HBCU Executive Leadership Institute

What HBCU Executive Leadership Institute does

HBCU Executive Leadership Institute (HBCU ELI) is a leadership development program housed within Clark Atlanta University's School of Education in Atlanta, Georgia, founded in 2021. The institute recruits and prepares future presidents and executive leaders for more than 100 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), addressing a documented shortage of qualified presidential candidates through a 6-month Community of Fellows program and an expanding portfolio of specialized tracks including the Willa B Player Program (athletics leadership), New Presidents Program (governance support for recent presidents), and Board President Affinity Program (board chair development). Curriculum is anchored by the proprietary ELI Competency Model, which defines both core leadership competencies (relationship building, communication, emotional intelligence, decision making, strategic planning, finance, operations) and HBCU-specific executive competencies (branding, funding, recruiting, board relations, crisis management, racial and social justice advocacy).

The business model is primarily grant-funded rather than tuition-driven. Selected Fellows pay a $1,500 program fee with limited scholarships available as funding permits, but the institute's economics are anchored by foundation grants — most notably a $600,000 investment from ECMC Foundation announced April 2024 — alongside support from Chan Zuckerberg Foundation, Microsoft, Toyota, Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, and The Riche's Foundation. A strategic partnership with UNCF announced in March 2026 extends the institute's distribution channel across the broader HBCU member network. Operating geographies are limited to the United States, and the institute recruits through a community-led, event-driven GTM motion involving a competitive annual selection of up to 30 Fellows.

Name

HBCU Executive Leadership Institute

Legal name

HBCU Executive Leadership Institute

Website

https://hbcueli.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

HBCU Executive Leadership Institute is a Clark Atlanta University-affiliated program that develops future presidents and executive leaders for more than 100 HBCUs through its Community of Fellows program and specialized leadership tracks, funded primarily by foundation grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Atlanta

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Foundation Grants and Investments: The institute operates primarily through foundation funding and grants. ECMC Foundation provided a $600,000 investment in April 2024 to support leadership development within HBCUs. Additional support comes from Chan Zuckerberg Foundation, Toyota, Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, and The Riche's Foundation.
2. Fellow Tuition: Selected Fellows pay $1,500 tuition for program participation. Limited scholarships are available as funding permits to offset costs for qualifying candidates.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The HBCU Executive Leadership Institute (HBCU ELI) at Clark Atlanta University delivers cohort-based leadership development programs that recruit and train senior higher education leaders to become presidents and executive leaders of Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Its flagship Community of Fellows program is a 6-month intensive curriculum supported by specialized tracks (Willa B Player, New Presidents, Board President Affinity) and anchored by the proprietary ELI Competency Model.

Product overview

The HBCU Executive Leadership Institute is a unified leadership development platform at Clark Atlanta University that prepares future HBCU presidents and executive leaders through multiple interconnected programs. The core offering is the Community of Fellows Program, a 6-month intensive curriculum supplemented by specialized tracks including the Willa B Player Program (athletics leadership), New Presidents Program (recent president support), and Board President Affinity Program (governance training). All programs are built around the ELI Competency Model framework, which encompasses core leadership competencies and HBCU-specific executive competencies. The institute aims to serve over 100 HBCUs by selecting up to 30 Fellows annually.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• HBCU ELI Community of Fellows Program A 6-month intensive leadership development program that recruits and develops future presidents and executive leaders for HBCUs; Fellows complete assessments, virtual sessions, mentorship, applied practice tasks, micro-credentials, and a culminating December presentation, with tuition of $1,500 and limited scholarships available.
• Willa B Player Program A specialized leadership development program focused on preparing HBCU athletic administrators for executive roles within HBCU institutions, named after Willa B. Player.
• New Presidents Program A pilot program designed for recent HBCU presidents to improve governance and long-term institutional success through professional training and structured executive development.
• Board President Affinity Program A program focused on developing board presidents and governance leaders within the HBCU community to strengthen institutional leadership and oversight.

Quantifiable outcome

• Selects up to 30 Fellows annually for the Community of Fellows program
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• UNCFcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 March 2026UNCF announced new partnerships including with Clark Atlanta University (HBCU ELI) to enhance leadership stability and executive preparedness in HBCUs. The initiative includes leadership development pipelines, professional training, and pilot programs for recent HBCU presidents to improve governance and long-term success.
• Wiley UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 March 2026UNCF partnership includes Wiley University alongside Clark Atlanta University (HBCU ELI) to strengthen HBCU leadership stability and executive preparedness through collaborative initiatives.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• American Council on Education (ACE) Fellows Program: ACE Fellows Program is the most prominent higher-education leadership development fellowship in the U.S., preparing mid-career administrators for senior roles including presidencies. Directly comparable to HBCU ELI's Community of Fellows, though it serves the broader higher-ed market rather than the HBCU niche specifically.
• HERS (Higher Education Resource Services): HERS provides leadership development programs and institutes for women in higher education, including emerging leaders and current administrators preparing for senior roles. Comparable as a cohort-based leadership development program serving higher-ed executives with a defined demographic focus.
• Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges (AGB): AGB provides board governance training and leadership development for university trustees and board chairs, directly comparable to HBCU ELI's Board President Affinity Program. Both serve governance-side leadership in higher education.
• Penn Center for Leadership in Higher Education (PennCLO): PennCLO offers executive doctoral and leadership programs for higher-education administrators seeking presidencies and senior roles. Comparable as a cohort-based, university-anchored executive leadership development program targeting aspiring college presidents.
• Executive Leadership Council (ELC): ELC develops Black senior executives and works to expand the pipeline of Black corporate and organizational leaders, including in higher education. Comparable mission around developing Black executive leadership pipelines with comparable demographic focus to HBCU ELI.

Broad incumbents

• Center for Creative Leadership (CCL): CCL is one of the largest global leadership development organizations serving executives across industries, including higher education. Comparable as a leadership development provider but operates at much broader scale and lacks HBCU-specific specialization.
• National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA): NASPA provides leadership development, training, and credentialing programs for student affairs and higher-education administrators. Comparable as a higher-ed leadership development provider serving mid-career administrators preparing for senior roles.
• Council of Independent Colleges (CIC): CIC serves presidents and senior leaders of small and mid-sized private nonprofit colleges, including leadership programs and presidential searches. Comparable audience (private nonprofit college presidents) but serves broader constituency than HBCU-only.
• American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU): AASCU provides leadership development programs including the Millennium Leadership Initiative for aspiring presidents of public institutions. Closest existing comparator in the public-institution HSI/HBCU-adjacent space for executive pipeline development.

Emerging players

• UNCF (United Negro College Fund): UNCF is the largest HBCU-focused advocacy and funding organization and recently announced a strategic partnership with HBCU ELI. While not a direct competitor, UNCF's growing leadership development initiatives (in partnership) make it a peer in the HBCU executive pipeline space.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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 HBCU Executive Leadership Institute