Comedy Gives Back
Comedy Gives Back is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2010 that serves as the only dedicated safety net for stand-up comedians, providing financial crisis relief, mental health therapy, and chemical dependency treatment grants to over 1,000 comedians cumulatively through donations, benefit events, and a nationwide club network.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2010
- HeadquartersBoston, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Comedy Gives Back does
Comedy Gives Back is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2010 by Zoe Friedman, Amber J. Lawson, and Jodi Lieberman, headquartered in Boston with operations centered in Los Angeles. It functions as the only dedicated safety net for the stand-up comedy community, providing three core grant categories: Financial Crisis Relief (covering healthcare, housing, and utilities to prevent eviction or service shut-offs), Mental Health Therapy (including BetterHelp and Didi Hirsch Suicide Prevention access), and Chemical Dependency Treatment. In 2024, the organization allocated $143,851.31 across 88 comedians, including $129,000.30 in financial crisis relief and $13,087.50 in mental health therapy grants, and has cumulatively supported over 1,000 comedians since founding. Recent additions include the 2025 Fire Fund for LA fire-impacted comedians ($1,500 cash plus $500 grocery card) and the May 2025 sponsorship of the Health Alliance for Chicago Comedians (HACC) for affordable healthcare access.
The organization operates without proprietary technology, relying instead on a distributed human-services model. Revenue is generated through five streams: individual donations (via the Givebutter platform), event fundraising (annual benefit shows including Alt Comedy All-Stars and celebrity golf tournaments), Charitybuzz auctions (100% of net proceeds), Club Network ticket-sale donations from comedy venues, and merchandise sales. Distribution leverages the CGB Club Network — a nationwide initiative encompassing 6 Live Nation-owned comedy venues and dozens of independent clubs (Laughing Skull Lounge, The Comedy Vault, Bell House, Laugh Factory, Punch Line locations, New York Comedy Club, Cobb's Comedy Club, Gotham Comedy Club, The Comedy Store, DC Improv, Just for Laughs, Moontower Comedy) that donate a percentage of ticket sales, embed checkout donations, and display crisis resources in green rooms.
Governance is via a 15-member Board of Directors chaired by Kevin Parker (Artists First), with members drawn from senior entertainment-industry roles including Netflix's VP of Stand-Up & Comedy Formats (Robbie Praw), Live Nation Comedy President (Geof Wills), Comedy Central/MTV veteran Doug Herzog, and 3 Arts Entertainment Partner Dave Becky. The organization is funded by major sponsors including the Johnny Carson Foundation, Comedy Central, Netflix, Lionsgate, TBS TV, 3 Arts Entertainment, and Worldwide Pants, with media partnerships supporting event visibility through The Hollywood Reporter and Show and Tell.
Comedy Gives Back firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Comedy Gives Back
- Legal name
- Comedy Gives Back
- Website
- https://comedygivesback.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2010
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Comedy Gives Back is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2010 that serves as the only dedicated safety net for stand-up comedians, providing financial crisis relief, mental health therapy, and chemical dependency treatment grants to over 1,000 comedians cumulatively through donations, benefit events, and a nationwide club network.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Comedy Gives Back industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Nonprofit Entertainment Support Services
- NAICS
- Grantmaking Foundations (813211)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Grant Funding & Public/Nonprofit Financing (MPADAAAO)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Stand-Up Comedy Shows (MPAGACAA)
Keywords
Where Comedy Gives Back is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Boston
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Comedy Gives Back business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Individual Donations: One-time and monthly donations from comedy fans and supporters who want to support the comedy community. Donations can be made via givebutter.com platform.
- Event Fundraising: Revenue generated from benefit shows, celebrity golf tournaments, and other fundraising events where ticket sales support the organization.
- Charity Auctions: Partnership with Charitybuzz for auction experiences (meet-and-greet with comedians, VIP tickets), with 100% of net proceeds going to the cause.
- Club Network Donations: Comedy clubs donate a percentage of ticket sales through the CGB Club Network initiative.
