A Timeline of Taylor Swift’s Generosity

In the midst of her Speak Now tour, the star donated 6,000 books to the Reading Public Library in Pennsylvania. The books were all new and geared towards children and teens, according to the local Reading Eagle.

Swift wrote and released the song “Ronan” in honor of a little boy of that name, whose life and struggles with fatal neuroblastoma were documented in a blog by his mother, Maya. In September of 2012, the then country star performed the song on that year’s nationally televised Stand Up 2 Cancer event and pledged all of her proceeds from the track to cancer charities.

Swift spread the holiday cheer by sending personalized “Swiftmas” presents to fans all over the world. Rebekah, a college graduate who wrote via Tumblr about her student loans concerns, got a donation of $1,989 (like her 2014 album name) to help her start payments.

At the time, the singer just moved to New York and released the ode to her new home, the 1989 opener “Welcome to New York.” In celebration, she announced that she would donate proceeds from the single to the city’s schools.

In another 1989 song-related donation, Swift gave money made from her wildlife themed “Wildest Dreams” video to the African Parks Foundation of America (APFA), which focuses on eradication of poaching, nature conservation, community engagement and the development of sustainable tourism.

Two days after a judge ruled against the “Tik Tok” singer in a case in which she asked to record music independently of producer Dr. Luke, Swift gave money to her fellow star singer-songwriter during the “trying time.”

“At 20 weeks our son was diagnosed with Transposition of the Great Arteries AKA TGA,” Jaime King wrote on Instagram at the time. “He had a major heart surgery, that was terrifying, and traumatic for us as parents, for our family.” She then continued to thank Swift. “As the Godmother of Leo Thames for his birthday she gave an incredible donation to the people that saved his life Dr. Allistar Phillips and his brilliant team.”

Swift pledged $1 million to Louisiana flood relief after torrential rains caused massive flooding in the state, killing at least 11 people and damaging at least 40,000 homes. “We began The 1989 World Tour in Louisiana, and the wonderful fans there made us feel completely at home. The fact that so many people in Louisiana have been forced out of their own homes this week is heartbreaking,” she said in a statement at the time.

“I encourage those who can to help out and send your love and prayers their way during this devastating time.”

Following the devastation of Hurricane Harvey, which led to multiple deaths and extreme damages, Swift donated to the Houston Food Bank in honor of her mother, Andrea Finlay Swift, who graduated from the University of Houston. The organization soon thanked her for her “very sizable” donation.

“Thank you @TaylorSwift13 for always standing with survivors,” the Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network wrote on Twitter. “Your generous donation this week during #SAAPM ensures that survivors and their loved ones get the help they need and deserve.”

After Weymouth Sgt. Michael Chesna was shot and killed while investigating a car crash, Swift tried to ease the pain by donating “a significant number of tickets” to the police department for her shows in Foxborough, according to The Patriot Ledger.

Two years after she donated $10,000 to a boy with autism for a service dog, Swift invited eight-year-old Jacob Hill, his dog Reid and his family to her show at NRG Stadium in Houston.

Trinity Foster was diagnosed with stage four osteosarcoma, which spread to her lung. The 16-year-old’s GoFundMe page asked for help paying her medical bills, with a $10,000 goal. Swift donated $10,000 and left a sweet note for her fan. 

“I saw photos of your album release party that you did in your hospital room and wanted to say thank you for being so kind and supportive!” she wrote. “I hope I can give you a hug in person soon, but in the meantime I wanted to send you this and all my love. Your friend, Taylor.”

The superstar made a donation to help those impacted by the tornadoes that destroyed homes and killed at least 24 people in Tennessee. “Nashville is my home and the fact that so many people have lost their homes and so much more in Middle Tennessee is devastating to me,” she wrote in an Instagram Story. “I’ve made a donation to the Middle Tennessee Emergency Response Fund.”

Several Swifties took to social media to share that the superstar had personally sent them stimulus checks to help them get through the crisis.

“Erin, I saw your tweets about the financial and emotional stress you’re under right now and it made me want so badly to help. I’m so sorry about your job and the uncertainty of what’s going on right now. I hope this gift of $3000 will help. I loved meeting you in New York and I hope you’re safe and healthy! Your pal, Taylor” Swift wrote in a private note to one fan, who tweeted, “Literally how is this an actual thing that has happened??? I will shut up never I’m so grateful for this woman.”

