NBCC Foundation

What NBCC Foundation does

NBCC Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization affiliated with the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC), headquartered at 3 Terrace Way, Greensboro, North Carolina. Founded in 2005 (with conflicting data indicating a 2010 operational start), the Foundation's mission is to leverage the counseling profession to advance global health equity through expanded access to mental health services. Its primary beneficiaries are master's and doctoral-level counseling students from underrepresented populations, professional counselors pursuing credentials, underserved U.S. communities, and never-served populations in developing countries. The Foundation is governed by a Board of Trustees, operates with 11–50 staff, and is legally registered as National Board for Certified Counselors Foundation (EIN: 56-1939558).

The Foundation's product portfolio centers on three program clusters: (1) financial support — the SAMHSA-funded Minority Fellowship Program (up to $20,000 per fellow, ~95 fellows/year from a competitive applicant pool), Military Scholarship, Rural Scholarship, and Dr. Nicholas Vacc Scholarship; (2) professional development — three monthly webinar series (Innovations in Counseling, Building Professional Excellence, Professional Practice Building) hosted on the CCE Academy, CCE Training Awards for credentials including ACS, BCC, BC-TMH, and GCDF, and an annual virtual career fair; (3) global capacity building — the Mental Health Facilitator (MHF) program, International Counseling Certification, Counseling Resource Collection shipping textbooks to countries including Liberia, and the annual Mental Health Connections global virtual conference. Community Capacity Building grants have disbursed $471,527 to 61 communities since 2011. The Bridging the Gap Symposium (500+ attendees in 2023, 450+ in 2024) anchors the workforce-development calendar.

Revenue comes from three streams: federal grants (primarily SAMHSA for the MFP), corporate sponsorships (CCE, NBCC, Mental Health Academy, Pearson VUE, University of Phoenix, Psychology Today), and individual donations. A distinctive structural feature is that corporate sponsors cover all administrative and fund-development expenses, allowing 100% of individual donations to flow directly to programs. Geographic footprint spans the United States and at least 14 countries (Bhutan, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, Rwanda, Mexico, Tanzania, Uganda, Haiti, Liberia, Kenya, Cambodia, Romania). Distribution is enabled by digital infrastructure (Submittable applications, BrazenConnect career fair, CCE Academy) and NBCC's 70,000+ certified-counselor network.

Name

NBCC Foundation

Legal name

National Board for Certified Counselors Foundation

Website

https://nbccf.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

NBCC Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit affiliated with NBCC that provides scholarships, fellowships, training, and global capacity-building programs to expand access to counseling and mental health services for underserved communities worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Mental Health Nonprofit Foundation Services

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Educational Support Services (6117)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Education Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts (EDADAHAC), Community Health & Prevention Program Funding (HLAJALAF), Behavioral Health & Substance Use Program Funding (Public Health) (HLAJALAI)

Keywords

• Counseling scholarships
• Mental health fellowships
• Continuing education
• Capacity building programs
• Nonprofit foundation grants

Headquarters

HQ city

Greensboro

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Individual donors contribute to fund NBCCF Military & Rural Scholarships and community capacity-building efforts. The foundation emphasizes that 100% of donor contributions directly fund programs, with corporate sponsors covering administrative expenses.
2. Federal Grants (SAMHSA): The NBCC Minority Fellowship Program (MFP) is funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), providing financial support to master's and doctoral-level counseling students committed to serving underserved populations.
3. Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate sponsors cover essential management and fund-development expenses, enabling 100% of general donations to flow to programs. Sponsors include CCE, NBCC, Mental Health Academy, Pearson VUE, University of Phoenix, and Psychology Today.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

NBCC Foundation provides scholarships, fellowships, and training awards to graduate-level counseling students and professionals committed to serving underserved communities. The foundation runs professional development webinar series approved for NBCC continuing education credit, and operates global capacity-building programs including the Mental Health Facilitator (MHF) training, International Counseling Certification, and Counseling Resource Collection. All programs are funded through individual donations, federal grants (SAMHSA), and corporate sponsorships, with 100% of donor contributions flowing directly to program services.

