Ayada Leads
Ayada Leads is a Minneapolis-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2015 that runs political campaign training, a leadership fellowship, voter education, and community events for African Diaspora women and New Americans in Minnesota, self-described as the nation's largest resource for African immigrant women in politics.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersMinneapolis, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Ayada Leads does
Ayada Leads is a Minneapolis-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2015 that delivers leadership development programs for African Diaspora women and New Americans in Minnesota. The organization self-describes as the nation's largest resource for African immigrant women in politics. Its core offerings include the Ayada Political Campaign Training program, the Engaged Parent Program, the Summer 2026 Leadership Fellowship (a 13-week hybrid program capped at 20 fellows), the annual Born to Lead community event, Know Your Rights Training, voter education, and the Ayada's Corner video content series. Programs are delivered through in-person workshops at the Minneapolis headquarters and community venues such as Eat Street Crossing and the Guthrie Theater, supplemented by downloadable community toolkits and original community-driven research on issues including fear of crime among Somali diaspora women and the pay gap for Somali women.
The organization's go-to-market is community-led and event-driven: grassroots engagement, volunteer networks, and word-of-mouth within the African diaspora community in Minneapolis drive participant recruitment, while annual events (Born to Lead, the 10 Year Anniversary gala in September 2025) serve as the primary touchpoints for recruiting participants, donors, and volunteers. Revenue is generated through charitable donations processed via Network for Good, event ticket sales with sponsorship tiers ranging from $100 general admission to $10,000 Visionary-level sponsorships, and potentially the new fellowship program. Partnerships include Women Winning, Inkwell Booksellers, and the Bush Foundation (2023 Bush Prize Minnesota recipient). Leadership is provided by Executive Director Dr. Habon Abdulle. There is no proprietary technology platform; the organization is people- and community-driven rather than technology-driven.
Ayada Leads firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Ayada Leads
- Legal name
- Ayada Leads
- Website
- https://ayadaleads.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Ayada Leads is a Minneapolis-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2015 that runs political campaign training, a leadership fellowship, voter education, and community events for African Diaspora women and New Americans in Minnesota, self-described as the nation's largest resource for African immigrant women in politics.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Ayada Leads industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Nonprofit Community Leadership Development
- NAICS
- Civic and Social Organizations (8134)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Civic Participation & Leadership Development (Voting, Advocacy, Community Leadership) (EDAAADAL)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Youth Leadership, Civic Education & Service-Learning Nonprofits (BPAGADAI)
Keywords
Where Ayada Leads is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Minneapolis
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Ayada Leads business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Contributions: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Ayada Leads relies on charitable donations from individuals, foundations, and businesses to fund programs and operations.
- Event Tickets and Sponsorships: Revenue generated from event ticket sales including the 10 Year Anniversary gala with various sponsorship tiers (Partner, Community, Champion, Movement Builder, Visionary levels ranging from $1,000 to $10,000).
- Fellowship Program Fees: The Summer 2026 Leadership Fellowship accepts applications with a capped cohort of 20 fellows, suggesting potential program fees.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | General Admission - Access to anniversary celebration event |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Partner Ticket - Recognition and two event tickets |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Community Ticket - Logo placement and reserved seating for 4 guests |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Champion Ticket - Podium recognition and VIP table for 4 |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Movement Builder Ticket - Secondary logo placement and VIP table for 5 |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Visionary Ticket - Premier logo placement and VIP table for 5 with private reception |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels9 records
Ayada Leads product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Ayada Leads is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers leadership development, political campaign training, civic engagement, and voter education programs for African Diaspora women and New Americans in the Minneapolis area. Core offerings include political campaign training, the Engaged Parent Program, a 13-week hybrid Summer 2026 Leadership Fellowship, community-driven research, downloadable toolkits, and an annual Born to Lead community gathering.
Product overview
Ayada Leads offers a comprehensive suite of leadership development programs and community resources for African Diaspora women and New Americans. The core offerings include political campaign training programs, the 13-week Summer Leadership Fellowship, the annual Born to Lead community event, and voter education initiatives. These programs are supplemented by community-driven research projects on diaspora issues, downloadable community toolkits covering government basics, and Ayada's Corner—a video content series combining pop culture with civic engagement. The organization positions itself as the nation's largest resource for African immigrant women in politics, providing mentorship, training, and advocacy support.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Ayada Political Campaign Training Comprehensive political campaign training program designed to equip African Diaspora women with the skills needed to run for public office and participate effectively in the political process.
- Engaged Parent Program Leadership development program focused on engaging parents, particularly African Diaspora women, to become active civic participants and community leaders.
- Summer 2026 Leadership Fellowship 13-week hybrid fellowship program (July-October 2026) designed to cultivate the next generation of community leaders, providing leadership training, mentorship from industry professionals, and capstone project opportunities for African diaspora community members, capped at 20 fellows.
