Pop star Olivia Rodrigo's "Daisy Chain Fields" festival has raised $20 million for organizations promoting women's well-being, drawing on the do-it-yourself ethos of '90s feminist musicians. The event in Irvine, California, featured a lineup of women-led artists including Chappell Roan, Doechii, and riot grrrl pioneers Bikini Kill.
Ahead of the festival, Rodrigo announced that $10 million had already been raised for 10 nonprofit partners, such as Planned Parenthood, the National Women's Law Center, and the Black Mamas Matter Alliance. Philanthropist Melinda French Gates announced a surprise additional $10 million pledge through her Pivotal Ventures.
Rodrigo, 23, has focused on channeling the experiences of her generation into her music. She stated that the festival's artists and activists offer her hope amidst what she described as the "regression of women's rights." The name "Daisy Chain" was chosen, she explained, as a reminder of how individual parts can combine to form something strong and unbreakable.
The festival aimed to bridge the gap between Gen Z and nonprofits, a demographic that sometimes prefers less formal methods of giving. Attendees expressed that music festivals provide a powerful platform for mobilization and connection.
"Daisy Chain Fields" featured a "philanthropy village" where nonprofit partners engaged with festivalgoers. Attendees could learn about health services from Planned Parenthood or the work of the National Domestic Workers Alliance. An art installation by the Guerilla Girls invited visitors to share grievances, with responses ranging from calls to "PROTECT QUEER KIDS!" and "Put women in charge and pay us more!!!" to "ABORTION RIGHTS 4 ALL."
Rodrigo drew inspiration from the Lilith Fair, an all-women festival that raised money for charity between 1997 and 1999. Sarah McLachlan, the founder of Lilith Fair, also performed at "Daisy Chain Fields."
Caren Spruch, National Director of Arts and Entertainment for Planned Parenthood, highlighted the importance of concert outreach in reaching people "where they are." She noted that Rodrigo's candid discussions about reproductive health topics help to normalize conversations around reproductive health and rights, especially at a time when abortion clinics are closing in restrictive states and legal access to abortion medication is being challenged.
Attendees like Melissa Shaw, who traveled from Tucson, Arizona, with her 8-year-old daughter, appreciated the opportunity for her child to learn about the beneficiary organizations. Shaw noted the multigenerational appeal of the lineup, which included artists her daughter enjoyed alongside those from her own youth.
Representatives from nonprofit partners emphasized the festival's role in fostering community and highlighting issues affecting women. Ai-jen Poo, President of the National Domestic Workers Alliance, called the festival a "powerful reminder to women everywhere of all ages that, no matter what, we have each other."
Angela Doyinsola Aina, co-founder of the Black Mamas Matter Alliance, noted the opportunity for newer nonprofits to expand their reach. The National Women's Law Center's Uma Iyer mentioned that the financial support and the event itself provided a morale boost for staff working on challenging legal cases.
Organizers stated their intention to work with nonprofit partners to address their most urgent and underresourced needs. The initiative follows a precedent set by other large-scale benefit concerts, such as Farm Aid, which has raised awareness for farmers' challenges for decades.