American Indian Chamber of Commerce

What American Indian Chamber of Commerce does

The American Indian Chamber of Commerce of Wisconsin (AICCW) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 1991 and headquartered in Hales Corners, Wisconsin. It promotes economic development for American Indian entrepreneurs and tribal nations across Wisconsin through a portfolio of programs including the Native Business Development Center (Native BDC) video training channel, Tribal Toolbox Tours, Economic Prosperity 101 workshops, one-to-one business assistance, advocacy services, and a College Scholarship Program established in 2007. Membership is managed through the ChamberMaster platform, which provides member login, directory access, and an events calendar; the organization also operates a Facebook page and a YouTube channel for community engagement and educational content delivery.

AICCW's business model is built on three revenue streams: membership dues from American Indian business owners (subscription-based), government grants for pandemic recovery and economic development (e.g., the 2022 Wisconsin DOA Diverse Business Assistance Grant), and an affiliate referral relationship with its sister organization First American Capital Corporation (FACC), founded in 2002 to provide business loans to Native-owned businesses. The organization separates its chamber and advocacy operations from FACC's lending operations under clearly delineated mission lanes and distinct website identities. Strategic and corporate partners include the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC), the Wisconsin Department of Administration (DOA), Alliant Energy, New North, Ho-Chunk Nation, and Sokaogon Chippewa Community.

The organization is led by Executive Director Kevin Chesnik, with Gary Mejchar serving as FACC Co-Executive Director/Development and Acting Director of AICCW. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, AICCW completed a strategic growth plan in 2021 to reposition around pandemic recovery and resilience-building services, secured the Wisconsin DOA Diverse Business Assistance Grant in 2022, and was awarded approximately $768,440 from the U.S. Treasury Community Development Financial Institutions Fund in April 2023.

Name

American Indian Chamber of Commerce

Legal name

American Indian Chamber of Commerce of Wisconsin, Inc.

Website

https://aiccw-facc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The American Indian Chamber of Commerce of Wisconsin (AICCW) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit founded in 1991 that provides business development, advocacy, training, and networking services to American Indian entrepreneurs, tribal nations, and small businesses across Wisconsin.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Hales Corners

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Revenue generated from membership dues for American Indian business owners and entrepreneurs joining the chamber. Members receive access to business development opportunities, assistance resources, and management tools.
2. Government Grants: DOA Diverse Business Assistance Grant awarded to resource those disproportionately impacted by the pandemic. Additional grant funding for pandemic recovery and resilience building.
3. FACC Business Loans Referral: Referral pathway to First American Capital Corporation (FACC) sister organization for business loans, with the chamber facilitating access to capital for Native-owned businesses.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The American Indian Chamber of Commerce is a nonprofit chamber of commerce that supports American Indian-owned businesses, tribal enterprises, and tribal nations through membership services, business networking, advocacy, cultural education, and recognition programs. Its core offerings center on a tiered membership structure, recurring events such as the Golf Classic and Holiday Gala, awards including the Bison Award, Bell Ringer Award, and Wall of Honor, and internship placements connecting tribal communities with member employers.

Product overview

The American Indian Chamber of Commerce of Wisconsin (AICCW) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that functions as an economic development resource for Wisconsin Indian Country. Rather than a single unified technology product, AICCW offers a portfolio of programs and services including the Native Business Development Center (Native BDC) video training platform, workshop programs (Tribal Toolbox Tours, Economic Prosperity 101), advocacy services, grant programs (DOA Diverse Business Assistance Grant), a scholarship program, and FACC business loans. These services are designed to build member capacity, provide economic tools, and support Native-owned businesses through direct assistance, networking, and advocacy. Membership is managed through ChamberMaster platform with member login, directory access, and event calendar functionality.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Chamber Membership Tiered chamber membership providing networking, advocacy, and member services to roughly 150 American Indian-owned businesses, tribal enterprises, and corporate partners in Wisconsin.
• Bison Award Annual chamber award recognizing American Indian business leadership and achievements within the Wisconsin community.
• Bell Ringer Award Chamber recognition program highlighting significant contributions to the American Indian business community.
• Wall of Honor Honor-roll program recognizing sustained contributions and impact in the American Indian business community in Wisconsin.
• Golf Classic Annual networking and fundraising event hosted by the chamber for members and partners.
• Holiday Gala Annual chamber gala combining networking, recognition, and end-of-year celebration for members.
• Internship Program Internship placement initiative placing students with member businesses and tribal enterprises across Wisconsin.

