JAQUEL KNIGHT FOUNDATION

The JaQuel Knight Foundation is a nonprofit organization started by celebrity choreographer JaQuel Knight. The Foundation is dedicated to putting a spotlight on diversity and helping creators of all backgrounds achieve equity as it relates to their work. Through grants, scholarships, and community-driven events, we strive to create fair access and opportunities to aid in the advancement of dancers and creatives of marginalized communities. We believe that equal opportunity not only maximizes the potential of creatives, but propels the culture forward as a whole. Our foundation stands with the underserved and underrepresented in the entertainment industry, and stands as an active resource for their procurement. The JaQuel Knight Foundation was established to impact, inspire, and encourage the next generation of artists - the true heartbeats of our mission as we dedicate ourselves to the communities that drive culture and change.

Started just weeks into the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020, as the entertainment industry came to a complete halt - negatively impacting the financial security of thousands of dancers and performance industry professionals - JaQuel partnered with various dancer relief organizations across the nation in order the launch The JaQuel Knight Dancers’ Relief Fund, providing grants and meals to dancers and creatives whose lives and work were impacted by the pandemic. Relief organizations included the Dancer Resource Center, Atlanta Dancer Relief Fund, and Dancers United which teamed up with the Foundation to raise funds, aimed to assist Los Angeles, Atlanta, Miami, New York based dancers affected by the pandemic’s cancellations and closures. Through its various initiatives, the Foundation raised $207,305.36 in its first year.

The Foundation now is committed to providing resources to artists who come from underserved or underrepresented communities, and building a community that supports each other, where artists and creators can feel respected and valued. Various initiatives have included:

JKF x Everytable partnered to provide meals to the dance community in March and November of 2020. Dancers and creatives impacted by COVID-19 were able to pick up healthy meals as part of the giveaway. JKF also served NoHo Nursing home and homeless in Skid Row, with over 3,000 meals donated.

The Debbie Allen Dance Academy and JKF co-hosted a 12-hour IG Live Dance-A-Thon with a roster of celebrity guests including Cardi B, Chaka Khan, Catherine Zeta-Jones, and more. The event saw numerous dance performances from some of the world's most renowned dancers and choreographers, and raised money for creatives communities impacted by the pandemic.

The Passion Project Grant was initiated to provide funds to artists of color to support their creative projects during these trying times. We granted $6,000 each to 3 different start-up projects started by BIPOC creators.

In July 2021, the JaQuel Knight Foundation partnered with Logitech for Creators to help ten creators secure copyright of their choreography, paving the way for BIPOC artists to own and monetize their creations.

JKF continues its mission to create partnerships, raise funds, and develop programs that pours into a diverse body of creatives to become more informed and equipped on their journeys to empower their communities and inspire those beyond. 

**Please note: If you need a tax receipt, please use link here: https://jaquelknightfoundationdancerrelieffound.gvng.org