The Work
No infrastructure. No budget. A misaligned playbook.
The Challenge
Starting from zerowith a deadline already in sight
Black Public Media had less than six months to establish presence at Torrents DC and Miami Art Week 2025 with no sponsorship framework, no dedicated budget, and no marketing materials capable of attracting partners.
The deeper challenge was a fundamental misalignment: leadership expected to be paid for participation at art fairs when industry standards required investment. Closing that gap was as important as any tactical deliverable.
The Approach
Build proof of concept. Then the infrastructure.
These events were positioned as proof of concepts, designed to generate the data, impressions, and relationship capital that would unlock Fortune 500 sponsorships down the road. Short-term events in service of a long-term pipeline.
Every partnership was pursued with a dual lens: immediate value for the current activation, and a data point for the next pitch.
Work Delivered
Five activations. One organizational transformation.
01
Event Production & Activations
Produced five event activations from the ground up across Washington, DC and Miami Art Week. Created and launched the Makers Brunch Series, a high-touch DC influencer event delivered 48% under budget. Designed the inaugural screening room at Prizm Art Fair featuring a Peabody Award-winning film, achieving 78% capacity.
02
Sponsorship Strategy & Procurement
Built BPM's sponsorship infrastructure from scratch, securing over $75,000 in paid and in-kind partnerships. Negotiated a major in-kind partnership with Miami Film Festival and forged relationships with Getty Images, OkayAfrica, RollingOut, and others. Introduced BPM to nearly 30 new collaborative entities.
03
Media & Impressions Strategy
Negotiated partnerships that transformed BPM's media impressions from hundreds of thousands to billions. Developed and executed a Giving Tuesday media plan that achieved BPM's first-ever campaign goal, increasing donations by 9,900%.
04
Content & Marketing Production
Produced BPM's first-ever sizzle reels, working with a Fulbright NGO Fellow to produce the first, then negotiating sponsor funding to cover the cost of the second before departing, collaborating with a videographer throughout. Designed BPM's first maker-focused program booklet, revamped the donor newsletter, and produced one-sheets that opened new funding streams.
05
Organizational Alignment & Capacity Building
Worked directly with BPM leadership to close the gap between organizational expectations and industry realities, providing practical insight into sponsorship norms, art fair business models, and the data storytelling required to attract corporate partners.
Sizzle Reel
Miami Art Week 2024 Two-Day Recap
BPM's first-ever sizzle reel, produced in partnership with a Fulbright NGO Fellow, capturing the Prizm Art Fair screening room activation and maker programming across Miami Art Week.
Event Photography
Makers Brunch Washington, DC
Photography by Jemal Countess · Getty Images Entertainment · Makers Brunch Series, Washington DC 2024
Photography: Jemal Countess / Getty Images Entertainment
Partners & Collaborators
Who we worked with
Getty Images
Miami Film Festival
OkayAfrica
RollingOut
Prizm Art Fair
AIDS Healthcare Foundation
Center for Black Innovation
Frères Branchiaux Candle Co.
"Kelli had a way of entering situations, quickly assessing the circumstances, and offering viable solutions. Her work and communication styles are refreshingly straight-forward."
DeLynda Lindsey, Grant Writer and Consultant, Black Public Media
Impact
What was left behind
$75K+
Sponsorships secured
9900%
Giving Tuesday increase
48%
Under budget, Makers Brunch
78%
Screening room capacity
2
First-ever sizzle reels
