hat came in and what came out. Last week, the Black Lives Matter Global Foundation tax filing was widely reported. It tells one story. Dr. Melina Abdullah Director of Black Lives Matter Grassroots (BLMGR) revealed a similar, but painfully different reality–steeped in facts and uncomfortable truths. Then, there’s BLM Political Action Committee. Let’s look at how the third spinoff differs from the other two namesakes.

Unpacking the multilayered homonymic entities can be confusing. Understanding where the $90 million in donations went has now been answered.

It’s important to point out no criminal or illegal acts are alleged by the IRS. The report may give the appearance of conflict of interest and raises questions about best practices and stewardship by BLM Co-founder Patrisse Cullors.

Wednesday, Abdullah held a press conference with invited Black journalists and media outlets. The hour-long zoom was an on-the-record open discussion facilitated by KBLA’s Dominique DiPrima. (Tthe recorded press conference can be found at the bottom of this article.)

BLMGR representatives from Boston. Long Beach, and Michigan joined Abdullah in their first public reaction to the IRS Form 990 release. Karlene Griffiths Sekou. Audrena Redmond, and Angela Waters Austin–all active members of their BLM chapters since 2014–learned about the organizations financials at the same time as the public.

Here is what we learned.

Breakdown of the three separate Black Lives Matter organizations

There are three affiliated, but completely separate Black Lives Matter organizations:

• Black Lives Matter Grassroots (BLMGR), the original collective derived from the birth of BLM in 2013, comprised of chapters and organizers who “do the work”.

• Black Lives Matter Political Action Committee (BLM PAC), since 2020, endorses and supports candidates running for office.

• Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation (BLM GNF), since 2020, receives and controls the vast majority of BLM’s resources, including funding, investments, and property holdings.

Black Lives Matter Grassroots (BLMGR) is Back Lives Matter – We are the original Black Lives Matter formation. We do the work and are the “boots on the ground” in the struggle for Black liberation.

Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation (BLM GNF) is currently run by a group of consultants and newcomers who have not been a significant part of BLM Grassroots’ work on the ground. BLM GNF held the $90 million that was donated to Black Lives Matter in 2020, as well as subsequent donations. According to BLM GF’s reporting, they have $43 million remaining.

Since March 2022 BLM GNF has taken sole authority over Black Lives Matter social media accounts. (Accounts previously had shared Grassroots/GNF access, with BLMGR posting most content and serving as the primary “voice.”) This means the content does not necessarily reflect the priorities or positions of Grassroots and some posts are in direct contradiction to BLM stances.

There is also an inability for Grassroots chapters and organizers to “go live” from rapid-response actions, demonstrations, protests, or discuss urgent matters in real-time. BLMGR is working to regain access. For on-the-ground updates and movement-based work, please follow @blmgrassroots.

• Black Lives Matter Grassroots were made aware of the reported IRS Form 990s at the same time the public was apprised, and Grassroots has no additional information about GNF finances. According to media outlets who have reported on this, there does not appear to be criminality shown in what was released. 2021-2022 990s are set to be released in November 2022; BLM GR does not have any advance information.

• 2022 and recent BLMGR campaigns include; working to end qualified immunity; Black Women Are Divine; Verified Black-Owned (#BuildBlack to support Black organizations, #BuyBlack to support Black businesses;; #BankBlack – put your money in Black-owned banks), working to end police associations (which are not unions), advocating for a #PeoplesBudget (to divest from systems of harm, like prisons and police, and invest in systems of care like education, good jobs, mental health, housing, etc.).

• Beyond the campaigns, BLMGR’s central work is rapid-response and ongoing justice organizing. Chapter organizers are working to bring justice in the names of hundreds of people killed by police and white supremacy. Grassroots is currently mobilizing nationally to respond to the massacre of Black people by a white-supremacist terrorist in Buffalo, New York. BLM Michigan is organizing in the name of #Patrick Kyoya. In Los Angeles, after nearly three years of organizing in the name of #RyanTwyman and alongside his family, the Los Angeles Sheriff deputy who murdered him is now standing trial. These are but a few examples.

• The Tides Foundation is an unaffiliated philanthropic outfit that was the fiscal sponsor for Black Lives Matter before BLM GNF was formed. Tides currently hold the funds earmarked for BLM Grassroots chapter support.

• Individual chapters may have resources of their own; however, BLM GNF controls all of the money described in the 990 forms and the vast majority of funds donated from 2020 to 2022.

• To be clear, Black Lives Matter Grassroots supports Black nonprofits and social justice organizations being well-resourced. The development of a diverse portfolio of assets, which includes real estate holdings, seems a savvy way to grow funds and is in line with non-profit best practices.

• BLM GR also believes the organizers who do the work on the ground should have a primary say in how those funds and assets are used.

What came in and came out. How did BLM Global Foundation use the money and who are the beneficiaries.

Here’s the breakdown reported by InfluenceWatch.

• In May 2022, BLM Global Network Foundation released its IRS Form 990, covering the period from July 1, 2020, to June 30, 2021.

• It reported that it had received $79,644,823 in total revenue, incurred $37,710,135 in total expenses, and had total net assets of $41,934,688.

• Its expenses included $25,997,945 worth of grants, of which $17,971,790 was paid to domestic organizations and $8,026,155 to foreign organizations.

• The form disclosed two officers: Patrisse Cullors, who served in an uncompensated capacity as executive director, and former managing director Kailee Scales, who was paid $139,625 in severance.

• It also disclosed that Cullors had reimbursed BLM Global Network Foundation $73,523 for a charter flight she had taken for foundation-related travel in 2021, and $390 for her use of the nonprofit’s property for private events. During the fiscal year, Cullors was BLM Global Network Foundation’s only voting director, and no board meetings were held.

• The form revealed that BLM Global Network Foundation had paid substantial sums of money to businesses run by individuals closely connected to the nonprofit and its leadership. It reported paying $2,167,894 to Bowers Consulting Firm, a for-profit business run by BLM Global Network Foundation board member Shalomyah Bowers, for a variety of operational and administrative services.

• It also reported paying $969,459 to Trap Heals LLC, a for-profit business founded by Damon Turner, who is the father of a child with Patrisse Cullors. It paid $840,993 for “professional security services” to Cullors Protection LLC, which is run by Paul Cullors, the brother of Patrisse Cullors.

What you need to know about BLMGR

In a follow-up email, Black Lives Matter Grassroots spokesperson stated ”Black Lives Matter Grassroots is the original formation of Black Lives Matter, birthed July 13, 2013. It is comprised of chapters on-the-ground committed to ending state-sanctioned violence against Black people. The mission of Black Lives Matter Grassroots is to support, sustain, empower, and uplift the necessary agitations, mobilizations, organizing, education, expressions, initiatives, and advocacy of Black Lives Matter chapters, partnering organizations, groups, and people in order to fulfill our sacred duty to advance Black liberation.”