Executive Leadership Council
The Executive Leadership Council (ELC) is a Washington, DC-based public charity founded in 1986. It supports the development and advancement of business executives through leadership development, career-long engagement, inclusive practices, and philanthropy, and works to build an inclusive pipeline of future business leaders.
Executive Leadership Council at a glance
In short: Executive Leadership Council gave $4.0M across 102 grants in 2024 (avg $39K), top state District of Columbia. 28% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $3,956,309
- +23.1% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 102
- -5.6% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $38,787
- +30.3% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $15,000
- Total assets
- $64,860,372
- +7.3% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 28% first-time grantees (27 of 95, 2024)
- Primary geography
- District of Columbia (24% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Executive Leadership Council
- Contact
Mailing address: 1301 K Street Nw Suite 210 West, Washington, DC 20005
Phone: (202) 655-2952
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Executive Leadership Council
Who Executive Leadership Council funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Howard University ($534K). Together the top 10 received $2.2M.
Organizations only. It also paid 8 individual scholarships ($306,901), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
339 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 296 grants of 339 (87%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2024 grant dollars were distributed across recipient states, with the largest shares going to DC (24%), Georgia (20%), New York (10%), an individual recipient (8%), and Delaware (5%). The ELC’s 2026 scholarship program describes its geographic scope as national within the United States.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 102 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Executive Leadership Council open to new grantees?
28%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 27 of 95 grantees (28%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $52K; repeat grants $37K. How we count
Medians: $15K first-time, $19K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2021–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $2.1M (2022) to $4.0M (2024). In 2024 it made 102 grants totaling $4.0M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Howard University Washington, DC | Scholarship | $534,315 |
| The Herman J Russell Center for Entrepreneurship Inc Atlanta, GA | Donation | $400,000 |
| Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies Washington, DC | Donation | $300,000 |
| NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund New York, NY | Donation | $300,000 |
| 3 individual scholarships Recipients not named | — | $258,901 |
| Delaware State University Foundation Dover, DE | Donation | $150,000 |
| Spelman College Atlanta, GA | Scholarship | $128,000 |
| Alabama A&M University Normal, AL | Scholarship | $112,500 |
| Florida A&M University Tallahassee, FL | Scholarship | $100,000 |
| Morehouse College Atlanta, GA | Scholarship | $70,568 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $64,860,372 | $24,892,688 | $25,844,046 | $3,956,309 | 102 | $1,100,079 |
| 2023 | $60,444,481 | $21,644,990 | $20,595,776 | $3,214,820 | 108 | $53,056 |
| 2022 | $52,146,007 | $20,969,391 | $20,014,931 | $2,089,076 | 70 | $215,857 |
| 2021 | $54,122,664 | $27,390,915 | $17,771,921 | $2,100,750 | 59 | $6,291,252 |
| 2020 | $45,203,453 | $15,982,910 | $14,590,859 | — | — | $895,735 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The mission stated in the organization’s 2024 filing is to increase the number of successful Black executives domestically and internationally by adding value to their development, leadership, and philanthropic endeavors across their careers. The ELC’s website also describes its mission as fostering opportunities for business executives and strengthening their contributions to companies and communities.
Its work includes executive and leadership development, student scholarships, internships, mentoring, and philanthropic initiatives. The ELC website says its scholarship program supports undergraduate and graduate students and that scholarship recipients attend more than 142 universities. Its scholarships are offered with corporate partners.
The 2024 grants show support for universities and other organizations. For example, Delaware State University Foundation says its mission is to foster the educational interests of Delaware State University. Florida A&M University says it provides financial support to its student-athletes, while Morehouse College’s National Alumni Association says it supports the ideals and interests of Morehouse College. These are the grantees’ stated missions, not descriptions of the ELC’s own mission.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the ELC reported 102 grants totaling $3,956,309. Grant amounts ranged from $8,000 to $534,315, with a median of $15,000. The largest listed awards included $534,315 to Howard University for scholarships; $400,000 to the Herman J. Russell Center for Entrepreneurship; $300,000 each to the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies and the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund; and $220,901 to an individual recipient A&T State University for scholarships.