- Community Research Projects Community-driven research projects that amplify the voices and experiences of the African diaspora, exploring issues at the intersection of identity, health, safety, and economic opportunity, including studies on the pay gap for Somali women and Fear of Crime among Somali Diaspora Women.
Quantifiable outcome
- Summer 2026 Leadership Fellowship will train 20 fellows in a 13-week hybrid program
Companies that use Ayada Leads
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Ayada Leads technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Ayada Leads partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Inkwell BooksellersminorTwin Cities bookstore that hosted a fundraiser for Ayada Leads during Trump's Operation Metro Surge, donating 20% of proceeds from Cinnamon Honey Lattes to support the organization.
- Women WinningcoreStrategic partnership with Women Winning, Minnesota's organization celebrating its 44th Annual Luncheon. Ayada Leads participates in joint events and initiatives to support women running for office in Minnesota.
- Network for GoodminorDonations processed through Network for Good platform (ayadaleads.networkforgood.com), a third-party donation management service.
- Idman IbrahimcoreCo-researcher on 'Understanding the Pay Gap for Somali Women' qualitative research study, demonstrating strategic partnership in community research initiatives.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Ayada Leads competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Center for American Women and Politics (CAWP): Research, education, and public service center at Rutgers University focused on women's political participation. Comparable in research and education mission around women in politics, though academic rather than community-based.
- EMILYs List: National political organization dedicated to electing pro-choice Democratic women to office. Operates at significantly larger scale with broader geographic reach, but shares the mission of increasing women's political representation.
- National Women's Political Caucus (NWPC): Multi-partisan organization working to increase women's representation in political office. Comparable in candidate training and women's political empowerment mission, though operates at national scale with longer history.
Direct peers
- IGNITE: Nonpartisan nonprofit training young women to run for office through fellowships and civic programs. Comparable in its cohort-based fellowship model and candidate pipeline approach, though targeting a younger demographic.
- Running Start: Nonpartisan organization training young women for political leadership through fellowships and conferences. Comparable cohort-based leadership training for women entering politics, though focused on younger demographics.
- New American Leaders: National nonprofit that prepares first- and second-generation Americans to run for office and lead. Directly comparable to Ayada Leads for immigrant-origin civic leadership training, but operates at a larger national scale.
- Women Winning: Minnesota-based organization dedicated to recruiting, training, and electing pro-choice women to office. Existing strategic partner of Ayada Leads, with strong overlap in candidate training for women in Minnesota politics.
- Higher Heights for America: National organization building Black women's political power through leadership, voter engagement, and candidate support. Comparable in mission demographic (women of color in politics) and program mix (training, voter education, community engagement).
- She Should Run: Nonpartisan nonprofit encouraging women to run for office through recruitment and training programs. Comparable in candidate recruitment and civic leadership training model, though broader demographic focus.
Regional players
- TakeAction Minnesota: Minnesota-based community organization mobilizing civic engagement and progressive political participation. Comparable in Minnesota-based grassroots civic engagement and voter education work, though broader demographic focus.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Ayada Leads social profiles
Digital presenceAyada Leads financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Ayada Leads leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Ayada Leads funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Ayada Leads M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Ayada Leads
What does Ayada Leads do?
Ayada Leads is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers leadership development, political campaign training, civic engagement, and voter education programs for African Diaspora women and New Americans in the Minneapolis area. Core offerings include political campaign training, the Engaged Parent Program, a 13-week hybrid Summer 2026 Leadership Fellowship, community-driven research, downloadable toolkits, and an annual Born to Lead community gathering.
Is Ayada Leads a public or private company?
Ayada Leads is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Ayada Leads founded?
Ayada Leads was founded in 2015. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Ayada Leads based?
Ayada Leads is headquartered in Minneapolis, United States, in the North America region.
How does Ayada Leads make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Donations and Contributions are the primary driver. The others are event Tickets and Sponsorships and fellowship Program Fees.
Who are Ayada Leads's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Center for American Women and Politics (CAWP), EMILYs List and National Women's Political Caucus (NWPC). Direct peers are IGNITE, Running Start, New American Leaders, Women Winning, Higher Heights for America and She Should Run. TakeAction Minnesota is listed as a regional player.
Does Ayada Leads have an API?
No public API is recorded for Ayada Leads.
What industry is Ayada Leads in?
Ayada Leads's product category is Nonprofit Community Leadership Development. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAAADAL, Civic Participation & Leadership Development (Voting, Advocacy, Community Leadership), with a secondary code of BPAGADAI, Youth Leadership, Civic Education & Service-Learning Nonprofits. Its NAICS code is 8134 and its SIC code is 8200.