Quad County Urban League was founded in 1975 by a diverse group of local leaders responding to the absence of a community-based organization to address the needs for academic achievement, job placement and training, equal access to employment, housing and cultural enrichment for low-income and displaced citizens. The Urban League sets policies and directions that are implemented by a highly trained professional staff and a network of hardworking concerned volunteers who work on problems and pursue opportunities in the fields of economic development and employment, education and youth incentives, housing, community planning, and health and welfare. The mission of the Urban League is to help secure equal opportunities for all disadvantaged persons and people of color, including African Americans, women and disabled persons.

The National Urban League is a historic civil rights organization dedicated to economic empowerment in order to elevate the standard of living in historically under- urban communities. Founded in 1910 and headquartered in New York City, the National Urban League spearheads the efforts of its local affiliates through the development of programs, public policy research served and advocacy. Today, the National Urban League has 90 affiliates serving 300 communities, in 37 states and the District of Columbia, providing direct services that impact and improve the lives of more than 2 million people nationwide.