The National Coalition of 100 Black Women (NCBW) has long championed equity, empowerment, and community support for Black women and girls. Through a network of chapters across the United States, NCBW offers a variety of grants, scholarships, and programs aimed at economic empowerment, education, entrepreneurship, and community betterment. Here’s a breakdown of how NCBW works and what kinds of support you may access as an individual or business.
🌟 What Is NCBW and What Are Their Goals?
- NCBW was founded in 1981 as a national 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to advocating for Black women and girls.
- Their mission focuses on health, education, and economic empowerment, striving to break down systemic barriers and promote leadership development, gender equity, and social justice.
- With dozens of chapters in many states, NCBW works through local chapters — making support accessible and community-oriented.
🎯 What Grants & Programs Does NCBW Offer?
NCBW’s support spans a range of initiatives. These vary by chapter, but common offerings include:
• Economic Empowerment & Entrepreneurship Support
- Some chapters — like the Metropolitan Washington, DC chapter — run a “Sisternomics Empowerment Grant” program aimed at supporting Black women entrepreneurs and small business owners with resources to grow.
- Their economic-empowerment track often includes support beyond just grants: mentorship, financial literacy training, networking, and business-development resources.
• Scholarships & Education Support
- NCBW chapters provide scholarships and educational support to Black girls and young women — especially focusing on STEM/STEAM encouragement, mentoring, and academic advancement.
- For young people or women returning for education/training, these programs can provide financial and mentoring support.
• Workforce Development & Training Programs
- Some chapters (for example in San Francisco) run workforce readiness and job-training programs, particularly aimed at helping underserved women enter or re-enter the workforce in fields like hospitality, retail or vocational trades.
- These programs often include stipends during training and support for job placement afterward.
• Health, Advocacy, and Community Engagement Support
- NCBW also emphasizes community health, public-policy advocacy, mentoring, civic engagement, and leadership training — helping address broader systemic barriers that affect Black women and their communities.
✅ Who Can Benefit / Qualify?
Eligibility depends on the chapter and program, but typically:
- Individuals who identify as Black (or women of color), especially women and girls, for scholarships, empowerment grants, or mentorship programs.
- Small business owners or entrepreneurs who are Black women and are seeking support to grow or launch a business — depending on the chapter’s economic grant offering.
- Students or job-seekers from underrepresented backgrounds interested in education, training or employment support through NCBW’s workforce-development initiatives.
Because NCBW is a national organization with many local chapters, eligibility and available support can vary by region. Before applying, it’s important to check your local chapter’s offerings.
📌 How to Access or Apply for NCBW Support
If you want to pursue support from NCBW, here’s a general roadmap:
- Find your local NCBW chapter — NCBW has chapters in many states and major metro areas. Their national website lists member chapters.
- Explore chapter programs — Check whether your local chapter offers economic empowerment grants, scholarships, workforce-training, or other support relevant to your needs.
- Meet eligibility requirements — Programs often target Black women or girls, or businesses owned by Black women. Make sure you meet any demographic or geographic criteria.
- Prepare application materials — Depending on the program, this may include personal information, business plan (for entrepreneurs), academic transcripts (for scholarships), or statements describing your mission/goals.
- Submit within deadlines — Some grants (e.g. “Sisternomics Empowerment Grant”) have defined application periods — for example, the DC chapter recently had an application period from March to May 2025.
- Leverage additional support — Even if you don’t get a grant, many chapters offer workshops, mentoring, networking, educational resources, and community connections that can be valuable.
💡 Why NCBW Grants & Programs Matter
NCBW’s programs are about more than funding — they aim to create opportunities, reduce inequality, and build community resilience. Here’s why NCBW is particularly impactful:
- They address systemic barriers faced by Black women and girls — in education, business, health, and civic life.
- Support is holistic — grants, education, mentoring, training, advocacy, and community engagement.
- Local chapters mean accessible, community-rooted support, tailored to the needs and context of the region.
- For entrepreneurs and business-owners, NCBW can provide not just capital but also mentorship and community connection — often a harder thing to find than just money.