Race 4 Achievement Inc.

What Race 4 Achievement Inc. does

Race 4 Achievement Inc. is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2015 and headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, that delivers youth development, educational support, and community service programs to middle and high school students in North and South Carolina. The organization was established by a group of young educated professionals (co-founders Anthony Harley, Rashaad Lennen, and Ryon Smalls) in the wake of the June 17, 2015 Mother Emanuel AME Church tragedy in Charleston, SC, and is named in part to honor Tywanza Sanders. Programs include the Scholars basketball and tutoring program (grades 3 through 12), the Relay Program (formerly the Carnegie Program) covering ACT/SAT preparation, job shadowing, internships, and part-time job placement, The Du Bois Program for educational and cultural enrichment, the Feeding Our Neighbors food security initiative, and the Kids First Book Bag Drive. The organization also administers five named scholarship funds (Tywanza Sanders, Daniel Stern Citadel, Malik Samir Werts, Kevin White Jr., and USC Upstate Alumni Sponsored) targeting partner high schools and higher-education institutions.

The business model is donation-driven, with revenue sourced from individual contributions collected via PayPal and proceeds from the annual #Race4Wanza Doughnut Dash 5K fundraiser. Programs and services are provided free of charge to students. Distribution occurs directly through partnerships with James Island Charter High School, Burke High School, West Ashley High School, Charleston County School of the Arts, Fort Dorchester High School, The Citadel, and the University of South Carolina Upstate; scholarship applications are routed through the organization's website via Cognito Forms linked to each partner school. Sponsorship support includes in-kind contributions from Krispy Kreme for the annual 5K and pro-bono website development from TRIO during CreateAthon.

Name

Race 4 Achievement Inc.

Legal name

Race 4 Achievement Inc.

Website

https://race4achievement.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Race 4 Achievement Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2015 that delivers youth development, mentorship, scholarship, and food security programs to middle and high school students across the Carolinas, funded by individual donations and an annual 5K fundraiser.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Development and Education Nonprofit Services

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620), Educational Support Services (6117)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

After-School, Tutoring & Academic Enrichment Nonprofits (BPAGADAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Arts, Sports & Recreation-Based Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAJ), Athletics Fundraising, Sponsorships & NIL Support (EDALAIAN)

Keywords

• Youth development programs
• Community scholarship funds
• College preparation mentoring
• Food insecurity relief
• School supply drives

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations: The organization raises funds through individual donations via PayPal and other channels. Donors contribute to support scholarships and community programs.
2. Annual Event Fundraising: The #Race4Wanza Doughnut Dash 5K is an annual fundraising event where proceeds support the Tywanza Sanders Scholarship Fund for college scholarships.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Race 4 Achievement Inc. delivers free youth development programs and scholarship funding to middle and high school students in North and South Carolina. Its core offerings include the Scholars basketball and tutoring program, the Relay Program mentorship with ACT/SAT preparation, the Feeding Our Neighbors food security initiative, the Kids First Book Bag Drive, The Du Bois Program, and multiple named scholarships. The organization is funded entirely through donations and the annual #Race4Wanza Doughnut Dash 5K fundraiser.

