Editor’s Note: In March 2025, Michele Ganeless, CEO at Comic Relief and former president of Comedy Central, returned to Northwestern University, her alma mater, to talk about her career experiences and the state of entertainment with MS in Leadership for Creative Enterprises (MSLCE) students.
Although she spoke at length about her career path and the shift away from traditional television content, Ganeless wanted to share more about the lessons she’s learned, the importance of giving back throughout your career, and why students shouldn’t overlook the opportunities and rewards of working for nonprofits.
“Every company needs to create content, and the same thing goes for nonprofits,” she says. “I like to encourage students to not only think about the traditional categories of businesses that their degree would be appropriate for but also look at the nonprofit sector. It can be so rewarding and fulfilling.”
More than 20 years ago, Michele Ganeless—who earned her bachelor’s degree at Northwestern—was enmeshed the comedy industry, overseeing programming and strategy as Comedy Central’s executive vice president. When a friend asked her to attend a Posse Foundation benefit one evening, she agreed, happy to support a good cause. But Ganeless left so impressed by the organization’s mission and vision that she wanted her employer to get involved. One way to accomplish that, she says, was to take a seat on the board.
“I’ve always felt very fortunate that I had an education that set me up for success,” says Ganeless. “Coming from a very middle-class background, I wanted to give back. I knew I could do that by leveraging the benefits of working for a large corporation that could help support The Posse Foundation so they could give opportunities to kids who don’t have them.”
A Path to Blending Passion and Purpose
Fast-forward about 10 years, and she was still heavily involved in The Posse Foundation (and continues to be today). She found that it provided a balance between her professional life and her desire to make a difference. So, when she was asked to join the Comic Relief Board of Directors, she jumped at the opportunity. She was passionate about the nonprofit’s mission to use laughter as a force for social change, ensuring that kids have access to the resources and opportunities they need to thrive.
The timing worked well, she says, because she had just left her 12-year run at Comedy Central to produce independent films and consult for media brands like Peacock, NBC, and Lionsgate. She felt ready to pour her energy and focus into something impactful.
Skip ahead another decade to 2025, and Ganeless is still working with Comic Relief—but now as the CEO. When she heard in late 2024 that the current CEO was stepping down, she worried about how long it might take for the board to find a new leader. “Then it hit me: This could be a great opportunity for me,” she explains. “I could make an impact, had decades of experience in the comedy industry, and had 20 years of nonprofit experience on the board side. I knew the organization well. I could use my entertainment experience and also have a purpose-driven focus.”
Taking a Creative Approach to Meeting Growing Needs
Comic Relief leverages comedy and entertainment to create impact, spark interest, and encourage people to act. As a pass-through organization, it raises money for charitable causes and distributes it to grantee partners that support children and families in need.
In Ganeless’ eyes, this opportunity was her chance to not only lead but to reinvent. As fundraising models of the past, such as telethons and one-time charity events, lose their effectiveness, the need for support is only becoming greater. As many face significant funding cuts, there has never been a time when Comic Relief’s grantee partners needed help more than they do now.
“It’s incumbent upon us to come up with a more diversified fundraising strategy, and to be creative about our approach,” she describes. “We’ve got a great mission. We just have to get it out there.”
Ganeless had the chance to put that creativity into action from the jump. During her first week on the job, the Los Angeles fires broke out and spread quickly. In that moment, she looked at her new team and told them it was time to step up. She empowered them to reach out to the comedy community and invite them to perform at a benefit. Stars like Jon Stewart, Ramy Youssef, John Oliver, Desi Lydic, and Hannah Berner answered the call, selling out New York’s Town Hall to raise funds and provide relief to those affected by the fires.
A New Chapter Focused on Impact and Partnership
Even though she served on the Comic Relief board for several years before becoming CEO, Ganeless says there’s been a steep learning curve—and she appreciates that about the role. “You want to go into a job where you need to keep discovering and growing.”
For example, she’s learned to shift away from traditional conversations about business models, margins, and “spending money to make money” as she discovered that nonprofits don’t think that way. Instead, she and her team are exploring ways to make money while keeping costs as low as possible. “There are so many things that are analogous and use the same skillset I used in the corporate world, such as finding the best people, tapping into the best resources, and working with the right partners,” she explains. “But there are also things I’m still learning about, because this is not a traditional company.”
Her goals for her first year at Comic Relief don’t include changing the nonprofit’s model, plan, or fundraising targets. Instead, she wants to help the organization hone its message, how it talks about impact, and tell the story about why it’s called Comic Relief: because it uses the power of comedy to create positive change. She also plans to refine digital fundraising strategies and find ways to work with similar foundations and organizations to amplify their impact.
“Almost every issue in our world, whether it’s climate change, education, or healthcare, affects our kids, and there are so many organizations fighting for share right now,” Ganeless says. “I want Comic Relief to be a partner. When people are ready to give, I want their first thought to be, ‘I should partner with them to accomplish that.’ ”
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