Make an
impact today

Support our mission by contributing a donation.

Why Give?

Hip Hop has nine elements. Your gift keeps them alive and helps the next generation carry the culture forward — not just as art, but as a way of building futures.

  • A black and white digital illustration of a screaming mouth with stylized lightning bolts around it.

    Voice

    You help young voices grab the mic and move crowds with their truth.

  • Black and white illustration of a turntable with a vinyl record spinning, surrounded by musical notes and decorative elements.

    Sound

    You back the ones blending skill and vision into the sounds of tomorrow.

  • Black and white line drawing of a boombox with musical notes around it.

    Movement

    You give fuel to the energy and discipline that turn struggle into power.

  • Line drawing of a spray bottle with a flower and a small four-leaf clover beside it.

    art

    You make space for stories to live on walls, in history, and in memory.

  • A black and white illustration of a raised fist with clenched fingers.

    Identity

    You give young people the chance to stand firm in who they are.

  • Black and white illustration of a microphone with musical notes and plus signs around it.

    Rhythm

    You keep ingenuity alive, turning nothing but breath into rhythm.

  • Black and white illustration of two bamboo hoop earrings with a textured surface, overlapping on a black background.

    Style

    You lift up the ways style speaks identity, pride, and presence.

  • Graffiti-style text that says 'DAB' in bold black and white with outline and shading.

    Words

    You protect the words that carry truth, humor, and connection.

  • Outline of various musical instruments, including a clarinet and a fork, with musical notes.

    Legacy

    You make independence and ownership possible so the culture stays in our hands.

Make It

Make a Donation

3% Cover the Fee
A young woman with curly hair wearing in-ear monitors, holding a microphone and singing or speaking into it.

WHERE YOUR MONEY GOES

  • 65.6% of every dollar supports programs—that means teaching artists, studio access, materials, stipends, and direct youth support. The remaining 34.4% covers essential personnel who coordinate programs, mentor artists, and ensure quality. Zero dollars go to wasteful overhead.

  • Young artists receive $750 stipends for Summer Intensive participation, meals during programs, transportation assistance, professional studio time at Ruby Room, scholarships ranging from $1,000-$2,250, performance opportunities with compensation, and ongoing mentorship. Your gift funds real resources that honor their time and talent.

  • Yes. If you want your donation to support Summer Intensive, scholarships, studio access, or another specific program, just let us know when you give or email us afterward. We honor donor intent while maintaining program flexibility when needed.

  • Summer Intensive participants receive $750 stipends paid directly to them—not their families, not held for later. This honors their time, talent, and commitment to the intensive work. In 2024, we distributed $21,280 in stipends to young artists.

“It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business.”

Keith Finley

A man wearing clear glasses with dark curly hair and a beard looks off to the side with a subtle smile, wearing a dark green sweater and a white shirt, in a room with a light-colored wall and a green plant in the background.
Close-up of a woman with short curly hair, glasses, hoop earrings, and layered necklaces, smiling in an indoor setting.

“It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business.”

Monet Goode

“It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business.”

Channing Lee

Close-up of smiling young woman with short black hair, wearing a blue top, standing among green plants.