Barbra Streisand, Rare Celeb Who Puts Money Where Mouth Is: $666K to Charities

Barbra Streisand is one of the rare celebrities who backs up her ideas with money. In 2012, according to the tax filing that just came available, the multi hyphenate actress-singer-director gave away $666,400 to charities through her personal foundation. And unlike say, Madonna, none of it went to kooky religions or cults or other questionable activities.

The foundation claims net assets of $7.5 million and just one employee. Streisand’s long time political consultant, Marge Tabankin, well respected in the community, makes $168,000 a year. She’s the sole paid staffer. The foundation otherwise has minimal expenses– no rent, and just $2,500 listed for “travel, conferences, etc”.  In other words, they keep it clean, and to the point.

The largest donation is $62,500 to the Clinton Foundation, which is no surprise. The next biggest are to Cedars Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles and to the Brooklyn Community Foundation — $25,000 apiece.  Streisand gave $15,000 to pal Donna Karan’s Urban Zen Foundation, a worthy cause.

Streisand’s donations actually increased from 2011 to 2012, although it doesn’t look that way at first glance. In 2011, she gave Cedars Sinai $1 million. The balance — to miscellaneous groups– came to $475,000. The Cedars Sinai bequest was a one time thing (and still pretty amazing).

The rest of the 2012 donations are spread evenly over a selection of arts, health, and women’s groups. Some are repeats from prior years, but not all. Barbra gave MusiCares $15,000 after being named Person of the Year in 2011. Not every singer who receives the honor donates money back to the Grammy foundation for musicians in need. That was a classy touch.

There are a number of donations, of course, to liberal organizations: People for the American Way, NARAL, Planned Parenthood, and Media Matters, among them. Bravo Barbra!