About Us

In 1984, The National Black Women’s Political Caucus was established during the presidential campaign of Geraldine Ferraro. African American women from various political organizations convened to set forth a political agenda emphasizing the needs of women of African descent. Chisholm was chosen as its first chair. The Shirley Chisholm Project on Brooklyn Women’s Activism (formerly known as the Shirley Chisholm Center for Research) exists at Brooklyn College to promote research projects and programs on women and to preserve the legacy of Chisholm. The Chisholm Project also houses an archive as part of the Chisholm Papers in the college library Special Collections.

Today, known as the National Congress of Black Women, Inc. (NCBW) is a (501) (c) (3) nonprofit organization. NCBW serves as a nonpartisan voice of advocacy on issues affecting the appointment of women at all levels of government with a goal to increase the participation of women of color in the educational, political, economic, and social arenas.

With headquarters in Washington, DC and more than 100 chapters throughout the United States, our goal at NCBW is to provide women at all societal levels with the tools they need to succeed in five program areas: growing women’s networks, improving women’s health, youth education, entrepreneurship, and access to technology.

NCBW built a vision of serving as a nonpartisan voice to advocate for issues often neglected in communities of color; immigration reform, domestic violence prevention, human trafficking, housing, and recognizing a culture of people with disabilities.

NCBW’s programs benefit thousands of people annually and we work with many organizations that represent varying ethnic backgrounds. With a focus on science, technology, engineering, and math, NCBW youth education programs offer educational scholarships, mentoring and leadership development. We reach students of color in underserved communities, offering college-based learning programs, college preparation services, access to technology; and by providing resources to compete in the workforce. Current programs include College for Kids, College for Teens, Leadership Training, the Commission for the Presidential Appointment of Minority Women and The Young Ambassadors Program, to name a few.

The NCBW Entrepreneurial Women’s Initiative and Women’s Networks initiative develop entrepreneurs and business leaders. Our programs build skills. We ensure career advancement. We foster economic and business sector overviews through networking, financial presentations to guide smart investments and coaching from the political, business, and professional sectors. Through Identifying and deploying high-impact technologies that accelerate women’s economic advancement, we help entrepreneurs scale up financial inclusion and guide smart investments.