief, and donates to Soles4Souls to provide shoes to people in need worldwide. She’s also a strong advocate for Planned Parenthood, contributing to the protection of reproductive rights, and supports Feeding America in its efforts to fight hunger in the U.S. Overall, her charitable work centers on providing food and healthcare access, particularly for women.

Julia Roberts

Julia Roberts actively supports UNICEF, traveling the world to see and fund programs that help children facing poverty and illness. Beyond her work with children, she’s a strong advocate for the environment, backing renewable energy initiatives and narrating a Conservation International film to highlight the dangers of climate change. Ultimately, she dedicates both her time and money to improving the lives of children worldwide and protecting our planet.

Nicole Kidman

Nicole Kidman uses her platform as a UN Women Goodwill Ambassador to support programs that fight violence against women. She also donates to the Stanford Women’s Cancer Center to help them improve research and treatment. When devastating bushfires struck Australia, Kidman provided financial support to local fire services. Furthermore, she contributes to the Actors Fund, which provides assistance to entertainment professionals facing financial hardship. Overall, her charitable efforts focus on medical research and providing aid during emergencies.

Cate Blanchett

Cate Blanchett works with the UN Refugee Agency to champion the rights of refugees. She’s also dedicated to supporting environmental causes and the arts. Specifically, she contributes to the Australian Conservation Foundation to help protect natural environments and donates to the Sydney Theatre Company to ensure its continued success. Through her generosity, she helps both people forced to leave their homes and efforts to combat climate change.

Rooney Mara

Rooney Mara dedicates her time and resources to two important causes: fighting poverty and protecting animals. She leads the Uweza Foundation, which works to improve lives in the Kibera slum in Nairobi, and regularly visits Africa to check on the foundation’s progress. She also donates a large amount of money to animal rights groups like Humane Society International, working to end animal cruelty. Her commitment to both animal welfare and international development demonstrates her compassionate values.

Patricia Arquette

Patricia Arquette started GiveLove, a charity that brings sanitation solutions to communities in need around the world. She specifically supports projects using composting toilets in Haiti and Nicaragua to improve public health. As an advocate for equal pay, Arquette also champions organizations working to empower women economically. She frequently uses her platform to raise money for clean water and sanitation initiatives, focusing on building practical infrastructure for communities facing poverty.

Jane Fonda

Jane Fonda is a long-time supporter of important causes, donating significantly to environmental and social justice movements. She funds these efforts through direct contributions and by auctioning off her personal belongings and artwork. Fonda also established the Georgia Campaign for Adolescent Power and Potential and supports the Women’s Media Center, working to amplify women’s voices in the media. Her approach combines financial giving with active advocacy.

Susan Sarandon

Susan Sarandon actively supports several organizations dedicated to social justice and humanitarian aid. She donates to Heifer International, helping communities through livestock and training, and to the Center for Constitutional Rights, which fights for civil liberties. She also supports the World Food Programme in its efforts to eliminate global hunger and provides funding to groups working to end the death penalty. These donations reflect Sarandon’s lifelong commitment to political and social causes.

Shailene Woodley

Shailene Woodley helps lead the All It Takes organization, which works to empower young people to make a lasting positive impact. She also supports environmental groups focused on protecting water and the rights of indigenous communities, and is a strong advocate for the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, contributing to their legal efforts. Additionally, Woodley provides funding for projects that help conserve our oceans and reduce plastic waste. Her charitable work primarily focuses on protecting the environment and developing the next generation of leaders.

Rosario Dawson

Rosario Dawson is a dedicated philanthropist and activist. She helped start Voto Latino to get more young Hispanic Americans involved in voting and civic life. She also supports the Lower Eastside Girls Club, offering guidance and mentorship to young women in the city. Through her work with the ONE Campaign, Dawson fights global poverty and preventable diseases. Additionally, she donates to groups focused on creating a more responsible and environmentally friendly fashion industry. Overall, her charitable work focuses on empowering communities and encouraging active citizenship.

Eva Longoria

Eva Longoria founded the Eva Longoria Foundation to empower Latinas through education and by supporting their entrepreneurial dreams. She invests in STEM programs, encouraging young women to pursue careers in science and technology. Longoria also champions farmworkers, providing both support and a voice for their needs. Through fundraising for the Global Gift Foundation, she helps children and women around the world. Ultimately, her charitable work focuses on creating economic opportunities for the Latino community.