- Merchandise Sales: Sale of hats, t-shirts, and hoodies with Comedy Gives Back branding to supporters.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Monthly | One-time or monthly donation amounts at supporter's discretion |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Comedy Gives Back product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Comedy Gives Back is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides direct grants to professional stand-up comedians facing financial hardship, mental health challenges, or substance abuse issues. Its core offerings are Financial Crisis Relief Grants (for essential living expenses such as housing, utilities, and healthcare), Mental Health Therapy Grants (including access to BetterHelp and Didi Hirsch services), and Chemical Dependency Treatment Grants, supplemented by disaster relief (Fire Fund), wellness programs, and a nationwide CGB Club Network.
Product overview
Comedy Gives Back operates as a nonprofit platform offering a suite of support services to the stand-up comedy community. The core offerings include Financial Crisis Relief Grants, Mental Health Therapy Grants, and Chemical Dependency Treatment Grants, which together form the primary grant programs. The CGB Club Network extends this reach nationwide by partnering with comedy venues to connect comedians with available resources. Additional programs include the Fire Fund for disaster relief and wellness programs featuring meditation and seminars. The organization also sponsors the Health Alliance for Chicago Comedians (HACC) to expand healthcare access to local comedy communities. All services are accessible through the comedian resource portal, which includes grant applications and downloadable materials.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Financial Crisis Relief Grants Emergency financial assistance grants that help eligible stand-up comedians cover essential living expenses such as healthcare, housing, and utilities to prevent eviction or service shut-offs.
- Mental Health Therapy Grants Grants providing comedians access to therapy, counseling, and emotional wellness tools, including access to BetterHelp (1 month free) and Didi Hirsch Suicide Prevention services.
- Chemical Dependency Treatment Grants Treatment resources and grants for comedians struggling with substance abuse, covering alcohol or other chemical dependency issues.
- CGB Club Network A nationwide initiative that brings together comedy clubs, venues, and promoters to support comedian well-being, connecting comedians with grants for mental health therapy, financial issues, suicide ideation, and chemical dependency treatment through club-level donations and resource distribution.
- Fire Fund Short-term disaster relief program providing $1,500 in financial assistance and a $500 grocery card to comedians impacted by the Los Angeles fires, covering evacuation costs such as hotel, food, and supplies.
- Wellness Programs Wellness initiatives including in-person group meditations at various locations (also available via Zoom), and twice-monthly seminars covering career growth and stress management hosted by co-founder Amber J. Lawson.
- Comedian Resource Portal Online portal providing downloadable resources including comedian grant information posters and audience-facing donation posters for comedy clubs to display.
- Direct Donation Program (Givebutter) Online donation program accepting one-time and recurring monthly contributions from comedy fans and supporters via the Givebutter platform, funding Financial Crisis Relief Grants, Mental Health Therapy Grants, and Chemical Dependency Treatment Grants.
Companies that use Comedy Gives Back
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Comedy Gives Back technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Comedy Gives Back partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Health Alliance for Chicago Comedians (HACC)coreLocal organization sponsored by Comedy Gives Back to provide Chicago comedians with access to affordable healthcare. Comedy Gives Back provided guidance and support to help launch the initiative.
- Laughing Skull LoungecoreAtlanta-based comedy club that added a donation button to ticket checkout and matches all donations. Active participant in the CGB Club Network.
- The Comedy VaultminorBatavia, IL comedy club that recently joined the CGB Club Network to help spread awareness about comedian support resources.
- Live Nation Comedy VenuescoreSix Live Nation-owned comedy club venues part of the network, donating a portion of every ticket sold to Comedy Gives Back.
- CharitybuzzcoreCharity auction platform hosting experiences like meet-and-greet with comedians. 100% of net proceeds go to Comedy Gives Back.
- The Hollywood ReporterminorMedia partner supporting the Alt Comedy All-Stars 2026 event.
- Show and Tell (Media)minorMedia partner supporting the Alt Comedy All-Stars 2026 event.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Comedy Gives Back competitors and assessment
Company assessmentRegional players
- Help Musicians UK: UK charity providing financial, psychological, and welfare support to musicians — the British counterpart to MusiCares. Highly comparable in mission and program structure to Comedy Gives Back, though geographically focused on the UK rather than the US.
