NCBW conferences are held biennially. They have been funded by numerous corporations. Among them are Avon, General Mills, Clairol, American Express, Time Warner, Philip Morris Companies, The Coca-Cola Company, New York Telephone, Xerox, AT&T, Home Box Office, Sara Lee, and Reebok. The first convention, held in Philadelphia in 1984, enabled NCBW to pull together its regional cadres of leaders. During the second, which was held in Houston in 1986, the membership adopted resolutions that have become part of NCBW's present operating strategy. The third, held in St. Louis in 1988, included workshops devoted to voter registration, education reform, AIDS and career paths. The fourth conference, held in New York City in 1990, provided self-development opportunities and probed issues that could help shape America in the twenty-first century. And among the issues addressed at the fifth, which was held in Washington, DC, in October 1992, were educational reform, reproductive health freedom, and wellness in the African American community. The 1994 biennial meeting, in New York City, addressed the issues of equity, education and economics as they related to African American women.

In 1993, the NCBW board of directors decided to hold these conferences in odd years. This change was initiated in 1995, with the convention being held at Tuskegee University’s Kellogg Conference Center in Alabama. The theme of the conference was "On Line for Global Leadership" focused on the following topics: Building on Our Commonality with Black South Africa, Affirmative Action and Political Education and Action, Information Superhighway: National and International Implications, Welfare and Social Reform, and Collegiate Leadership Development. In addition, NCBW installed its first collegiate division.

The Eighth Biennial Conference, held October 9–12, 1997, in Cleveland, Ohio, had workshops devoted to the program priorities of health, education, research and training; and economic development. The theme of the Conference, "Equity for African American Women: A National Agenda for the New Millennium," was the thread that ran throughout the workshops.

The Ninth Biennial Conference was held October 7–10, 1999, in Manhattan Beach, California. The program components—education, health, economic development, political advocacy and leadership challenges—mirrored the theme of the conference, LEADERS FOR A NEW AGE: Answering Challenges with Solutions.

The Tenth Biennial Conference, held October 4–7, 2001, in Philadelphia, celebrated NCBW's 20th anniversary. It focused on the program's priorities of health, education and economic development. The theme of the conference was "Defining the Future through Strategic Action."