Product overview

NBCC Foundation offers a comprehensive suite of programs supporting the counseling profession through financial assistance, professional development, and global capacity building. The core offerings include the Minority Fellowship Program (MFP) providing scholarships for master's and doctoral counseling students; Military and Rural Scholarships supporting students committed to serving military and rural communities; and CCE Training Awards for credentialing. Professional development is delivered through monthly webinar series (Innovations in Counseling, Building Professional Excellence, Professional Practice Building) offering NBCC-approved continuing education. Global initiatives include the Mental Health Facilitator (MHF) program, International Counseling Certification, Counseling Resource Collection (shipping materials to developing countries), Institutes, and the annual Mental Health Connections Conference. The Foundation also hosts the annual Bridging the Gap Symposium, runs a virtual Career Fair connecting employers with counseling graduates, and offers the NBCC Awards recognizing excellence in the counseling profession. The Community Capacity Building program provides grants to build mental health infrastructure in underserved communities domestically and abroad.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Dr. Nicholas Vacc Scholarship Doctoral-level scholarship for counseling students committed to serving underrepresented communities.
• Minority Fellowship Program (MFP) Financial support program for master's and doctoral-level counseling students from underrepresented and underserved populations, funded by SAMHSA, with recipients committing to serve underserved communities after graduation. Selects approximately 95 fellows annually from 460+ applicants with awards up to $20,000 per fellow.
• Military Scholarship Financial scholarship for master's-level counseling students committed to providing mental health care to military-connected communities, funded directly through individual donations.
• Rural Scholarship Financial scholarship for master's-level counseling students committed to providing mental health care in rural communities, funded directly through individual donations.
• CCE Training Awards Training awards for professionals seeking credentials through the Center for Credentialing & Education, including Board Certified Coach (BCC), Board Certified-TeleMental Health Provider (BC-TMH), Global Career Development Facilitator (GCDF), and Approved Clinical Supervisor (ACS) programs. Funded through CCE grants.
• Innovations in Counseling Webinar Series Monthly live and archived webinars offering NBCC-approved continuing education for National Certified Counselors and Foundation scholars and fellows to enhance care for underserved communities.
• Building Professional Excellence Webinar Series Professional development webinar series providing continuing education clock hours for counseling professionals.
• Professional Practice Building Webinar Series Webinar series focused on practice development and professional growth for counselors.
• Mental Health Facilitator (MHF) Program Foundational mental health helping and referral skills training program implemented in Bhutan, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, Rwanda, Mexico, Tanzania, Uganda, Haiti, and the United States to bridge gaps in mental health care.
• Counseling Resource Collection (CRC) Program providing donated counseling textbooks and academic journals to communities worldwide, particularly countries where high-quality counseling materials are difficult to access. Currently working with T2S C.A.R.E.S. to distribute materials in Liberia.
• International Counseling Certification Program collaborating with local counseling leaders to establish professional counseling certifications infused with country-specific professional requirements and standards.
• Counseling Foundations Career Fair Annual virtual career fair connecting employers with master's and doctoral counseling graduates and seasoned counseling professionals to explore staffing opportunities. Free for job seekers; employer/sponsor packages have paid tiers.
• Bridging the Gap Symposium Annual symposium focusing on workforce development, leadership, and community building to eliminate mental health disparities. Held in rotating U.S. cities (Washington D.C. in 2024, New Orleans in 2023 and 2026). 500+ attendees at the 2023 Symposium.
• Mental Health Connections Conference Annual global virtual conference featuring NBCC program partners to provide education, training, and research on counseling professionalization and mental health service capacity worldwide. Scheduled December 2-4, 2026.
• Institutes Travel programs providing board certified counselors and other professionals opportunities to interact with new cultures and learn about community mental health needs and resources worldwide.
• NBCC Awards Program Annual awards honoring outstanding individuals who exemplify professional excellence in counseling, including Innovations in Counseling Awards, Global Advancement of Counseling Awards, Servant Leadership Award, Leadership Excellence Award, and Propelling Mental Health: School Counseling Award.
• Community Capacity Building Grants Grant program funding domestic and international community efforts to build capacity for mental health care appropriate to local culture and resources. $471,527 given to 61 communities since 2011 across 18 domestic and 43 international locations.

