NAACP Empowerment Programs Inc logo

NAACP Empowerment Programs Inc

Foundation · Grantmaker Baltimore, MD EIN: 13-1084135 Website

NAACP Empowerment Programs, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Baltimore, Maryland, serving as the tax-deductible charitable partner of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Established in 1980, the organization engages primarily in training, education, and advocacy work focused on civil rights and racial equality. The organization operates with 203 employees and maintains its headquarters at 4805 Mount Hope Drive, Baltimore, MD 21215.

Key facts about NAACP Empowerment Programs Inc

EIN
13-1084135
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2024
Annual giving (2024)
$7,405,496
Grants made (2024)
110
Average grant
$67,323
Median grant
$25,000
Total assets
$89,516,233
Primary geography
District of Columbia (21% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026.

Who NAACP Empowerment Programs Inc funds

By grant dollars, the top recipient states for NAACP Empowerment Programs Inc's 110 itemized 2024 grants were District of Columbia (21%), Florida (17%) and Pennsylvania (11%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (8 grants), Boston, MA (7 grants), Atlanta, GA (4 grants) and Detroit, MI (4 grants). 18% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Hurricane Disaster Assistance" (3 grants).

How NAACP Empowerment Programs Inc gives

  • Giving grew 182% from 2021 to 2024. Method

From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.

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Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$89.5M

-6.6% YoY

Annual Giving

$7.4M

+2251.0% YoY

Grant Count

110

+746.2% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$67K

+177.8% YoY

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated April 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The mission of NAACP Empowerment Programs is to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate racial hatred and racial discrimination. The organization works closely with NAACP units to speak with a more powerful political voice and channel resources more efficiently.

Primary program areas include:

  • Annual Convention: The NAACP constitution mandates an annual convention of members, board, and officers to share information and accomplishments and establish policies and programs for the coming year.

  • NAACP Image Awards: Annual awards honoring projects and individuals of all races who help promote positive images of people of color, typically airing live on network television.

  • ACT-SO (Afro-American, Culture, Technologies and Scientific Olympics): A program that prepares, recognizes, and rewards African-American youth who exemplify scholastic and artistic excellence. Local units, college chapters, and youth councils conduct annual competitions for students in grades 9-12 throughout the country in categories including science, humanities, and performing and visual arts.

  • Training, Education, and Advocacy: Engagement in civil rights advocacy, public policy work, research, and publications.

Grantmaking

NAACP Empowerment Programs functions as both a grantmaker and program operator. Based on the most recent IRS Form 990 filing (2024):

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The organization's grantmaking priorities include Massachusetts, Georgia, and the District of Columbia, while maintaining a national presence through NAACP local units and state conferences.

Grant Distribution by State

42states

Share of all 110 itemized 2024 grant dollars.

Cities

WashingtonNew YorkAtlantaHoustonBostonBrooklynDetroitLas VegasPhiladelphiaChicagoOaklandOrlandoBaton RougeColumbusDurhamPittsburghBronxMiamiRaleighSpringfield

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

As of December 31, 2024:

  • Total Assets: $89,516,233
  • Total Revenue: $60,637,077
  • Total Expenses: $77,569,913
  • Total Liabilities: $29,100,000
  • Total Giving: $8,551,996

The organization maintains a 90% rating based on accountability and financial metrics.

Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$29M$57M$86M$114M20202021202220232024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$89,516,233$95,795,169$106,452,290
Revenue$60,637,077$43,560,673$51,161,643
Expenses$77,569,913$60,261,869$62,020,159
Qualifying Distributions———
Net Investment Income$2,381,338$2,555,309$-1,727,559
Distributable Amount———

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$2M$4M$6M$7M0 grants2020224 grants202198 grants202213 grants2023110 grants2024

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

Equal Ground Education Fund: $686KEqual Ground Education Fund$686KBeats on the Streets Inc: $635KBeats on the Streets Inc$635KBeats on the Streets Inc DBA We Are Somebody: $500KBeats on the Streets Inc DBAWe Are Somebody$500KBlueprint North Carolina: $486KBlueprint North Carolina$486KBlack Leadership Pennsylvania: $400KBlack Leadership Pennsylvania$400KNeo Philanthropy Inc: $340KNeo Philanthropy Inc$340KGwinnett County NAACP: $300KGwinnett County NAACP$300KFlorida Rising Together: $277KFlorida Rising Together$277K1 Hood Media Academy: $220K1 Hood Media Academy$220KStarkvegas Juneteenth Committee for Unity: $173KStarkvegas JuneteenthCommittee for Unity$173K

Grant Size Distribution

445 grants across all recorded years

374<$50K32$50–100K26$100–250K10$250–500K3$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Equal Ground Education Fund ($686,054), Beats on the Streets Inc ($634,758), Beats on the Streets Inc DBA We Are Somebody ($500,000).

