National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education

What National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education does

NAFEO (the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit membership association founded in 1969 and headquartered at 600 Maryland Avenue S.W., Suite 800E, Washington, D.C. It is the sole national membership association representing all of the nation's Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) — 105 institutions across public, private, land-grant, two-year, four-year, and graduate categories — together with approximately 80 Predominantly Black Institutions (PBIs). Its constituency spans an estimated 700,000 students, 70,000 faculty, and 7 million alumni worldwide.

NAFEO's core products are advocacy and convening programs rather than technology products. Offerings include Policy & Advocacy representation across the legislative, executive, and judicial branches; the annual National Dialogue on Blacks in Higher Education and HBCUs on the Hill Day; the Presidential Peer Seminar; the Freshmen Presidents and Chancellors Boot Camp; student and faculty leadership development internships and apprenticeships; and the Campus Plus Community redevelopment program. Its 2018-founded subsidiary, the HBCU Technology Foundation, supports intellectual property commercialization, licensing, and technology transfer for member institutions.

Revenue derives primarily from recurring membership dues paid by HBCUs and PBIs, supplemented by donations and contributions from foundations, corporations, and individuals (including the Alfred Street Baptist Church 'Tithe the Tithe' program) and pro bono legal services from firms such as Kirkland & Ellis. Pricing tiers are not publicly disclosed. The go-to-market motion is sales-led (direct outreach to institutional presidents and chancellors) reinforced by event-driven engagement through signature convenings. Governance is provided by a board composed of member-institution presidents.

Name

National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education

Legal name

National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education

Website

https://nafeonation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1969

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

NAFEO is the 501(c)(3) national membership association founded in 1969 that represents all 105 U.S. HBCUs and approximately 80 PBIs, delivering federal advocacy, leadership development, and convening programs to member institutional presidents.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education Advocacy and Association Services

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAHAMAL

HBCU Systems & Multi-Campus Institutions

Education/Higher Education (Colleges & Universities)/Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCUs)

SECONDARYEDAHAMAA

Public HBCUs (State-Supported)

Education/Higher Education (Colleges & Universities)/Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCUs)

SECONDARYEDAHAMAB

Private Nonprofit HBCUs

Education/Higher Education (Colleges & Universities)/Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCUs)

Keywords

• Higher education advocacy
• Membership association
• HBCU policy advocacy
• Presidential leadership development
• Educational equity programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

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. Membership Dues: NAFEO operates as a membership-based association funded by dues from its member HBCUs and PBIs. The organization also receives donations and contributions from foundations, corporations, and individuals to support its advocacy and program activities.
2. Donations and Contributions: NAFEO receives donations through various channels including direct contributions, the 'Tithe the Tithe' program from partner organizations like Alfred Street Baptist Church, and general fundraising efforts to support HBCU and PBI advocacy.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

NAFEO is a national membership association that advocates on behalf of all 105 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and approximately 80 Predominantly Black Institutions (PBIs) in legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government. It delivers policy advocacy, leadership development programs for presidents and chancellors, signature convenings and conferences, technology transfer services through its HBCU Technology Foundation subsidiary, and student/faculty career pathway programs.

Product overview

NAFEO is a membership and advocacy organization, not a product company. It offers a portfolio of advocacy programs and services for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Predominantly Black Institutions (PBIs). The core offerings include Policy & Advocacy services, the Presidential Peer Seminar, Freshmen Presidents Boot Camp, National Dialogue conferences, the HBCU Technology Foundation (established 2018), Campus Plus Community redevelopment program, and Student/Faculty Leadership Development internships. These programs collectively serve the organization's mission as the national voice for HBCUs and PBIs representing 105 HBCUs and over 80 PBIs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• NAFEO Policy & Advocacy

