The National African-American Women's Leadership Institute, Inc. recognizes the supportive role African-American women have traditionally assumed in every aspect of American life. Black women have been the mainstay of volunteer support in local churches, in neighborhood schools, and in civic and social services organizations. Building on these existing strengths, NAAWLI seeks emerging women leaders who will commit themselves and their leadership talents to constructive change in the black community.

Believing that the most meaningful leadership development combines opportunities for personal growth and professional development, NAAWLI weaves together a holistic leadership model that stimulates the mind, challenges the body, and renews the spirit. The program brings together women from diverse backgrounds and varied careers and enhances their leadership potential.

In return, NAAWLI helps participants shape a vision of how they can improve their local communities and implement that vision in a project that will stimulate youth development, foster health and wellness, promote civic engagement, and encourage community involvement.

The NAAWLI office is located in Dallas, Texas. A generous grant from State Farm Insurance Companies launched the program and continues to provide support.


NAAWLI Fellows represent a diversity of African American women, drawn from non-profit organizations, government agencies and corporations. Generally, the fellows are at the mid-point in their careers and have served as volunteers in the neighborhoods and communities where they live and work.


Interested women must apply for the program by submitting an application postmarked by September 15. You may request an application by contacting the NAAWLI office or download it from the web page. The NAAWLI Board of Directors serves as the selection committee. The committee strives for diversity in age, employment sector and geography among the fellows. Candidates are notified of the selection committee's decisions, by November 30.

For more information about the 2011 program dates,
please contact our office at 972-998-0152
Click for 2011 Application

The tuition is $3,500. Scholarships are available for women from nonprofit organizations with annual budgets less than $500,000.


The NAAWLI Fellowship program, with its focus on fundamental leadership strategies, provides emerging African-American women employees, volunteers, entrepreneurs and managers the opportunity to identify and reinforce their strengths and develop proactive strategies and behaviors to make high quality impact in the organizations in which they are employed, and the communities in which they live and serve.

Program objectives are achieved by participation in three sessions totaling thirteen days. The sessions take the most current leadership research and theories and guides the Fellows through best practices and behaviors to implement those theories. The model of the NAAWLI Fellowship program takes advantage of the cultural, ethnic and gender contexts of complex organizations. Fellows influence the perceptions, understanding and acceptance of African-American women in the corporate environments in which they lead and serve.

Fellows travel to Dallas, Texas, during the six month program period. The program begins in January and ends in June with a wonderful graduation celebration.