<p fr-original-style="margin:0px;width:100%;line-height:1.5;box-sizing:inherit;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);" style="margin:0px;width:100%;line-height:1.5;box-sizing:inherit;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);"><strong fr-original-style="font-weight:700;box-sizing:inherit;" style="font-weight:700;box-sizing:inherit;">Fundraising Brief: Courtside Creators &ndash; A Global Cultural Bridge</strong></p><p fr-original-style="">In partnership with <strong fr-original-style="">AfroFuture</strong>, <strong fr-original-style="">Marcus Graham Project</strong> is proud to introduce <em fr-original-style=""><strong fr-original-style="">Courtside Creators: Africa</strong></em>&mdash;a bold global storytelling pilot rooted in creativity, culture, and global connection.&nbsp;</p><p fr-original-style="">This June, we&rsquo;re bridging the gap between the U.S. and South Africa&mdash;taking the narrative courtside at the Basketball Africa League (BAL) and building a cultural bridge through the power of content and community.</p><p fr-original-style="margin:0px;width:100%;line-height:1.5;box-sizing:inherit;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);" style="margin:0px;width:100%;line-height:1.5;box-sizing:inherit;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;"></p><p fr-original-style="margin:0px;width:100%;line-height:1.5;box-sizing:inherit;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);" style="margin:0px;width:100%;line-height:1.5;box-sizing:inherit;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);">Finals in Pretoria, South Africa, this initiative will bring together a dynamic team of emerging creators from across the U.S. and Africa to collaborate, create, and document the story of this historic event.</p><p fr-original-style="margin:0px;width:100%;line-height:1.5;box-sizing:inherit;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);" style="margin:0px;width:100%;line-height:1.5;box-sizing:inherit;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;"></p><p fr-original-style="margin:0px;width:100%;line-height:1.5;box-sizing:inherit;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);" style="margin:0px;width:100%;line-height:1.5;box-sizing:inherit;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);">This program is about more than basketball. It&rsquo;s about building a cultural bridge that stretches far beyond the court. Our creators will capture the spirit of South Africa through exclusive access to Basketball African League (BAL) events, immersive street-level storytelling, and real-time documentation of personal and collective narratives.&nbsp;</p><p fr-original-style="">From the energy inside SunBet Arena to the soul of Pretoria&rsquo;s local communities, <em fr-original-style="">Courtside Creators</em> is a celebration of the global Black experience&mdash;captured through the lens of emerging storytellers from the U.S. and Africa. Participants will receive hands-on mentorship from industry leaders, international media exposure, and the rare opportunity to collaborate with peers across borders.</p><p fr-original-style="">This is more than content&mdash;it&rsquo;s culture in motion, shaped by those who live it.</p><article data-scroll-anchor="true" data-testid="conversation-turn-26" dir="auto" fr-original-style="" id="isPasted" style="width: 100%;"><div fr-original-style="" style="line-height: 1.5; box-sizing: inherit;" tabindex="-1"><div data-message-author-role="assistant" data-message-id="844fbc8c-b6bd-4ee8-b266-1b042185052f" data-message-model-slug="gpt-4o" dir="auto" fr-original-style="" style="line-height: 1.5; box-sizing: inherit;"><p data-end="315" data-is-last-node="" data-is-only-node="" data-start="0" fr-original-style="">To bring this vision to life, we&rsquo;re rallying support from funders, brand collaborators, travel partners, and champions of creative equity. We need to raise <strong data-end="185" data-start="164" fr-original-style="">$35,000 by June 5</strong> to make this journey possible&mdash;directly investing in the growth, access, and global impact of the next generation of storytellers.</p></div></div></article><div data-edge="true" fr-original-style="" style="width: 100%; line-height: 1.5; box-sizing: inherit;"><br fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;"></div><article data-scroll-anchor="true" data-testid="conversation-turn-20" dir="auto" fr-original-style="" id="isPasted" style="width: 100%;"><div fr-original-style="" style="line-height: 1.5; box-sizing: inherit;" tabindex="-1"><div data-message-author-role="assistant" data-message-id="d060ad1f-ad2d-4d93-b324-848e945cf16f" data-message-model-slug="gpt-4o" dir="auto" fr-original-style="" style="line-height: 1.5; box-sizing: inherit;"><article data-scroll-anchor="true" data-testid="conversation-turn-22" dir="auto" fr-original-style="" id="isPasted"><div fr-original-style="" style="line-height: 1.5; box-sizing: inherit;" tabindex="-1"><div data-message-author-role="assistant" data-message-id="cc546772-bbf5-4b1d-9fb6-6b60b2b84728" data-message-model-slug="gpt-4o" dir="auto" fr-original-style="" style="line-height: 1.5; box-sizing: inherit;"><p data-end="188" data-is-last-node="" data-is-only-node="" data-start="0" fr-original-style="">If you contributed <strong data-end="35" data-start="19" fr-original-style="">$100 or more</strong>, you&rsquo;ll receive one of our <strong data-end="123" data-start="63" fr-original-style="">exclusive, limited-edition <em data-end="112" data-start="92" fr-original-style="">Courtside Creators</em> T-shirts</strong>&mdash;a small token of thanks for being part of something much bigger.</p></div></div></article><div data-edge="true" fr-original-style="" style="line-height: 1.5; box-sizing: inherit;"><br fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;"></div></div></div></article><div data-edge="true" fr-original-style="" style="width: 100%; line-height: 1.5; box-sizing: inherit;"><br fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;"></div><p fr-original-style=""><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/hxn9dbuhd/image/upload/v1748919297/wysiwyg/jhpfq7cmgm5hlblski9h.jpg" style="width: 600px; display: block; vertical-align: top; margin: 5px auto; text-align: center; position: relative; max-width: 100%; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px 1px; user-select: none; box-sizing: inherit;" fr-original-style="width: 600px; display: block; vertical-align: top; margin: 5px auto; text-align: center;" fr-original-class="fr-draggable">We&rsquo;ve laid the foundation. We&rsquo;re committed to the mission.Now, we invite you to help us take the next step&mdash;together.</p><p fr-original-style="margin:0px;width:100%;line-height:1.5;box-sizing:inherit;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);" style="margin:0px;width:100%;line-height:1.5;box-sizing:inherit;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);">For partnership inquiries, sponsorship details, or custom involvement, please contact:</p><p fr-original-style="margin:0px;width:100%;line-height:1.5;box-sizing:inherit;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);" style="margin:0px;width:100%;line-height:1.5;box-sizing:inherit;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;"></p><p fr-original-style="margin:0px;width:100%;line-height:1.5;box-sizing:inherit;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);" style="margin:0px;width:100%;line-height:1.5;box-sizing:inherit;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);"><strong fr-original-style="font-weight:700;box-sizing:inherit;" style="font-weight:700;box-sizing:inherit;">Larry Yarrell</strong><br fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Chief Operating Officer, Marcus Graham Project<br fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">📧 <a fr-original-style="text-decoration-color:initial;user-select:auto;box-sizing:inherit;" href="mailto:larry@marcusgrahamproject.org" style="text-decoration-color:initial;user-select:auto;box-sizing:inherit;" target="_blank">larry@marcusgrahamproject.org</a></p><p fr-original-style="margin:0px;width:100%;line-height:1.5;box-sizing:inherit;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);" style="margin:0px;width:100%;line-height:1.5;box-sizing:inherit;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;"></p><p fr-original-style="margin:0px;width:100%;line-height:1.5;box-sizing:inherit;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);" style="margin:0px;width:100%;line-height:1.5;box-sizing:inherit;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);">Let&rsquo;s build this bridge&mdash;together.</p>

