The Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation (OWCF) is a United States-based philanthropic foundation dedicated to support education, women, museums, community development, disaster relief, and other charitable endeavors. Established by television host and producer Oprah Winfrey, the Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation has distributed millions of dollars to charities around the world.
History
Through the years, Oprah Winfrey, Oprah's Angel Network (1998–2010), the Oprah Winfrey Foundation (established in 1987), Oprah Winfrey. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.Community (May 15, 2023). Billionaire Oprah Winfrey Building Legacy of Impact & Philanthropy. Duchess of Impact. and the Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation (established in 2010) have donated hours and dollars to numerous non-profit organizations operating in the United States, South Africa, and other countries. About Us. Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation.
Financials OWCF has assets of approximately $209 million. In 2006, OWCF received a thirty-six million dollar infusion, and in 2009, a forty million dollar donation from Oprah Winfrey.Philanthropy 50 2009 Gift Profile: Oprah Winfrey. The Chronicle of Philanthropy. February 7, 2010.
In 2022, OWCF disbursed more than twelve million dollars in grants. Since its inception, OWCF and its predecessors have made grants to support several activities, including elementary, secondary, and higher education institutions, after-school programs, teacher development, and other educational activities; COVID-19 relief; African-American history; dance; disaster relief; and other causes.
Activities Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater In 2004, The Oprah Winfrey Foundation pledged one million dollars to endow a student scholarship at the Ailey School at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.Segal, Lewis (May 26, 2004). Oprah's no wallflower at this dance. Los Angeles Times.Alexandra (May 20, 2004). Oprah gives $1 million to Ailey School. Ballet Alert!
Barack Obama Presidential Library
OWCF donated fourteen million dollars (seven million in 2018, and seven million in 2019) to the Barack Obama Presidential Library.Tax e-Filings (2018 and 2019; Published by IRS, September 2021). OPRAH WINFREY CHARITABLE FOUNDATION. Grantmakers.io. Contributors, $1,000,000+. Obama Foundation.Bowean, Lolly (May 23, 2019). Oprah Winfrey among 9 large-scale donors to give money to Obama Foundation. Chicago Tribune. The library honoring Barack Obama, the 44th president of the United States, is expected to open in 2026.
Christmas Kindness South Africa OWCF launched “Christmas Kindness South Africa 2002,” a country-wide project that supplied food, clothing, books, toys, and more to thousands of children.
COVID-19 pandemic During the COVID-19 pandemic, Oprah Winfrey and OWCF initially donated twelve million dollars to relief efforts, focusing their efforts on Oprah's “home cities,” Baltimore, Maryland; Chicago, Illinois; Kosciusko, Mississippi; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and Nashville, Tennessee. In Chicago, OWCF awarded five million dollars to Live Healthy Chicago, a collaboration to assist high-risk populations during the COVID-19 period. Live Healthy Chicago. Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation. $5 Million Oprah Winfrey Grant Accelerates West Side United, Chicago COVID-19 Prevention Efforts as Member of Live Healthy Chicago. West Side United. In Milwaukee, OWCF awarded a grant to Wellpoint Care Network to provide telehealth mental health services. Gift from Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation Creates Healing Bridge. Wellpoint Care Network. In Nashville, Oprah Winfrey contacted Tennessee State University president Glenda Glover, who helped to direct a two million dollar donation from OWCF to Nashville Nurtures for grocery store gift cards.The Associated Press (May 20, 2020). Tennessee State University president 'thrilled' by Oprah Winfrey gift. FOX17 Nashville.
In addition to these efforts, OWCF pledged an additional three million dollarsNicolaou, Elena (July 14, 2020). Oprah Gives An Additional $3 Million in Pandemic Relief Grants to Los Angeles. She previously pledged $12 million in aid to her five "home cities" around the U.S. Oprah Daily. to South LA Forward, a collaboration of SoLa I Can Foundation, SEE-LA, and the Watts Healthcare Corporation, in Los Angeles. Hettrick, Chelsea (July 13, 2020). OPRAH WINFREY CHARITABLE FOUNDATION COMMITS ADDITIONAL $3 MILLION IN COVID-19 RELIEF SUPPORT TO ‘SOUTH LA FORWARD’ COLLABORATION. Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation.
La Paz Global In 2023, OWCF donated one million dollars to La Paz Global, an educational nonprofit organization. La Paz Global.
Maui Health Foundation In 2023, OWCF donated one million dollars to Maui Health Foundation for medical supplies and equipment, including a new CT scanner.
Miss Porter's School In 2023, OWCF donated one million dollars to Miss Porter’s School, an all girls school in Farmington, Connecticut. The Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation | 990 Report. Foundation Directory | California | Los Angeles | Past grantees (2023). instumentl.com The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls (OWLAG), South Africa, is modeled after Miss Porter's.Gural, Natasha (March 1, 2019). Oprah Winfrey, Patron Agnes Gund Cheered By 750 Art Lovers At Sotheby's Reception For Miss Porter's. Forbes. Katherine Windsor, the 12th Head of Miss Porter's School, chairs the OWLAG board of directors. Windsor, Katherine. Miss Porter's School.
Morehouse College The Morehouse College Oprah Winfrey Scholars Program has received several donations from OWCF and Oprah Winfrey. Oprah Winfrey Scholars Program. Andrew Young Center for Global Leadership, Morehouse College. During the 2023–24 academic year, fifty Morehouse students were selected as Oprah Winfrey Scholars. Oprah Winfrey first pledged twelve million dollars in scholarship support to Morehouse in 1989.[Oprah Winfrey donates $2 million to HBCU Tennessee State and its surrounding community https://andscape.com/features/oprah-winfrey-donates-2-million-to-hbcu-tennessee-state-and-its-surrounding-community/] Andscape. In 2019, OWCF contributed an additional thirteen millions dollars to Morehouse College. In total, Oprah Winfrey and OWCF have donated twenty-five million dollars to this HBCU.
