Kanye West’s Charity Mysteriously Closes

Kanye West's charity, which had a goal of reducing the high school drop out rate by providing under-served youth access to creative programming, has mysteriously shuttered. According to The New York Times, Joseph Collins, who served as the executive director of the The Kanye West Foundation, fired off an email to associates last month, saying he was looking for another job as the foundation had closed and its phones were shut off.

The email, obtained by the Times from executives at other nonprofits who had worked with the foundation, reads as follows: “I am reaching out to let you know that the Kanye West Foundation has officially closed it doors after a successful 4+ years of programming and events. It has been an incredible experience working with Kanye and the board to realize his mother’s vision and I am honored to have been given the opportunity to lead the Foundation.” Collins declined to comment via phone, suggesting that interested parties get in touch with West for some elucidation on the matter.

The charity was not funded by West directly, instead raising financial support from his business associates. For example, Madison Square Garden, the world's most famous arena, once donated over $151,000 to the foundation; retailer Karmaloop donated $20,000 at one point. The charity raised an average of $492,000 and made total grants averaging $18,080 in each of 2007, 2008 and 2009, the last year for which tax forms are available.

West's mother, Dr. Donda West, was closely involved in the organization, but she passed away in 2007 after complications from plastic surgery. It appears as though the foundation floundered after her death, as Ma West was passionate about teaching and was an English professor.

West's publicist did not respond to a request for comment on this matter.