African Women's Cancer Awareness Association

What African Women's Cancer Awareness Association does

African Women's Cancer Awareness Association (AWCAA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2004 and headquartered at 8955 Edmonston Rd, Suite D, Greenbelt, Maryland. The organization provides breast cancer awareness, education, patient navigation, and screening services to African immigrant women and their families in the US and abroad, operating with a culturally appropriate and science-based health promotion model. Its core service portfolio comprises three offerings: Workshops and Training (community-based breast cancer awareness and outreach training), Patient Navigation Services (individualized support for navigating healthcare systems, accessing screenings, and managing diagnoses), and Medical Missions (international breast cancer screening and education programs, including a 2017 mission to Sierra Leone). The organization serves more than 1,200 women annually with direct navigation services and has reached over 40,000 women cumulatively since founding.

AWCAA's operational technology is built around a trained cultural ambassador network embedded in community institutions including churches, mosques, community centers, grocery stores, beauty salons, schools, and embassies across Prince George's County, Montgomery County, Washington DC, and Virginia. The organization has distributed public health tools in 11 African languages and operates both in-house ultrasound screening (enabled by a machine donated by Breast Care for Washington in May 2023) and partnerships for mobile mammography. Core programs include the Iroko Queen's Support Group for survivors, the annual Ladies First fundraising brunch, recurring community health fairs offering free mammograms and other screenings, and signature events like the 20th Anniversary Gala held on October 18, 2024.

Revenue is generated through individual donations, corporate sponsorships, government grants, and fundraising events, with all contributions being tax-deductible under 501(c)(3) status. Disclosed funding includes the $50,000 DC HOPE Community Grant (2020), the $55,000 Credible Messenger Community Outreach Grant (2020, CARES Act funded), and the $50,000 AARP Purpose Prize Award (2022). The organization is led by founder and executive director Ify Anne Nwabukwu, B.S.N., R.N., and maintains strategic partnerships with Breast Care for Washington, Susan G. Komen, the DC Mayor's Office on African Affairs, the Association of Nigerian Physicians in the Americas (DC-MD-VA chapter), the Sierra Leone Embassy, and Fox 5 News, among others. AWCAA operates with a small team of 1-10 employees and is governed independently with no parent organization.

Name

African Women's Cancer Awareness Association

Legal name

African Women's Cancer Awareness Association

Website

https://awcaa.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

African Women's Cancer Awareness Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2004 that provides culturally appropriate breast cancer education, patient navigation, and screening services to African immigrant women and their families in the US DMV region and abroad.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Health Nonprofit Services

NAICS

Other Similar Organizations (except Business, Professional, Labor, and Political Organizations) (81399)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Maternal, Newborn, Child & Adolescent Health (MNCAH) NGOs (HLAJAKAG)

Keywords

• Breast cancer awareness
• Patient navigation services
• Community health education
• Medical mission services
• Nonprofit health services

Headquarters

HQ city

Greenbelt

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 Fundraising: AWCAA operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Revenue is generated through individual donations, corporate sponsorships, government grants, and fundraising events including galas, brunches, and online campaigns such as the '20 for 20 Campaign'. All donations are tax-deductible.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

AWCAA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers breast cancer education, patient navigation, and medical mission services to African immigrant women and their families in the US and abroad. Its core offerings are Workshops and Training (community breast cancer education and outreach), Patient Navigation Services (one-on-one guidance through screening, diagnosis, and treatment), and Medical Missions (international breast cancer screening and awareness programs, including work in Sierra Leone).

Product overview

African Women's Cancer Awareness Association (AWCAA) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization providing a coordinated portfolio of breast cancer awareness, prevention, and support services specifically designed for African immigrant women and their families in the US and abroad. The organization's service model centers on three core offerings: Workshops and Training (community education and outreach), Patient Navigation Services (individualized healthcare system navigation), and Medical Missions (international breast cancer screening and education programs). These are supplemented by community programs including health fairs offering free screenings (mammograms, blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, dental exams), the Ladies First annual fundraiser/brunch, the Iroko Queen's Support Group for survivors, and periodic special events like the 20th Anniversary Gala. All services emphasize culturally appropriate, language-accessible support to address barriers faced by African immigrant communities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Ladies First: Annual fundraising brunch celebrating African women impacted by breast cancer, featuring survivor fashion show, panels, and entertainment.
• Iroko Queen's Support Group

