By Suzanne Downing 
The US Department of Justice is investigating allegations of fraud and donor deception involving leaders of the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation. That’s the central funding arm of the Black Lives Matter movement.
The probe focuses on how the group handled more than $90 million in donations that poured in after the 2020 death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin.
According to an Associated Press report published Oct. 30, federal investigators have issued subpoenas to the foundation and related entities and executed at least one search warrant as part of the inquiry. The investigation seeks to determine whether senior officials diverted donor funds for personal use rather than for racial justice and community programs, as donors were led to believe.
The review reportedly began during the Biden administration but has gained new momentum under the Justice Department. Federal authorities are examining potential wire-fraud and money-laundering violations linked to the foundation’s rapid fundraising surge following the 2020 protests, which spanned the United States and spread internationally.
The Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation reported taking in over $90 million in 2020 alone, a staggering increase over previous years. By 2021, the foundation’s reported assets reached roughly $92 million before declining as it issued grants and made expenditures. Critics have long questioned how the organization distributed those funds and whether transparency requirements were met.
Among the issues drawing scrutiny are reports of high executive compensation and major real-estate purchases, including a $6 million property in Southern California that the foundation described as a “Black organizing hub.” The property became a lightning rod for controversy after revelations about its purchase and management raised concerns about financial accountability.
The Justice Department’s subpoenas are believed to demand access to internal financial records, donor correspondence, and executive transactions tied to BLMGNF and associated advocacy groups. The sealed search warrant is thought to relate to document or data seizures critical to establishing a financial trail.
The scope of the investigation extends beyond the foundation itself to other Black-led organizations that received grants or shared funding pipelines during the height of the 2020 riots. No charges have been filed, and the Justice Department has not commented publicly on the ongoing investigation.