Quantifiable outcome

• DOA Diverse Business Assistance Grant awarded to resource those disproportionately impacted by the pandemic

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Wisconsin Department of Administration (DOA)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2022AICCW won the DOA Diverse Business Assistance Grant in 2022. The grant is used to resource those disproportionately impacted by the pandemic, supporting pandemic recovery and resilience building against future economic disruptive events.
• Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWEDC is identified as a Key Strategic Partner of AICCW. The partnership focuses on economic development initiatives in Wisconsin Indian Country, with WEDC logo displayed prominently on the AICCW website as a key strategic partner.
• First American Capital Corporation (FACC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFACC is the sister organization of AICCW, founded in 2002. Together they established clearly delineated mission lanes with separate website identities. FACC provides business loans while AICCW focuses on chamber services, advocacy, and programs.
• Alliant EnergyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor of AICCW, logo displayed in the sponsors section of the website.
• New NorthminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional economic development organization sponsor, logo displayed in the sponsors section.
• Ho-Chunk NationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTribal nation sponsor of AICCW, logo displayed in the sponsors section. Also listed as sponsor for WEDC-related events.
• Sokaogon Chippewa CommunityminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTribal community sponsor of AICCW, logo displayed in the sponsors section.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• U.S. Small Business Administration — Office of Native American Affairs: Federal resource hub for Native American small-business contracting, capital, and counseling. Not a direct competitor, but a key ecosystem participant whose grant and program funding decisions shape AICCW's operating environment.
• Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC): State-level economic development agency and AICCW's named Key Strategic Partner. Functions as both a funder and a referral pipeline for Wisconsin business-development programming — an enabler/ecosystem participant rather than a direct competitor.

Direct peers

• Native American Finance Officers Association (NAFOA): National association serving tribal finance officers and Native CDFIs with training, certification, and policy advocacy. Comparable focus on Native economic capacity-building and a similar membership-and-event-driven business model.
• First Nations Development Institute: Long-standing Native nonprofit focused on economic development, financial education, and grantmaking to Native communities. Comparable member-facing programming (training, capacity-building, scholarships) and similar non-profit revenue model.
• National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development (NCAIED): Largest U.S. Native American business development organization, operating the Reservation Economic Summit (RES) and a national Native business network. Directly comparable mission (advancing American Indian entrepreneurship) but at a national rather than state scale.
• First American Capital Corporation (FACC): Sister organization of AICCW, founded 2002 as a Native CDFI providing business loans. Operates within the same Wisconsin Native business ecosystem and shares branding, leadership, and member pipeline with AICCW.

Broad incumbents

• Native CDFI Network: Industry trade association for Native Community Development Financial Institutions. Operates one layer upstream of AICCW/FACC and represents the broader Native CDFI ecosystem AICCW engages with through its lending affiliate.
• National Congress of American Indians (NCAI): Oldest and largest national organization serving tribal governments and Native communities across policy, economic, and cultural issues. AICCW is a state-level counterpart in the Wisconsin tribal ecosystem.

Regional players

• Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council: Wisconsin-based consortium of Wisconsin tribal nations providing shared services including economic development, health, and education programs. Comparable Wisconsin Native-community footprint and member-base constituency.
• Wisconsin Indian Education Association: Wisconsin statewide Native advocacy organization with overlapping membership in tribal communities and Native-led programming. Shares the Wisconsin geographic focus and indigenous-community audience, though its mission is education rather than business development.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCd-q4XSwWG0nvGfkHHOjOyg/featured
• Facebookfacebook.com/aiccwfacc

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about American Indian Chamber of Commerce