The Warner Music | Blavatnik Center for Music Business at Howard University was founded in 2021 to address the underrepresentation of Black executives and professionals in the music industry and prepare the next generation of successful Black music industry trailblazers. The Center provides world-class curriculum, career readiness training, executive-in-residence mentorship, and certification programs.
Fem the Future was founded by Atlantic Records artist Janelle Monáe to build a fem-forward future by creating opportunities for under-resourced girls and non-binary youth of color in music, arts, and education
The Brazil Human Rights Fund aims to promote respect for human rights in Brazil, channeling resources to strengthen civil society organizations and to develop philanthropy for social justice. The Fund’s grant supports Black-led grassroots orgs in addressing systemic violence in their communities; advancing racial equity and criminal justice reform.
Anti-Recidivism Coalition empowers formerly and currently incarcerated people to thrive by providing a support network, comprehensive reentry services, and opportunities to advocate for policy change.
Our 2022 highlights can be seen here!

About Us

The Warner Music Group / Blavatnik Family Foundation Social Justice Fund (WMG/BFF SJF) is a ten-year $100 million fund established in June 2020, in the wake of George Floyd’s murder and the killings of countless other Black and marginalized individuals at the hands of people in positions of privilege and power.

We Support

The Brotherhood Sister Sol
Children’s Rights Innovation Fund (CRIF)
Fem the Future
Funders’ Collaborative on Youth Organizing
SPARK Reproductive Justice Now! (SPARK)
URGE: Unite for Reproductive and Gender Equity (URGE)
Youth Organizing and Culture Change Fund (YOCCF)
Black Lives in Music
Caribbean Cultural Center African Diaspora Institute (CCCADI)
Girls Make Beats
Project Level
Save The Music
Unlock Her Potential
Universal Hip Hop Museum
A New Way of Life
Anti-Recidivism Coalition (ARC)
ARRAY Alliance
Bard Prison Initiative
Black Alliance for Just Immigration (BAJI)
Black Organizing for Leadership and Dignity (BOLD)
Brazil Human Rights Fund
Borealis Philanthropy
Diversify the Stage
Gender Amplified
Grantmakers for Girls of Color
The Hidden Genius Project
Highlander Research and Education Center
Manos Visibles
West Africa Vocational Education (WAVE)
The Africa Center
Overtown Youth Center (OYC)
Ashé Cultural Arts Center
REFORM Alliance
Black Cultural Archives (BCA)
Black Futures Lab
Florida Rights Restoration Coalition (FRRC)
Howard University
Rhythm & Blues Foundation

Our Mission

The WMG/BFF SJF invests in organizations around the globe that build more just and equitable communities and create real change in the lives of historically underserved and marginalized people. We focus our investments on organizations that are led by and work to benefit affected populations, principally Black populations, in their intersectional dimensions. Our sustained, long term investments focus on our three key strategic pillars: education, arts and culture, and criminal justice reform, with the belief that work in these areas will aid in dismantling structural racism and advancing equity and justice for all people.

WHAT WE DO

Grantmaking. Through our Core Fund, SJF Repertoire Fund, and Resilience Fund, we counter the chronic underinvestment of organizations led by Black and historically marginalized people.

Capacity-Building. We provide training, technical assistance and coaching to our Core Fund Grantee Partners to strengthen operations in fundraising, financial management, HR, IT, marketing and beyond. With greater sustainability, our grantee partners are positioned to deepen their impact and influence.

Community-Building. Through our Grantee Convening and networking opportunities, we connect global racial justice movement leaders with each other — and their music industry peers — to exchange ideas, innovate and collaborate.

Impact Reports

June 2020-2021

NEWS

FISCAL PARTNER

Moore Philanthropy Impact logo

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Lorelei Williams currently serves as Executive Director of the Warner Music Group / Blavatnik Family Foundation Social Justice Fund (WMG/BFF SJF). The WMG/BFF SJF drives racial justice at the intersection of culture and systemic change. Previously, Lorelei served as SVP of Grant Programs at Comic Relief U.S., a nonprofit that leverages the power of entertainment to help address child poverty. Prior to this, Lorelei spent 15+ years advising non-profit and philanthropic clients in the U.S., Brazil, and South Africa. She is a graduate of Yale and Harvard universities.

Board of DirectorS

Temi Adeniji headshot
Temi Adeniji

Managing Director, WM South Africa / SVP, Sub-Saharan Africa Strategy and SVP, Special Projects at WMG

Mark Baker headshot
Mark Baker

SVP, Public Policy & Government Relations at WMG

Val Blavatnik

Blavatnik Family Foundation

Tanya Coke

Director of Gender, Racial and Ethnic Justice at the Ford Foundation

Austin Daboh headshot
Austin Daboh

EVP at Atlantic Records UK

Shawn Gee headshot
Shawn Gee

President of Live Nation Urban / Principal and Partner at Live Nation’s Maverick Management

Camille Hackney headshot
Camille Hackney

Chief Partnerships Officer at Atlantic Records / Head of Global Brand Partnerships at WMG

Paul Henderson headshot
Paul Henderson

Executive Director at the San Francisco Department of Police Accountability (DPA)

Alencia Johnson headshot
Alencia Johnson

Advocate & Political Strategist / Chief Impact Officer & Founder of 1063 West Broad

Michael Lynton headshot
Michael Lynton

Chairman at Snap Inc.

Riggs Morales headshot
Riggs Morales

SVP, Urban A&R at Atlantic Records

Ryan Press headshot
Ryan Press

President, A&R, U.S. at Warner Chappell Music

Maurice Stinnett headshot
Maurice Stinnett

Global Head of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at WMG

Mona Sutphen headshot
Mona Sutphen

Senior Advisor at The Vistria Group LLC

Peter Thoren headshot
Peter L. Thoren

Executive Vice President, Access Industries, Inc.

Eric Wong

President & Chief Marketing Officer, Warner Recorded Music at WMG

Contact us

Press Inquiries
General Questions & Suggestions
Back to top