<p style="margin:0px;width:100%;line-height:1.5;box-sizing:inherit;color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">Hello <span contenteditable="false" data-custom-variable="{{firstname}}" fr-original-class="fr-deletable styled-tag-chip" fr-original-style style="background-color:rgb(248, 248, 255);border:1px solid rgb(191, 191, 255);border-radius:4px;color:rgb(42, 42, 196);padding:1px 8px;font-size:11px;display:inline-block;margin:0px;overflow-wrap:anywhere;user-select:none;box-sizing:inherit">First name</span>,</p><p style="margin:0px;width:100%;line-height:1.5;box-sizing:inherit;color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"><br /></p><p style="margin:0px;width:100%;line-height:1.5;box-sizing:inherit;color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for supporting our cause. This donation greatly helps our mission.<br /><br />If you would like to contribute further to our cause, contact us to become a volunteer, or spread the word about our mission!<br /><br /></p><p style="margin:0px;width:100%;line-height:1.5;box-sizing:inherit;color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"><strong style="font-weight:700;box-sizing:inherit">Larry Yarrell</strong></p><p style="margin:0px;width:100%;line-height:1.5;box-sizing:inherit;color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">Chief Operating Officer, Marcus Graham Project</p><p style="margin:0px;width:100%;line-height:1.5;box-sizing:inherit;color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">📧 larry@marcusgrahamproject.org</p>

