National Society of Black Engineers

What National Society of Black Engineers does

The National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1975 at Purdue University by six Black engineering students to increase the number of culturally responsible Black engineers. Headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia, NSBE operates a 50+ year community ecosystem spanning pre-collegiate students (NSBE Jr., grades K-12), collegiate members, and STEM professionals through a network of more than 500 chapters organized into six collegiate regions and six professional regions across the United States and internationally. The organization is student-governed via an annually elected National Executive Board, supported by approximately 30-50 professional staff at its World Headquarters under CEO Janeen Uzzell (former Wikimedia COO, National Academy of Engineering member).

NSBE's core products and services include the NSBE Jr. pre-collegiate membership program, the NSBE SEEK cost-free three-week summer engineering program for grades 3-5, Collegiate and Professional membership tiers with academic and leadership development programs (Academic Excellence, National Leadership Institute, T.O.R.C.H.), the NSBE Career Center (careers.nsbe.org) talent placement platform, and signature events including the NSBE Annual Convention (18,000+ attendees in 2025) and Professional Development Conference. Underlying technology is primarily standard web infrastructure: a membership portal, career center platform, eStore, and scholarship search functionality. NSBE does not develop proprietary AI/ML technology but has begun integrating AI workforce training through a Microsoft partnership.

NSBE's revenue model is diversified across four primary streams: (1) annual membership dues from Pre-Collegiate, Collegiate, Professional, Graduate, International, and Lifetime tiers on a non-prorated August 1 to July 31 cycle; (2) event registrations from the Annual Convention, Professional Development Conference, and six regional conferences; (3) corporate partnerships through the Corporate Sustainability Partners and Corporate Growth Partners programs with companies including Bechtel, Toyota, Microsoft, Goldman Sachs, and Abbott; and (4) donations and charitable giving supporting scholarships (over $1 million offered with partners). The organization earned Charity Navigator's 4-star rating and Candid/GuideStar's Platinum Transparency Badge.

Name

National Society of Black Engineers

Legal name

National Society of Black Engineers

Website

https://nsbe.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1975 that operates a 500+ chapter ecosystem serving K-12 students through working professionals to increase Black representation in engineering and STEM, generating revenue from membership dues, annual conventions, corporate partnerships, and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Association / STEM Education & Workforce Development

NAICS

Professional Organizations (81392)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

STEM, Digital Literacy & Maker Education Nonprofits (BPAGADAG)

Keywords

• STEM education programs
• Engineering membership association
• Professional development services
• Workforce development programs
• Career placement services

Headquarters

HQ city

Alexandria

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees from Pre-Collegiate (NSBE Jr.), Collegiate, Professionals, Graduate, International, and Lifetime members. Membership subscriptions are not prorated and run August 1 – July 31 annually.
2. Event Registrations: Revenue from Annual Convention, Professional Development Conference, regional conferences, and other events. Convention registration discounts are available to renewing members.
3. Corporate Partnerships and Sponsorships: Corporate Sustainability Partners, Corporate Growth Partners, and sponsorship arrangements with companies including Abbott, Bechtel, Toyota, and others. Includes investment commitments like Bechtel's $300,000 for NSBE SEEK.
4. Donations and Charitable Giving: Individual donations, stock transfers, wire transfers, and mail-in checks support scholarships, programs, and organizational operations. NSBE and partners offer over a million dollars in scholarships.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit professional association founded in 1975 that delivers membership-based STEM education, career development, and professional networking services. The organization operates more than 500 chapters globally and serves pre-collegiate, collegiate, and professional members through programs, events, and a Career Center that connects members with employer partners.

Product overview

NSBE is a membership-driven organization offering a comprehensive ecosystem of programs and services across pre-collegiate, collegiate, and professional membership tiers. The core offerings include NSBE Jr. membership with NSBE SEEK summer programming for K-12 students, Collegiate and Professional membership programs with career development services, and the NSBE Career Center for job placement. Annual events include the NSBE Annual Convention and Professional Development Conference. Additional services include the Academic Excellence Program, National Leadership Institute, T.O.R.C.H., NSBE Research Platform, and the NSBE eStore. NSBE operates through a network of 500+ chapters globally and partners with corporations for sustainability and growth initiatives.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• NSBE Jr. Pre-collegiate membership program for K-12 students focused on inspiring young minds in STEM
• NSBE SEEK (Summer Engineering Experience for Kids)
• NSBE Career Center

