Black Excellence Iowa

What Black Excellence Iowa does

Black Excellence Iowa is a registered nonprofit organization founded in 2024 and based in West Des Moines, Iowa. Its mission is to promote and foster the growth of Black leaders, resources, and education across Iowa by breaking down silos within the local Black community and bridging gaps between community members and opportunities. The organization serves Black men, women, and youth in Iowa through leadership development, mentorship, educational programs, scholarships, economic empowerment, and advocacy for social justice.

The organization's core offerings are: the 15 Minute Finance video series featuring curated interviews with financial industry experts; monthly Lunch n Learn networking and educational events held at Hy-Vee in West Des Moines; a separate Job Board (blackexcellencejobs.com) connecting Black professionals with employment opportunities; a Membership program; and a tax-deductible Donations platform. Distribution occurs through Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, the organization's website, an email newsletter, and in-person events. The technology stack is minimal and largely off-the-shelf (Webflow for the website, ddock.gives for donations/membership), with no proprietary platform or AI components.

The business model is a community-led nonprofit structure with three primary revenue streams: individual donations (tax-deductible), membership dues (fees not publicly disclosed), and corporate sponsorships across tiered levels. Named corporate sponsors include Benefit Advocates, Twin Cedars Bank, McGill Junge Wealth Management, Kum & Go, Kidz Corner, GreenState Foundation, Delta Dental, 3E Partners, Assembled Products, Assurity, Broadlawns Medical Center, Businessolver, and Colonial Life. The organization employs approximately 5 staff and is led by President/Chief Strategist Josh Terrell, with a volunteer leadership team and student board members. No VC, PE, or parent company ownership is present.

Name

Black Excellence Iowa

Legal name

Black Excellence

Website

https://blackexcellenceiowa.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Black Excellence Iowa is a nonprofit founded in 2024 that empowers Black men, women, and youth in Iowa through mentorship, education, networking events, a financial literacy video series, and a job board, funded by donations, memberships, and corporate sponsorships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Development and Nonprofit Services

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Civic and Social Organizations (813410)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

After-School, Tutoring & Academic Enrichment Nonprofits (BPAGADAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community Center Education Programs (EDAAAFAB), Human Rights, Social Inclusion & Disability Inclusion (BPAGABAN)

Keywords

• Community empowerment programs
• Nonprofit community services
• Financial literacy education
• Professional mentorship programs
• Youth leadership development

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Donations: Registered nonprofit organization accepting tax-deductible donations to support community programs and initiatives.
2. Membership Dues: Organization offers membership program for community members to join and support Black Excellence initiatives.
3. Sponsorships: Corporate sponsors provide financial and in-kind support in exchange for association with the organization's mission.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Black Excellence Iowa is a nonprofit organization that delivers community empowerment programs for Black men, women, and youth in Iowa. Its core offerings include the 15 Minute Finance video series featuring finance expert interviews, monthly Lunch n Learn networking events held at Hy-Vee in West Des Moines, a dedicated Job Board for Black professionals, an organizational Membership program, and a tax-deductible Donations platform supporting scholarships, mentorship, and economic empowerment initiatives.

Product overview

Black Excellence Iowa is a nonprofit organization offering a unified suite of community empowerment programs. The core offerings include the 15 Minute Finance video series featuring expert financial insights, monthly Lunch n Learn networking events, a Job Board for professional opportunities, Membership for community engagement, and a Donations platform for supporter contributions. These services work together to promote and foster the growth of Black leaders in Iowa through educational programs, mentorship opportunities, economic empowerment projects, and advocacy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• 15 Minute Finance: A curated collection of exclusive interviews with finance experts sharing invaluable insights and strategies for financial empowerment.