Penélope Cruz

Penélope Cruz has a long history of charitable work, particularly in India. She famously volunteered with Mother Teresa and continues to support clinics treating leprosy. Early in her career, she donated her entire salary from her first Hollywood movie to the religious order she worked with in Calcutta. Cruz also supports the Sabera Foundation, which aids women and children in India, and provides funding for research into childhood leukemia and other illnesses affecting children. Her charitable efforts are often deeply personal, with a strong focus on providing healthcare to those in need.

Halle Berry

Halle Berry has consistently supported the Jenesse Center, an organization offering comprehensive help to those experiencing domestic violence. She also actively raises money for diabetes education through the Diabetes Aware campaign and participates in the Revlon Run/Walk to fund research into women’s cancers. Beyond these efforts, Berry donates to groups that provide shelter and legal assistance to abuse victims. Her charitable work focuses primarily on improving the health and safety of women.

Queen Latifah

Queen Latifah actively supports several charities through her generous donations. She provides college scholarships through the Lancelot H. Owens Foundation and helps families affected by HIV/AIDS through Keep a Child Alive, ensuring they have access to necessary medicine. She also invests in arts education in public schools and supports the Trevor Project, which helps LGBTQ youth. Overall, her charitable work centers on improving access to education and healthcare for minority communities.

Drew Barrymore

Drew Barrymore works with the World Food Programme as an Ambassador Against Hunger, giving over a million dollars to help feed children in schools in Kenya. She’s also a strong supporter of the ASPCA, promoting animal adoption and well-being. Additionally, she contributes to Baby2Baby, an organization that provides essential items for children living in poverty. Overall, Drew Barrymore focuses her charitable work on ensuring children are well-nourished and protecting animal rights.

Jessica Alba

Jessica Alba is dedicated to helping families in need, both through her company and her own charitable donations. She actively supports Baby2Baby, which provides essentials like diapers and clothes to children from low-income families. Alba also champions safer chemical regulations through the Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families coalition, and contributes to Until There’s a Cure, an organization focused on HIV/AIDS research and education. Her commitment to these causes reflects her business’s emphasis on family health and well-being.

Natalie Portman

Natalie Portman actively supports several charities focused on improving lives around the world. She provides financial assistance to FINCA International, which offers small loans to women starting businesses in developing countries, and Free the Children, which builds schools in rural communities. A strong advocate for animal rights, Portman also funds programs promoting vegan lifestyles. She also contributes to WE Charity, supporting initiatives that empower young people. Overall, her charitable work centers on helping women achieve financial independence and promoting compassionate, ethical choices.

Mila Kunis

Mila Kunis and her husband have raised over $30 million to help Ukrainian refugees. She personally donated a substantial amount to relief organizations like Flexport.org and Airbnb.org. Beyond this, Kunis is a supporter of Planned Parenthood and other women’s health programs. She also works with Chrysalis, an organization that helps people experiencing homelessness find jobs. Recently, her charitable efforts have been especially focused on providing aid to those affected by war.

Kristen Bell

I’m such a fan of Kristen Bell, not just for her acting, but for everything she does to help others! She’s on the board of No Kid Hungry, working hard to make sure no child in America goes hungry. What’s even more amazing is that she started a business where every purchase means life-saving food gets sent to kids who really need it. Beyond that, she’s a huge supporter of the Gift of Life Marrow Registry, helping people get bone marrow transplants, and she’s constantly helping teachers get the classroom supplies they need. It’s clear she’s incredibly dedicated to fighting childhood hunger and making sure kids have the educational resources to thrive.

Selena Gomez

Selena Gomez created the Rare Impact Fund with the goal of raising $100 million to improve mental health services. She donates money from her businesses to help more people get the psychiatric care they need. As a UNICEF Ambassador, Gomez also works to protect children’s rights. Additionally, she supports the Lupus Research Alliance by funding studies into the disease. Her charitable work primarily focuses on raising awareness about mental health and supporting medical research.

Zendaya

Zendaya works with Convoy of Hope to deliver food and essential supplies to people affected by disasters. For her birthday, she raised money to help feed children in Haiti, Tanzania, and the Philippines. She also supports UNAIDS in their efforts to end the AIDS epidemic. A strong advocate for racial justice, Zendaya donates to organizations like Black Lives Matter. Through her generosity, she supports both emergency aid and the fight for equal rights.

Kerry Washington

Kerry Washington dedicates her time and resources to several important causes. She supports the Allstate Foundation’s Purple Purse program, helping survivors of domestic violence achieve financial stability. She also serves on the board of Baby2Baby, which provides essential items to children in need. Additionally, Washington champions Americans for the Arts, advocating for continued funding for cultural programs, and supports the NAACP Legal Defense Fund through financial contributions. Ultimately, her philanthropic work focuses on empowering women and safeguarding civil rights.

