Actresses Known for Major Philanthropy

These actresses are as committed to causes as they are to their craft, channeling time, influence, and serious resources into charities and programs that make a measurable difference. From building outreach projects to serving as long term ambassadors, they have backed their advocacy with consistent action and clear results.

Angelina Jolie

Angelina Jolie co founded the Maddox Jolie Pitt Foundation in 2006 to support conservation, health, and education programs in Cambodia. She has served with UNHCR for decades, visiting refugee camps and advocating for displaced families at the policy level. Her foundation has funded schools, health clinics, and wildlife protection initiatives across Southeast Asia and Africa. She has also supported legal reforms for children and survivors through donations to shelters and specialized organizations.

Charlize Theron

Charlize Theron launched the Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project in 2007 to help young people in Southern Africa access community based programs focused on health and education. CTAOP funds local partners that deliver HIV prevention, life skills training, and mentorship. The initiative has built a network that reaches youth in rural and peri urban areas with mobile clinics and safe spaces. It also offers grants and training to strengthen on the ground organizations.

Audrey Hepburn

After her film career, Audrey Hepburn became a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador in 1989 and carried out field missions in countries across Africa, Asia, and Latin America. She focused on child immunization, clean water access, and malnutrition. Her advocacy helped raise significant funds for emergency relief and long term development programs. The Audrey Hepburn Children’s Fund later continued her work by supporting health and education projects worldwide.

Emma Watson

Emma Watson serves as a UN Women Goodwill Ambassador and helped launch the HeForShe campaign in 2014 to engage men and boys in gender equality. She has funded girls’ education scholarships and partnered with groups that support women’s leadership. Her work includes backing transparency around fashion supply chains and fair trade. She also supports legal aid initiatives for survivors through grants and public advocacy.

Natalie Portman

Natalie Portman has supported microfinance through FINCA International as an ambassador, promoting small loans for women entrepreneurs. She has raised funds for education programs and women’s health services with partner nonprofits. Portman has backed school nutrition and classroom resources in underserved communities. She also supports animal welfare and food system reform through donations and campaign work.

Meryl Streep

Meryl Streep and her family established the Silver Mountain Foundation for the Arts, which donates to arts education, health services, and women’s rights organizations. She has funded scholarships for actors and supported theater programs in schools. Streep has contributed to groups that provide legal aid and advocacy for women and girls. She also donates to environmental organizations focused on conservation and climate literacy.

Sandra Bullock

Sandra Bullock has repeatedly donated to disaster relief, including major gifts to the American Red Cross after earthquakes and hurricanes. She has supported rebuilding projects for schools and community centers in affected regions. Bullock funds scholarship programs that expand access to education and the arts. She also backs first responder training and equipment through targeted contributions.

Jennifer Lawrence

Jennifer Lawrence founded the Jennifer Lawrence Foundation to support arts, education, and health organizations, with a strong focus on her hometown of Louisville. The foundation has funded the pediatric intensive care unit and programs at a local children’s hospital. It also supports Special Olympics and after school arts initiatives. Lawrence has organized auctions and events that channel proceeds to these community partners.

Cate Blanchett

Cate Blanchett serves as a Goodwill Ambassador for UNHCR, advocating for refugees and hosting high level briefings that direct funding to emergency operations. She has visited camps and urban centers to highlight education and protection needs. Blanchett supports Australian arts institutions and mentorship programs for young creatives. She also backs environmental initiatives that promote sustainable production in film and theater.

Anne Hathaway

Anne Hathaway is a UN Women Goodwill Ambassador who champions paid parental leave and workplace equality. She has raised funds for girls’ education and supports programs that provide mentorship and scholarships. Hathaway has worked with organizations that combat child marriage and expand legal protections for women. She also supports healthcare initiatives for low income families through benefit events and grants.

Geena Davis

Geena Davis founded the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media to research representation in children’s entertainment and drive industry change. The institute publishes data that studios use to improve casting and storytelling. Davis also launched programs that connect girls with sports and leadership training. Her philanthropy supports research, education resources, and policy engagement to make media more equitable.

Nicole Kidman

Nicole Kidman has served as a Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF and for UN Women, supporting child protection and gender equality programs. She has helped fund counseling, legal aid, and shelter services for survivors of violence. Kidman supports education and health initiatives in Australia and abroad through benefit events. She also donates to arts organizations that provide youth training and scholarships.

Priyanka Chopra Jonas

Priyanka Chopra Jonas is a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador who has worked on child rights, education, and sanitation campaigns in South Asia and beyond. She has supported immunization drives and schooling for girls in rural communities. Chopra Jonas donates to medical care and disaster relief through her foundation and brand partnerships. She also backs tech and entrepreneurship programs that create opportunities for young women.

