- Federal prosecutors have launched a wide-ranging probe into BLMGNF over possible misdirection of the $90M-plus raised after George Floyd’s death.
- Past financial red flags, lawsuits, and convictions of affiliated leaders fuel scrutiny and risk chilling donations to Black-led causes.
Federal prosecutors have opened a wide-ranging investigation into the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation (BLMGNF), zeroing in on whether its leaders siphoned off tens of millions in donations poured in during the explosive 2020 racial justice protests sparked by George Floyd’s killing.
Sources close to the matter told the Associated Press that in just the past few weeks, the Justice Department has fired off subpoenas and executed at least one search warrant targeting the foundation and several other Black-led groups that rode the same wave of nationwide demonstrations.
The probe, which quietly kicked off under the Biden administration before picking up steam now, centers on the foundation’s handling of more than $90 million that flooded in after Floyd’s death in Minneapolis police custody.
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Donors—everyday people, celebrities, and corporations alike—opened their wallets thinking the cash would fuel grassroots activism against police brutality. Instead, questions have swirled for years about lavish spending, including a $6 million Los Angeles compound complete with a pool and soundstage, originally pitched as a hub for Black artists but quickly dubbed a “mansion” in headlines.
BLMGNF pushed back hard in a statement emailed to reporters: “We remain committed to full transparency, accountability, and the responsible stewardship of resources dedicated to building a better future for Black communities.”
The group insisted it is “not a target of any federal criminal investigation,” though insiders say the flurry of legal paperwork tells a different story.
Previous Federal Involvement
This isn’t the first time BLM’s books have come under the microscope. Back in 2022, the foundation finally released its first big tax filing, showing it had blown through $37 million on grants, real estate, consultants, and more—leaving $42 million in the bank.
That same year, it faced heat for paying out millions to firms tied to its own leaders, like a consulting gig for board member Shalomyah Bowers that critics slammed as a conflict of interest.
Bowers fired back at the time, saying his company “stepped in when Black Lives Matter had no structure and no staff” and filled a desperate gap.
The drama escalated when BLM Grassroots—a network of local chapters—slapped Bowers and the foundation with a $10 million lawsuit, accusing him of treating donor funds like his “personal piggy bank” and blocking access to social media accounts. A Los Angeles judge tossed the case after the plaintiffs couldn’t back up their claims, but the bad blood lingers.
Out in the field, affiliated activists have already paid a steep price for crossing the line. Take Tyree Conyers-Page, who styled himself “Sir Maejor Page” and ran Black Lives Matter of Greater Atlanta. He got slapped with 42 months in federal prison last year for pocketing over $450,000 in donations meant for the cause—spending it on custom suits, a fancy house, and other personal splurges.
Prosecutors called it straight-up wire fraud and money laundering.
Then there’s Monica Cannon-Grant, head of the BLM-aligned Violence in Boston. She pleaded guilty to federal charges for cooking her taxes and misusing COVID relief funds and rental aid that was supposed to help the community.
Even state watchdogs got involved early on. Indiana’s AG sued the foundation in 2022 for dragging its feet on financial docs, only dropping the case after BLM coughed up the paperwork. California and others poked around too, citing the need to protect donors who might’ve been taken for a ride.
By 2023, the money spigot had slowed to a trickle—just $9 million in donations, down from the 2020 bonanza. The foundation ended that fiscal year $8.5 million in the red, with assets dipping to about $30 million. Its latest IRS filing pegs holdings at $28 million as of mid-2024.
What Happens Now?
Critics from across the spectrum say the feds’ involvement could chill giving to Black causes altogether. Civil rights groups worry it’s part of a broader chill under the new Trump DOJ, targeting progressive outfits that clashed with the administration.
But for many donors still wondering where their dollars landed, this probe feels like long-overdue accountability.
No charges have dropped yet, and the investigation could fizzle out. But with subpoenas flying and warrants served, the Black Lives Matter foundation—once the beating heart of a global movement—now finds itself fighting for its reputation in a courtroom spotlight it never asked for.
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