Does your nonprofit really need a celebrity spokesperson?

Does your nonprofit really need a celebrity spokesperson?: "According to the article Signifying the Public: Celebrity Advocacy and Post-Democratic Politics published in the International Journal of Cultural Studies, celebrity spokespeople can help nonprofits achieve social and political goals but their ability to influence donors is limited. The researchers found that “people support charities because of personal connections in their lives and families which made these causes important, not because of the celebrities.”

There was a similar finding in the article Analysis of the Value of Celebrity Affiliation to Nonprofit Contributions published in the Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly. This study found that “the effect of celebrity affiliation on donations is relatively small and likely secondary to prospective donors’ primary focus on the charity’s core mission, beneficiaries, and activities.”"



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Star Power: The Pros and Cons of Celebrity Endorsers - NonProfit PRO

Star Power: The Pros and Cons of Celebrity Endorsers - NonProfit PRO: "It’s been six years since Lance Armstrong last rode in 
the Tour de France. It’s been three years since the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency banned Armstrong from cycling and stripped him of his seven Tour de France titles. And it’s been two years since Armstrong sat with Oprah on national television, at last admitting to allegations that had dogged him throughout his career: doping, performance-enhancing drugs, bullying, cover-ups. It was the final unraveling of the great underdog-becomes-champion-becomes-American-hero-story—“one big lie,” Armstrong called it."



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The Celebrity Factor in Fundraising - Non-Profit PRO

The Celebrity Factor in Fundraising - Non-Profit PRO: "Based on my experience, I have three key takeaways that are important to focus on when choosing celebrities to help raise awareness for a cause:"



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Livestrong’s next chapter: Life after Lance | www.statesman.com

Livestrong’s next chapter: Life after Lance | www.statesman.com: "Now, with a new chief executive and a renewed sense of mission, Livestrong is eager to move past the controversy that has bogged it down for almost three years and refocus the public’s attention on the good the nonprofit says it has done for millions of people affected by cancer around the world.

But how can an organization so inextricably tied to its founder move past a controversy spawned by him?"

Some related historical stories


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Gwyneth Paltrow's $29 food stamp budget: Do celebrity challenges work? - CSMonitor.com

Gwyneth Paltrow's $29 food stamp budget: Do celebrity challenges work? - CSMonitor.com: "Gwyneth Paltrow faces a social media backlash for participating in a food bank challenge to live on a $29 grocery budget for a week. Critics accuse her of mocking the experience of hunger. But such celebrity challenges can raise awareness and funds."



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The #WakeUpCall selfie: just another egotistical celebrity stunt for ‘charity’ | Hadley Freeman | Comment is free | The Guardian

The #WakeUpCall selfie: just another egotistical celebrity stunt for ‘charity’ | Hadley Freeman | Comment is free | The Guardian: "Let us recap the recent roster of celebrity selfie charity endeavours. Last spring, there was the #nomakeupselfie (gotta have a hashtag), which involved women – famous and “civilians”, to use Elizabeth Hurley’s unforgettable phrase for the great unwashed – posting photos of themselves without makeup in the name of curing cancer. Because if there’s one thing as scary as fighting cancer, it’s showing the world what you look like without makeup. Beating cancer, one narcissistic hashtag at a time."



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Top athletes' charities often don't measure up to what charity experts would say is an efficient, effective use of money - ESPN

Top athletes' charities often don't measure up to what charity experts would say is an efficient, effective use of money - ESPN: An "Outside the Lines" investigation of 115 charities founded by high-profile, top-earning male and female athletes has found that most of their charities don't measure up to what charity experts would say is an efficient, effective use of money.

Using guidelines set by nonprofit watchdogs Charity Navigator, the Better Business Bureau and the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy, "Outside the Lines" found that 74 percent of the nonprofits fell short of one or more acceptable nonprofit operating standards. The standards cover all sorts of aspects, such as how much money a nonprofit actually spends on charitable work as opposed to administrative expenses and whether there are enough board members overseeing the organization.

The Yin and Yang of Celebrity Leaders

The Yin and Yang of Celebrity Leaders: The Yin and Yang of Celebrity Leaders

March 2013

The board of directors of a well-known, well-respected national nonprofit announced all agog to staff that the organization had just landed a high-profile former politician as its new president.

For all intents and purposes, the organization's selection for new president could best be described as a celebrity leader, someone with the personal charisma, cachet, and connections that could, in relatively short order, bring in millions of dollars from any number of corporations and industry titans as well as the general public.

Quite an envious catch! But as with all things, even celebrity leaders come with a price.

Jon Bon Jovi’s ‘pay-what-you-can’ charity restaurant opens in NJ to help the hungry - The Washington Post

Jon Bon Jovi’s ‘pay-what-you-can’ charity restaurant opens in NJ to help the hungry - The Washington Post: The restaurant provides gourmet-quality meals to the hungry while enabling them to volunteer on community projects in return without the stigma of visiting a soup kitchen. Paying customers are encouraged to leave whatever they want in the envelopes on each table, where the menus never list a price.

