20 Years of Donuts. 20 Years of Beats. A Lifetime of Impact.

For two decades, Donuts Are Forever (DAF) has been more than a tribute to J Dilla—it has been the heartbeat of a community. Founded by Rareform NYC, the event has proudly named Building Beats as its non-profit partner since 2017, working together to transform the energy of the dance floor into life-changing opportunities for young creatives.

To celebrate 20 years of DAF, we aren’t just looking back. We are building the future.

The Mission: $20,000 for 20 Years

We are launching a defining chapter in our story: raising $20,000 to ensure that creative passion always leads to professional opportunity. And this is your chance to be a visionary partner in the next era of Building Beats.

We are calling on our community to invest in this vision. Whether it’s $50, $500, or a monthly donation, your generosity is the heartbeat of this expansion, providing the stability our students need to thrive.

What Your Investment Unlocks:

Your support directly funds a high-impact roadmap for 2026 and beyond:

• Year-Long Creative Fellowships: Moving beyond short-term seasonal workshops to provide immersive, year-long residencies that offer underserved youth the time and space to truly master their craft.
• The DJ Practicum & Agency Expansion: Scaling our agency to increase paid student gigs from $20k to $50k annually, putting real economic power directly into the hands of young artists.
• A Sanctuary for Innovation: Funding a dedicated home for our community—a permanent space for creative collaboration, mentorship, and professional development.
• The Business of Art: Equipping the next generation with the "blueprint" for success, from business startup fundamentals to accessing capital and post-secondary career mapping.
• New Creative Horizons: Expanding our reach into the full spectrum of the music industry, including music journalism, supervision, and songwriting.
• Unprecedented Industry Access: Breaking down barriers by providing direct pipelines to high-level mentors and professional networks that were previously out of reach.

Don't Just Witness the Future—Fund It.

Today, we begin the 6-week countdown to DAF20. This is more than a donation; it is a commitment to the next era. We are looking for the leaders and visionaries who will help us hit our $20,000 goal before we hit the dance floor. Your support ensures that underserved creatives don't just participate in the music industry—they lead it.

Help us kick off this campaign with power. Donate now, even consider a recurring gift to keep the beat building long after the event.

Select Your Level of Impact

Just as every track on Donuts serves a purpose, every gift level below fuels a specific part of our students' journey from creative passion to professional success.

• $20 |  "Workinonit" 
  Just like the track that sets the tone, this gift honors 20 years of DAF and ensures our core community workshops stay in motion, keeping NYC youth tenaciously focused on their craft.
• $100 |  "Lightworks"
  You’re helping our students shine. This investment sources the industry-standard tech and tools our youth need to illuminate their potential and turn their creative sparks into a blaze.
• $250+ | "The New"
  Join a new era of impact. Donors at this level and beyond receive an exclusive invitation to the "Friends of Building Beats," a dedicated community of advocates supporting our bold expansion into year-long Creative Fellowships.
• $500 | "Glazed"
  You’re giving our youth that extra layer of sweet success. This level fuels the Building Beats DJ Agency, providing the professional coating students need to scale from $20k to $50,000 in paid gigs annually.
• $1,000 | "One Eleven"
  You are architecting the future. Donors at this level and beyond are recognized as Cornerstone Partners, providing the foundational capital to secure a permanent programming sanctuary for our community.
• $2,000+ | "Two Can Win" 
  True success is shared. You are providing the seed capital for our "Business of Art" curriculum, giving underserved youth the blueprint to build their own businesses and win in the creative economy.