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Center for Credentialing & Education (CCE)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCCE provides grant funding for training awards including the Approved Clinical Supervisor (ACS), Board Certified Coach (BCC), Board Certified-TeleMental Health Provider (BC-TMH), and Global Career Development Facilitator (GCDF) programs. CCE also co-hosts continuing education content on CCE Academy. CCE logo appears alongside NBCC as a corporate sponsor covering foundation administrative costs.
• National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNBCC is the parent organization and a corporate sponsor of the NBCC Foundation. NBCC Foundation is one of NBCC's affiliates that leverages NBCC's resources for capacity building, expansion of mental health services, and development of professional development resources. NBCC provides administrative support and access to its 70,000+ member counselor network.
• Mental Health AcademysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate sponsor of the NBCC Foundation, contributing to covering administrative and fund-development expenses so that 100% of donations can fund programs.
• Pearson VUEsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate sponsor of the NBCC Foundation, contributing to covering administrative and fund-development expenses so that 100% of donations can fund programs.
• University of PhoenixsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate sponsor of the NBCC Foundation, contributing to covering administrative and fund-development expenses.
• Psychology TodaysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate sponsor of the NBCC Foundation, contributing to covering administrative and fund-development expenses.
• T2S C.A.R.E.S.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerT2S C.A.R.E.S. is the distribution partner for the Counseling Resource Collection (CRC) initiative in the Republic of Liberia. The CRC is currently working with T2S C.A.R.E.S. to distribute counseling textbooks and journals to hospitals and the University of Liberia's library.
• Chi Sigma Iota (CSI)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCSI is collaborating with the NBCC Foundation to increase donations and support mental health professionals in Liberia through the Counseling Resource Collection program. CSI is joining the initiative to expand support for Liberian mental health professionals.
• International Association for Counseling (IAC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNBCC is a member of the International Association for Counseling, supporting global capacity building efforts in counseling professionalization and certification worldwide.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• American Counseling Association Foundation: The philanthropic arm of the American Counseling Association, the largest professional association for counselors. Directly comparable as a scholarship/fellowship grantmaking foundation serving the counseling profession with similar student-support and workforce-development programs.
• American Psychological Association Foundation: Foundation arm of the APA that funds scholarships, fellowships, and grants for psychology students and early-career psychologists. Comparable as a healthcare-profession grantmaking foundation supporting graduate student scholarships and workforce development.
• National Association of Social Workers Foundation: The charitable arm of NASW that administers scholarships, fellowships, and research grants for social work students. Directly comparable as a social services profession-focused scholarship and grantmaking foundation.
• United Negro College Fund (UNCF): The largest minority education-focused scholarship organization in the U.S., providing financial support to underrepresented students in higher education. Comparable as a scholarship/fellowship foundation serving underrepresented populations in graduate education.
• American Association of University Women (AAUW): Nonprofit that funds scholarships and fellowships for women in graduate and professional education. Comparable as a long-running scholarship/fellowship foundation with a similar mission of expanding access to graduate education for underrepresented groups.
• Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU): National organization representing Hispanic-Serving Institutions that administers scholarship programs for underrepresented students. Comparable as an education-focused foundation that supports graduate students from underrepresented communities.

Broad incumbents

• American Foundation for Suicide Prevention: Larger mental health-focused nonprofit that funds research, education programs, and survivor support. Comparable as a mental health grantmaking organization with overlapping beneficiary populations, though broader in scope than counseling-specific funding.

Emerging players

• Center for Credentialing & Education (CCE): Affiliate of NBCC that provides credentialing for counselors, coaches, and career development professionals. Closely aligned as the foundation's core training-award partner and a sister organization within the NBCC ecosystem.
• Active Minds: Mental health nonprofit focused on young adult mental health awareness and education, with some scholarship and program funding components. Comparable as a mental health nonprofit organization serving overlapping beneficiary populations.

Others

• SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration): Federal agency that provides the foundation's core grant funding for the Minority Fellowship Program. Relevant as the primary funding partner and a comparable grantmaking entity in the mental health workforce development space.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/NBCCFoundation
• Facebookfacebook.com/NBCCFoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nbcc-foundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/nbccfoundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 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 NBCC Foundation