Other listed 2024 recipients included Delaware State University Foundation ($150,000), Spelman College ($128,000), Alabama A&M University ($112,500), Florida A&M University ($100,000), Morehouse College ($70,568), Georgia Institute of Technology ($58,000), and Black Men Vote ($50,000). The listed purposes include scholarships and donations.
The ELC also operates a student scholarship program, which is distinct from grants to outside organizations. The scholarship program’s general eligibility criteria include U.S. citizenship, full-time enrollment at an accredited four-year institution or HBCU, demonstrated commitment to inclusion, financial need, and a minimum 2.8 GPA. The ELC scholarship website states that applications for the 2026 cycle are closed.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists these directors: Gerald T. Charles Jr., Edward L. Dandridge, Oral Muir, Sena K. Kwaku, Javara Perrilliat, Danielle Brown, Irene Quarshie, Janice Innis-Thompson, Shelley Stewart Jr., and Cynthia Marshall.
Executive Leadership Council is led by Michael Hyter, President & CEO on every filing since 2021; 18 of 36 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Michael Hyter
President & CEO
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$467K (2021) → $681K (2024)
Gale V. King
Chair
Director → Chair, 2023
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jennifer Vasquez
Director-Board Operations & Governance
Chief of Staff → Director, Governance & Board Operations, 2021
Director, Governance & Board Operations → Director-Board Operations & Governance, 2024
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$167K (2020) → $224K (2024)
Mayra Espinoza
Director-Strategic Initiative & Events
Senior Program Manager Institute → Director & Member Engagement, 2021
Director & Member Engagement → Director-Strategic Initiative & Events, 2024
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$163K (2020) → $215K (2024)
Alie Bangura
Director-It
It Director → Director-It, 2024
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$165K (2023) → $191K (2024)
Angelina Gordon
Senior Director of Communications
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$166K (2023) → $213K (2024)
Leah Wade
Senior Director of Philanthropy
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$161K (2023) → $206K (2024)
Amanda Rey
Director-Academy
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$159K (2024)
Perry Brown
Director-Hr
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$150K (2024)
Ramien Pierre
Director-Leadership Institute
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$203K (2024)
Edward L. Dandridge
Director
Director → Vice Chair, 2022
Vice Chair → Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Gerald T. Charles Jr.
Director
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sena Kwawu
Director
Director → Treasurer, 2021
Treasurer → Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Valerie I. Rainford
Director
Vice Chair → Secretary, 2021
Secretary → Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Janice Innis-Thompson
Director
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Cynthia Marshall
Director
On filings since 2022
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Shelley Stewart Jr.
Director
On filings since 2022
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Telisa Toliver
Director
On filings since 2022
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Irene Quarshie
Director
On filings since 2023
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Javara Perrilliat
Director
On filings since 2023
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Oral Muir
Director
On filings since 2023
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Danielle Brown
Director
New on the 2024 filing
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Marty Rodgers
Director
New on the 2024 filing
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Antoinette Rice
Vice President, Chief Marketing & Communications Officer
Vice President Communications → Vice President, Chief Marketing & Communications Officer, 2021
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$296K (2020) → $349K (2024)
Justina Victor
Senior Research Manager
Senior Research Manager Institute → Senior Research Manager, 2024
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$136K (2020) → $155K (2024)
Hannibal L. Brumskine II
Vice President & Chief Financial Officer
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$121K (2021) → $372K (2024)
Lori Walker
Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$472K (2022) → $361K (2024)
Erica Jordan
Vice President of Member Services
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$235K (2023) → $295K (2024)
Fabian Milburn
Vice President & Chief Philanthropy Officer
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$162K (2023) → $322K (2024)
Audrey Taylor
Chief Academy Officer
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$250K (2024)
Earl Granger III
Chief Development & Impact Officer
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$255K (2024)
Stewart Hughes
Controller
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$170K (2024)
Lloyd W. Brown II
Immediate Past Chair
Director → Chair, 2021
Chair → Immediate Past Chair, 2023
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Nancy Armand
Vice Chair
Director → Vice Chair, 2023
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Gena Ashe
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2023
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Shaundra Clay
Treasurer
Director → Treasurer, 2023