<p>Hello <span class="fr-deletable styled-tag-chip" contenteditable="false" data-custom-variable="{{firstname}}">First name</span>,
    </p><p></p>
    <p>Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for registering to fundraise for our cause. Your efforts will make a significant impact, and we are excited to have you as part of our fundraising team. 👏</p>
    <p></p>
    <p><strong>💡 Here are some tips for sharing your campaign:</strong></p>
    <ol>
    <li><strong>Personalize Your Story:</strong> Share why this cause is important to you. Personal stories resonate more with potential donors.</li>
    <li><strong>Use Social Media:</strong> Post about your campaign on Facebook, Instagram, X, and LinkedIn. Include the campaign link and a compelling image or video.</li>
    <li><strong>Email Your Network:</strong> Send a personal email to friends, family, and colleagues explaining why you are fundraising and how they can help.</li>
    <li><strong>Regular Updates:</strong> Keep your supporters informed with updates on your progress and any milestones you reach. This keeps them engaged and more likely to share your campaign.</li>
    </ol>
    <br />Marcus Bracey<br />marcusbracey@marcusgrahamproject.org<br />19729089985<br /><p></p>

<p style="margin:0px;width:100%;line-height:1.5;box-sizing:inherit;max-width:100%"><strong>Fundraising Brief: Courtside Creators – A Global Cultural Bridge</strong></p><p>In partnership with <strong>AfroFuture</strong>, <strong>Marcus Graham Project</strong> is proud to introduce <em><strong>Courtside Creators: Africa</strong></em>—a bold global storytelling pilot rooted in creativity, culture, and global connection. </p><p>This June, we’re bridging the gap between the U.S. and South Africa—taking the narrative courtside at the Basketball Africa League (BAL) and building a cultural bridge through the power of content and community.</p><p style="margin:0px;width:100%;line-height:1.5;box-sizing:inherit;max-width:100%"><br /></p><p style="margin:0px;width:100%;line-height:1.5;box-sizing:inherit;max-width:100%">Finals in Pretoria, South Africa, this initiative will bring together a dynamic team of emerging creators from across the U.S. and Africa to collaborate, create, and document the story of this historic event.</p><p style="margin:0px;width:100%;line-height:1.5;box-sizing:inherit;max-width:100%"><br /></p><p style="margin:0px;width:100%;line-height:1.5;box-sizing:inherit;max-width:100%">This program is about more than basketball. It’s about building a cultural bridge that stretches far beyond the court. Our creators will capture the spirit of South Africa through exclusive access to Basketball African League (BAL) events, immersive street-level storytelling, and real-time documentation of personal and collective narratives. </p><p>From the energy inside SunBet Arena to the soul of Pretoria’s local communities, <em>Courtside Creators</em> is a celebration of the global Black experience—captured through the lens of emerging storytellers from the U.S. and Africa. Participants will receive hands-on mentorship from industry leaders, international media exposure, and the rare opportunity to collaborate with peers across borders.</p><p>This is more than content—it’s culture in motion, shaped by those who live it.</p><article><div><div><p>To bring this vision to life, we’re rallying support from funders, brand collaborators, travel partners, and champions of creative equity. We need to raise <strong>$35,000 by June 5</strong> to make this journey possible—directly investing in the growth, access, and global impact of the next generation of storytellers.</p></div></div></article><div><br /></div><article><div><div><article><div><div><p>If you contributed <strong>$100 or more</strong>, you’ll receive one of our <strong>exclusive, limited-edition <em>Courtside Creators</em> T-shirts</strong>—a small token of thanks for being part of something much bigger.</p></div></div></article><div><br /></div></div></div></article><div><br /></div><p><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/hxn9dbuhd/image/upload/v1748919297/wysiwyg/jhpfq7cmgm5hlblski9h.jpg" style="width:600px;display:block;vertical-align:top;margin:5px auto;text-align:center;position:relative;cursor:pointer;padding:0px 1px;user-select:none;box-sizing:inherit;max-width:100%" />We’ve laid the foundation. We’re committed to the mission.Now, we invite you to help us take the next step—together.</p><p style="margin:0px;width:100%;line-height:1.5;box-sizing:inherit;max-width:100%">For partnership inquiries, sponsorship details, or custom involvement, please contact:</p><p style="margin:0px;width:100%;line-height:1.5;box-sizing:inherit;max-width:100%"><br /></p><p style="margin:0px;width:100%;line-height:1.5;box-sizing:inherit;max-width:100%"><strong>Larry Yarrell</strong><br />Chief Operating Officer, Marcus Graham Project<br />📧 <a href="mailto:larry@marcusgrahamproject.org" target="_blank">larry@marcusgrahamproject.org</a></p><p style="margin:0px;width:100%;line-height:1.5;box-sizing:inherit;max-width:100%"><br /></p><p style="margin:0px;width:100%;line-height:1.5;box-sizing:inherit;max-width:100%">Let’s build this bridge—together.</p>

