The Studio Museum in Harlem
Founded in 1968, The Studio Museum in Harlem is dedicated to collecting, preserving, and interpreting art created by Black artists across the US and the African Diaspora. Its Harlem’s Artist in Residence program has helped launch the careers of nearly 150 artists of African descent and continues to serve as an incubator of Black talent. The Museum also offers learning and engagement programming in partnership with local schools and community organizations in Harlem and beyond.
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
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
Brazil Human Rights Fund
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
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.
WMG/BFF SJF 2022 Highlights
Our Three-Year Impact 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 founded in 2020 in the wake of the murder of George Floyd. Our mission is to help advance equity and justice for historically underserved and marginalized populations by investing in impactful, community-led organizations.

AREAS OF IMPACT

Criminal Justice Reform. Addressing injustice in the criminal legal system.

Education. Creating learning opportunities and career pathways in the music, arts, and entertainment industries.

Arts and Culture. Elevating and preserving cultures, expanding access to the arts, and promoting social justice through art

OUR CURRENT GRANTEES

AAPI Civic Engagement Fund
AAPI Civic Engagement Fund
Black Lives in Music
Black Lives in Music
Girls Make Beats (GMB)
Girls Make Beats (GMB)
JULIAN
JULIAN
LeadersUp
LeadersUp
No Label Academy
No Label Academy
Image of Project Level
Project Level
Image of StopWatch
StopWatch
Image of The Ladies of Hope Ministries
The Ladies of Hope Ministries
Image of The Marshall Project
The Marshall Project
Image of The Sarz Academy
The Sarz Academy
Image of The Studio Museum of Harlem
The Studio Museum in Harlem
Image of We Are Family Foundation

We Are Family Foundation

The Brotherhood Sister Sol
Children's Rights Innovation Fund
Children’s Rights Innovation Fund (CRIF)

Fem the Future
Image of Funders' Collaborative on Youth Organization
Funders’ Collaborative on Youth Organizing
URGE: Unite for Reproductive and Gender Equity (URGE)
Image of Youth Organizing and Culture Change Fund (YOCCF)
Youth Organizing and Culture Change Fund (YOCCF)
Caribbean Cultural Center African Diaspora Institute (CCCADI)
Caribbean Cultural Center African Diaspora Institute (CCCADI)
Save The Music
Unlock Her Potential
Unlock Her Potential
Image of Universal Hip Hop Museum
Universal Hip Hop Museum
A New Way of Life
Anti-Recidivism Coalition (ARC)
Anti-Recidivism Coalition (ARC)
ARRAY Alliance
ARRAY Alliance
Bard Prison Initiative
Black Alliance for Just Immigration (BAJI)
Black Organizing for Leadership and Dignity (BOLD)
Brazil Human Rights Fund
Borealis Philanthropy
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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
Flamboyan Arts Fund
Jacksonville Arts & Music School
Pop Culture Collaborative
Rio Ferdinand Foundation
Steven Lawrence Day Foundation

ADVISORY BOARD

Rayna Bass

Co-President of 300 Entertainment and Atlantic Records Hip Hop, R&B, and Global

Val Blavatnik headshot
Val Blavatnik

Special Advisor to the Office of the CEO at WMG

Blavatnik Family Foundation

Lou Dickler

Controller and Chief Accounting Officer at WMG

Yrthya Dinzey-Flores

SVP of People, Engagement & Culture at WMG

Shani Gonzales

President of Warner Chappell UK and Head of International A&R at Warner Chappell Music

Priscilla Kotey

Managing Director of Warner Music Ireland

Michael Lynton headshot
Michael Lynton

Chairman at Snap Inc.

Julian Petty

EVP and Head of Business & Legal Affairs at Warner Records

Peter Thoren headshot
Peter L. Thoren

Executive Vice President at Access Industries, Inc.

Elsa Vivero

Global Commercial Services at WMG

Eric Wong

EVP, Recorded Music at WMG
President, East West Records US
President, Warner Music Canada

GRANT INQUIRIES

The WMG/BFF Social Justice Fund is not currently accepting unsolicited grant applications, inquiries, or proposals.

Should our funding process change in the future to include open applications, we will post an update and application guidelines on our website.

press inquiries

For press inquiries, please contact [email protected].

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