The restaurant is the latest undertaking by the New Jersey rocker’s Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation, which has built 260 homes for low-income residents in recent years.

How To Train Your Celebrity: Five Hollywood Charity Myths | Fast Company

How To Train Your Celebrity: Five Hollywood Charity Myths | Fast Company: "Yes, Hollywood Stars can live up (or down) to their stereotypes. But they can also be invaluable in promoting a good cause. Here's how the best partnerships work."

Big names help put nonprofits on map - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Big names help put nonprofits on map - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: "roy Polamalu, a game changer on the football field, could transform a nonprofit group that helps veterans, military members and their families.

The Pittsburgh Steelers safety is the headlining celebrity for an auction Jan. 29-Feb. 5 on Twitter that will benefit Operation Once in a Lifetime in Dallas. Among the 300 celebrities participating are fellow Steelers Ike Taylor, William Gay, James Farrior, Lawrence Timmons and LaMarr Woodley."

Sean Penn vs. George Clooney: The Battle of Celebrity Philanthropy | Death and Taxes

Sean Penn vs. George Clooney: The Battle of Celebrity Philanthropy | Death and Taxes: "Philanthropy is one of the most popular hobbies for rich Hollywood celebrities. It’s a nice way to save face, write a check, get some tax relief and get their pictures in tabloids and newspapers as “one of the good guys.” Plenty of celebrities give money to charities and good causes, but most never prove that they actually care.

However, Sean Penn and George Clooney—two of the greatest actors of our generation—care deeply. Over the past couple days Death And Taxes has documented Penn’s selfless commitment to the devastated people of Haiti and Clooney’s peace keeping efforts during an election weekend in genocide stricken Sudan."

Stars Who've Auctioned Off Dates With Themselves For Charity - ABC News

Stars Who've Auctioned Off Dates With Themselves For Charity - ABC News: "Since celebrities are so into 'giving back,' they often participate in charity auctions. And what better to auction off than ... time with them.

Check out six celebrities who have auctioned off dates with themselves for good causes in the past two years."

Carla Bruni-Sarkozy On Art, Philanthropy « Forbes.com's Face to Face

Carla Bruni-Sarkozy On Art, Philanthropy « Forbes.com's Face to Face: "he former supermodel and singer/songwriter spent Monday in New York City launching a new program through her philanthropy, The Carla Bruni-Sarkozy Foundation. Funded by an American donor, the program is providing scholarships for college students studying the arts to do an exchange program between New York City and Paris."

Second Annual "Pens and Pins" Charity Bowling Tournament a Success - Pittsburgh Penguins - Features

Second Annual "Pens and Pins" Charity Bowling Tournament a Success - Pittsburgh Penguins - Features: "The Pittsburgh Penguins had the chance to show off their good – or not-so-good – bowling skills at the 2nd annual “Pens and Pins” charity bowling tournament at the Crafton-Ingram Bowling Lanes Friday night."

Stars can still be positive role models with philanthropy - The York Daily Record

Stars can still be positive role models with philanthropy - The York Daily Record: "Stars can still be positive role models with philanthropy
Updated: 01/04/2010 03:57:15 PM EST

It's sometimes hard to remember that celebrities are capable of thinking about other people.

Thanks to reality TV wannabes and shady sports figures, stars often get a bum rap."

Hugh Jackman And Daniel Craig Raise Record $1.5m For AIDS Charity « ecorazzi.com :: the latest in green gossip

Hugh Jackman And Daniel Craig Raise Record $1.5m For AIDS Charity « ecorazzi.com :: the latest in green gossip: "Hugh Jackman and Daniel Craig received wide praise for their performances in the Broadway two-man drama A Steady Rain; and while they were at it helped bring in a record $1.5 million for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. The annual competition, now in its 21st year, pits Broadway, Off-Broadway and National Tour companies against each other for six weeks to see who can bring in the most money for AIDS relief. The winners are proclaimed “The Gypsy of the Year”."

To Engage Or NOT Engage....

From Charles Bernard Maclean, PhD, www.philanthropynow.com
To Engage Or NOT Engage....: "An Action Checklist for Discovery, Recruitment & Retention

Whether it’s Bill Gates championing childhood immunization or actress Angelina Jolie, serving as Ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, high profile philanthropists and celebrities can be a help.... or a hindrance."

Ono rocks charity world - Times LIVE

Ono rocks charity world - Times LIVE: "Ono has teamed up with Hard Rock International for an 'Imagine There's No Hunger' campaign.

As was the case with her earlier initiatives, music is central, including a song by Lennon, but its use has evolved to accommodate the online generation."

Washington Informer - Rapper Ludacris Encourages People to Give Back

Washington Informer - Rapper Ludacris Encourages People to Give Back: "Rapper and actor Chris “Ludacris” Bridges encouraged philanthropy among National Press Club members and D.C. residents at a luncheon on Fri., Oct. 23.

The luncheon kicked-off a weekend of fundraising efforts for Bridges’ Atlanta-based Ludacris Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to serving the youth of Atlanta and the community at large, focusing on three main tenets—leadership and education, community outreach through the LudaCares program, and promoting healthy living."