Celebrity Power for the Nonprofits

Like the merging of the worlds of fashion, art ,and design, the worlds of fundraising and fame found their compatibility with each other long ago. Whether it’s Jennifer Aniston urging us to donate to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital or Liz Taylor educating us about all that can be done for AIDS research, the power of a celebrity face and name supporting the cause carries its weight in gold.

Or does it? A recent report indicates that the value of a celebrity’s name depends on the name of the celebrity. Think Paris Hilton constanly steals the headlines? Nonprofit organizations could care less considering that her estimated value for bringing in the donations only amounts to $538. Yet Justin Timberlake can rake in approximately $9.3 million for his favorite causes, in dicating that perhaps even in our superficial world, it is not just a pretty face that counts, but the authenticity behind the motives.

1. Justin Timberlake

$9.262,381 for Shriners Hospital for Children

The former boy bander is so genuine and believable that his Las Vegas golf event, the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospital for Kids Open which airs on the Golf Channel brings in nearly $10 million for the org. He additionally put his fame power to work by convincing Taylor Swift and TLC to collaborate with him on a benefit concert.

2. Madonna

$5,540,068 for Raising Malawi

Who knew the Material Girl could be so non-materialistic as to bring in more than five mil for those less fortunate, and with less material things than she? In 2006, She founded the charity Raising Malawi to provide relief to the two million orphaned children in the African country, the same country from which she adopted her own two kiddies, Mercy and David. In the past two years, Madonna has earned mention of the charity in more than 600 print articles.

3. Pamela Anderson

$4,840,168 for PETA

Perhaps better known for her bombshell power than her fundraising factor, former Baywatch babe and Playboy centerfold, Pamela Anderson, has long been an active voice in the fight for animal rights. She is loud and proud in her role as a vegan and has often stripped naked for her cause, posing for the campaign, “I’d Rather Go Naked than Wear Fur.”

4. Oprah Winfrey

$3,973,870 For Oprah’s Angel Network

Considering that she has been dubbed Queen Midas, catapulting the careers of hundreds of authors, doctors, and anyone else fortunate enough to have their names pass through her endorsing lips, we would expect the big O to show up in the top spot of the list of powerful celebrities. She founded Oprah’s Angel Network in 1997 and has brought in $80 million from the general public, in addition to the $40 million she donated to build the South African school, The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls.

5. Bono

$3,598,313 for ONE Foundation

The front man of one of the world’s best rock bands is also the spokesperson for social change. His ONE Foundation to fight poverty and AIDS in Africa, has earned 1,500 television mentions. His genuine factor has been impactful enough to inspire the Nobel Peace Prize committee to nominate him three times.

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