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Black Lives Matter Foundation Announces $6.5 Million Fund to Support Organizing Work

Black Lives Matter Foundation (BLM Foundation), a US nonprofit global organization active in the US, UK, and Canada is grateful for the generosity and support of donors and is pleased to announce a $6.5 million fund to support grassroots organizing work. This fund is available to all chapters affiliated with the BLM Foundation. Starting July 1, 2020, affiliated chapters may apply for unrestricted grant funding of up to $500,000 in multi-year grants.

This initiative is part of BLM Foundation’s programmatic focus in 2020/2021, which includes helping to build local capacity for grassroots organizing work. In addition, BLM Foundation will continue to develop its media presence, including its civic engagement campaign, BLM’s What MATTERS 2020, and its viral video, Rest in Power, Beautiful, which has been viewed nearly 10 million times. Beginning in 2021, BLM Foundation will roll out its education platform, developing curriculum around its contributions to media, as well as a political education program.

“#Blacklivesmatter has become a cultural phenomenon since its inception in 2013, and has remained steadfast in its goals to eradicate white supremacy and build local power to end violence inflicted on Black communities by the state and vigilantes,” said Kailee Scales, Managing Director. “We know that in order to change policy, we must change culture. Black Lives Matter Foundation will continue to work to impact culture and policy by developing a strong media presence as well as working to help support local organizers on the ground.”

“In the upcoming year, we will provide resources to those new to the movement and interested in Black Liberation strategies by developing curriculum. In this stunning moment in American history, we will honor those lost, and those who have come before us in the fight for Black Liberation.” — Patrisse Cullors, co-founder and chair of BLM Foundation.

BLM Foundation, will also continue its Arts + Culture program, launched in 2015. BLM Arts + Culture has shown artists in Frieze Fair NYC, and Prizm Fair and NADA during Art Basel Week, Miami. BLM Foundation plans to continue to maintain a lean infrastructure in order to maximize its programmatic impact.

About BLM Foundation

#BlacklivesMatter was founded in 2013 in response to the acquittal of Trayvon Martin’s murderer. Black Lives Matter Foundation, is a global organization in the US, UK, and Canada, whose mission is to eradicate white supremacy and build local power to intervene in violence inflicted on Black communities by state and vigilantes. By combatting and countering acts of violence, creating space for Black imagination and innovation, and centering Black joy, we are winning immediate improvements in our lives.

About BLM Art+Culture

BLM Arts+Culture expands and explores art culture as it is reflective of the 1960s and 1970s when the Civil Rights, Black Power, and Women’s Rights Movement and efforts to diversify art institutions, dominated the discourse.

BLM Arts+Culture disrupts the status quo of the art world by uplifting emerging Black artists who speak audaciously, who are unafraid, and who stand in solidarity with the most marginalized among us. Artists who call on us to change the way we see ourselves and one another. Artists who center love, joy, dignity, and freedom.

For press contact: Jordan Jackson, [email protected]
To contribute to BLM’s Chapter Fund, please contact: [email protected]

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