Product overview

Race 4 Achievement Inc. is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that offers a portfolio of youth development programs rather than a unified technology product. The core offerings include the Scholars basketball and tutoring program, the Relay Program (mentorship with ACT/SAT prep, job shadowing, internships), the Feeding Our Neighbors food security initiative, the Kids First Book Bag Drive, and The Du Bois Program. The organization also administers multiple named scholarship funds (Tywanza Sanders, Daniel Stern Citadel, Malik Samir Werts, Kevin White Jr., and USC Upstate Alumni) and hosts the annual #Race4Wanza Doughnut Dash 5K as a primary fundraising vehicle. Programs are focused on middle and high school students in the Carolinas, combining educational support, community service, and professional development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Scholars Program A youth development program offering young men transformative opportunities through competitive and developmental basketball teams ranging from 3rd grade to high school seniors, with weekly tutoring sessions and community service requirements. Targets underserved students in the Carolinas.
• Feeding Our Neighbors A community-driven initiative focused on addressing food insecurity by providing nutritious meals and essential resources to families in need in the Carolinas.
• Relay Program (formerly Carnegie Program) A mentorship program designed to equip young scholars with professional skills through ACT/SAT preparation, job shadowing, volunteering, summer internships, and part-time job placement guidance. Targeted at high school students in the Carolinas.
• Kids First Book Bag Drive An annual initiative that distributes backpacks filled with essential school supplies to underserved students to alleviate financial burdens for families in the Carolinas.
• Tywanza Sanders Scholarship Educational funding for deserving high school students in the Carolinas, named in honor of Tywanza Sanders who was lost in the 2015 Mother Emanuel AME Church tragedy. Available to students from partner high schools including James Island Charter High School, Burke High School, and West Ashley High School.
• Daniel Stern Citadel Scholarship Annual scholarship awarded to a minority high school graduate from the Charleston area attending The Citadel, established in 2019 in honor of Daniel Stern.
• Malik Samir Werts Scholarship Scholarship for graduates of Charleston County School of the Arts, founded in 2020 in memory of Malik Samir Werts who was lost to gun violence.
• Kevin White Jr. Scholarship Scholarship for Fort Dorchester High School graduates, established in 2024 to honor Kevin LaMont White Jr., a physical education teacher and coach.
• USC Upstate Alumni Sponsored Scholarship Fund Scholarship established in 2021 at University of South Carolina Upstate for students from historically and socio-economically disadvantaged communities who demonstrate leadership, academic achievement, and an affinity for USC Upstate, providing up to $1,000 with a minimum 2.3 GPA requirement.
• The Du Bois Program A program focused on educational and cultural enrichment for youth development, serving students in the Carolinas.
• #Race4Wanza Doughnut Dash 5K Annual 5K race event that raises funds for the Tywanza Sanders Scholarship Fund, supporting college scholarships for students in the Charleston County School System. Free youth development programs and scholarship dollars depend on this fundraiser.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• University of South Carolina UpstatecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021The USC Upstate Alumni Sponsored Scholarship Fund was established in 2021 at USC Upstate. This scholarship provides financial assistance to students from historically and socio-economically disadvantaged communities who demonstrate leadership, academic achievement, and an affinity for USC Upstate.
• Krispy KrememinorGTM or Marketing PartnerKrispy Kreme is listed as a sponsor for Race 4 Achievement events, including the #Race4Wanza Doughnut Dash 5K. They provide support for fundraising events.
• TRIOminorOthersTRIO generously donated website development services during CreateAthon, helping establish the organization's online presence.
• The CitadelcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Daniel Stern Citadel Scholarship was established in partnership with The Citadel Military College of South Carolina. The scholarship honors Daniel Stern, a Citadel graduate who helped establish the #Race4Wanza event. A Charleston area graduate attending The Citadel is eligible for this scholarship.
• James Island Charter High SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner high school for the Tywanza Sanders Scholarship and other programs. Students from this school are eligible for multiple scholarship opportunities.
• Burke High SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner high school for the Tywanza Sanders Scholarship. Students from this school are eligible for multiple scholarship opportunities.
• West Ashley High SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner high school for the Tywanza Sanders Scholarship. Students from this school are eligible for multiple scholarship opportunities.
• Charleston County School of the ArtscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner school for the Malik Samir Werts Scholarship. Students graduating from this school are eligible for this scholarship.
• Fort Dorchester High SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner high school for the Kevin White Jr. Scholarship. Students from this school are eligible for this scholarship established in 2024.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• United Negro College Fund (UNCF): Scholarship-focused nonprofit supporting African American students' pathways to and through college, with member HBCUs. Directly comparable to Race 4 Achievement's named scholarship funds (e.g., Tywanza Sanders) and mentorship pipeline, though UNCF operates nationally and through institutional HBCU channels.
• CollegeSpring: Nonprofit providing SAT/ACT prep, college advising, and mentoring to low-income and first-generation high school students. Directly comparable to Race 4 Achievement's Relay Program academic-preparation pillar and college-readiness mission.
• ScholarMatch: Nonprofit supporting first-generation college students through scholarships, mentoring, and college advising. Comparable in providing a bundled scholarship-plus-mentorship pathway for underrepresented high school students toward college success.
• Communities In Schools: National nonprofit that places site coordinators inside K-12 schools to connect students to academic support, mentorship, and college/career readiness resources. Closely comparable to Race 4 Achievement in mission (dropout prevention, college access, school-embedded support) and target population (underrepresented high schoolers).
• Jackie Robinson Foundation: Provides multi-year college scholarships, mentoring, and leadership development to minority high school students. Closely comparable to Race 4 Achievement's scholarship-plus-mentorship model for minority high schoolers pursuing higher education.

Broad incumbents

• YMCA of the USA: National nonprofit operating youth-development, sports, and education programs including tutoring, swim, and basketball leagues. Overlaps with Race 4 Achievement's Scholars basketball and tutoring program and food-security/community programming, particularly in Carolinas chapters.
• KIPP Foundation: National network of college-preparatory public charter schools focused on underserved K-12 students. Comparable in mission of college access and academic preparation for disadvantaged youth, but operates full schools rather than supplemental out-of-school programming.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of America: National youth-development nonprofit offering after-school programming, mentoring, and academic enrichment to school-age youth, including scholarship and college-access support. Directly comparable to Race 4 Achievement in serving the same age group with a mix of athletics, tutoring, and life-skills programming, but at vastly larger scale.
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of America: National youth-mentoring nonprofit pairing adult mentors with youth for academic, social, and career outcomes. Comparable to the Relay Program's mentorship component and to Race 4 Achievement's college-prep and professional development focus, though delivered at much greater scale.

Regional players

• Hope Center for College, Community, and Justice: Nonprofit focused on college access and success for students from marginalized communities through research, policy, and direct student supports. Comparable in target population and college-completion mission to Race 4 Achievement, but operates at a national research/policy level rather than direct service.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/race2achieve
• Facebookfacebook.com/race4achievement
• Instagraminstagram.com/race4achievement
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/race4achievement

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Race 4 Achievement Inc.