African American Leadership Forum

Name

African American Leadership Forum

Legal name

African American Leadership Forum

Website

https://aalftc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Development and Racial Equity Advocacy

NAICS

Human Rights Organizations (813311), Social Advocacy Organizations (81331), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Educational Support Services (611710), Civic and Social Organizations (81341)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Racial & Ethnic Justice Organizations (BPAGAFAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Civic Participation & Leadership Development (Voting, Advocacy, Community Leadership) (EDAAADAL), Youth Leadership, Civic Education & Service-Learning Nonprofits (BPAGADAI), Civil Society Strengthening & Civic Space (BPADAGAD), Human Rights & Anti-Discrimination Organizations (BPAGAFAB)

Keywords

• Racial equity advocacy
• Leadership development fellowships
• Community grant programs
• Policy advocacy platforms
• Nonprofit community organizing

Headquarters

HQ city

Minneapolis

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: The organization operates as a nonprofit organization accepting donations from individuals and institutional investors who want to realize racial equity. Donations fuel their mission, sustain capacity, and invigorate their network of leaders and allies working to create innovative solutions to systemic problems facing Black Minnesotans.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The African American Leadership Forum operates as a nonprofit think-and-do tank that advances racial equity in Minnesota through fellowship programs, community grants, policy advocacy, and strategic place-based initiatives. It delivers the Dr. Josie R. Johnson Leadership Academy and Policy Entrepreneur Fellowship for Black leaders, the STEAM Forward Grant for Black youth, and the Northside Forward 10-year investment plan for North Minneapolis. Its Black Agenda for Change and Action Center platform drive community-designed policy recommendations and coordinated civic action.

Product overview

African American Leadership Forum operates as a think-and-do tank offering a portfolio of programs focused on racial equity and Black leadership development in Minnesota. The organization provides grant funding through STEAM Forward, policy platforms via the Black Agenda for Change, and place-based strategic planning through Northside Forward. Leadership development is delivered through two fellowship programs: the Dr. Josie R. Johnson Leadership Academy (a six-month fellowship) and the Policy Entrepreneur Fellowship (a two-year cohort). Additional offerings include an Insights Center for research data and an Action Center for policy advocacy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Dr. Josie R. Johnson Leadership Academy (JRJLA): A transformative fellowship for Black leaders in Minnesota focused on leadership development, self-care, and reimagining leadership through a Black-centered lens.
• Policy Entrepreneur Fellowship (PEF)
• Northside Forward
• STEAM Forward Grant

Products and services

• STEAM Forward Grant A $10,000 community investment grant program supporting Black-identifying PreK-12 youth in North Minneapolis in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math. Open to 501(c)(3) nonprofits and educational institutions with existing STEAM ecosystems serving Black youth.
• Black Agenda for Change A platform of community-driven policy solutions and innovative procedures designed to address systemic challenges facing Black communities in Minnesota. Aims to positively impact the 370,000 African Americans in Minnesota.
• Northside Forward A 10-year strategic vision and investment plan for North Minneapolis organized around six pillars and 25 strategies, with quantified goals of 50 new businesses, 1,240 new jobs, and 3,800 new housing units.
• Dr. Josie R. Johnson Leadership Academy (JRJLA) A six-month fellowship program for Black leaders in Minnesota running June through November, featuring Torchbearer mentors, executive coaching, and intergenerational network building. Over 150 alumni have completed the program.
• Policy Entrepreneur Fellowship A two-year development cohort of three Black leaders focused on advancing transformative change through policy development for Black Minnesotans. Fellows receive a salary of $75,000.
• Action Center A community-designed policy recommendation and civic advocacy platform (powered by Quorum) enabling coordinated action on racial equity issues across Minnesota and beyond.
• Insights Center A knowledge hub housing primary findings from The Forum's Data, Research & Policy and Innovation & Design teams, providing data and insights about Black community needs and aspirations in Minnesota.

Quantifiable outcome

• 370,000 African Americans in Minnesota to be positively impacted by the Black Agenda for Change
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 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

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• North Minneapolis Community OrganizationscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 June 2026STEAM Forward grant partnership with North Minneapolis community organizations, schools, families, and cultural spaces that already have thriving STEAM ecosystems. The Forum invests in what already exists rather than importing outside assumptions.
• Gensler (Cities and Urban Design team)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGensler's Cities and Urban Design team provided guidance in creating the Northside Forward plan, a 10-year vision for growth and investment in North Minneapolis. The plan is strategically positioned to guide $1.5 billion in public and private investment over the next decade.
• Samuel BendacoreOthersPolicy Entrepreneur Fellow focused on generational wealth as part of Northside Forward's Policy Entrepreneur Fellows team leading policy innovation.
• Busisiwe LedibanecoreOthersPolicy Entrepreneur Fellow focused on economic prosperity as part of Northside Forward's Policy Entrepreneur Fellows team leading policy innovation.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• National Urban League: Large, established civil rights and racial equity organization with affiliate chapters, economic empowerment programs, and policy advocacy, making it a broader incumbent comparable to AALF's mission.
• NAACP: National civil rights organization focused on racial justice, policy advocacy, and community empowerment, directly comparable to AALF's mission of fighting systemic anti-Black racism.

Direct peers

• Race Forward: National racial equity "think-and-do tank" producing research, policy, and practice tools for racial justice, closely mirroring AALF's positioning as a community-led think-and-do tank advancing Black equity.
• PolicyLink: National research and action institute advancing racial and economic equity through policy, including place-based community development initiatives that align with Northside Forward's model.
• Borealis Philanthropy: Philanthropic collaborative dedicated to advancing racial equity by moving resources to Black, Indigenous, and people-of-color-led movements, comparable to AALF's community-led funding model and grantmaking.

Emerging players

• The Just Trust: Philanthropy focused on building Black power and advancing racial justice through movement-led grantmaking and policy advocacy, with overlapping theory of change and program mix.
• Liberation Ventures: Organization supporting reparations and racial healing work through narrative, research, and field-building, with comparable Black-centered, community-led philanthropic approach.
• NDN Collective: Indigenous-led organization building collective power through grantmaking, narrative, and place-based community development, structurally similar to AALF as a community-led equity think-and-do tank.

Regional players

• Center for Economic Inclusion: Minneapolis-based organization advancing economic inclusion and racial equity through employer and place-based strategies, a clear regional peer working on overlapping Twin Cities economic prosperity issues.
• Northside Funders Group: Collaborative of funders investing in North Minneapolis, directly comparable to AALF's role in stewarding place-based Northside Forward investment in the same geography.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@TheForumMN
• Facebookfacebook.com/aalftwincities
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/african-american-leadership-forum
• Instagraminstagram.com/aalftwincities
• Xx.com/AALFTwinCities

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 African American Leadership Forum