Recent tax filings for Archewell Foundation revealed that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, as directors, only worked an hour per week in 2021. This disclosure has drawn criticism from the public, but experts suggest that this is a standard practice among charitable foundation directors.
After stepping back from their royal duties in 2020, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex established Archewell Foundation and later launched Archewell Audio and Archewell Productions as part of their content creation endeavors. In March, the foundation's IRS 990 filings were made public, detailing its financial reports for the 2021 tax year.
Despite the low working output, attorney Seth Perlman, partner of Perlman & Perlman LLP, informed Newsweek that this is "not unusual" and explained, "You'll typically see that listed for many directors." He added that if board meetings are held quarterly, it would amount to 12 hours per quarter, which is a typical duration for board members to perform their duties.
Perlman advised against criticizing Prince Harry and Meghan Markle for their work output, explaining that their role as directors requires them to establish the organization's mission and vision, oversee its financials, and approve grants, among other responsibilities. Cliff Schneider, managing partner of Cohen Schneider Law, echoed Perlman's sentiments, stating that the couple's working hours align with those of other directors in similar organizations.
Notable organizations like the Obama Foundation and the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative also reportedly list their directors' work output similarly to the Sussexes.
In addition to their working hours, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle disclosed other financial details for Archewell Foundation. The charity received over $13 million in donations, with $3 million allocated for charities and grants. These grants included contributions to Harvard, World Central Kitchen, the NAACP, and the Loveland Foundation.
Though they don't receive payment for their work at Archewell Foundation, the couple has earned income through their deals with Netflix and Spotify. The New York Post estimates they received around $100 million for their "Harry & Meghan" docuseries and between $15m to $18m for their "Archetypes" podcast. Additionally, Prince Harry earned $20 million for his memoir "Spare" published by Penguin Random House.
