19 celebrity activists making a difference

Celebrity activists can be a powerful game changer for social impact organizations. A celebrity’s fan base, social media following, and public relations opportunities empower them to highlight a problem and promote nonprofits making a difference. Whether they’ve started organizations or partnered with existing ones, these 19 celebrity activists are using their platforms to fight for causes close to their hearts. This expanded lineup reflects an even wider range of causes and communities, from mental health and family farms to social justice and civil rights.

1. Glenn Close

Glenn Close has been acting for over 40 years in films including “The Big Chill” and “Fatal Attraction,” earning six Oscar nominations along the way. After her sister developed bipolar disorder and her nephew developed schizoaffective disorder, Close co-founded Bring Change to Mind to combat the stigma around mental illness. The organization produces public service announcements and social media campaigns that encourage open, honest conversations about mental health.

2. Stephen and Ayesha Curry

NBA star Stephen Curry and his wife, Ayesha, founded the Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation in 2019, with a focus on Oakland and the greater San Francisco Bay Area, alongside national initiatives. The organization works to ensure children have access to quality education, nutritious food, and safe places to play. As the Currys put it, “children are our future.”

3. Michael J. Fox

Known for “Back to the Future” and “Family Ties,” Michael J. Fox founded the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research in 2000, following his 1991 diagnosis. Since then, the foundation has funded more than $3 billion in research worldwide, supporting work on everything from enzyme-activity treatments to vaccines and new ways of measuring dyskinesia (Michael J. Fox Foundation, 2026).

4. Angelina Jolie

After filming on location in war-torn Cambodia, Angelina Jolie joined the United Nations Refugee Agency, visiting camps in Sierra Leone and Tanzania and donating $1 million to support Afghan refugees. She has served as the agency’s Special Envoy for refugee issues, conducting dozens of field missions over the years.

5. Willie Nelson

The country music legend organized Farm Aid’s first benefit concert in 1985 alongside Neil Young and John Mellencamp. The annual event continues today, drawing artists like Bob Dylan and Billy Joel to the stage. Farm Aid has raised more than $90 million to support a strong, resilient system of family farms (Farm Aid, 2026).

6. Tim Tebow

The former NFL and MLB player founded the Tim Tebow Foundation to bring faith, hope, and love to people facing their darkest moments. The foundation supports children with life-threatening conditions, helps families navigate international adoptions for children with special needs, and hosts prom-night celebrations for people with special needs. Tebow is also a three-time bestselling author and an ESPN broadcaster.

7. Lauren Miller and Seth Rogen

Lauren Miller Rogen co-founded Hilarity for Charity in 2012, after her mother was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease at age 55. The nonprofit supports families affected by the disease, activates a new generation of young advocates, and funds brain health research.

8. Gary Sinise

Known for his role in “Forrest Gump,” Gary Sinise founded the Gary Sinise Foundation after September 11, 2001, to support the military community. Amazon has been a longtime partner, renewing its multiyear commitment in December 2025 with an additional $3 million in funding over three years, along with volunteer hours, product donations, and support for the foundation’s mortgage-free smart homes for severely wounded veterans (Gary Sinise Foundation, 2025).

9. America Ferrera

America Ferrera co-founded Harness in 2016, alongside Wilmer Valderrama and Ryan Piers Williams, in the wake of that year’s election. The organization advances racial, gender, and civic justice by bringing artists, storytellers, and grassroots organizers together to drive culture change. Ferrera has also taken part in women’s marches and partnered with organizations like Poderistas.

10. George and Amal Clooney

Academy Award winner George Clooney and his wife, human rights lawyer Amal Clooney, founded the Clooney Foundation for Justice to combat the detention and prosecution of journalists. The foundation also supports women, girls, LGBTQ+ people, and others who are targeted by unfair laws around the world.

11. Emma Watson

The “Harry Potter” actress became a UN Women Goodwill Ambassador in July 2014, using the role to promote girls’ education and support humanitarian work in countries including Zambia and Bangladesh.

12. Leonardo DiCaprio

Leonardo DiCaprio founded the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation to support environmental restoration and protect endangered species. He also co-wrote and produced “The 11th Hour,” a 2007 documentary about global warming.

Black celebrity activists and philanthropists

Black celebrities have long used their platforms to support causes in their own communities, from education and health to civil rights and social justice. These famous black activists and black philanthropists are just a few of the many using their influence to drive lasting change. For more on this history, and more Black-led nonprofits to support, see GoFundMe Pro’s guide to Black Philanthropy Month.

13. LeBron James

LeBron James founded the LeBron James Family Foundation, which partners with Akron Public Schools to run the I PROMISE School in his hometown of Akron, Ohio. The school serves at-risk students and their families with wraparound support, including services for the whole family, not just the enrolled student (LeBron James Family Foundation).

14. Michael Jordan

In 2020, Michael Jordan and Jordan Brand pledged $100 million over 10 years to organizations advancing racial equity, social justice, and educational access for Black communities (Forbes, 2020). The commitment continues to fund grants to organizations working on criminal justice reform, education, and economic empowerment.

15. Magic Johnson

After his own HIV diagnosis in 1991, Magic Johnson became one of the most visible advocates for HIV and AIDS awareness and prevention. Through the Magic Johnson Foundation, he has spent more than 30 years supporting community health, education, and economic empowerment programs (Magic Johnson Foundation).

16. Chris Paul

As president of the National Basketball Players Association, Chris Paul helped establish the National Basketball Social Justice Coalition alongside the NBA in 2020 (NBA, 2020). Paul is also a longtime supporter of historically Black colleges and universities, partnering with the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame through the Chris Paul Family Foundation to host the annual Chris Paul HBCU Classic (Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, 2025).

17. Denzel Washington

Denzel Washington has served as a national spokesperson for the Boys & Girls Clubs of America for decades, crediting the organization with helping shape who he became. In 2022, he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, recognized in part for that longtime work (Boys & Girls Clubs of America, 2022).

18. Serena Williams

Through the Serena Williams Fund, the tennis champion has helped build schools for children in Jamaica and several African countries (Borgen Magazine). In 2011, she was named a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, supporting the organization’s Schools for Africa and Schools for Asia programs (UN News, 2011).

19. Bernice King

Bernice King is CEO of The King Center, carrying forward the nonviolence and social justice work of her father, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Under her leadership, the center continues to train new generations of leaders in the philosophy and practice of nonviolent social change (The King Center).

Building pathways to raise more with celebrity activism

Actors, musicians, athletes, and other celebrities are uniquely positioned to drive social change, because fame amplifies their voices. None of this work happens without the tireless commitment of nonprofit professionals and volunteers, but many causes have still benefitted from a celebrity ambassador or supporter. At GoFundMe Pro, we’re committed to helping more organizations connect with the supporters, partners, and public figures who can grow their awareness and drive further impact for good. With one of the largest giving communities in the world, GoFundMe Pro can help your organization build the same kind of momentum.