What Congressional Black Caucus Foundation does

The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Inc. (CBCF) is a nonpartisan 501(c)(3) public policy, research, and educational institute founded in 1976 and headquartered in Washington, D.C. Its mission centers on developing leaders, informing policy, and educating the public on issues affecting the Black community. CBCF's operating portfolio is organized around three primary surfaces: the Leadership Institute (encompassing the CBC Spouses Education Scholarship, fellowships, internships, and an alumni network of more than 1,000 participants); the Center for Policy Analysis and Research (CPAR), which produces policy reports, the Executive Order Tracker, and the Black Civic Engagement Hub; and signature events including the Annual Legislative Conference, the Mervyn L. & Stephanie Tubbs Jones Memorial Scholarship Classic, the Sojourner Truth Legacy Project, and the CBCF Honors: Legacy and Leadership Gala. Digital products include the Avoice Virtual Library and the CBCF website (cbcfinc.org), which serves as the primary program application, donation, and content distribution surface.

CBCF does not sell products or services. Its revenue is generated through individual donations, corporate giving, and event sponsorships, with a Corporate Advisory Council managing corporate partner relationships. Scholarship amounts range from $2,500 to $20,000 per recipient, and the organization distributes approximately 300 scholarships annually from a 3,000-applicant pool. Recent strategic moves include a 2026 partnership with Zelle and Community Development Investors to launch a $100,000 entrepreneurship scholarship for HBCU MBA students, and a 2025 partnership with Microsoft for the inaugural AI Policython at Howard University. The foundation is governed by a Board of Directors chaired by Congresswoman Terri A. Sewell and led by President and CEO Nicole Austin-Hillery, with 51-100 employees.

Name

Congressional Black Caucus Foundation

Legal name

Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Inc.

Website

https://cbcfinc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1976 that develops Black leaders, informs public policy, and educates the public through scholarships, fellowships, policy research, and national events serving HBCU students, alumni, and the Black community.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Policy Research and Education

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Civic and Social Organizations (81341)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Charities & Grantmaking Intermediaries (BPAGAKAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Corporate Foundations & CSR Grantmaking (BPAGAKAC), Civic Education & Community Engagement (Voting, Local Government) (EDAAAFAC)

Keywords

• Public policy research
• Leadership development programs
• Education scholarships
• Civic engagement
• Nonprofit policy institute

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Contributions: CBCF generates revenue through individual donations, corporate giving, and sponsorships. The organization has a Corporate Advisory Council and accepts corporate sponsorships for events and programs. The foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN: 52-1160561).

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

CBCF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public policy, research, and educational institute that develops Black civic leaders through scholarships, fellowships, internships, and an alumni network; conducts and disseminates policy research through its Center for Policy Analysis and Research (CPAR); and convenes the Black community and policymakers through signature events including the Annual Legislative Conference and the CBCF Honors Gala. All programs and resources are provided at no cost to beneficiaries and are funded through donations, corporate sponsorships, and grants.