Mindy Kaling

Mindy Kaling donates to causes she cares about deeply, particularly those connected to her mother’s passing and a desire to help others. She supports the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network and provides aid to children in India impacted by COVID-19 through UNICEF. Kaling also champions young, female writers of color through mentorship programs and invests in literacy initiatives to make books accessible to all children. Her philanthropy is driven by personal connection and a focus on both health and ensuring diverse representation.

Amy Schumer

Amy Schumer actively supports causes she believes in through donations and fundraising. She contributes to Everytown for Gun Safety, advocating for practical gun laws, and to Dress for Success, which helps women gain financial independence. Schumer also supports the National Multiple Sclerosis Society by funding research efforts. Often, she donates money earned from her comedy shows to various organizations, focusing on empowering women and improving public safety.

Tina Fey

Tina Fey is a dedicated philanthropist who supports a variety of causes. She actively raises money for Autism Speaks through sponsorships and events, and donates to Mercy Corps to help people in areas affected by war. Fey also funds arts scholarships for students at her former school and supports Love Our Children USA in its efforts to prevent child violence. Her charitable work focuses on improving education, health, and providing humanitarian assistance.

Amy Poehler

Amy Poehler is dedicated to helping young women be themselves through her organization, Smart Girls. She also supports the Worldwide Orphans Foundation, providing vital healthcare and education to orphaned children. A strong advocate for domestic workers’ rights, Poehler additionally contributes to arts programs that offer improv training to young people from disadvantaged backgrounds. Ultimately, her philanthropic work centers around improving the lives of children and empowering women.

Ellen DeGeneres

Ellen DeGeneres is well-known for her generosity, having donated millions of dollars to people and organizations in need through her talk show and other platforms. She founded the Ellen DeGeneres Wildlife Fund, which focuses on protecting endangered animals like gorillas. She also actively supports The Trevor Project, an organization dedicated to preventing suicide among LGBTQ young people, and contributes to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Overall, Ellen’s charitable work covers a wide range of causes, from protecting animals to advocating for human rights.

Barbra Streisand

Barbra Streisand donates millions of dollars through her Streisand Foundation to organizations working on important issues. She primarily supports groups focused on protecting the environment, defending civil liberties, and improving women’s health. Notably, she funded the Barbra Streisand Women’s Heart Center at Cedars-Sinai and is a significant contributor to the Natural Resources Defense Council. Her philanthropy is carefully planned, with a strong emphasis on both environmental and medical research and advocacy.

Jessica Chastain

Jessica Chastain dedicates her support to several important causes. She works with To Write Love on Her Arms to help those battling depression and addiction, and champions Planned Parenthood’s work in providing reproductive healthcare. Chastain also donates to Women for Women International, assisting women rebuilding their lives after conflict, and actively funds projects that advance gender equality in the film industry. Ultimately, her charitable efforts focus on mental health and empowering women.

Gwyneth Paltrow

Gwyneth Paltrow actively supports several charities, particularly those working in New York City. She donates to organizations like the Robin Hood Foundation and the Food Bank for New York City to help people struggling with poverty and hunger. Paltrow also champions health initiatives, advocating for the removal of harmful chemicals from products and supporting the Bruce Paltrow Oral Cancer Fund in memory of her father. Her charitable work largely centers on improving local communities and promoting health.

Kate Hudson

Kate Hudson is working with the World Food Programme to help fight hunger around the world. She’s supporting their Watch Hunger Stop campaign, which raises money to provide meals for children in schools. Hudson also donates to WildAid, an organization working to stop the illegal trade of wild animals. In addition, she supports the Goldie Hawn Foundation, which focuses on teaching children mindfulness techniques. Overall, Kate Hudson’s charitable work is centered around ensuring children have access to good nutrition and mental health resources.

Julianne Moore

Julianne Moore partners with Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund, where she leads their creative council in efforts to prevent gun violence. She also supports the Children’s Health Fund by helping them provide medical care to young people experiencing homelessness. In addition, Moore donates to the Tuberous Sclerosis Alliance to help fund research into this genetic condition. Through these efforts, she champions both child safety and public health initiatives.

Helen Mirren

Helen Mirren actively supports several charities. She helps Meals on Wheels deliver food and friendship to seniors, and advocates for Refuge, which provides support to women and children escaping abuse. Mirren also donates to Age UK to help older people overcome loneliness and financial hardship, and to Voluntary Service Overseas to combat poverty around the world. Her charitable work focuses on improving the lives of elderly people and vulnerable women.

Share which of these philanthropic efforts inspired you the most in the comments.

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2025-12-14 18:51