Actors Known for Major Philanthropy

Many of the world’s most recognizable performers use their platforms to build schools, fund hospitals, back climate action, and support communities in crisis. Beyond one-off donations, a number of actors have founded organizations, launched high-impact campaigns, or served as hands-on ambassadors to keep resources flowing where they’re needed most.

This list spotlights 25 male actors whose giving is anchored in concrete programs and measurable initiatives—from clean water and disaster relief to veterans’ services, education, and human rights. Each entry highlights the projects they’ve helped build, the organizations they’ve backed, and how those efforts translate into real-world support.

Keanu Reeves

Reeves has quietly supported pediatric hospitals and cancer research for years, directing funds to children’s treatment centers and oncology programs. He has also channeled resources to initiatives that provide patient transportation, equipment, and family support services during long treatment cycles.

In addition, he has backed programs for film-set safety crews and industry workers, helping fund training, emergency relief, and hardship grants. These efforts prioritize practical assistance that keeps households stable while family members recover or return to work.

Leonardo DiCaprio

DiCaprio co-founded Earth Alliance to scale climate and biodiversity solutions, pooling philanthropic capital with scientific partners and local groups. The alliance funds projects such as habitat restoration, wildlife corridors, and indigenous stewardship programs across multiple continents.

He also supports rapid-response grantmaking for environmental disasters, directing emergency funds to wildfire recovery, reef protection, and anti-poaching operations. The model emphasizes transparent, trackable grants and partnerships that can expand when projects demonstrate strong outcomes.

Paul Newman

Newman created Newman’s Own Foundation to give away all profits and royalties from the Newman’s Own food brand. The foundation has distributed funding to thousands of nonprofits, with a focus on children, nutrition, and inclusive play spaces.

He also launched the SeriousFun Children’s Network (originally the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp), providing free, medically supported camps and programs for children living with serious illnesses. These camps offer year-round sessions, adaptive activities, and family weekends, all delivered at no cost to participants.

George Clooney

Clooney co-founded the Clooney Foundation for Justice, which advances justice through initiatives like The Docket, documenting mass atrocities and helping trigger prosecutions, and Waging Justice for Women, which supports legal empowerment for survivors of gender-based violence. The foundation works with local lawyers to build cases and protect witnesses.

He previously co-founded Not On Our Watch, an advocacy effort focused on mass atrocities, refugee protection, and humanitarian aid. The group backed satellite-based monitoring, early warning, and targeted grants that strengthened local civil society organizations on the ground.

Matt Damon

Damon co-founded Water.org to expand access to safe water and sanitation through microfinance and utility partnerships. The organization works with local financial institutions so households can secure small, affordable loans for taps and toilets, dramatically lowering the barrier to access.

He also co-founded WaterEquity, an impact investment manager that raises capital dedicated to water and sanitation enterprises serving low-income communities. The funds finance utilities, small providers, and supply-chain businesses, accelerating service coverage in urban and peri-urban areas.

Hugh Jackman

Jackman launched Laughing Man Foundation connected to his fair-trade coffee company, channeling profits into education, community development, and health projects in coffee-growing regions. Grants have supported school improvements, clean water points, and smallholder training.

He has also backed entrepreneurship programs for youth and farmers, including financial literacy and market access initiatives. These programs help producers improve yields, meet quality standards, and negotiate better prices within certified supply chains.

Jackie Chan

Chan’s Jackie Chan Charitable Foundation funds scholarships, medical services, and emergency relief in Hong Kong and across Asia. The foundation supports pediatric care, disaster response kits, and rebuilding work following earthquakes and floods.

He also established the Dragon’s Heart Foundation to improve education and living conditions in rural communities, focusing on school construction and supplies. The projects equip classrooms, provide teaching materials, and create student assistance funds for families with limited income.

Shah Rukh Khan

Khan’s Meer Foundation supports survivors of acid attacks and gender-based violence through medical treatment, reconstructive surgery, legal aid, and job placement. The organization partners with hospitals and rehabilitation centers to provide comprehensive care plans.

He has also backed child health and disaster relief efforts across India, providing hospital equipment, ambulance support, and emergency supplies during floods and public health crises. His initiatives prioritize long-term rehabilitation alongside immediate aid.

Gary Sinise

Sinise founded the Gary Sinise Foundation to serve veterans, first responders, and their families. Programs include R.I.S.E., which builds specially adapted smart homes for severely wounded veterans, and Relief & Resiliency, which provides emergency financial assistance and family support.

The foundation also funds morale-boosting concerts, adaptive sports opportunities, and mental wellness programs. It partners with hospitals, VA facilities, and local nonprofits to coordinate case management and follow-up services.

Robert Downey Jr.

Downey launched Footprint Coalition to accelerate adoption of environmentally beneficial technologies. The organization invests in and grants to companies and research groups working on clean energy, materials innovation, and biodiversity protection.

It also runs public-facing initiatives that highlight deployable climate solutions, from regenerative agriculture pilots to waste-reduction platforms. The coalition emphasizes measurable impact, publishing project milestones and outcomes as technologies scale.

Brad Pitt

Pitt founded Make It Right to construct sustainable, energy-efficient housing for families in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. The project piloted green building techniques, solar integration, and storm-resilient design to lower utility costs and improve resilience.

He has additionally supported reconstruction and community development in disaster-affected areas, funding planning assistance, local job creation, and neighborhood infrastructure. These efforts prioritized working with residents and local groups to align housing with community needs.