Products and services

• Pre-Collegiate (K-12) Membership Membership program for K-12 students that provides STEM engagement, academic enrichment, and early exposure to engineering careers.
• Collegiate Membership Membership program for undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in engineering and STEM programs at colleges and universities, providing academic support, leadership development, and career preparation.
• Professional Membership Membership program for working STEM professionals that supports ongoing career advancement, networking, leadership opportunities, and community engagement.
• Annual Convention Ticketed annual gathering featuring career fairs, technical sessions, professional development workshops, and networking for members and corporate partners.
• Career Center Online job board and career services platform that connects NSBE members with employment opportunities and recruiting programs offered by employer partner organizations.
• Corporate Partnership and Sponsorship Program Sponsorship packages offered to corporations and government agencies that want to access NSBE's diverse engineering talent pipeline and engage the Black engineering community through events, scholarships, and programs.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 18,000 attendees at 2025 Annual Convention in Chicago
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ToyotacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 March 2026Toyota hosted the 29th Annual NSBE Golden Torch Awards (GTA), NSBE's signature Convention closing ceremony that recognizes excellence in academic achievement, professional success, and community impact.
• BechtelcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 March 2026Bechtel, a 51-year partner with NSBE, announced a $300,000 investment in the sustainability of NSBE's Summer Engineering Experience for Kids (NSBE SEEK) as part of a 20-year refresh initiative to further 3rd–5th graders' interest in STEM careers.
• MicrosoftcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Microsoft partnership enabled NSBE to provide AI training to regional and national leaders during the National Leadership Conference and Professional Development Conference, positioning NSBE as a trusted leader in AI workforce development.
• AbbottcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAbbott is listed among trusted corporate partners supporting NSBE's mission to develop Black engineering talent and advance STEM education.
• Goldman SachscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGoldman Sachs is shown as a partner logo in the trusted partners section, indicating corporate engagement with NSBE's talent pipeline and mission.
• U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with HUD during the HBCU NY Classic to deliver the Career Expo STEM Innovation Network experience, drawing more than 100 participants and supporting NSBE's outreach mission.
• NSBE Corporate Sustainability PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate Sustainability Partners program offers engagement opportunities for companies committed to supporting NSBE's long-term mission and pipeline development.
• NSBE Corporate Growth PartnerscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate Growth Partners program provides partnership pathways for companies seeking to engage with and recruit from NSBE's diverse engineering talent pool.
• NSBE Jr. STEM Education PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership program supporting NSBE's pre-collegiate initiatives including NSBE SEEK, NSBE Jr. chapters, and K-12 STEM programming.
• National Black MBA Association (NBMBAA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNSBE CEO Janeen Uzzell attended NBMBAA's annual conference in Houston, highlighting interconnected professional networks and career opportunities across Black professional organizations.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers: NOBCChE shares NSBE's mission of advancing Black professionals in STEM (specifically chemistry/chemical engineering), with a similar membership structure, annual conference, K-12 outreach, and corporate sponsorship model.
• Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers: SHPE is the most structurally comparable peer to NSBE: a national membership-based STEM professional organization focused on increasing Hispanic/Latino representation in engineering, with collegiate and professional chapters, an annual convention, and similar corporate partnership programs.
• National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering: NACME is a closely aligned nonprofit focused on increasing representation of underrepresented minorities in engineering through scholarships, university partnerships, and corporate engagement — overlapping with NSBE's scholarship and pipeline mission.
• Women in Engineering ProActive Network: WEPAN is a peer organization working to increase the participation and advancement of women and underrepresented groups in engineering, with comparable university, K-12, and corporate engagement programs.
• Society of Women Engineers: SWE operates the same membership-based, chapter-driven model for women in engineering and STEM, with collegiate/professional chapters, an annual conference, scholarships, and a Career Center — directly comparable in structure to NSBE's programs.
• American Indian Science and Engineering Society: AISES is a peer membership organization focused on Indigenous STEM representation with K-12 through professional programming, scholarships, and an annual conference — closely matching NSBE's pre-collegiate to professional pipeline model.

Broad incumbents

• IEEE: IEEE is the largest global engineering professional organization offering membership, conferences, and Career Center services; overlaps with NSBE's professional member value proposition but covers all engineering disciplines and demographics.
• American Society of Mechanical Engineers: ASME is a broad engineering professional society with membership, conferences, and Career Center services that overlap structurally with NSBE's Professionals membership but serves all engineers rather than a targeted demographic.
• National Society of Professional Engineers: NSPE is a broad engineering professional society providing career resources, advocacy, and continuing education comparable to NSBE's Professional Development Conference and Career Center, but without NSBE's targeted demographic or K-12 pipeline focus.

Emerging players

• National Math and Science Initiative: NMSI is a STEM education nonprofit that runs K-12 college readiness programs with corporate and foundation funding, partially overlapping with NSBE Jr. and NSBE SEEK but with a broader subject-area mandate (math and science, not just engineering).

Market position

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/NSBE
• Facebookfacebook.com/NSBE1975
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/national-society-of-black-engineers

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about National Society of Black Engineers