Even when huge sums are raised, pooling donations towards one celebrity and one cause can cause problems

This year hasn’t been great for charity foundations fronted by British celebrities. As we head into the Christmas season and think about supporting others with donations to nonprofit organisations, it might be worth reflecting on the lessons we’ve learned along the way.

In 2024 the charities of two very different household names, Captain Sir Tom Moore and the model Naomi Campbell, fell into disrepute. In both cases, the organisations’ founders – members of Moore’s family, and Campbell herself – allegedly used charitable capital for personal gain.

Gary Nunn is an author and journalist