Quantifiable outcome

• HBCUs have a $15 billion short-term economic impact; represent only 4% of institutions yet graduate 50% of African American public school education professionals, over 40% of African Americans with advanced STEM degrees, 60% of African American health professionals
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• US Hart CaresminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024NAFEO joined US Hart Cares as a premier strategic collaborator on behalf of all HBCUs and PBIs. The partnership focuses on a Congressional National Emergency Cybersecurity Call to Action, educating Congress about economic and equity benefits of utilizing government and private funding mechanisms for cybersecurity education at HBCUs and PBIs.
• WOZ ED-RX5minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partnered with NAFEO and US Hart Cares at a March 22nd congressional convening focused on developing an action agenda for cybersecurity education expansion at HBCUs and PBIs to fill critical analytics, data, and cybersecurity positions in public and private sectors.
• Alfred Street Baptist ChurchminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2022The Alfred Street Baptist Church of Alexandria, Virginia, through its 'Tithe the Tithe' program, made generous contributions to NAFEO and other HBCU-focused organizations. NAFEO was one of seven nonprofits focusing on African American youth and sustaining pathways to college that received funding through this program in 2022, with a total of $1.5 million donated under the program that year.
• HBCU Technology FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Founded in 2018 by NAFEO as an independent 501(c)(3) corporation to spur technological innovations among HBCUs and PBIs. The Foundation assists institutions in commercializing and licensing technology, provides technology transfer services, and manages intellectual property portfolios. It offers education programs, technology transfer support, licensing services, and a patent posting exchange.
• Fair Elections CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounded in 2006 by Robert Brandon, FEC is a 501(c)(3) legal network removing barriers to full participation in elections. FEC and its Campus Vote Project supported NAFEO's civic engagement efforts and work-study guidance for member institutions on voter registration and civic education.
• Kirkland & ElliscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerKirkland & Ellis served as pro bono counsel for over a decade in the Coalition for Equity and Excellence in Maryland Higher Education vs. Maryland Higher Education Commission case, contributing to the landmark $577M settlement for Maryland HBCUs.
• Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under LawcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerServed as pro bono counsel alongside Kirkland & Ellis in the decade-plus litigation of the Coalition for Equity and Excellence vs. Maryland case that resulted in the $577M settlement.
• Devlin Law Firm LLCminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerTimothy Devlin serves as pro bono Counsel and Senior Advisor to the HBCU Technology Foundation since its founding. He is Managing Partner of Devlin Law Firm LLC and previously a Principal at Fish & Richardson PC, one of the largest technology litigation firms in the United States.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU): NAICU represents private nonprofit colleges and universities on federal policy. It is a direct structural analog to NAFEO (a membership association doing federal advocacy on behalf of member institutions), though not HBCU-specific.
• Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U): AAC&U is a national membership association advancing liberal education and inclusive excellence across U.S. colleges. It is comparable to NAFEO as a higher-education advocacy/membership association, though broader in institutional scope.
• American Council on Education (ACE): ACE is the major coordinating body for U.S. higher education institutions, advocating in federal policy. It overlaps with NAFEO in policy advocacy but serves all accredited colleges/universities rather than specializing in HBCUs/PBIs.
• Council of Independent Colleges (CIC): CIC serves independent (private nonprofit) colleges and universities with programming and advocacy. Comparable to NAFEO in serving a defined institutional segment and providing shared services and policy representation.
• American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU): AASCU represents public colleges and universities in state and federal policy. It is comparable to NAFEO's public HBCU advocacy work as a public-institution membership association.

Others

• National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA): NASFAA is a membership association of financial aid administrators at U.S. colleges. Comparable to NAFEO as a higher-ed membership association engaged in federal student-aid policy, though focused on financial aid administration rather than institutional equity.

Direct peers

• Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF): TMCF represents the HBCU public college system, providing scholarships, capacity-building, and advocacy. NAFEO and TMCF are the two principal national HBCU advocacy/development associations, with overlapping membership and complementary programming.
• United Negro College Fund (UNCF): UNCF is the nation's largest private scholarship provider for HBCUs and operates a membership of private HBCUs. Like NAFEO, it advocates for HBCU equity and channels funding to member institutions, but is more scholarship/development focused while NAFEO is broader advocacy across all HBCUs and PBIs.
• Excelencia in Education: Excelencia in Education accelerates Latino student success and supports Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) through advocacy and research. It is the closest structural peer to NAFEO in mission (advancing minority-serving institutions) but for HSIs rather than HBCUs/PBIs.
• UNCF Institute for Capacity Building: UNCF's ICB provides capacity-building, leadership development, and technical assistance to HBCUs. Overlaps directly with NAFEO's presidential peer seminars, freshmen presidents boot camp, and institutional support programs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/_NAFEO
• Facebookfacebook.com/NAFEO-461363094210790
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/national-association-for-equal-opportunity-in-higher-education

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education