Clay Aiken has donated his time and voice to multiple organizations and benefit events. He has been a dedicated advocate for education and for children's causes. His interest in autism issues led him, along with Diane Bubel (whose son Michael is diagnosed with autism and was tutored by Aiken), to found the Bubel/Aiken Foundation (BAF), which supports the integration of children with disabilities into the life environment of their non-disabled peers.

Clay was appointed a United States Fund for UNICEF National Ambassador, which enables him to further his mission to help ensure that children everywhere are afforded a primary education.