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YOUTH TO THE FRONT FUND

We Are Family Foundation (WAFF) is committed to fighting systemic racism, inequality, and injustice. 

We Are Family Foundation created the Youth To The Front Fund to support and fund under 30-year-old youth activists, youth-led organizations, projects, innovations and creative solutions that are at the forefront of fighting systemic racism, inequality, inequity and injustice in the United States and around the world.

 
 
“I am grateful for the histories I got from my late grandparents. I can only hope that my and others’ descendants will appreciate the cultural history and environmental knowledge documented in these recordings. Our community relies on spoken word and oral histories.”
— Zavia Jenkins, “The Creatives” Frontliner
“The truth is street dance was — and continues to be used — as a positive outlet in response to oppression faced by BIPOC communities.”
— Keith Dang, “The Creatives” Frontliner
“By shining a light on their artistry, talent and accomplishments, we challenge the historical erasure and underrepresentation of Black women in the jazz genre.”
— Yetunde Sapp, “The Creatives” Frontliner
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“Art and activism have always gone hand in hand. Art is our universal language. Artists and creatives are the truth-tellers, witnesses of culture and the voices of humanity who expose and push societies forward. That’s activism at its best. Our new class of Frontliners are The Creatives of our time who are fighting racism, inequality and injustice through their artistic lens creating necessary change locally and globally. As a former Black Panther and an artist and activist myself, I am honored to be in the company of this next generation of truth-tellers.”
— Nile Rodgers, Co-Founder & Chairman
 

“THE CREATIVES” — MEET THE NEW YOUTH TO THE FRONT FUND FRONTLINERS

We Are Family Foundation (WAFF) is honored to introduce “The Creatives” — the newest Youth To The Front Fund (YTTFF) Frontliners representing 26 countries on 5 continents and 9 states in the United States.

“The Creatives” encompass 25 artivists, collectives, cultural storytellers and creative organizers who use their voice and the power of art to address systemic injustice and shift narratives in local and global communities.

“The Creatives” were introduced in a 30-second Art Ad airing on NBCUniversal’s Saturday Night Live. Directed by Michael Holman, acclaimed filmmaker and Jean-Michel Basquiat collaborator, this intergenerational video spans generations of creatives, featuring Nile Rodgers’ chart-topping hit “Unforgiven” with K-Pop stars LE SSERAFIM.

“The Creatives” employ diverse artistic mediums as storytelling practices and justice-driven projects honoring Black, Indigenous and People of Color communities around the world. They are:

  • Creating safe spaces for marginalized and underrepresented communities

  • Spearheading education equity, community engagement and freedom of speech

  • Advocating for LGBTQIA+, climate, arts, gender, social justice — and more

 
 
 

ABOUT THE YOUTH TO THE FRONT FUND

We Are Family Foundation (WAFF), co-founded in 2002 by music icon and philanthropist  Nile Rodgers and inspired by the power and true meaning of his song, "We Are Family", has always focused on bringing people together from different ethnicities, cultures and backgrounds. 

For over two decades, WAFF has been a leader in identifying, amplifying and supporting the actions and voices of diverse youth leaders across the globe who are actively and positively addressing issues surrounding our basic human needs — food, water, shelter, health, safety, education and the environment. However, ALL of those basic human needs are further compromised by systemic racism and injustice in our society. 

Traditionally, the nonprofit philanthropic space has made the genius of youth, particularly within the BIPOC community, invisible. WAFF addresses this gap in philanthropic racial equity through the innovative Youth To The Front Fund (YTTFF) program. 

YTTFF supports and funds under-30-year-old BIPOC youth activists and allies, youth-led organizations, collectives, projects, innovations and creative solutions that are at the forefront of fighting systemic racism, inequality, inequity and injustice in the United States and around the world. We call them “Frontliners”.

Since its inception in July 2020 after the murder of George Floyd, YTTFF has funded 90+ Frontliners, from 35+ countries on 6 continents with grants totaling $800,000+ through funding partnerships with EXCELerate Foundation, SAP, Sony Music, Walton Family Foundation and Warner Music Social Justice Fund / Blavatnik Family Foundation.

Inspired by Nile Rodgers’ lifelong spirit of activism and creative genius, YTTFF recently expanded its funding efforts to support “The Creatives” Frontliners, illuminating the significance of using the power of art to transform the future and reclaim humanity. 

If you have any questions regarding the Youth To The Front Fund, please email us at youthtothefront@wearefamilyfoundation.org.

“To create social change and to contribute to a democratic life, we must engage in co-creation that is based on collective thinking and collective learning.”
— Beats By Girlz Türkiye, “The Creatives” Frontliner Collective
 
 

A Message from Nile Rodgers…

 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

  • Allyship is important to anti-racist and social justice work. While our aim is to support and further the work of BIPOC individuals and communities, we encourage those who do not identify as BIPOC, but offer a project scope and design that illustrates solidarity and allyship with BIPOC individuals, communities and organizations, to also apply.

  • Each specific call has a specified grant amount range. Please check the application call description.

  • We believe that structural inequality are systemic challenges that are experienced across and beyond geographic borders and we invite our global family to apply, no matter what country they reside in.

  • Currently, the review and selection process takes 8-10 weeks from the Main Application submission.

  • Yes, but we prefer to have the chapter leadership in each location apply directly on behalf of their work.

  • Yes.

  • If you have any questions, inquiries or concerns, please email us.

  • No. As part of our efforts to center and empower youth organizing, you MUST be under 30 through December 31st of the application call year.

  • To apply for the Youth To The Front Fund, first create an account on Submittable here then access the application here. Please note our Submittable page will only display applications which are open. If no application is present, please wait for the next call for applications.

  • You qualify as a “collective” if you are a mission-driven group coming together to disrupt unjust systems, reimagine the world and mobilize local and global communities towards a liberated humanity.

  • For any technical issues with your Submittable account, please fill in a query via this link and keep us posted. Submittable technicians should be able to sort you out as soon as possible.

  • Some grant calls are specific for certain approaches or systems of organizing. Please always crosscheck the grant call and eligibility to ensure your work aligns with the call for applications.

  • We encourage you to apply if you feel you meet eligibility requirements and the application call aligns with the mission of your work.

    Our team does not conduct any preliminary calls or readings of applications as this does not provide an equitable approach to our review practice.