Charities of Oprah Winfrey

When it comes to celebrities and charitable giving, few give more than the charities of Oprah Winfrey. Oprah Winfrey literally donates millions and millions of dollars, much of which is out of pocket to fund her interests and charities. She does much of her charitable giving through three foundations: The Angel Network--which is heavily publicized on her show, her own personal Foundation--The Oprah Winfrey Foundation, and The Oprah Winfrey Operating Foundation which exclusively supports her Leadership Academy in South Africa.

Oprah's big heart has inspired and helped millions.

Oprah Winfrey has used her talk show to publicize The Angel Network, dedicating at least a few shows a year to its work. The Angel Network is distinctive in many ways. First, it's a charity focused on getting people involved. Not only that, but 100% of any donation you give, goes directly towards funding a project. Oprah Winfrey pays all of the overhead and operating costs herself.

Like many charities, Oprah's Angel Network, began small. In 1997, the goal was to get audience members more involved in giving and volunteering. She encouraged viewers to collect spare change to provide scholarships for Boys and Girls Club of America, and she also got some 200 volunteers to build homes with Habitat for Humanity.

The Angel Network now collects millions of dollars in donations and then turns around and gives them in grants to organizations that are focused on one of these four things:

• Giving access to education to those who might not otherwise have it
• The development of leaders who will then turn around and lead their communities.
• Organizations that are focused on protecting basic human rights.
• Creating communities of support.

The arm of the Angel Network is far reaching and although projects are concentrated in the United States, they do offer grants to organizations overseas. For information on how you can apply for a grant, check out their website. To see what they've done in the past, search their work.

The Oprah Winfrey Foundation is run exclusively by Oprah Winfrey and provides grants for not-for-profit organizations. The grants awarded through these foundations are given exclusively through Oprah Winfrey and they fund her interests of education, learning and developing leadership. You do not apply for a grant (Oprah chooses you), and you do not donate to this organization--its funded entirely through an endowment made by Oprah Winfrey. Through this private foundation, Oprah has given millions of dollars in grants to non-profit organizations. The foundation, has more than a whopping $190 million in assets and funds.

This foundation was set up to exclusively give money towards operating the Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa. Oprah Winfrey began this school in January of 2007. People can donate to this foundation through their website. The foundation, which is sometimes called the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy Foundation, is set up to give money into special projects or to make building repairs and improvements.

It's through these three foundations that Oprah is able to extend her charitable arm far and wide throughout the world. The Charities of Oprah Winfrey supported a variety of organizations mostly focused on African Americans and those who are impoverished. Here a few more of her "pet projects" that are within the wings of her three foundations.

O Ambassadors is a school based program that seeks to encourage kids to give and act on behalf of their peers in underdeveloped countries.

The US Dream Academy is a national after school program that seeks to work with children who have one parent (usually a father) incarcerated. The goal, is to break the cycle of incarceration. In 2006, Oprah donated almost one million and according to financial reports, she is one of their biggest supporters.

• Tracking Charitable Donations for Taxes
• Fundraising Strategic Plan
• Request for Donation Letters

• List of Nonprofit Organizations
• Furniture Donation Pick Up
• Sample Letters Asking for Donations
• Samples of Non Profit Fundraising Letters
• Samples of Thank You Letter for Donations

• Maurer Foundation for Breast Health Education
• Main Page
• Charities Rated
• What Foundation Does Oprah Winfrey Support
• Oprah Winfrey Foundation