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (29)
- Former: Thomas R. Harvey (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Gail Johnson (2021–2023) — Vice President & Chief Human Resources Officer
- Former: Roy Weathers (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Kimberly A. Blackwell (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Marc A. Howze (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Tonie Leatherberry (2020–2022) — Immediate Past Chair
- Former: William P. Gipson (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Jeffrey G. Webster (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Kenneth B. Robinson (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Latese Briggs (2021–2022) — Vice President & Chief Philanthropy Officer
- Former: Penelope Talley (2021–2022) — Senior Vice President & Chief Experience Officer · Filing note: Until 4122
- Former: Christopher Buttsuntil (2022) — Vice President & Chief Learning Officer
- Former: Teresa Payne Nunnuntil (2022) — Vice President & Chief Member Officer
- Former: Camilla McGhee (2020–2021) — Vice President Andf Chief Corporate Partnership Officer
- Former: Chloe Barzey (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Christopher Butts (2020–2021) — Vice President & Chief Learning Officer
- Former: Gregory E. Deavens (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Leilani M. Brown (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Teresa Payne Nunn (2020–2021) — Vice President & Chief Member Officer
- Former: Crystal Ashby (2021) — Interim President & CEO
- Former: Ed Dandridge (2021) — Vice Chair
- Former: Jennifer Sampson (2021) — Finance & Accounting Coordinator
- Former: Beryl Isaac Up To Apr (2020) — Vice President, Executive Director & Finance
- Former: Deborah McCall (2020) — Senior Manager Institute
- Former: Jeff G. Webster (2020) — Director
- Former: Ken B. Robinson (2020) — Director
- Former: Merkena Cooper (2020) — Senior Accountant
- Former: Orlando D. Ashford (2020) — Ex-Officio
- Former: Satonya Fair (2020) — Vice President Philanthropy
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $681K, to Michael Hyter (President & CEO). 18 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Executive Leadership Council
How much does Executive Leadership Council give each year?
Executive Leadership Council gave $4.0M across 102 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $3.2M across 108 grants.
What is Executive Leadership Council's typical grant size?
Executive Leadership Council's median grant in 2024 was $15,000, and its average grant was $38,787, across 102 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Executive Leadership Council that year got $52K on average.
Where does Executive Leadership Council give grants?
Executive Leadership Council's top state is District of Columbia, with 24% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were Georgia (20%) and New York (10%). The most frequent recipient cities were Atlanta, GA (7 grants), Washington, DC (5 grants), New York, NY (5 grants) and Baltimore, MD (3 grants).
Does Executive Leadership Council give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 102 grants with a stated purpose on Executive Leadership Council's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Scholarship" (89 grants) and "Donation" (13 grants).
Who are Executive Leadership Council's largest grantees?
Executive Leadership Council's largest 2024 grantees include Howard University ($534,315), The Herman J Russell Center for Entrepreneurship Inc ($400,000) and Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies ($300,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. It also paid 8 individual scholarships ($306,901), which are not listed by name. Together they received 31% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Executive Leadership Council?
Executive Leadership Council reported $64.9M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $24.9M.
What does Executive Leadership Council fund?
The mission stated in the organization’s 2024 filing is to increase the number of successful Black executives domestically and internationally by adding value to their development, leadership, and philanthropic endeavors across their careers. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Executive Leadership Council?
Executive Leadership Council has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Executive Leadership Council's EIN?
Executive Leadership Council's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 52-1631358. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(5)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 14, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS August 30, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS October 10, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS September 26, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Executive Leadership Council funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/executive-leadership-council-morg_bd3982ba06564c2ba4cc7e987ac790d9
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_521631358_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Executive Leadership Council funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/executive-leadership-council-morg_bd3982ba06564c2ba4cc7e987ac790d9},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-20. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Executive Leadership Council's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
Executive Leadership Council down — hundreds of funders to go?