Products and services

• 15 Minute Finance A curated video series featuring exclusive interviews with finance industry experts sharing insights and strategies for financial empowerment, available to community members and the public online.
• Lunch n Learn Monthly free in-person networking and educational gatherings held at Hy-Vee in West Des Moines, Iowa, offering discussions and professional networking opportunities for Black community members.
• Job Board Online employment resource connecting Black professionals with job opportunities, accessible via a dedicated external platform at blackexcellencejobs.com.
• Membership Organizational membership program enabling individuals to join Black Excellence Iowa through the ddock.gives platform and support the organization's mission and community programs.
• Donations Tax-deductible donation platform hosted via ddock.gives that allows supporters to contribute funds to Black Excellence Iowa's community empowerment initiatives.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over the years, substantial strides in education, economic empowerment, and community engagement including scholarships, skill-building workshops, and support for Black-owned businesses.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Benefit AdvocatesminorOthersCorporate sponsor supporting Black Excellence Iowa's mission and community programs.
• Twin Cedars BankminorOthersFinancial institution sponsor supporting the organization's initiatives.
• McGill Junge Wealth ManagementcoreOthersFeatured sponsor for the 15 Minute Finance program, providing financial expertise and content for the video series featuring their team members (Ed McGill, Melissa Relph, Trent Burley).
• Kum & GominorOthersCorporate sponsor supporting Black Excellence Iowa.
• Kidz CornerminorOthersCorporate sponsor contributing to the organization's community initiatives.
• GreenState FoundationminorOthersFoundation sponsor supporting Black Excellence Iowa's mission.
• Delta DentalminorOthersCorporate sponsor supporting community programs.
• 3E PartnersminorOthersSponsor partner for the organization.
• Assembled Products, IncminorOthersCorporate sponsor listed under the Pastor tier of sponsors.
• AssurityminorOthersCorporate sponsor listed under the Pastor tier.
• Broadlawns Medical CenterminorOthersHealthcare sponsor providing support, listed under the Pastor/Counsel tier.
• BusinessolverminorOthersCorporate sponsor supporting the organization's initiatives, listed under the Pastor tier.
• Colonial LifeminorOthersCorporate sponsor listed on the Sponsors page.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• 100 Black Men of America: National nonprofit with local chapters focused on mentoring, education, and economic empowerment in the Black community. Directly comparable mission and programming model to Black Excellence Iowa, with a longer institutional track record.
• Urban League of Iowa: Iowa-based affiliate of the National Urban League providing workforce development, education, and community empowerment services. Operates in the same Iowa geography with overlapping programs (job placement, education, civic engagement).
• NAACP Iowa-Nebraska State Conference: State-level civil rights organization focused on advocacy, education, and economic opportunity for Black Iowans. Shares geographic focus, advocacy orientation, and community empowerment mission with Black Excellence Iowa.
• National Black MBA Association: Professional membership organization for Black business professionals offering networking, professional development, and educational programming. Comparable in its professional development and educational programming for Black professionals.
• The Links, Incorporated: National service organization of Black professional women focused on programming in education, health, and economic empowerment. Overlaps with Black Excellence Iowa's professional development, mentorship, and community service mission.
• Sigma Pi Phi (The Boulé): The oldest Black professional fraternity in the U.S., focused on advancing Black professional leadership through networking, mentorship, and community service. Directly comparable as a Black professional leadership and community empowerment organization.

Broad incumbents

• National Urban League: Large, established national civil rights organization with local affiliates providing economic empowerment, education, and civil rights programming. Operates in the same space as Black Excellence Iowa but at far greater scale and geographic reach.
• National Action Network (NAN): National civil rights organization with local chapters providing advocacy, education, and community programming. Operates at much greater scale and broader geographic footprint but shares advocacy and community empowerment focus.

Emerging players

• National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE): National student and professional organization focused on Black excellence in engineering and STEM. Comparable in its focus on education, professional development, and community building for Black professionals, though specialized in STEM.
• Black Career Women Network: National networking and career development organization for Black professional women offering job boards, networking events, and mentorship. Comparable in operating a job board plus networking/mentorship model for Black professionals.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookm.facebook.com/BEIowa
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/in/blackexcellenceiowa
• Instagraminstagram.com/blackexcellence515

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 Black Excellence Iowa