Viola Davis

Viola Davis supports anti hunger efforts through partnerships with Hunger Is and No Kid Hungry, funding school breakfast and summer meals. She donates to programs that provide housing and services for families exiting poverty. Davis backs arts education, scholarships, and workforce training for underserved youth. She also supports criminal justice reform groups that expand record clearing and reentry services.

Eva Longoria

Eva Longoria established the Eva Longoria Foundation to support education and entrepreneurship programs for Latinas. She co founded the Global Gift Foundation and hosts events that fund community services for women and children. Longoria has backed STEM scholarships, mentorship, and microloans through partner nonprofits. She also supports food access initiatives and disaster relief campaigns in the United States and abroad.

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan created the Aishwarya Rai Foundation to fund medical support and educational aid for families in need. She serves as a Goodwill Ambassador for UNAIDS, promoting prevention and treatment access. Rai Bachchan has supported cleft repair surgeries through Smile Train and raised funds for children’s hospitals. She also backs eye care programs and disaster recovery drives in India.

Deepika Padukone

Deepika Padukone founded the Live Love Laugh Foundation to expand mental health awareness, treatment, and caregiver training. The foundation funds counseling programs, school sensitization workshops, and helpline support. Padukone partners with hospitals and NGOs to improve access to care in underserved communities. She also supports livelihoods initiatives that reduce stigma for people living with mental illness.

Zendaya

Zendaya works with Convoy of Hope to support disaster relief and youth empowerment programs. She has led campaigns that fund clean water, food assistance, and education supplies. Zendaya has partnered with organizations that provide scholarships to students from low income families. She also supports community arts initiatives that create training and performance opportunities.

Scarlett Johansson

Scarlett Johansson has supported aid groups including Oxfam and Stand Up To Cancer through fundraising and public campaigns. She donates to regional food banks and veterans’ services in the United States. Johansson has backed literacy and school based arts programs via benefit events. She also supports medical research organizations focused on early detection and patient support.

Kristen Bell

Kristen Bell has raised millions for No Kid Hungry to expand school meals and summer feeding sites. She supports Charity: Water to fund wells and clean water systems in rural communities. Bell donates to children’s hospitals and mental health services through auctions and matching campaigns. She also backs animal rescue and adoption programs with grants and awareness drives.

Drew Barrymore

Drew Barrymore served as a World Food Programme Ambassador and funded school meals in multiple countries. She has supported education and girls’ empowerment programs with sustained donations. Barrymore raises funds for cancer research and pediatric care through product collaborations and events. She also supports domestic violence shelters with grants and in kind assistance.

Lucy Liu

Lucy Liu is a UNICEF Ambassador who has visited field programs focused on child protection and health. She supports anti trafficking initiatives and survivor services through awareness campaigns. Liu has raised funds for clean water, education kits, and emergency relief supplies. She also backs arts education programs that provide classroom resources and teacher training.

Penélope Cruz

Penélope Cruz has worked with the Red Cross and organizations that deliver medical care to women and children. She has supported HIV and AIDS programs and maternal health services through fundraising campaigns. Cruz donates to research and patient support groups in Spain and internationally. She also backs emergency response drives after natural disasters.

Julianne Moore

Julianne Moore is a strong supporter of Everytown for Gun Safety and child safety education programs. She has raised funds for Save the Children to expand health and learning services. Moore backs arts institutions that provide scholarships and youth workshops. She also supports rare disease research through benefit events and public appeals.

Reese Witherspoon

Reese Witherspoon has supported the Children’s Defense Fund through fundraising and advocacy. She donates to programs that promote literacy, tutoring, and school libraries. Witherspoon backs organizations that expand opportunities for women entrepreneurs. She also partners with nonprofits that provide emergency assistance to families and first responders.

Blake Lively

Blake Lively has funded child protection initiatives with the Child Rescue Coalition to combat online exploitation. She supports food security campaigns and hospital programs through donations and public appeals. Lively has contributed to relief efforts following hurricanes and wildfires. She also backs organizations that provide counseling and legal resources for survivors.

Gal Gadot

Gal Gadot supports children’s hospitals and programs that provide medical equipment and family services. She has participated in fundraising for disaster relief and emergency response. Gadot donates to initiatives that promote girls’ leadership and STEM education. She also backs campaigns that assist first responders and military families.

Lupita Nyong’o

Lupita Nyong’o has partnered with conservation groups such as WildAid to support anti poaching education. She supports organizations that provide healthcare and schooling for girls in Kenya. Nyong’o raises funds for arts programs that offer training and scholarships to young performers. She also backs campaigns that supply sanitary products and hygiene education in schools.