Courtside Creators: Africa Presented by the Marcus Graham Project & AfroFuture

IsFundraiserFormEditDisabled

IsPaymentByPadAllowed

Marcus Graham Project

### Context Profile for Marcus Graham Project

1. **Organization Mission & Cause**:
   - The Marcus Graham Project (MGP) is dedicated to empowering the next generation of diverse creators and leaders in the media and marketing industries. Their mission is to bridge cultural gaps and promote equity through storytelling and creative expression. They focus on building a global community that fosters collaboration, mentorship, and access to opportunities for emerging talent, particularly from underrepresented backgrounds.

2. **Type of Activities**:
   - **Programs**: MGP runs various programs aimed at mentorship and skill development for young creators, including workshops and collaborative projects.
   - **Events**: They host events that connect creators with industry leaders and provide platforms for showcasing their work.
   - **Fundraising Campaigns**: The recent campaign titled "Courtside Creators: Africa" aims to raise $35,000 to support a storytelling initiative that connects U.S. and South African creators during the Basketball Africa League finals. This initiative emphasizes cultural exchange and community engagement through the lens of basketball and storytelling.

3. **Tone of Voice**:
   - The tone of the Marcus Graham Project is **inspiring**, **friendly**, and **professional**. Their communication reflects a sense of urgency and passion for their mission, often using inclusive language that invites participation and collaboration. The language is engaging and emphasizes community and cultural connection.

4. **Emoji Usage**:
   - The organization does not prominently use emojis in their communications, focusing instead on clear and professional language. However, they may use emojis in informal contexts, such as social media posts, to enhance engagement.

5. **Key Facts**:
   - **Founding Info**: The Marcus Graham Project was founded to address the lack of diversity in the media and marketing industries.
   - **Scale**: They have a growing network of creators and mentors, focusing on impactful programs that reach diverse communities.
   - **Impact Metrics**: Specific metrics were not provided, but the organization emphasizes the importance of mentorship and community impact through storytelling.
   - **Volunteer Info**: Opportunities for involvement are available, particularly in mentorship and collaboration roles.

6. **Writing Guidelines**:
   - **Style**: Use an engaging and conversational style that reflects the organization's mission of empowerment and community building. 
   - **Language**: Prioritize inclusive language that resonates with diverse audiences. Use active voice and direct calls to action to encourage participation.
   - **Content Structure**: Organize content clearly, using headings and bullet points where appropriate to enhance readability. Include personal stories or testimonials to illustrate impact and foster connection.

This context profile serves as a foundational guide for creating personalized content that aligns with the Marcus Graham Project's mission and communication style.

Marcus Graham Project

Courtside Creators: Africa Presented by the Marcus Graham Project & AfroFuture

Choose an amount:

$

You'll receive a tax receipt for making a donation.