Black Lives Matter has plunged into a struggle to stay afloat despite millions in donations from celebrities – and a $73 million handout from Silicon Valley Bank before its collapse.
Co-founder Patrisse Cullors spent more than $12 million on luxury real estate for the foundation before stepping down in 2021.
But the group defended the ever-growing portfolio, saying they would “increase transparency” but not reveal much more detail about a sprawling $6 million, 6,500-square-foot Studio City lot in Southern California.
At the height of protests over the death of George Floyd in May 2020, celebrities were quick to donate millions to the cause and the now-collapsed SVB.
Ever since The Washington Free Beacon received financial disclosures showing the dangerous state of BLM’s Global Network Foundation, pressure has increased on the charity to disclose what the funds were spent on.
Former Black Lives Matter co-founder Patrisse Cullors resigned as the organization’s chief executive amid controversy surrounding her real estate portfolio
At the height of the protests over the death of George Floyd in May 2020, celebrities quickly donated millions to charity
Financial records show the company is at risk of bankruptcy after running an $8.5 million deficit and the value of its investment accounts has fallen by nearly $10 million, with fundraising falling 88% year over year is.
examines the millions donated by celebrities and other causes – and details of Cullor’s $12 million luxury home portfolio:
Who Were the Celebrities Who Donated Millions to BLM?
Dozens of famous faces including Ariana Grande, Halsey and Cole Sprouse attended the protests, with Watermelon Sugar singer Harry Styles marching and donating thousands to BLM.
Chrissy Teigen was one of the first to donate $200,000 to people taking to the streets when her husband John Legend announced he would also be donating money to the charity.
Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds have pledged $200,000, and comedian-director Jordan Peele announced he would give them $1 million.
Actress Jennifer Anniston presented $1 million, former WWE star John Cena donated $1 million, and Canadian singer The Weeknd donated $200,000.
Angelina Jolie also donated $200,000, while Justin Bieber, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Ellen DeGeneres all pledged donations to the foundation but didn’t disclose the full amounts.
Watermelon Sugar singer Harry Styles demonstrated after the death of George Floyd and donated thousands to BLM
Actress Jennifer Aniston and former WWE star John Cena each gave $1 million to the foundation
Beauty mogul Kylie Jenner announced that her cosmetics brand had donated to multiple organizations and encouraged others to do the same.
Korean pop band BTS donated $1 million to Black Lives Matter organization and said they “stand against racial discrimination”.
Rock band Paramore announced it will be donating a total of $25,000 to Black Lives Matter Nashville, Campaign Zero and the American Civil Liberties Union.
Rihanna’s beauty brand Fenty announced that it would pledge money to three organizations and encouraged its followers to stand up against racism – though it didn’t say how much it had donated.
Mayim Bialik and Jim Parsons joined with the cast, crew and producers of Call Me Kat to make a donation to the City of Louisville, Kentucky’s Community Bail Fund to help those arrested in the recent protests.
Washington Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby and his wife Brandi donated $5,000 to Black Lives Matter DC.
Chris Evans, who plays Marvel’s Captain America, said he had donated and retweeted a video showing police manhandling protesters, but didn’t reveal the amount.
Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds pledged $200,000, and comedian/director Jordan Peele announced he would donate $1 million
Chrissy Teigen was one of the first to donate to people taking to the streets, giving $200,000 along with her husband, John Legend
Basketball star Michael Jordan and the Jordan brand have pledged to donate $100 million over the next decade to “organizations committed to racial equality, social justice and increased access to education.”
The organization said in February 2021 that it had earned more than $90 million in 2020 and still has $60 million in stock.
Last year it was down to $42 million, while Free Beacon reports that BLM has now spent two-thirds of the $90 million it had at its disposal.
In May last year, BLM told AP that they had invested in stocks about a third of the $90 million they received in donations amid the 2020 racial justice protests.
In BLM’s $12 million luxury real estate portfolio
Cullors founded Black Lives Matter in 2013 with co-founders Alicia Garza and Opal Tometi and describes herself as a Marxist.
Last year, the foundation came under increasing federal pressure after Cullors was accused of misusing donated funds.
Cullors has also faced widespread criticism for spending her millions on the numerous luxury properties – after documents and internal communications revealed some of the properties were being managed in a way that “blurred the boundaries”.
Questions were raised as to whether the line was being crossed between charitable causes and those that would benefit some of the organization’s leaders.
It’s been revealed that Cullors owns four residential properties in upscale — and mostly white — neighborhoods in California and Georgia
Cullors shared a video of her enjoying a posh brunch outside one of the luxury properties with her counterparts Alicia Garza and Melina Abdullah, both of whom have since left the organization.
