Celebrities

Actor RJ Mitte, the keynote speaker at Blackbaud's annual bbcon conference, isn't just a celebrity face for a nonprofit. He truly lives the cause of Shriners Hospitals for Children.

When you have a public campaign, it is helpful that you secure a public figure to be an honorary chair and spokesperson, like Peyton Manning, for your organization if at all possible. That person, however, must have the same values, mission and, in many ways, be an extension of the organization.

Charitybuzz, which raises funds for nonprofits around the globe through online auctions with celebrities and brands, released its top 25 celebrity auctions of 2013.

Taylor Swift and One Direction are 2013’s most charitable celebrities, according to social change organization DoSomething.org. The country-pop singer tops the sixth annual Top 20 Celebs Gone Good list for the second year in a row, as she turned her 24th birthday into a gift for others by quietly donating $100,000 of her own money to the Nashville Symphony.

Actor Joe Mantegna is helping raise money needed to build a national museum for the U.S. Army.

Mantegna has been named the national spokesman for the fundraising campaign to build the long-planned National Museum of the United States Army.

Plans are under way to build the museum at Fort Belvoir in northern Virginia, just outside the nation’s capital. The Army is the only military service without a national museum.

Letting someone else say your nonprofit is terrific can break through to potential donors better than any of your well-crafted appeals.

No presidential candidate has reached his personal zenith without this: celebrities to vouch for them. They are the glam and glitter of political campaigns, sure to turn even jaded political operatives into fawning celeb watchers.

President Barack Obama has been backed by celebrities such as Tyler Perry, Oprah Winfrey, Cee Lo Green, Tom Hanks, George Clooney, NBA stars and more. Mitt Romney has campaigned with Jeff Foxworthy and is supported by Gene Simmons. Newt Gingrich has Chuck Norris in his corner. Rick Santorum has been endorsed by Dave Mustaine. And hte list goes on.

The Secret Policeman’s Ball is letting America in on the party: The British-based music and comedy festival is coming to New York in March. Coldplay, Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert, Mumford & Sons and Russell Brand are among the acts who have signed on for the event at Radio City Music Hall on March 4. The concert will benefit Amnesty International, as it has since it started back in 1976 with celebrities like John Cleese.

International pop superstar Marc Anthony and entrepreneur Henry Cardenas announced the creation of the Maestro Cares Foundation, a nonprofit organization established to benefit charitable organizations in developing Latin American countries. Maestro Cares seeks to offer assistance to orphaned and disadvantaged children while supporting social services and other development programs.

Initial projects involve assisting in the development of orphanages in Puerto Rico, Colombia and the Dominican Republic by providing food, school supplies, dorm rooms, classrooms and clinics so children are surrounded by a healthy environment for learning.

"Smash" star Katharine McPhee has joined forces with Malaria No More on the “Dream Big” campaign, an effort to help end malaria deaths in Africa and help children achieve their dreams. Beginning Jan. 17, people can text “DREAM” to 85944 for the chance to take a trip to Africa with Katharine McPhee and make a $10 donation to Malaria No More; every donation will treat a child for malaria.