Ben Affleck

Affleck established the Eastern Congo Initiative to support community-based organizations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Grants have focused on maternal and child health, justice reform, and economic opportunity through smallholder agriculture.

The initiative has connected Congolese cocoa and coffee cooperatives to international buyers, increasing farmer incomes and strengthening cooperative governance. ECI also supports advocacy that elevates local priorities in international policy forums.

Mark Ruffalo

Ruffalo co-founded The Solutions Project to fund frontline organizations advancing clean energy and community-owned climate solutions. The group provides multi-year grants, media support, and capacity building to local leaders.

He previously launched Water Defense to monitor water quality and raise awareness of contamination risks. Projects have included citizen science sampling, data transparency tools, and support for communities navigating remediation and health resources.

Michael Sheen

Sheen has financed social impact initiatives in Wales and the UK, including homelessness programs, digital inclusion for young people, and local arts access. He has directed earnings to keep major community events funded and free to attend.

He has also backed education equity projects, providing laptops, mentoring, and school-community partnerships. These interventions target barriers to participation so students can stay on track through exams and into further training.

Ashton Kutcher

Kutcher co-founded Thorn: Digital Defenders of Children, which builds technology to identify and remove child sexual abuse material and to support law enforcement investigations. Thorn’s tools help detect trafficking networks and flag exploitative content for rapid action.

The organization collaborates with tech companies to integrate detection systems and improve reporting workflows. It also runs prevention campaigns and survivor-informed research to strengthen policy and industry standards.

Orlando Bloom

Bloom serves as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, visiting emergency and post-conflict zones to support child protection, education, and water and sanitation programs. Field missions have helped raise funds for safe learning spaces and psychosocial support.

He has participated in immunization drives, hygiene campaigns, and digital learning rollouts for displaced children. These efforts link emergency relief to longer-term recovery by equipping schools and training local educators.

Don Cheadle

Cheadle has supported atrocity prevention and humanitarian aid through work connected to Darfur, including advocacy, awareness campaigns, and fundraising for lifesaving services. He helped channel resources to medical clinics, water points, and protection programs for displaced families.

He has also worked with environmental initiatives that address climate impacts in vulnerable regions, backing clean energy access and ecosystem protection. The projects emphasize community-led solutions and partnerships with local NGOs.

Idris Elba

Elba has served as a Goodwill Ambassador advocating for smallholder farmers and rural development, focusing on resilience against climate shocks and better access to finance. He has promoted agricultural value-chain programs that connect producers to markets.

He and partner organizations have called for increased investment in food security, supporting youth entrepreneurship, agri-SMEs, and climate-smart practices. The work aims to grow rural incomes while reducing environmental and supply-chain risk.

Benedict Cumberbatch

Cumberbatch has supported refugee assistance and resettlement initiatives, backing housing, legal aid, and family reunification services. He has used premieres and campaigns to direct funds toward humanitarian agencies working along migration routes.

He has also contributed to arts education and health charities in the UK, funding therapy programs, hospital equipment, and scholarships. These grants strengthen community capacity and expand access for low-income families.

Chris Evans

Evans has supported Christopher’s Haven, which provides temporary apartments and community support for families of children undergoing cancer treatment. The program reduces financial strain by housing families near hospitals during therapy cycles.

He has also participated in fundraising for pediatric hospitals and inclusive play initiatives, helping finance treatment equipment and accessible recreation spaces. These projects focus on both clinical outcomes and quality of life for children and caregivers.

Tom Hanks

Hanks has long backed veterans and military families, supporting museum programs, caregiver resources, and oral-history projects that preserve service members’ stories. Funding has helped expand exhibits, outreach, and educator materials for schools.

He has also supported arts education and community theater, financing training for young performers and scholarships for technical theater roles. These programs create pathways into creative careers while strengthening local cultural organizations.

Arnold Schwarzenegger

Schwarzenegger founded After-School All-Stars to provide free after-school programs in academics, health, and enrichment for students in under-resourced communities. The organization offers homework help, sports, STEM activities, and college-readiness support.

He also launched initiatives focused on climate and air quality, convening local governments and businesses to deploy emissions-reducing technologies. Conferences, pilot projects, and city partnerships help translate policy ideas into practical action.

Jet Li

Li founded the One Foundation to mobilize disaster relief, child welfare, and public safety programs across China. The foundation coordinates rapid-response teams, supplies, and post-disaster reconstruction with local authorities and NGOs.

It also funds child development centers and social work training, strengthening community services for vulnerable families. Capacity-building grants help expand counseling, case management, and youth activities in underserved areas.

Richard Gere

Gere’s foundation supports human rights, health, and cultural preservation, including long-term backing for Tibetan communities. Grants fund education, healthcare access, and cultural heritage programs.

He has also supported global health initiatives addressing HIV/AIDS and homelessness services in major cities. Funding has covered outreach, testing, and housing support, linking medical care to stable shelter.

Forest Whitaker

Whitaker founded the Whitaker Peace & Development Initiative, which runs youth leadership academies in communities affected by violence and conflict. Programs teach conflict resolution, entrepreneurship, and civic engagement, with mentoring from local facilitators.

The initiative also supports social enterprises launched by graduates, offering seed funding, business training, and market access. Partnerships with schools and municipalities help integrate these programs into broader community development plans.

Share the names and projects you think should be added, and tell us in the comments which philanthropic efforts you’d like to see more of.