Mission & Vision

Mission & Vision

Our mission is to open doors, break barriers, and build a more equitable and inclusive industry for underrepresented young creatives, cultural leaders, and changemakers in pursuit of a limitless creative future. Building from Virgil’s ethos and example, the foundation works to deliver mission-driven educational programs, partnerships and mentorship in an effort to build lasting, systemic change within creative industries.

Our Values

The Virgil Abloh Foundation’s five values are rooted in Virgil’s belief that creativity is a tool for access and empowerment, shaped by his words, work, and ethos, and carried forward by the community he built to open pathways for the next generation.

01 Collaborative

01 Collaborative

Collaboration is Community-Building

“I use collaboration as an outright tool for community building, in plain sight. I speak about it so that other people can look at what we have the power to do – to write our own narrative, and exemplify and glorify our work.”We believe that collaboration is foundational in everything we do.

02 Strategic

02 Strategic

Strategy is Open-Minded 

“I’m looking for something that is open-minded and modern. Lead us to better solutions in the future… Basically, I’m saying divorce the past.”
We design strategies and programs that are modern, open-minded and solutions-driven.

03 Inclusive

03 Inclusive

Inclusivity is Essential 

“I wish that when I was a student, one person would have given me one ounce of advice that wasn’t: ‘The rest of your career will be an uphill battle.’ But instead: ‘There are all these shortcuts that you can take.’ ”We disrupt systems and industries to demand greater inclusivity.

04 Creative

04 Creative

Creativity is In All We Do 

“Anyone who has a will to create is an artist.”We embrace and harness the creativity within all of us.

05 Visionary

05 Visionary

Vision is Limitless 

“A lot of people think it’s difficult and the mountain is too high. But it’s actually not that scary if you build your own Trojan horse and you move together.”We envision a limitless future for generations to come.

Areas of Focus

foundation areas

Increasing Exposure

Increasing exposure and visibility fosters greater opportunities, representation, and empowerment for underrepresented youth interested in a career in the creative industries.

foundation areas

Accelerating Access

Accelerating access for underrepresented youth cultivates a more inclusive and vibrant creative industry, unlocking untapped talent and fostering innovation.

foundation areas

Expanding Opportunities

Expanding opportunities for underrepresented youth not only promotes equity and social justice but also enriches the creative landscape with diverse perspectives and voices.