NCBW is an outgrowth of dedicated African American women in New York City. These women persistently worked to address the problems that affected their families, their communities, and themselves, and they aggressively began to reach out to other Black women and to mobilize their emerging strength into a visible and influential force. In 1971, an organization developed from these efforts that was called the Coalition of 100 Black Women.

In 1981, it had approximately 900 members throughout New York's metropolitan area, far in excess of the symbolic "100" in its title. Its effective role-model projects and its association with grass-roots community activity won notice in both local and national news media. As NCBW gained recognition, Black women from other parts of the country sought to duplicate its programs in their own geographic areas. Under the leadership of its president, Jewell Jackson McCabe, the decision was made in October 1981 to create a national organization, to expand beyond the boundaries of New York City, and, accordingly, to include the term "National" in the original title.

NCBW, a not-for-profit corporation exempt from federal income tax under IRS Code Section 501(c)(4), was launched in 1981, with representatives from 14 states and the District of Columbia. The rapidity by which the organization grew is attested to by the statistics of 1986: 47 chapters in 19 states, with a membership of 3,000. Discussions at annual meetings and other gatherings grew more and more serious and wide ranging. The consensus of the organization in 1986 is perhaps best summed up in the paragraph from its newsletter:

Today, NCBW consists of more than 7,000 members representing 63 chapters in 24 states and the District of Columbia. The mission of NCBW is to develop leaders who will help to rebuild their communities and redirect the energies of younger Black people who live in those communities. To meet the diverse needs of its members, and to empower Black women in general, NCBW implements programs that:

	Provide an effective network among Black women,
	Establish links between NCBW and the corporate and political sectors,
	Enable Black women to be a visible force in the socioeconomic arena,
	Meet the career needs of these women and facilitate their access to mainstream America,
	Use the tools of role modeling and mentoring to provide meaningful guidance to young women, and
	Recognize the historic and current achievements of Black women.