Direct peers
- MusiCares: The Recording Academy/MusiCares Foundation provides financial, medical, and personal emergency assistance to musicians — the explicit analog Comedy Gives Back cites for its own model. Operates as a 501(c)(3) safety net for a specific creative community, serving musicians in crisis.
- Entertainment Community Fund (formerly The Actors Fund): Provides social services, financial assistance, and health programs to entertainment industry professionals across performing arts and film. Comedy Gives Back explicitly cites it as a model, and both organizations share a safety-net-for-creatives mission with similar grant-and-services delivery.
- Sweet Relief Musicians Fund: A nonprofit providing financial assistance to musicians and music industry workers facing illness, disability, or age-related hardship. Closely comparable in mission, funding model (donor-driven), and per-beneficiary grant structure to Comedy Gives Back's comedian focus.
Emerging players
- Backline (Music Industry Mental Health): Nonprofit connecting music-industry professionals and their families with mental-health and wellness resources. Comparable as a newer safety-net organization focused on a specific creative community and emphasizing mental-health/chemical-dependency support — adjacent to but distinct from CGB's mental-health therapy grants.
Broad incumbents
- SAG-AFTRA Foundation: The charitable arm of SAG-AFTRA providing emergency financial assistance, health programs, and educational services to performers. A larger union-affiliated safety net serving a broader talent population, including some comedians, with comparable crisis-relief and wellness offerings.
- National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences Foundation (MusiCares parent): The Recording Academy organization that hosts MusiCares; representative of how a major industry's professional body can back a dedicated welfare charity. Compares structurally to how Live Nation, Netflix, and Comedy Central sponsor Comedy Gives Back at the parent-company level.
- Motion Picture & Television Fund: Long-established charitable organization providing health care, financial assistance, and human services to entertainment-industry workers. Operates at greater scale and on a regional (Southern California) basis but shares the industry-safety-net mission and grant-based delivery model.
- Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation: Charitable foundation providing financial assistance and welfare support to entertainment-industry veterans. Comparable as an industry-safety-net nonprofit, with a particular focus on long-tenured professionals and a similar grant-driven financial-crisis model.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Comedy Gives Back social profiles
Digital presenceComedy Gives Back financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Comedy Gives Back leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles16 records
Comedy Gives Back funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Comedy Gives Back M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Comedy Gives Back
What does Comedy Gives Back do?
Comedy Gives Back is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides direct grants to professional stand-up comedians facing financial hardship, mental health challenges, or substance abuse issues. Its core offerings are Financial Crisis Relief Grants (for essential living expenses such as housing, utilities, and healthcare), Mental Health Therapy Grants (including access to BetterHelp and Didi Hirsch services), and Chemical Dependency Treatment Grants, supplemented by disaster relief (Fire Fund), wellness programs, and a nationwide CGB Club Network.
Is Comedy Gives Back a public or private company?
Comedy Gives Back is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Comedy Gives Back founded?
Comedy Gives Back was founded in 2010. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Comedy Gives Back based?
Comedy Gives Back is headquartered in Boston, United States, in the North America region.
How does Comedy Gives Back make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Individual Donations are the primary driver. The others are event Fundraising, charity Auctions, club Network Donations and merchandise Sales.
Who are Comedy Gives Back's main competitors?
Help Musicians UK is listed as a regional player. Direct peers are MusiCares, Entertainment Community Fund (formerly The Actors Fund) and Sweet Relief Musicians Fund. Backline (Music Industry Mental Health) is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are SAG-AFTRA Foundation, National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences Foundation (MusiCares parent), Motion Picture & Television Fund and Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation.
Does Comedy Gives Back have an API?
No public API is recorded for Comedy Gives Back.
What industry is Comedy Gives Back in?
Comedy Gives Back's product category is Nonprofit Entertainment Support Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPADAAAO, Grant Funding & Public/Nonprofit Financing, with a secondary code of MPAGACAA, Stand-Up Comedy Shows. Its NAICS code is 813211 and its SIC code is 7900.