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The New Philanthropy Power Brokers Are Fandoms 

Celebrity foundations and nonprofits have spent decades courting wealthy donors, but the future of philanthropy belongs to digitally connected fan communities capable of mobilizing millions of small contributions.

The traditional playbook for celebrity- and athlete-led charity is showing its age. For decades, influence in philanthropy has been measured through visible signals of generosity: gala tables, charity auctions, foundation names and headline-making gifts. Every year, professional leagues, teams and high-profile figures pour immense energy and millions of dollars into these efforts. While these models are well-meaning and remain important, they rely on a fundraising model built for a different era centered on a relatively small circle of wealthy donors. 

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Today, influence is moving differently. One of the most powerful, energized and digitally savvy philanthropic networks already exists in plain sight: the everyday fan. Millions of fans organize themselves online around shared identities, passions and causes every day. Sports fans, in particular, are loyal, organized and digitally connected, yet many charitable organizations still treat these communities as audiences to market to rather than as participants to mobilize. In an era when influence flows through digital networks instead of traditional institutions, philanthropy has an opportunity to reconsider who gets to participate, how communities are activated and what meaningful engagement looks like. 

From donor lists to digital communities

Data from the nonprofit sector demonstrates a worrying trend. According to the Fundraising Effectiveness Project (FEP), while total charity........

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