RecipientPurposeAmount
EQUAL GROUND EDUCATION FUND Orlando, FLBCVF GRANT TO STRENGTHEN CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND VOTER PARTICIPATION IN BLACK COMMUNITIES$686,054
BEATS ON THE STREETS INC Washington, DCBCVF GRANT TO STRENGTHEN CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND VOTER PARTICIPATION IN BLACK COMMUNITIES$634,758
BEATS ON THE STREETS INC DBA WE ARE SOMEBODY Washington, DCBCVF GRANT TO STRENGTHEN CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND VOTER PARTICIPATION IN BLACK COMMUNITIES$500,000
BLUEPRINT NORTH CAROLINA Durham, NCBCVF GRANT TO STRENGTHEN CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND VOTER PARTICIPATION IN BLACK COMMUNITIES$486,316
BLACK LEADERSHIP PENNSYLVANIA Philadelphia, PABCVF GRANT TO STRENGTHEN CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND VOTER PARTICIPATION IN BLACK COMMUNITIES$400,000
NEO PHILANTHROPY INC New York, NYBCVF GRANT TO STRENGTHEN CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND VOTER PARTICIPATION IN BLACK COMMUNITIES$339,987
GWINNETT COUNTY NAACP Lawrenceville, GABCVF GRANT TO STRENGTHEN CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND VOTER PARTICIPATION IN BLACK COMMUNITIES$300,000
FLORIDA RISING TOGETHER Miami, FLBCVF GRANT TO STRENGTHEN CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND VOTER PARTICIPATION IN BLACK COMMUNITIES$276,948
1 HOOD MEDIA ACADEMY Pittsburgh, PABCVF GRANT TO STRENGTHEN CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND VOTER PARTICIPATION IN BLACK COMMUNITIES$220,341
STARKVEGAS JUNETEENTH COMMITTEE FOR UNITY Starkville, MSBCVF GRANT TO STRENGTHEN CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND VOTER PARTICIPATION IN BLACK COMMUNITIES$172,787

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

President/CEO: Derrick Johnson

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

Derrick Johnson — President and CEO: $828KDerrick JohnsonPresident and CEO$828KDenese Carroll — COO/CTO: $396KDenese CarrollCOO/CTO$396KEris Sims — Chief of Staff: $331KEris SimsChief of Staff$331KAba Blankson — Chief Marketing Officer: $331KAba BlanksonChief Marketing Officer$331KYumeka Rushing — Chief Strategy Officer: $330KYumeka RushingChief Strategy Officer$330KJanette McCarthy-Wallace — General Counsel: $321KJanette McCarthy-WallaceGeneral Counsel$321KKyle Bowser — Senior Vice President: $311KKyle BowserSenior Vice President$311KJunko Kobayashi — Interim CFO (Thru 07/2024): $255KJunko KobayashiInterim CFO (Thru 07/2024)$255KJamal Watkins — Senior Vice President: $247KJamal WatkinsSenior Vice President$247KPatrice Willoughby — Senior Vice President: $243KPatrice WilloughbySenior Vice President$243KHilary Shelton — Senior Vice President: $207KHilary SheltonSenior Vice President$207KP Bianca Domally — CFO (As of 07/2024): $132KP Bianca DomallyCFO (As of 07/2024)$132K

From 2024 IRS filing

NameTitleHoursCompensation
Leon RussellChairman3—
Karen Boykin-TownsVice Chair3—
Jesse Turner JrTreasurer3—
Yvonne WhiteAssistant Treasurer3—
Alphonso BraggsAssistant Secretary3—
Akosua AliBoard Member1—
Dr Amos BrownBoard Member1—
Michael a Curry EsqBoard Member1—
Dr Hazel DukesBoard Member1—
Thomas KalaharBoard Member1—
Kyra MitchellBoard Member1—
Dr Dwayne ProctorBoard Member1—
Steven RicardBoard Member1—
Madie RobinsonBoard Member1—
Michael TurnerBoard Member1—
Gloria Sweet-LoveBoard Member1—
Derrick JohnsonPresident and CEO40$828,305
Janette McCarthy-WallaceGeneral Counsel40$320,600
Junko KobayashiInterim CFO (Thru 07/2024)40$254,905
P Bianca DomallyCFO (As of 07/2024)40$131,733
Denese CarrollCOO/CTO40$396,373
Eris SimsChief of Staff40$331,188
Yumeka RushingChief Strategy Officer40$330,233
Aba BlanksonChief Marketing Officer40$331,170
Kyle BowserSenior Vice President40$311,181
Jamal WatkinsSenior Vice President40$247,445
Patrice WilloughbySenior Vice President40$243,241
Hilary SheltonSenior Vice President40$207,137

Recent News & Activity

Recent developments and announcements

NAACP Empowerment Programs partnered with L'Oréal USA to launch the third edition of its Inclusive Beauty Fund.

NAACP Partners with L\u2019Or\xE9al USA to Launch Third Edition of its Inclusive\

The organization opened applications for the Powershift Entrepreneur Grant program and awarded grants at the Third Annual Black Entrepreneurs Day.

NAACP Opens Powershift Entrepreneur Grant Applications | NAACP

NAACP is investing in storytelling initiatives to drive climate justice efforts.

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

Frequently Asked Questions

What does NAACP Empowerment Programs Inc fund?

The mission of NAACP Empowerment Programs is to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate racial hatred and racial discrimination. The organization works closely with NAACP units to speak with a more powerful political voice and channel resources more efficiently. Primary program areas include: • **Annual Convention**: The NAACP constitution mandates an annual convention of members, board, and officers to share information and acc…

How do I apply for a grant from NAACP Empowerment Programs Inc?

NAACP Empowerment Programs functions as both a grantmaker and program operator. Based on the most recent IRS Form 990 filing (2024): • **Total Giving**: $8,551,996 • **Typical Award Range**: $10,000–$686,054 • **Primary Funding Focus Areas**: Education, Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, Human Services, Local Government Grants, and Community & Civic Engagement The organization's grantmaking focuses on supporting charitable and educational work that aligns with its civil rights mission.

Where does NAACP Empowerment Programs Inc make grants?

The organization's grantmaking priorities include Massachusetts, Georgia, and the District of Columbia, while maintaining a national presence through NAACP local units and state conferences.

What size grants does NAACP Empowerment Programs Inc award?

In 2024, NAACP Empowerment Programs Inc awarded 110 grants totaling $7.4M — an average of about $67K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

What is NAACP Empowerment Programs Inc's EIN?

NAACP Empowerment Programs Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-1084135. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.

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