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Welcome to the Douglass Leadership Institute

"Cultivating African-American Leaders for a Global Future"

The Douglass Leadership Institute was founded with one clear purpose: to create a powerful pipeline of African-American leaders equipped to shape the future of business, government, and community life.

Through partnerships with Harvard Kennedy School, Yale School of Management, and top-tier Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) such as Howard, Spelman, Morehouse, and Hampton, DLI provides the education, mentorship, and opportunities needed to prepare the next generation of Black leadership.

We believe that when African-American leaders are fully represented in the nation’s highest institutions of learning, our communities — and our country — grow stronger.

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Our Vision

To empower emerging African-American leaders with the tools to thrive in today’s complex world.

To bridge Ivy League universities and HBCUs in a historic partnership.

To foster leadership grounded in service, resilience, and equity.

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The Reality of Representation

Despite progress in many areas, significant disparities persist across sectors. Here are a few revealing statistics:

Statistic Data Point

Fortune 500 & S&P 500 CEOs Only about 11% are African-American. 

Senior Leadership / Executive Levels in Large U.S. Companies Only 3-4% are held by Black or African-American executives. 

Nonprofit Sector Leadership Approximately 13% of nonprofit CEOs identify as Black/African-American, while more than 70% are white. 

Corporate Board Representation African-Americans make up roughly 6-7% of corporate directors (for example, in Fortune 500 boards), despite being ~13-14% of the U.S. population. 

These gaps are not just numbers. They reflect missed opportunities – for mentoring, for influence, for shaping policy, for representation, for role models.

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Our Programs

Leadership Fellowships – Transformational training at Ivy League institutions.

HBCU Leadership Pipeline – Preparing undergraduates and graduate students for global leadership roles.

Policy & Social Impact Labs – Driving real-world solutions to systemic challenges.

Global Exchange – Building networks between leaders in the U.S. and Africa.

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Why It Matters

African-Americans remain underrepresented in executive leadership, policymaking, and global innovation. The Douglass Leadership Institute exists to change that reality by investing in education, mentorship, and opportunity.

Every fellow we train represents a multiplier effect — influencing corporations, communities, and future generations.

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How You Can Help

This movement is just beginning — and we need your partnership. Whether through financial support, mentorship, or institutional collaboration, your contribution will help shape leaders who will shape the future.

👉 [Donate Today]

👉 [Join Our Network]

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About the Founder

Marc Hayes is the founder of the Douglass Leadership Institute. With a background in business, community leadership, and public service, Marc created this initiative to honor the legacy of Frederick Douglass and to ensure that African-American leaders are equipped to rise to the highest levels of influence in the 21st century.

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✨ Together, we will build the future of Black leadership — and, in doing so, strengthen the future of America.

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If you like, I can pull together visual infographics to go with these statistics (charts or graphics) so the website feels more impactful. Would you like me to draft those?