About the Partnership

Dr. Nika White, co-founder of the Carlo and Nika White Foundation (CNWF), previously worked with Amoura Carter, CEO of AC Creative Collective. When CNWF needed a marketing and event planning partner, Amoura brought in Avery Carter, and together, AC Creative Collective became the ideal team to bring CNWF’s vision to life.

Our shared mission? Celebrate Black philanthropy and raise $50K for a mentorship program at Legacy Early College High School. This partnership was grounded in shared values—supporting women-led businesses and creating lasting community impact.

**We exceeded our original goal—raising over $60K.**

*Photo: Carlo White, Dionne Sandiford (Grant Recipient), and Dr. Nika White*

Goals

Host CNWF’s first fundraising event to raise $50K
Fund a student mentorship trip and long-term mentorship program
Launch Build Up Black Upstate SC (coming in 2026)
Provide business scholarship grants to Black entrepreneurs

What We Did

Planning & Collaboration

Weekly strategy sessions with clear roles and task tracking
Tools used: Monday.com for project management, Excel for auction logistics
Partnered with Peculiar, CNWF’s marketing firm, for design, graphics, and brand visibility

Event Execution

Managed vendor outreach, event coordination, guest communications, and sponsor relations
Hosted an in-person silent auction, blending community engagement with fundraising

Delegation & Teamwork

AC Creative Collective coordinated and delegated with precision—engaging a network of women-led businesses to amplify impact

Outcomes

Raised over $60,000
Fully funded a student service trip to the Dominican Republic
Awarded two business scholarships
Began planning Build Up Black Upstate SC (2026)
Strengthened both organizations’ reputations and reach in the community

What We Learned

Start Early
We pulled off a great event in 2-3 months, but having more lead time would have reduced stress and improved flow.

Simplify
A virtual-in-person hybrid auction added complexity. Next time, we’ll keep it fully in-person for better results.

Lean on Partners
Our corporate sponsors and creative collaborators were key to success. Building strong partnerships will remain a priority for future events.

Debrief & Plan Ahead
We held a post-event debrief within a week—reviewing what worked and what didn’t to improve future efforts.

Building Community Through Collaboration

Both CNWF and AC Creative Collective are deeply committed to equity and Black empowerment. This partnership showcased how collaboration—rooted in aligned values—can create impact beyond the event itself.

AC Creative Collective exists to support mission-driven organizations with strategy, planning, and execution, so they can focus on what they do best: creating change.