There’s even more evidence that Prince Harry, 39, and Meghan Markle, 41, are losing favor with the public, as their Archewell Foundation is suffering more than ever! According to the foundation’s recent tax filing, which was disclosed on Tuesday, December 12th, the charity received just over $2M in contributions in 2022, which is an $11M decline when compared to the $13M it received in 2021. (The foundation reportedly still holds over $8.3M in assets and cash, for what it’s worth.)
Prince Harry and Meghan have faced public scrutiny for years, with their controversial Oprah interview, Prince Harry’s bombshell memoir Spare, their Netflix Harry & Meghan docuseries which saw Meghan mock the fact that she had to curtsy to the late Queen Elizabeth II, and the recent fallout from Omid Scobie’s biography, Endgame, all having something to do with the public’s negative opinions of the couple. And now it seems like their charity is suffering because of it!
Prince Harry And Meghan Markle Release Archewell Foundation Annual Report And Promotional Film
Also on December 12th, the Sussexes released the charity’s annual report and a one-minute promotional film showing some of the people and causes the foundation has helped throughout the year, which we assume is to show the public that they are not letting the loss in donations get them down. The video is set to the song “Happy Place” by Saint Phnx, and shows the former Suits actress hugging various different people and volunteering at a pop-up baby boutique for expectant mothers experiencing homelessness, among other things.
A 25-page impact report accompanied the Archewell video, and highlighted the foundation’s aims. “We are committed to a simple but profound mission – to show up and do good,” it begins. “Our work, especially this year, has been rooted in fostering community and remaining responsive to those in need amidst the evolving challenges we encounter in today’s world.”
Prince Harry And Meghan Markle Reportedly Gave Archewell Executive Director 280% Pay Rise
Interestingly, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex claim to not take a salary from their charity, which was established in 2020 after they stepped down as senior royals and named after their four-year-old son Archie. However, they appeared to give its executive director James Holt, who is considered to be one of Prince Harry's right-hand men, a 280% pay rise.
Holt reportedly earned a salary of $207,405, a $20,000 bonus, and over $15,000 in non-taxable benefits in 2022, while his salary in 2021, the foundation's first year in operation, was $59,846.
Should Prince Harry And Meghan Markle Be Worried?
Although such a drastic decline in donations in just one year doesn't seem good, insiders have hinted that things aren't as bad as they seem. An insider reportedly told The Daily Beast that it is "not unusual for high-profile foundations to receive a significant influx of funding in their first year, which is then used over the course of several years as part of a financial plan to build their philanthropic work."
According to The Independent, an insider also said: "It is most fiscally responsible not to continue to raise large sums of money with millions still in reserve. In 2022, The Archewell Foundation focused on building out original programming that successfully launched in 2023. The Archewell Foundation is grateful for such a successful year and looks forward to continued growth in 2024."
We also need to look at where the donations are coming from. According to USA Today, Laurie Styron, the executive director of independent charity watchdog group CharityWatch, explained that celebrity 'passion project' organizations like the Archewell Foundation often receive most of their support from just a few individuals, such as its founders or one family. "This is particularly true within the first few years of their existence as they work towards drumming up broader support," Styron told the outlet.
That seems to be the case for the Archewell Foundation too, as it reportedly received nearly all of its donations for fiscal year 2022 from just two individuals, whose names have not been revealed to the public. (We wonder who they could be!) This is a stark contrast to the year before, as the foundation appeared to have much wider public support in 2021. "We can deduce from this reporting that the majority of the charity's donations in 2021 came into the organization in the form of small donations from the general public, whereas nearly 100% of donations in 2022 came from only two donors," Styron added.
