Airbnb’s nonprofit held its inaugural gala Wednesday in Los Angeles, and the internet had a reaction: What gala?
In case you missed it, in 2020, Airbnb launched a nonprofit organization that provides free, temporary housing to families affected by crisis or disaster. His gala makes sense, actually, in that important causes often put on spectacular events to please big donors.
In a press release shared with TechCrunch this week, Airbnb noted that the gala marked the launch of a new initiative for the nonprofit, in which Airbnb would begin donating a portion of its commercial revenue for every stay booked starting on the day of the gala, October 28. The cut is 10 cents, to be exact, but Airbnb made $12.2 billion in revenue last year.
The initiative will help generate $500 million that will then be donated to the nonprofit over the next five years to help provide free housing for 1 million nights each year, according to the release. It will also allow the company to expand to support families also facing displacement due to domestic violence, veterans in need, or those traveling for medical needs.
An Airbnb spokesperson said the evening was only for its supporters and “marked the next chapter of our work.” Airbnb said people had the option to donate, but “fundraising was not the focus of the evening” and the nonprofit “did not set a fundraising goal.” The idea is for the gala to be held every year, and yesterday’s party was invitation-only, the spokesperson said, with no tables or seats sold.
The gala was hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, with a live performance by Charli XCX, and food was prepared by chef José Andrés of World Central Kitchen. The guest list included Serena Williams, Demi Lovato, Charlize Theron and Cynthia Erivo. For celebrities, it was a glamorous evening of socializing for a good cause, joining the ranks of other Los Angeles events, like the Baby2Baby Gala and the Academy Museum Gala, as a place to see.
Still, people didn’t really understand why Airbnb was hosting a gala and how it attracted A-list celebrities.
Once again, a great event and another data point showing that hosting a gala is one of the best ways to get the rich into a room paying money and getting media attention. And now many people know that Airbnb helps people in need, rather than constantly being in the news for its negative impact on the housing market.
This piece has been updated.
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