Rodrigo and Gates Double Festival Charity Haul to $20M
The inaugural all-women music festival, Daisy Chain Fields, raised $10 million for women's charities, and philanthropist Melinda French Gates matched that amount with a $10 million contribution, bringing the total to $20 million. Gates announced the donation onstage during Rodrigo's headlining set, praising the festival's vision. The funds will support organizations including Planned Parenthood and the National Domestic Workers Alliance.
The festival, held at Great Park in Irvine, California, featured a lineup personally curated by Rodrigo, including Chappell Roan, Doechii, Mitski, Garbage, The Breeders, and Bikini Kill, with surprise appearances from Stevie Nicks and Sarah McLachlan. All performing artists waived their fees, allowing the event’s proceeds to flow entirely to charity. Beneficiaries span reproductive health, domestic worker rights, maternal health, and Indigenous health organizations, among others.
French Gates’ contribution came through Pivotal Ventures, her investment and philanthropy firm. Her onstage announcement during Rodrigo’s headlining set marked a rare public pairing of a pop star and a major philanthropist, amplifying the festival’s reach beyond music fans to broader philanthropic networks.
This doubling of funds could signal a new model for celebrity-driven activism, where festivals partner with major donors to multiply grassroots fundraising. The event’s focus on women’s charities may inspire other artists to curate cause-specific lineups, potentially shifting how music events measure success—not just by attendance, but by social impact. For attendees and beneficiaries, the $20 million could provide tangible resources, though long-term change depends on sustained engagement beyond a single night.