Products and services

• Workshops and Training Educational workshops and community outreach training that spread breast cancer awareness and prevention education to African immigrant communities.
• Patient Navigation Services Individualized support that helps African immigrant women access breast cancer screenings, navigate healthcare systems, and manage diagnoses and treatment, including transportation, medication, and grocery assistance.
• Medical Missions International healthcare missions delivering breast cancer education, prevention, and screening services to communities in African countries such as Sierra Leone.
• Community Health Fairs Free community health fairs offering mammograms, blood pressure checks, blood sugar checks, cholesterol checks, hepatitis screening, dental exams, and Zumba fitness activities.
• Ladies First Annual Fundraiser Annual fundraiser brunch featuring survivor fashion shows, panel discussions, and entertainment to support AWCAA's breast cancer programs.
• Iroko Queen's Support Group Therapeutic support group for breast cancer survivors, their families, and friends offering a safe space for sharing experiences and fostering resilience.
• 20th Anniversary Gala Special fundraising gala commemorating 20 years of breast cancer advocacy, featuring Afri-Couture Survivor Fashion Show, Impact Awards, and a 3-course dinner.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 40,000 women served locally and internationally since founding
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• BellaNaijacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerBellaNaija, a global media leader, partnered with AWCAA to share the 20th Anniversary Gala with the world and spotlight their ongoing mission. This partnership provides global media visibility for AWCAA's mission and events.
• Breast Care for Washington (BCWDC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBreast Care for Washington has partnered with AWCAA since their inception in 2012. They donated a much-needed ultrasound machine to AWCAA in May 2023 and have regularly provided their mammogram van for screening events at AWCAA's headquarters, screening 15-30 women per visit. This partnership enables in-house screening capability at AWCAA.
• Susan G. KomencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSusan G. Komen collaborated with AWCAA as a partner in the June 2020 virtual brunch fundraiser for women of color affected by breast cancer.
• Association of Nigerian Physicians In The Americas (ANP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAWCAA partnered with ANP DC-MD-VA chapter to host the Family and Community Picnic and Health Day on June 17, 2023, providing free dental checks, diabetes screenings, blood pressure checks, CPR training, and breast ultrasound imaging to community members.
• DC Mayor's Office on African Affairs (MOAA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAWCAA worked with MOAA as part of the Credible Messenger Grant program to educate African communities in DC about COVID-19 contact tracing and case investigation. City Commissioner Hellen Fissihaie from MOAA spoke at AWCAA's October 2020 webinar.
• Fox 5 NewsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFox 5 News with Benevity matched funds raised by Fox 5 News employees for AWCAA's June 2020 virtual brunch fundraiser. FOX5 DC anchor Maureen Umeh hosted the 20th Anniversary Gala.
• Sierra Leone EmbassyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAWCAA's partnership with the Sierra Leone embassy has spanned years, contributing to the success of their work serving African immigrant communities. AWCAA donated PPE to embassy staff and community members, and led a medical mission to Sierra Leone in 2017.
• Bayne LLCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBayne LLC partnered with DC Health (Mayor Muriel Bowser's Administration) to solicit grant applications for the COVID-19 Credible Messenger Community Outreach Grant program. AWCAA received a $55,000 grant through this program.
• RCCG-Jesus HouseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAWCAA participated in a health outreach event organized by RCCG-Jesus House in Takoma, Maryland on April 1, providing breast cancer education and COVID-19 resources to the diverse African immigrant congregation.
• Prince George's Fire/EMS DepartmentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Prince George's Fire/EMS Department provided CPR training at AWCAA's community health fair events.
• Honey Pot CompanyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHoney Pot Company was a sponsor of AWCAA's June 2020 virtual brunch fundraiser.
• Eastern MotorsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEastern Motors in Sterling, Virginia was a sponsor of AWCAA's June 2020 virtual brunch fundraiser.
• Dr. & Dr. Mrs GaznabiminorOthersIndividual donors who supported the June 2020 virtual brunch fundraiser.
• Thelma D. Jones Breast Cancer FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerA longstanding partner of AWCAA; founder Thelma D. Jones spoke at the Mother's Day Brunch event as a breast cancer survivor advocate.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Center for Black Women's Wellness: An Atlanta-based nonprofit focused on the health and well-being of Black women and their families through education, advocacy, and direct services. Comparable in providing culturally tailored health navigation and chronic disease support.
• Sisters Network Inc. A national African American breast cancer survivorship organization providing education, outreach, and patient navigation. Direct peer because both organizations focus on breast cancer disparities in Black/African-descent communities with culturally tailored navigation.
• Breast Care for Washington (BCC): A Washington DC-based nonprofit providing breast health education and mobile mammography screening to underserved women. AWCAA's operational partner and a direct peer in providing no-cost screening access in the DC area.
• Black Women's Health Imperative: A national nonprofit focused on the health and wellness of Black women across multiple conditions including breast cancer. Comparable in addressing African American/African immigrant women's health through advocacy, education, and community programs.
• Tigerlily Foundation: A national breast cancer foundation focused on women of color and underserved populations, providing education, patient navigation, and community programs. Directly comparable in mission to serve underrepresented women with breast cancer support.

Broad incumbents

• Susan G. Komen: The largest US breast cancer nonprofit, operating nationally with research funding, screening programs, and patient navigation. AWCAA has partnered with Komen on prior fundraisers; Komen represents the broad-incumbent counterpart with overlapping mission.
• Prevent Cancer Foundation: A national nonprofit funding cancer prevention and early detection research, education, and community outreach. Awarded AWCAA's founder the Laurel Award; serves as a peer in community cancer awareness and screening programs at a larger scale.
• National Breast Cancer Foundation: A national breast cancer nonprofit providing mammography grants, patient navigation, and education programs. A broad incumbent with similar patient-navigation services targeting underserved populations.
• American Cancer Society: The largest US cancer nonprofit with national reach across all cancer types, providing patient navigation, screening access, and research. Represents the broad incumbent whose Reach to Recovery and patient navigation programs overlap with AWCAA's model.

Emerging players

• African Women's Cancer Support Group (various chapters): Smaller regional support groups serving African women with cancer across US metropolitan areas. Comparable in mission to support African immigrant women facing cancer but with smaller geographic scope than AWCAA's DC metro operation.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/awcaa
• Facebookfacebook.com/awcaa

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about African Women's Cancer Awareness Association