Product overview

The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation operates as a non-partisan nonprofit public policy, research, and educational institute offering a portfolio of programs and services focused on developing leaders, informing policy, and educating the public. The core offerings include the Leadership Institute (encompassing scholarships, internships, fellowships, and alumni network), the Center for Policy Analysis and Research (CPAR) producing policy publications and analysis, and signature events such as the Annual Legislative Conference and the CBCF Honors Gala. Additional offerings include the Avoice Virtual Library for historical research, the Black Civic Engagement Hub for civic education, the Sojourner Truth Legacy Project for women's leadership discussions, the CBCF Executive Order Tracker for policy monitoring, and the CBC Spouses Education Scholarship. In 2026, CBCF launched the Zelle Community Development & Entrepreneurship Scholarship in partnership with Zelle and Community Development Investors to support HBCU students.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CBC Spouses Education Scholarship A scholarship program that awards $2,500 to $20,000 annually to approximately 300 recipients, supporting Black students in districts represented by Congressional Black Caucus members.
• Leadership Institute Comprehensive leadership development program encompassing scholarships, internships, fellowships, and alumni network to develop future civic leaders.
• Avoice Virtual Library Digital archive and research repository focused on African American history and contributions, supporting policy research and education.
• Center for Policy Analysis and Research (CPAR) Policy research institute producing in-depth reports, analysis briefings, published opinions, and research through CBCF fellows and experts.
• Annual Legislative Conference Five-day flagship conference bringing together thousands of leaders, advocates, professionals, students, and changemakers for networking and professional development.
• Sojourner Truth Legacy Project Women's History Month event series bringing together Congressional Black Caucus women and advocates for discussions on Black employment and workplace equity.
• CBCF Honors: Legacy & Leadership Gala Annual celebratory gala marking milestones in leadership, policy impact, and community advancement, honoring founders and distinguished partners.
• Black Civic Engagement Hub Online resource providing civic education and engagement tools, including The Black Policy Playbook for equitable policy advocacy.
• CBCF Executive Order Tracker Research tool tracking executive orders and their impacts on Black America, providing analysis of policy implications for underserved communities.
• Zelle Community Development & Entrepreneurship Scholarship $100,000 scholarship initiative supporting Black MBA students at HBCUs pursuing business ownership through acquisition, in partnership with Zelle and Community Development Investors.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1,000 alumni in the program network
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• ZellecoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 3 February 2026Zelle partnered with CBCF and Community Development Investors to launch the Zelle Community Development & Entrepreneurship Scholarship, a $100,000 initiative supporting Black MBA students at five HBCUs. The program awards $10,000 tuition grants to 10 students pursuing business ownership through acquisition, addressing the projected transfer of nearly 2.9 million small businesses by 2035.
• Community Development Investors (CDI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 February 2026Community Development Investors co-launched the Zelle Community Development & Entrepreneurship Scholarship with CBCF and Zelle, focusing on supporting entrepreneurship through acquisition at HBCUs to address wealth transfer opportunities in underserved communities.
• MicrosoftsupportingGTM or Marketing Partner · 20 October 2025Microsoft partnered with CBCF during Congressional Black Caucus Week to host the inaugural Microsoft AI Policython, a competition where Howard University students developed policy solutions for AI-related issues including ethical, safety, and financial concerns with an AI budgeting app.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• National Black MBA Association: Member-based organization supporting Black professionals pursuing MBAs and business careers. Comparable to the recipient pool and HBCU focus of CBCF's Zelle Community Development & Entrepreneurship Scholarship.
• National Urban Fellows: Leadership development organization providing fellowships for mid-career professionals of color. Comparable to CBCF's fellowship and leadership-institute offerings, but with a narrower mid-career focus.

Direct peers

• National Council of Negro Women: Civic organization advancing opportunities for Black women and families through leadership development, economic empowerment, and policy advocacy. Comparable mission on Black-community leadership pipeline and policy focus.
• NAACP: The nation's largest civil rights organization, with parallel focus on advocacy, voter engagement, leadership development, and policy research for Black Americans. Comparable in scale, scope, and national programmatic reach.
• National Urban League: One of the oldest and largest civil rights and urban advocacy organizations serving African Americans through workforce development, education, and policy advocacy. Directly comparable to CBCF in mission, constituency, and program mix (scholarships, leadership development, policy research).
• Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies: Black think tank producing policy research and analysis on issues affecting Black Americans. Directly comparable to CBCF's Center for Policy Analysis and Research (CPAR) in scope and constituency.
• Thurgood Marshall College Fund: Provides scholarships, leadership development, and pipeline programs for students at HBCUs and Predominantly Black Institutions. Direct peer in the HBCU scholarship and corporate-partnership-driven program model that overlaps with CBCF's scholarship portfolio.
• United Negro College Fund (UNCF): Operates the largest private scholarship program for Black students and HBCUs, with member institutions across the country. Direct peer on the scholarship/HBCU engagement axis that CBCF's CBC Spouses program and Zelle partnership operate in.
• National Action Network: Civil rights organization focused on policy advocacy, voter engagement, and community organizing for Black Americans. Comparable mission scope and policy-event-driven engagement model.

Broad incumbents

• Aspen Institute: Large, established policy and leadership nonprofit operating across multiple constituencies including racial equity programs. Comparable to CBCF in policy-research and leadership-fellowship model, but operates broadly rather than concentrating on the Black community.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/CBCFINC
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/congressional-black-caucus-foundation
• Xx.com/CBCFInc
• Facebookfacebook.com/cbcfinc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Congressional Black Caucus Foundation