Jennifer Garner

Jennifer Garner serves as an ambassador for Save the Children, supporting early education, nutrition, and rural family services. She has testified for policies that expand home visiting and child care access. Garner co founded a company that funds food security and farm partnerships for school snacks. She also supports community literacy programs and family resource centers through grants and events.

Oprah Winfrey

Oprah Winfrey funds education and empowerment through the Oprah Winfrey Foundation and the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa. She supports scholarships and teacher training programs that expand classroom access. Winfrey regularly donates to disaster relief and community rebuilding projects. She also backs organizations focused on mental health services and food security.

Elizabeth Taylor

Elizabeth Taylor founded the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation to support prevention, testing, and direct care services. The foundation funds clinics, mobile testing, and community education programs worldwide. Taylor’s auctions and partnerships created ongoing grants for local organizations. The fund also supports advocacy that reduces stigma and expands treatment access.

Taraji P. Henson

Taraji P. Henson established the Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation to improve mental health access in Black communities. The organization funds therapy scholarships, provider training, and school based wellness programs. It supports culturally competent care by growing networks of vetted clinicians. The foundation also runs awareness campaigns that connect families to resources.

Halle Berry

Halle Berry is a longtime supporter of the Jenesse Center, which provides shelter and legal services for survivors of domestic violence. She has helped fund counseling, job readiness, and transitional housing. Berry also supports programs for children affected by family violence. Her efforts include public campaigns that expand prevention and community education.

Julia Roberts

Julia Roberts has raised funds for global health and child welfare through work with UNICEF and other partners. She has supported vaccination drives, emergency relief, and clean water projects. Roberts backs domestic programs for education and family services through benefit events. She also contributes to initiatives that support research and patient care for rare diseases.

Kate Winslet

Kate Winslet co founded the Golden Hat Foundation to promote inclusion and support for autistic individuals. The foundation funds communication tools, family services, and public awareness. Winslet has supported grants that help schools and service providers improve accessibility. She also donates to emergency aid funds for families facing medical crises.

Sofía Vergara

Sofía Vergara supports cancer research and patient services after her own experience with thyroid cancer. She has raised funds for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and Stand Up To Cancer. Vergara also backs microfinance and small business training for women through partner nonprofits. Her campaigns include support for pediatric care and community clinics.

Michelle Yeoh

Michelle Yeoh serves as a United Nations Development Programme Goodwill Ambassador, focusing on road safety, sustainability, and inclusive growth. She has promoted safe transport programs that protect children and workers. Yeoh supports conservation groups and cultural heritage initiatives in Southeast Asia. She also advocates for disaster resilience and community recovery efforts.

Emma Thompson

Emma Thompson supports the Helen Bamber Foundation, which provides therapy and legal aid for survivors of trafficking and torture. She has raised funds for refugee housing, education, and integration services. Thompson backs environmental campaigns and youth arts programs through donations and events. Her advocacy helps direct grants to frontline organizations.

America Ferrera

America Ferrera co founded Harness, a nonprofit that connects storytellers with grassroots groups to amplify social impact. She supports voter engagement and leadership training initiatives that serve new and young voters. Ferrera raises funds for education, immigration legal aid, and maternal health programs. She also partners with groups that expand media literacy and civic participation.

Kristin Davis

Kristin Davis is a Goodwill Ambassador for UNHCR and has visited refugee camps to highlight protection and education needs. She supports emergency shelter, clean water, and schooling for displaced families. Davis also works with wildlife conservation partners to fund anti poaching and community livelihoods. Her efforts include fundraising events and targeted grants for field operations.

Ashley Judd

Ashley Judd serves as a Goodwill Ambassador for UNFPA, advocating for women’s health and safety. She supports programs that expand reproductive healthcare, post crisis services, and youth leadership. Judd raises funds for anti trafficking initiatives and survivor assistance. She also backs data driven projects that improve access to clinics in remote areas.

Jennifer Aniston

Jennifer Aniston has supported St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and Friends of El Faro, which aids children in Tijuana. She donates to cancer research and patient support organizations through campaigns and auctions. Aniston funds disaster relief and animal rescue groups during emergencies. She also supports initiatives that provide classroom resources and arts education.

Anne Curtis

Anne Curtis serves as a UNICEF Philippines National Goodwill Ambassador and raises funds for child protection, nutrition, and education. She has organized charity runs and digital campaigns that finance mobile health and early learning services. Curtis supports programs that improve water, sanitation, and hygiene in schools. She also backs emergency response for typhoons and earthquakes.

Angel Locsin

Angel Locsin is known for hands on disaster relief in the Philippines, directly funding food packs, shelter materials, and medical aid. She supports blood donation drives, scholarship programs, and community health clinics. Locsin has assisted displaced families by financing temporary housing and livelihood kits. She also backs classrooms and learning supplies in underserved areas.

Share your picks for philanthropic actresses we should include next in the comments.