Cullors (not pictured) enjoyed a chic brunch outside the property with their counterparts Alicia Garza and Melina Abdullah, both of whom have since left the organization
The sprawling 6,500 square meter site includes a sound stage, seven bedrooms and bathrooms and a swimming pool
In 2021, sources claimed Cullors was looking for a sprawling condo in the Bahamas — in the same beachfront resort where Tiger Woods and Justin Timberlake have homes.
Cullors strenuously denied that the group had purchased properties on the islands priced between $5 million and $20 million.
In October, the activist signed a “multiplatform” deal with Warner Bros. Television Group to help produce content for “black voices that have historically been marginalized.”
The properties are a far cry from how Cullors says she grew up — in a housing project less than a mile from the affluent and mostly white neighborhood of Sherman Oaks.
Describing reports of her properties as “right-wing bullying,” Cullors claimed the homes were purchased with the financial gain she received from her speaking and book deals, rather than the $90 million BLM raised in 2020 .
Hawk Newsome, the head of Black Lives Matter Greater New York City, which is not affiliated with Khan-Cullors’ Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation, called for “an independent investigation” to find out how the global network spends its money.
Studio City – $6M
In October 2020, BLM raised nearly $6 million in fundraising funds for a lavish estate in Studio City, an upscale Los Angeles neighborhood.
The purchase, which was all in cash, was completed five months after the killing of George Floyd, sparking numerous donations and nationwide protests.
The sprawling 6,500 square meter site includes a sound stage, seven bedrooms and bathrooms and a swimming pool.
It also features a soundstage, music studio, pool and parking lot for more than 20 cars – and was secretly bought by a BLM-affiliated shell company.
The fully modernized and renovated kitchen offers quality Thermador appliances, a wine fridge and a stone-topped island.
Cullors issued a statement denying that she had used the $6 million LA property for personal gain, but then had to back down and admitted to the AP that she had used the property for which were not purely business in nature.
The purchase, which was all in cash, was completed five months after the killing of George Floyd, sparking numerous donations and nationwide protests
It also features a soundstage, music studio, pool and parking lot for more than 20 cars – and was secretly bought by a BLM-affiliated shell company
The fully modernized and renovated kitchen offers quality Thermador appliances, a wine fridge and a stone-topped island
Toronto Mansion – $6.3M
Also in 2020, the group bought a 10,000-square-foot lot in downtown Toronto for the equivalent of $6.3 million.
The former Canadian Communist Party headquarters has been dubbed the Wildseed Center for Art and Activism by Canadian BLM members, who say it was bought with cash.
It was part of an $8 million grant out of the country in North America to “carry out activities to educate and support black communities and to purchase and renovate the property for charity.”
The group said it plans to use the premises as its main office in Canada and it’s unclear where the remaining $1.7 million will go as an “overseas grant.”
Cullors admitted she hosted two parties at the chic property – a birthday party for her son and a soiree to celebrate President Joe Biden’s 2020 presidential victory.
Tax returns show she repaid BLM $390 for “use of real estate.”
The former Canadian Communist Party headquarters has been dubbed the Wildseed Center for Art and Activism by Canadian BLM members, who say it was bought with cash
Malibu – $1.4M
Cullors purchased the three-bedroom, three-bathroom barn-style property in March 2021 for $1.4 million.
She moved to LA’s ritzy Topanga Canyon neighborhood — in LA’s well-known “hippie enclave” — after paying cash for her new home through an LLC, and has spent thousands on renovations.
Its 2,380 square meter area will feature a newly installed sauna and plunge pool, as well as a children’s slide and trampoline.
Exclusive images obtained by in October show a $35,000 fence being erected around the property and a new fire pit.
The property features “high ceilings, skylights and lots of windows” overlooking the canyon and includes two houses on a quarter-acre lot.
Cullors purchased the three-bedroom, three-bathroom barn-style property in March 2021 for $1.4 million
Its 2,380 square meter area will feature a newly installed sauna and plunge pool, as well as a children’s slide and trampoline
Inglewood—$800,000
She later bought a three bedroom, 1.5 bathroom home in Inglewood in 2021 for $510,000.
The property is now valued at nearly $800,000, and Cullors last year joined her wife, the co-founder of Black Lives Matter in Canada, in the deed in a family trust.
The couple married in 2016.
The property is now valued at nearly $800,000, and Cullors last year joined her wife, the co-founder of Black Lives Matter in Canada, in the deed in a family trust
South LA – $590,000
In 2018, Cullors bought a four-bedroom home in south Los Angeles, in a multi-racial neighborhood.
She paid $590,000 for the 1,725-square-foot home, although the price has since risen to $720,000, according to public records.
