The African American Policy Forum

What The African American Policy Forum does

The African American Policy Forum (AAPF) is a nonprofit social justice think tank founded in 1996 and headquartered at 435 West 116th Street in New York City. The organization functions as an intellectual hub that connects academics, activists, and policy-makers to develop and disseminate frameworks — principally intersectionality and Critical Race Theory — aimed at dismantling structural inequality and advancing racial justice and gender equality in the U.S. and internationally. Its portfolio spans awareness campaigns (#SayHerName, #TruthBeTold), educational programs (Backtalkers Academy, Young Scholars Program for ages 17-22), a research publications catalog, the Intersectionality Matters podcast hosted by Kimberle Crenshaw, the Under the Blacklight webinar series, summits such as the Legacy, Literacy & Liberation Summit, and advocacy initiatives including Freedom to Learn, F2L Democracy Defenders, and Her Dream Deferred. AIPP does not sell or license technology products; its offerings are media, research, education, and movement-building activities delivered through a Wix-hosted website, social media channels, email newsletter, in-person events, and a branded merchandise shop.

AAPF operates as a private nonprofit organization rather than a commercial enterprise, with a stated headcount of 1–10 employees. Revenue is generated almost entirely through tax-deductible donations collected via the Kindful donation platform and modest one-time merchandise sales (stickers at $3, books at $17.95–$30, apparel at $25–$35) from an online shop. No subscription, membership, licensing, or enterprise-contract revenue streams are disclosed, and no financial figures — including total donations, grants, or annual revenue — are publicly stated in the source material. The customer base is highly diffuse: individual supporters, foundation funders, grassroots activists, academics, policymakers, and young Black women scholars constitute the primary constituencies, rather than identifiable paying customers in a traditional GTM sense.

Name

The African American Policy Forum

Legal name

The African American Policy Forum

Website

https://aapf.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The African American Policy Forum is a nonprofit think tank founded in 1996 that connects academics, activists, and policy-makers to advance intersectionality, Critical Race Theory, racial justice, and gender equality through campaigns, research, education, and media.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Justice Policy Advocacy

NAICS

Human Rights Organizations (813311), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Civic and Social Organizations (81341)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Racial & Ethnic Justice Organizations (BPAGAFAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Gender Equality & Women’s Rights Advocacy (BPAGAFAD), Human Rights & Anti-Discrimination Organizations (BPAGAFAB), Education Partnerships for Equity, Inclusion & Gender (EDADALAF)

Keywords

• Racial justice advocacy
• Gender equality research
• Intersectionality policy
• Social justice think tank
• Critical race theory

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

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: AAPF relies on donations from individuals, foundations, and supporters to fund its operations and initiatives including #SayHerName, #TruthBeTold, Under the Blacklight, and Black Girls Matter programs.
2. Merchandise Sales: The organization sells branded merchandise including apparel, books, accessories, and educational materials through its online shop to support organizational funding.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The African American Policy Forum is a nonprofit social justice think tank that connects academics, activists, and policy-makers to advance racial justice, gender equality, and intersectionality through campaigns (#SayHerName, #TruthBeTold), educational programs (Backtalkers Academy, Young Scholars Program), media products (Intersectionality Matters podcast, Under the Blacklight webinar series), research publications, advocacy initiatives, community events, and a branded merchandise storefront.

Product overview

The African American Policy Forum (AAPF) is an innovative social justice think tank founded in 1996 that connects academics, activists, and policy-makers to promote efforts to dismantle structural inequality. Rather than a unified technology platform, AAPF operates as a portfolio of interconnected campaigns, educational programs, research initiatives, and community engagement activities united by frameworks of intersectionality and Critical Race Theory. The core offerings include the #SayHerName campaign addressing police violence against Black women, the #TruthBeTold campaign defending social justice and democracy, the Backtalkers Academy youth empowerment program, the Young Scholars Program cultivating young Black women as thought leaders, the Under the Blacklight webinar series, the Intersectionality Matters podcast hosted by Kimberle Crenshaw, the Freedom to Learn initiative opposing book bans, and the Black Girls Matter research initiative. AAPF also publishes research reports and primers on intersectionality topics, and operates a merchandise store featuring Certified Backtalker branded apparel and books. The organization serves as the movement home for intersectionality and Critical Race Theory, providing research, message clarity, and movement strategy to advance racial justice and gender equality.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• #SayHerName: A campaign dedicated to making visible the Black women who have been killed by police violence.
• #TruthBeTold
• Young Scholars Program
• Backtalkers Academy