After seeing two fans post a video set to her song “Only the Young” asking for donations to help families in need in Minneapolis, Swift gave $1,300 toward purchasing haircare and skincare products for people of color. “Yasmine and Grace, thank you SO MUCH for everything you’re doing to help people. Here’s a gift for this run, please let me know about anything in the future! Love, Taylor,” she wrote in a note attached to the donation.

Swift donated about $30,000 to a GoFundMe college fund campaign started by European Swiftie Vitoria Mario, an aspiring mathematician. “Vitoria, I came across your story online and am so inspired by your drive and dedication to turning your dreams into reality,” Swift noted in her contribution. “I want to gift you the rest of your goal amount. Good luck with everything you do! Love, Taylor.”

The star donated $13,000 to two mothers’ GoFundMe pages after reading a Washington Post article spotlighting Americans who are behind on rent due to the government’s lack of stimulus agreement amid the COVID-19 crisis.

One Nashville-based woman, Nikki Cornwell, is a single mother and shared that she is $5,000 behind on rent, and that she isn’t sure her kids will have a Christmas this year. “this has been a horrible year for us,” she wrote on her fundraising page, noting that she was supposed to start a job in May, but that was sidetracked when she tested positive for coronavirus.

Swift, alongside her donation, wrote: “Nikki, I read about you in the Washington Post and thought it was really brave of you to share your story. I’m so sorry for everything you’ve had to go through this year and wanted to send you this gift, from one Nashville girl to another. Love, Taylor.”

An Ohio Swiftie named Sarah J. Bailey brought the star’s “Christmas Tree Farm” to her front yard, setting up an elaborate holiday light display to the song alongside a box for food bank donations.

Swift herself ended up seeing the video, and messaged Bailey personally this week to thank her. “Sarah, I loved your family’s Christmas lights show!!! Thank you (and your dad) so much for using Christmas Tree Farm to create such a fun spectacle,” the message Bailey shared to Twitter reads. “I really love how you’ve chosen to give back by mentioning your local food bank. I’ve made a donation to Our Community Hunger Center in your hometown. Happy Holidays! Love, Taylor.”

A GoFundMe dedicated to Vickie Quarles — a mother of five daughters, whose husband, Theodis Ray Quarles, died of COVID-19 — asked for $50,000 to offer the family financial relief and alleviate their “worry from things associated with basic immediate needs as well as for their continued growth, goals and asperations.”

Swift and her mother Andrea proceeded to quietly donate the entire $50,000 goal amount, raising the total north of $60,000.

Beth Stern revealed that Swift had made a “sizable donation” to her pet rescue foundation Beth’s Furry Friends, after which the animal advocate named a foster cat for the superstar singer-songwriter. “Welcome new foster from Oman!!” Stern wrote on Instagram at the time, sharing a photo of the new kitty. “Her name is Angel Taylor in honor of recent birthday girl, Taylor Swift who sent me a sizable donation to Beth’s Furry Friends to help me save more lives.”

Swift quietly donated to local food banks in Glendale, Ariz. and Las Vegas ahead of her Eras Tour stops in both cities, with a rep from one of the recipients, Arizona Food Bank Network, telling media that the pop star had vowed to leave a “positive impact” on all of the cities she planned to visit.

“We don’t know about you, but we’re feeling grateful on this day, March 22!” wrote Nevada’s Three Square organization on Instagram. “@TaylorSwift has made a generous gift to Three Square, allowing us to provide thousands of meals to families and individuals struggling with hunger. Thank you to Ms. Swift for supporting our mission and the local community.”

Swift proved she’s an-extra generous boss when she reportedly gave $100,000 bonuses to her Eras Tour truck drivers after the 2023 trek proved unprecedentedly lucrative. With about 50 drivers with her on tour, the total amount in bonuses likely equaled around $5 million.

Swift helped out Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and his wife, retired soccer player Brittany Mahomes — two friends she made shortly after she started dating tight end Travis Kelce — by donating signed merchandise to the couple’s auction benefiting their Mahomies Foundation. The charity serves to improve the lives of children via initiatives focusing on health, wellness and communities in need of resources, according to its website.

The pop star contributed a $1 million donation to the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee after tornadoes left at least six people dead and dozens hurt with hundreds of buildings damaged on Dec. 9, 2023. In response, CFMT CEO Hal Cato said via statement: “The Swifts found their original Tennessee home in Hendersonville and Sumner County and remain deeply committed to its continued well-being. Taylor’s incredibly generous gift sends a message to her hometown — and the communities around it — that she has their backs during the long road to recovery following this devastating event.”