In 2018, Cullors bought a four-bedroom home in south Los Angeles, in a multi-racial neighborhood
Georgia – $415,000
Cullors and her wife bought a fourth property in 2020, a “bespoke ranch” on 3.2 acres of land in Conyers with a private aircraft hangar and studio apartment above.
There is also a 2,500 foot paved/grass community airstrip that can accommodate small aircraft.
The three-bedroom, two-bath Peach State Retreat, about 30 minutes from Atlanta, has an indoor pool and a separate “RV shop” that the property says can repair an RV or light aircraft.
It was purchased in January 2020 for $415,000, two years after the publication of Khan-Cullor’s best-selling memoir When They Call You a Terrorist.
They also have a 2,500-foot community “paved/grass” runway in Conyers, Georgia, which is suitable for small aircraft to land
How much money did the BLM co-founder pay family members to work for the foundation?
Paul Kamenar, an attorney with the National Legal and Policy Center monitoring group, accused Cullors of “keeping the funds in the family.”
He said: “While Patrisse Cullors was forced to resign amid allegations of using BLM funds for her personal use, it looks like she’s still keeping it all in the family.”
Cullers told the Into America podcast that the “white debt money” that was donated was “weaponized” against her after the cash flood hit and the foundation had no infrastructure to deal with it.
Despite the financial controversy and scrutiny, BLM GNF continued to hire relatives of Cullors and several board members, according to their tax returns.
Her brother Paul Cullors started two companies in 2022 that received $1.6 million to provide “professional security services” for Black Lives Matter.
Last year, the companies received $840,000 – although he has no experience in security and was previously a graffiti artist.
He was also one of the foundations to have just two paid associates during the year, and was paid $126,000 as a “head of security” in addition to his consulting fees.
Cullors, 38, faced criticism for a string of high-profile property purchases last year. She resigned after suffering backlash from critics and supporters
Despite the financial controversy and scrutiny, BLM GNF continued to hire relatives of Cullors and several board members, according to their tax returns
A consulting firm led by Shalomyah Bowers (pictured), board secretary of BLM and previously executive director, was awarded more than $2.1 million to provide operational support to the organization
Cullors herself told the AP she hired him because registered security firms hire ex-cops and they can’t be trusted – because of the group’s opposition to police brutality.
Tax filings also revealed that BLM paid a company owned by Damon Turner, the father of Cullors’ child, nearly $970,000 to “produce live events” and provide other “creative services” in 2021. to help.
Danielle Edwards, who runs consultancy New Impact, was hired by BLM GNF. Her brother Raymond Howard was a member of the BLM board
They also revealed that they only had two paid employees with salaries – Paul Cullors and Kailee Scales, who received $124,702 and $114,625, respectively.
Documents also revealed that they spent $76,000 on travel in just one year and employed an estimated 82,600 volunteers.
Cullors reimbursed BLM $73,523 for a charter flight for foundation-related travel, which the organization said she took in 2021 amid concerns about COVID-19 and safety threats.
A consulting firm led by BLM Board Member Shalomyah Bowers was awarded $2.1 million to provide operational support to the organization in 2021.
Bowers, who succeeded Cullors after her retirement, also benefited significantly from the group: In 2022, his consulting firm received $1.7 million for management and consulting services, Free Beacon reported.
In September, he and the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation were accused of stealing more than $10 million from the group in a high-profile lawsuit from other organizers of the movement.
A lawsuit filed in Los Angeles said the board member used the group as a “personal piggy bank.”
He did not comment on the allegations, but issued a statement of support for BLMGNF in the case. contacted its lawyers for comment.
BLM paid nearly $970,000 to a company owned by Damon Turner (left), father of co-founder Patrisse Cullors’ (right) child, to help it “live event production” and provide other “creative services.” help.
Her brother Paul Cullors (left) started two companies in 2022 that received $1.6 million to provide “professional security services” for Black Lives Matter
The sister of former Black Lives Matter board member Raymond Howard has also been employed in a lucrative role as a consultant.
According to Free Beacon, the firm received $1.1 million in consulting services from Danielle Edwards, New Impact Partners, in 2022.
BLM GNF also agreed to pay an additional $600,000 to the consulting firm of an unidentified former board member “in connection with a contract dispute,” according to tax records.
The nonprofit group ran an $8.5 million deficit and the value of its investment accounts fell nearly $10 million last fiscal year, financial disclosures show.
Cullors admitted the group was ill-prepared to handle the tsunami of donations that poured in as it rose to international prominence following the May 2020 killing of George Floyd.
It’s unknown if the group paid out lucrative contract fees to Cullors’ friends and family after installing a new board in June 2022.
The board is now led by nonprofit consultant Cicley Gay, who has filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy three times since 2005.
Gay was ordered by a court to attend financial management classes and had more than $120,000 in unpaid debts at the time of her appointment in April 2022.