NEW YORK (AP) - Rihanna consistently challenges the status quo.
The celebrated artist, boasting nine Grammy awards, has parlayed her extensive catalog of hits, including "Umbrella" and "Work," into a business enterprise valued at approximately $1.4 billion, securing her position on Forbes' list of wealthiest "self-made" American women. The Barbados-born icon captivated audiences with a pregnancy announcement during her 2023 Super Bowl halftime performance. Furthermore, her Fenty Beauty brand transformed the cosmetics industry by offering inclusive shades.
However, this year, attention isn't solely on her highly anticipated follow-up to the 2016 album "Anti" but on her philanthropic endeavors.
The Clara Lionel Foundation, named in honor of Rihanna's grandparents and supported in part by her brands, is undergoing a "refresh" to allocate more resources to climate solutions and women's entrepreneurship in under-invested regions such as East Africa, the Caribbean, and the U.S. South. After 13 years of operating with limited public recognition, the nonprofit is now set to increase its visibility.
"Our founder is a woman hailing from a small island nation with a global presence. She embodies the roles of entrepreneur, mother, and creative force," stated Executive Director Jessie Schutt-Aine. "We aim for an organization that embodies her spirit and dynamism. She is courageous, ambitious, innovative, and consistently a game changer."
Experts note that such deliberate intention is uncommon among well-known philanthropists. The Clara Lionel Foundation has also received recognition for its dedication to "trust-based" philanthropy, granting beneficiaries unrestricted funding.
NDN Collective founder Nick Tilsen mentioned that CLF enables his Indigenous power-building nonprofit to "operate on our terms" and suggested other funders should take note.
"They are not a foundation that interferes excessively," Tilsen remarked. "They provide support, acknowledge our work, and empower us to fulfill our objectives."
Rihanna initiated the foundation with a contribution of $516,000 following her grandmother's passing due to cancer complications in 2012. In the same year, she established an oncology center at Barbados' primary hospital to enhance cancer screening and treatment. Over the past decade, the foundation primarily concentrated on healthcare initiatives in Barbados.
By 2019, CLF shifted its focus toward emergency preparedness. Grant allocations surged to over $33 million in 2020, providing crucial pandemic relief and advocating for racial justice. According to tax documents, post-pandemic spending decreased in conjunction with its internal restructuring.
A revitalized team and refined priorities now align with its broadened objectives. A newly appointed director of women's entrepreneurship, based in South Carolina, will spearhead the development of that program. Amina Doherty, co-founder of the Black Feminist Fund, now oversees programs and impact. The five new pillars encompass climate solutions, arts and culture, health access and equity, and future generations.
Ashley Lashley, a 25-year-old whose foundation has collaborated with CLF to tackle environmental issues in Barbados, applauded the focus on youth. She noted that while leaders often proclaim that 'youth are the future,' concrete support is frequently lacking.
"Rihanna's foundation exemplifies how influential women can contribute to community-level initiatives," Lashley affirmed.
Rihanna communicated her aspiration that CLF will remain a catalyst for "global inclusion in philanthropy."
In a statement reflecting on the foundation's 13-year evolution, she remarked, "Today, we possess a global reach, yet the values of community and our origins remain deeply ingrained within the foundation's essence."
The latest illustration of this progression is a partnership with The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. According to a Mellon press release, Barbados' "invaluable history" as "an essential chapter in the broader narrative of the African diaspora" is imperiled by climate change.
Collectively, the two foundations announced their commitment to funding "artist-led initiatives" aimed at safeguarding that culture "while fostering fresh narratives and opportunities globally."
Schutt-Aine regards the collaboration with Mellon, the foremost philanthropic supporter of the arts in the U.S., as a landmark achievement for CLF. Justin Garrett Moore, director of the Mellon’s Humanities in Place program, revealed that the nonprofit's name was suggested when his team sought partner recommendations.
"We recognize the extraordinary platform that the Clara Lionel Foundation, under its founder's guidance, provides to amplify the visibility and legitimacy of supported organizations," Moore stated. "Moreover, it serves to enhance the influence of the arts within society as a whole."
Among the recipients is a developmental performance arts program offering free social services to students in Bridgetown. Janelle Headley, founder of Operation Triple Threat, shared that the Clara Lionel Foundation facilitated the acquisition of a warehouse equipped with acoustic panels, sound equipment, and a dance floor.
The partnership originated with a microgrant for scholarships. Operation Triple Threat now benefits from general operating support, which Headley described as a "revolutionary" investment, given that charitable contributions are typically earmarked for specific purposes. This adaptability proved invaluable during the pandemic, enabling the acquisition of iPads for remote learning.
"It is uncommon to receive a substantial, unrestricted donation accompanied by the sentiment, 'We trust you and your vision,'" Headley noted. "Their approach is notably progressive."
Mary Beth Collins, executive director of the Center for Community and Nonprofit Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, considers the approach unique, observing that celebrities often engage in philanthropy only when deemed necessary.
However, Collins noted that CLF appears to be strategically focused on long-term partnerships and implements bottom-up funding strategies. These practices align with her own recommendations, which include engaging expert professionals, addressing core issues, concentrating on areas of significance to founders, and supporting leaders deeply affected by these issues.
"We advocate for the allocation of funds and resources from the world's most affluent individuals to the leaders on the ground who possess intimate knowledge of the region, its experiences, and its challenges," Collins stated.
CLF adopted this strategy late last year, providing additional funding to a clean energy nonprofit partner impacted by Hurricane Helene. Melanie Allen, co-director of The Hive Fund for Climate and Gender Justice, reported the unexpected receipt of approximately $60,000 to expedite distribution among vetted partners in devastated communities.
This contribution occurred amid escalating hostility toward nonprofits, like hers, supporting women of color, leading some philanthropists to reduce their giving. Allen expressed her enthusiasm for CLF's "enduring commitment to the South."
As others curtail resources, CLF aims to engage more philanthropic partners. They are organizing a summer gathering for grantees to foster networking opportunities. CLF's Doherty emphasized, "We will remain steadfast in our support."
"While some may perceive bleak prospects," Doherty added, "we recognize this as a moment brimming with possibilities."
The significance of maintaining close ties with the communities served is a lesson Schutt-Aine acquired throughout a 25-year career in global health.
Most recently serving as Chief of Equity, Gender and Cultural Diversity at the Pan American Health Organization, Schutt-Aine has addressed the world's deadliest infections, including tuberculosis, malaria, and HIV/AIDS.
"If you intend to address malaria," she asserted, "you must have experienced the mosquito firsthand."