Products and services

• #SayHerName Campaign A national campaign raising awareness about Black women's experiences of police violence and public silence surrounding their deaths, combining activism, policy advocacy, artivism, research, and community support through the Mothers Network. Targets advocates, policy-makers, and community members concerned with police violence against Black women.
• #TruthBeTold Campaign A campaign dedicated to protecting social justice education and multiracial democracy through activism, advocacy, and storytelling tools (Tell Your Story, Call to Action, Report). Targets educators, students, and community members opposing censorship and book bans.
• Backtalkers Academy A youth empowerment and educational program providing leadership development for young people engaged in social justice work. Targets young advocates and emerging leaders.
• Young Scholars Program A multi-phase research and leadership initiative cultivating young Black women and girls (ages 17–22) as thought leaders, researchers, and public intellectuals through an intensive six-week summer institute exploring Black feminist theory, critical race theory, and intersectional research methodologies, followed by extended mentorship and research opportunities.
• Under the Blacklight Webinar Series A webinar series providing analysis and discussion on intersectional issues related to racial justice and social policy. Targets researchers, activists, and policy professionals seeking curated conversations on intersectionality.
• Freedom to Learn An initiative advocating for educational freedom and opposing book bans, featuring the Book Unbanned Tour bringing banned books across the country. Targets educators, librarians, students, and community members opposing censorship.
• Intersectionality Matters Podcast A podcast series hosted by Kimberle Crenshaw exploring intersectionality topics and featuring conversations with activists, scholars, and thought leaders. Distributed via SoundCloud for broad public audience reach.
• Black Girls Matter A research initiative and report examining the experiences of Black girls and women, particularly regarding school pushout and overpolicing. Targets researchers, policy-makers, and advocates working on education equity and gender justice.
• Legacy, Literacy & Liberation Summit A summit bringing together scholars, activists, and community members to explore themes of legacy, literacy, and liberation. Annual event engaging supporters and advancing advocacy goals.
• F2L Democracy Defenders An initiative focused on defending democracy and supporting civic engagement. Targets civic participants and democracy advocates.
• AAPF Fellowship Program A fellowship program connecting academics, activists, and policy-makers. Targets emerging scholars and practitioners working on racial and gender justice.
• Her Dream Deferred An initiative addressing systemic barriers facing Black women and girls. Targets advocates and researchers focused on structural inequities.
• AAPF Merchandise Store An online store selling Certified Backtalker branded apparel (t-shirts, hats, tank tops, enamel pins, stickers), books, bags, mugs, and other branded items, with unit prices ranging from $3 to $35. Sold globally via the organization's own storefront to support organizational funding.
• Research Publications A collection of research reports, primers, and policy documents covering intersectionality topics including Mapping the War on Equal Opportunity, A Primer on Intersectionality, Confined in California, Black Girls Matter reports, and School-to-Prison Pipeline analyses. Targets researchers, policy professionals, advocates, and educators.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• NAACP Legal Defense Fund: Premier U.S. civil rights legal advocacy organization pursuing racial justice through litigation and policy. Directly comparable to AAPF in mission focus on dismantling structural racial inequality, with overlapping constituency and policy engagement.
• Race Forward: National racial justice organization advancing equity through research, media, and movement support. Comparable to AAPF in applying intersectional frameworks to policy advocacy and grassroots organizing.
• National Women's Law Center: Advocacy organization focused on gender equality, particularly for women and girls facing intersecting barriers of race and class. Highly comparable to AAPF's focus on Black women and girls and intersectional gender equity work.
• Advancement Project: Racial justice organization using organizing, policy, and litigation to advance equity. Directly comparable to AAPF in grassroots-driven approach to dismantling structural inequality.
• Equal Justice Initiative: Civil rights organization challenging mass incarceration and racial injustice through litigation, research, and memorial work. Comparable to AAPF in focus on racial inequality, police violence, and human rights advocacy.

Broad incumbents

• American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU): Largest U.S. civil liberties organization litigating and advocating on constitutional and civil rights, including racial justice and free speech. Overlaps AAPF on CRT defense and racial justice but operates at significantly larger scale across many issue areas.
• Southern Poverty Law Center: Civil rights organization combining litigation, education, and monitoring of extremist activity. Comparable to AAPF in civil rights advocacy focus and donor-supported nonprofit structure.
• Center for American Progress: Progressive policy think tank producing research and advocacy on racial justice, gender equity, and democracy. Comparable to AAPF as a policy research and advocacy institution, though broader in scope.
• The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights: Coalition of civil rights organizations coordinating policy advocacy across racial justice, voting rights, and human rights. Comparable to AAPF in federal policy advocacy on racial and human rights issues.

Emerging players

• Brennan Center for Justice: Nonpartisan law and policy institute focused on democracy, justice, and equality issues including racial justice. Comparable to AAPF as a research-driven policy institution addressing structural inequality.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/AAPolicyForum
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/aapolicyforum
• Facebookfacebook.com/TheAfricanAmericanPolicyForum
• Instagraminstagram.com/aapolicyforum
• TikToktiktok.com/@aa_policyforum?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/african-american-policy-forum

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 The African American Policy Forum