National Museum of African American History and Culture Since 2004, Oprah Winfrey has supported the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture as a member of the museum's advisory council and donor.News (June 11, 2013). Smithsonian Announces $12 Million Gift from Oprah Winfrey to the National Museum of African American History and Culture. National Museum of African American History and Culture. In 2013, she donated twelve million dollars to support the capital campaign of the world's largest museum dedicated to African-American history and culture.Davis, Heather Greenwood (May 23, 2019). 10 Destinations for African-American history and culture. National Geographic Society. In 2007, she contributed an additional one million dollars, and in 2024, she donated a little more than one million shares, roughly worth three million dollars, of WW International, formerly Weight Watchers International, to the museum.Gural, Natasha (February 29, 2024). The Skinny On Why Oprah Winfrey Donated Another $3 Million To National Museum Of African American History And Culture, Fattening Her Contribution To Over $16 Million. Forbes.
Oprah Chai In partnership with Starbucks, Oprah Winfrey donated a portion of her profits from the sales of Teavana® Oprah Chai Tea, a limited Starbucks offering, to non-profit groups.Fact Sheet (March 15, 2017). Starbucks Donates $21M to Support Youth Education from Sales of Teavana Oprah Chai . Starbucks. During the three-year program, Oprah Winfrey donated more than five millions of her Oprah Chai proceeds to several organizations, including Girls Inc., National CARES Mentoring Movement, West Side High School, Newark, Pathways to College, and U.S. Dream Academy. From its proceeds of Teavana Oprah Chai, Starbucks donated twenty-one million dollars to support youth education.
Oprah Winfrey Boys & Girls Club of Kosciusko/Attala County
In 2006, the Oprah Winfrey Boys & Girls Club of Kosciusko/Attala County, a 32,000-square foot recreational facility for children supported by gifts from Oprah Winfrey and her foundation, opened in Kosciusko, Mississippi, Winfrey's hometown.Kosciusko Attala Partnership (November 26, 2019). OPRAH WINFREY BOYS & GIRLS CLUB.
Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls In 2000, Oprah Winfrey met with former South African president Nelson Mandela to discuss building a new school for girls in South Africa. In 2007, the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls (OWLAG), a boarding school for girls, grades 8–12, opened in Henley on Klip, Gauteng Province, South Africa. Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls. Through the years, Oprah and OWCF have contributed more than $200 million to South African education, primarily for academically gifted girls from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Pathways to College In 2020, OWCF committed five million dollars to Pathways to College, an after-school program in Newark, New Jersey.Wall, Patrick (February 20, 2020). Oprah Winfrey gives $5 million boost to college-prep program with Newark roots. ChalkBeat Newark.
People's Fund of Maui In 2023, Oprah Winfrey in partnership with Dwayne Johnson pledged ten million dollars to create the “People's Fund of Maui,” in response to the 2023 Hawaii wildfires.Eagle, Nathan (August 31, 2023). Oprah And Dwayne Johnson Make $1,200 Per Month Available To Maui Wildfire Survivors. The People's Fund of Maui was launched with a $10 million donation. Honolulu Civil Beat.Kew, Allan (October 25, 2023). Oprah And Dwayne Johnson's Relief Fund Has Paid Out $19 Million. How long survivors can expect the monthly fire relief payments is unclear. Honolulu Civil Beat. In total, the fund distributed nearly sixty million dollars to more than 8,100 Maui residents who were affected by the wildfires. The People's Fund of Maui provided direct financial assistance to the people of Lahaina and Kula who experienced devastating losses from the Maui wildfires. Entertainment Industry Foundation.
Providence St. Mel School
In 1993, Oprah Winfrey donated one million dollars to Providence St. Mel School, a private school on the westside of Chicago. The School that Refused to Die. Providence St. Mel History.Lemieux, Amilah-Asali I. (October 28, 2020). Sound-Off: There's No Reason to Hate on Oprah. Essence.CBS Chicago (November 19, 2013). Million Dollar Donation From Oprah Helped Save West Side School. CBS News.
Ron Clark Academy In 2017, Oprah Winfrey donated five million dollars to Ron Clark Academy, a nonprofit middle school school in Atlanta, Georgia. Oprah Winfrey donates $5 million to Ron Clark Academy. Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
SAG AFTRA Foundation In 2023, OWCF donated one million dollars to the SAG-AFTRA Foundation, including support for its Emergency Financial Assistance Program for actors impacted by the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike.Martinez, Gina (August 2, 2023). A-listers including Oprah Winfrey, Meryl Streep, Leonardo DiCaprio donate $1 million each to SAG-AFTRA relief fund. CBS News
Teach for America OWCF granted one million dollars to Teach For America’s social-emotional learning program, a wellness initiative for teachers, students, and staff.Teach for America (December 16, 2021). Why Oprah Donated $1 Million to Teach For America's Social-Emotional Learning Program.
United Negro College Fund In 2019, Oprah Winfrey announced a $1,149,000 gift to the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) at the organization's 17th Annual Maya Angelou Women Who Lead Luncheon in Charlotte, North Carolina. Oprah's "Stand and Deliver" Moment for Charlotte's UNCF Maya Angelou Women Who Lead Luncheon Changes Lives for Many. United Negro College Fund.
University of Massachusetts, Lowell