Founded in 1938 and one of more than 100 affiliates of the National Urban League, the Greater Washington Urban League is a major civil rights and social services organization located in the District of Columbia. The League has nearly
70 years of experience in dealing effectively with a wide range of social and economic problems, and is governed by a 37-member Board of Directors composed of a cross-section of individuals from the Washington metropolitan area, and an Advisory Board that lends expertise and guidance to support the work of the agency.

The mission of the League is "to increase the economic and political empowerment of African Americans and other minorities and to help all Americans share equally in the responsibilities and rewards of full citizenship." To accomplish its mission, the League uses the tools and methods of social work, economics, law and other disciplines to bring about equal opportunities and equal access to African Americans and minorities in the Washington metropolitan area.

This new decade and century see the Greater Washington Urban League continuing an ongoing partnership with major institutions in both the public and private sectors to alleviate the hardships experienced by our constituents. Such partnerships also provide new avenues for our constituents to enter into the economic mainstream. Base support is provided by various private funding sources and the League also has contracts with federal and local government agencies to conduct specially-funded programs. Although many of our programs are government funded, the League continually seeks creative ways in which to involve the private sector and community groups in joint programmatic ventures.

A 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization, the League is a member agency of the United Way of the National Capital Area, Designate # 8214. The League is also a membership organization. Membership categories include both individual and corporate. To learn more about membership, click here

With a professional staff of 100 persons in various disciplines, the Greater Washington Urban League provides services to more than 60,000 persons annually.


PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE

The Greater Washington Urban League continues to undergo an assessment of how its programs are serving clients, and what new initiatives are necessary. Great importance is placed on program evaluation. It is the policy of the League to have a solid outcome evaluation of all existing programs, and each new program is designed in a way in which it can be readily evaluated.