African American Organizations

African American Organizations to Know

One of Project E3’s goals is to develop collaborative service strategies between State VR programs and community support service agencies. We want to reduce the economic impact that disability has on disadvantaged populations, including African American communities. According to Dedrick Muhammed, Director of the Racial Wealth Divide Initiative, the economic impact of disability is greater for blacks than it is for their white counterparts.

  • Disability Rate

    The disability rate of African Americans (14%) is only slightly more than that of Caucasians (11%)

  • Poverty Rate

    The poverty rate of African Americans with disabilities (39%) is substantially higher than the poverty rate (24%) of Caucasians with a disability.

Partnering with community service agencies is vital to serving individuals with disabilities in low-income communities. Many state and national organizations work to reduce poverty and increase inclusion in African American communities. Diversity Best Practices put together a list of the top African American organizations, shown below.

African American Planning Commission (AAPC)

The African American Planning Commission (AAPC) Inc., is a New York City-based nonprofit organization committed to reducing homelessness and addressing the related issues of domestic violence, HIV/AIDS, mental illness, substance abuse, shortage of affordable housing, and unemployment in the communities in which we live and serve.

American Association of Blacks in Energy (AABE)

The American Association of Blacks in Energy is a national association of energy professionals founded and dedicated to ensuring the input of African Americans and other minorities into the discussions and developments of energy policies, regulations, R&D technologies and environmental issues.

The Association of Black Psychologists

The Association of Black Psychologists was established to promote and advance the profession of African Psychology, influence and affect social change, and develop programs whereby psychologists of African descent can assist in solving problems of Black communities and other ethnic groups.

The Executive Leadership Council

The Executive Leadership Council is the preeminent member organization for the development of global black leaders. The mission is to increase the number of successful black executives — both domestically and internationally — by adding value to their development, leadership, and philanthropic endeavors throughout the life-cycle of their careers thereby strengthening their companies, organizations, and communities.

Information Technology Senior Management Forum (ITSMF)

The Information Technology Senior Management Forum (ITSMF) mission is to increase the representation of black professionals at senior levels in technology, to impact organizational innovation and growth. By 2020, ITSMF will graduate 500 professionals through a series of rich, development, and career-advancing programs.

Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies

The Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies is a nonprofit public policy organization that produces innovative, high-impact ideas, research, and policy solutions that have a positive impact on people and communities of color. The Joint Center does this by building and fueling a nonpartisan network of innovative elected and appointed officials of color and scholars for whom this goal is a priority. The Joint Center uses policy roundtables, research reports, and targeted media to reach key audiences of innovative officials of color and other thought leaders.

National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering (NACME)

The National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering (NACME)’s mission is to increase the number of successful African American, American Indian, and Latino young women and men in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education and careers.

National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)

The mission of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People is to ensure the political, educational, social and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate racial hatred and racial discrimination.

National Association of Black Accountants, Inc.

The National Association of Black Accountants is a nonprofit membership association dedicated to bridging the opportunity gap for people of color in the Accounting, Finance, Consulting, Information Technology and other related business professions.

National Association of Black Journalists

The National Association of Black Journalists was founded in 1975 and is an organization of journalists, students and media-related professionals that provides quality programs and services to and advocates on behalf of African-American journalists worldwide.

National Black Chamber of Commerce (NBCC)

The National Black Chamber of Commerce (NBCC), incorporated in Washington, D.C. in March 1993, represents 95,000 African-American–owned businesses and provides advocacy that reaches one million African-American-owned businesses. From the original 14 chapters the NBCC has grown to over 200 chapters located in 40 states and 50 nations. It is the largest Black business association in the world. The National Black Chamber of Commerce is dedicated to economically empowering and sustaining African-American communities through entrepreneurship and capitalistic activity within the US and via interaction with the African Diaspora.

National Black Justice Commission

National Black Justice Commission (NBJC) is America’s leading national Black LGBT civil rights organization focused on federal public policy. The mission is to end racism and homophobia. NBJC provides leadership at the intersection of national civil rights groups and LGBT organizations, advocating for the unique challenges and needs of the African American LGBT community.

National Black MBA Association

The National Black MBA Association is dedicated to developing partnerships that result in the creation of intellectual and economic wealth in the African-American community. The National Black MBA Association, which has more than 9,000 members and represents more than 300 corporate partners, operates around three cornerstones—education, employment and leadership. To date, NBMBAA was awarded over $5 million in scholarships to deserving youth and minority students.

National Black Nurses Association (NBNA)

The National Black Nurses Association (NBNA)’s mission is “To represent and provide a forum for black nurses to advocate for and implement strategies to ensure access to the highest quality of healthcare for persons of color.”

National Black Disability Coalition (NBDC)

The National Black Disability Coalition is a response to the need for Blacks with Disabilities in America to organize around issues of mutual concern and use our collective strength to address disability issues with an emphasis on people who live in poverty. The goals of the NBDC are to promote UNITY among Black people with disabilities, our families and our communities, to advance EQUITY within the disability movement and our communities, and to foster OPPORTUNITY for Black people with disabilities.

National Council of Negro Women, Inc. (NCNW)

The National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) is an assembly of national African-American women’s organizations and community-based sections. Founded in 1935, the NCNW’s mission is to lead, develop and advocate for women of African descent as they support their families and communities. NCNW fulfills this purpose through research, advocacy and national and community-based services and programs on issues of health, education and economic empowerment in the United States and Africa.

National Coalition of 100 Black Women (NCBW)

The mission of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women is to develop leaders who will help to rebuild their communities and redirect the energies of younger African-Americans in those communities. The purpose of the Coalition is to foster principles of equal rights and opportunities, promote the awareness of Black culture, develop the potential of the membership for effective leadership and participation in civic affairs, take action on specific issues of national and international importance, and cooperate with other persons and organizations to achieve mutual goals.

National Medical Association (NMA)

The National Medical Association promotes the collective interests of physicians and patients of African descent. The organization is a leading force for parity in medicine, the elimination of health disparities and the promotion of optimal health.

National Urban League

The National Urban League is a civil-rights organization focused on the economic empowerment of underserved urban communities. The National Urban League works through 100 local affiliates in 36 states and the District of Columbia to provide programming, public policy research and advocacy designed to improve the lives of more than 2 million people nationwide.

National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE)

The National Society of Black Engineers’ mission is to increase the number of culturally responsible African-American engineers who excel academically, succeed professionally and positively impact the community. With over 30,000 members around the world, NSBE is one of the largest student-governed organizations based in the United States.

Organization of Black Designers

The Organization of Black Designers is a non-profit national professional association dedicated to promoting the visibility, education, empowerment and interaction of its membership and the understanding and value that diverse design perspectives contribute to world culture and commerce. The Organization of Black Designers is the first national organization dedicated to addressing the unique needs of African-American design professionals.

United Negro College Fund (UNCF)

The United Negro College Fund is the nation’s largest, oldest, most successful and most comprehensive minority higher-education assistance organization. The UNCF provides a range of support to keep academic programs strong and tuition affordable for 37 member historically African-American colleges and universities. As a result of this support, member institutions educate more than 50,000 students each year and have produced more than 430,000 graduates with the help of UNCF.

100 Black Men of America

The mission of 100 Black Men of America is to improve the quality of life and enhance educational and economic opportunities for all African Americans.