Whatcom Women in Business

What Whatcom Women in Business does

Whatcom Women in Business (WWiB) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1978 in Bellingham, Washington, serving women professionals, entrepreneurs, executives, and community leaders in Whatcom County. The organization operates four core programs: monthly in-person meetings with guest speakers on professional development topics ($15-$38 per meeting), an annual Professional Women of the Year Awards Celebration held in September at Evergreen Gardens in Ferndale, a scholarship program that awarded $15,000 to three women in 2026, and a Community Charity Program that channels funds to a nominated local nonprofit annually (the 2025 honoree was Engedi Refuge Ministries).

WWiB runs a tiered membership model with General Membership at $130/year and Patron Membership at $200/year for members with three or more years of tenure. Revenue is supplemented by event registration fees, corporate sponsorships at five tiers ($500-$7,500), $25 member announcements, and tax-deductible donations through the Legacy Circle program. GTM is community-led: prospective members must attend a meeting as a guest and be referred before applying, with mandatory participation requirements (5+ meetings annually, committee service, awards participation).

The organization is governed by an elected volunteer board (2026: President Lindsey Gerhard, VP Connie Bentley, Secretary Kaitlynn Gilmore, Treasurer Renee Aase) and operated through committees covering Awards, Community Engagement, Membership, Programs, Scholarships, and Fundraising. Technology footprint is minimal: a WordPress/WooCommerce website for membership management, event registration, and donations, with no API, no proprietary platform, and no AI/ML capabilities. Revenue is not publicly disclosed; the 50-year operational tenure and small volunteer-driven model point to a low-six-figure annual budget.

Name

Whatcom Women in Business

Legal name

Whatcom Women in Business

Website

https://wwib.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1978

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Whatcom Women in Business is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1978 that connects women professionals, entrepreneurs, and community leaders in Whatcom County, Washington through monthly meetings, an annual awards celebration, a scholarship program, and a community charity partner.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Bellingham

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales, Personnel

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees provide recurring revenue. General Member dues are $130/year with requirements including attending 5+ meetings annually, serving on at least one committee, and participating in the Professional Women of the Year Awards. Patron Member dues are $200/year for long-term members (3+ years) with reduced participation requirements.
2. Event Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorships at the annual Professional Women of the Year Awards Celebration generate significant revenue. Sponsorship tiers range from $500 (Purple) to $7,500 (Premiere), with benefits including event tickets, signage, logo placement, and recognition across website, emails, and social media.
3. Event Registration Fees: Fees collected from monthly meeting dinners ($35), Support & Learning sessions ($15), Summer Social ($20), and Holiday Party ($45). The annual Awards Celebration tickets are priced at $100 for individual registration and $720 for tables of 8.
4. Member Announcements: Members pay $25 per announcement to share business updates with the membership community, generating modest additional revenue.
5. Donations and Legacy Circle: Tax-deductible donations from the community through the Legacy Circle program (suggested $100-$1,000 annually) support the scholarship program. The organization is a 501(c)(3) with Tax ID: 91-1912426.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Whatcom Women in Business is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit membership organization that connects professional women in Whatcom County, Washington through monthly meetings with guest speakers, an annual Professional Women of the Year Awards celebration, an annual scholarship program for women pursuing higher education, and a community charity program. It sells annual memberships, sponsorships, event tickets, and accepts tax-deductible donations to fund its programs.

Product overview

Whatcom Women in Business is a service-based nonprofit organization (TAX ID: 91-1912426) founded in 1978, offering a portfolio of programs connecting professional women through leadership, professionalism, mentoring, and community service. The core offerings consist of Monthly Meetings featuring guest speakers ($15-$38 per meeting), the annual Professional Women of the Year Awards celebration (September, primary scholarship fundraiser), Scholarships Program (three $5,000 awards annually), and a Community Charity Program funded through Happy Bucks donations. The organization operates two membership tiers: General Membership ($130/year) and Patron Membership ($200/year). Additional offerings include Sponsorship Packages for the awards event (five levels from $500 to $7,500) and the Legacy Circle donation program. The organization has no technology product, API, or AI capabilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Monthly Meetings Monthly in-person gatherings featuring guest speakers and discussions on professional development topics for women in Whatcom County. Includes dinner programs with social time starting at 5:30pm, dinner at 5:45pm, and program at 6:00pm. Registration fees range from $15 (Support & Learning without dinner) to $35 (with dinner).
• Professional Women of the Year Awards Celebration Annual awards celebration held in September at Evergreen Gardens in Ferndale, WA, recognizing outstanding women leaders in Whatcom County. Features heavy appetizers, raffle, and awards presentation. Individual tickets are $100 and tables of 8 are $720. Age 21+ only. In 2023 the Community Legacy Award category was added. In 2020, due to COVID-19, three women were recognized instead of the usual single recipient.
• Scholarships Program Annual scholarships awarded to women pursuing higher education in Whatcom County. The 2026-2027 academic year awarded three $5,000 scholarships (totaling $15,000) to Josianah Cockayne, Naomi, and Petra McDonnell-Ingoglia. The 2025-2026 recipients were Trinity Longoria, Gabriela Llanos, and Sandhya Thapa. Recipients are selected based on leadership roles and community volunteer work.
• Community Charity Program Annual program where members nominate and vote on a community charity recipient, funded through 'Happy Bucks' voluntary donations collected at monthly meetings. The 2025 honored charity is Engedi Refuge Ministries, which supports women escaping sex trafficking through safe housing, trauma-informed care, and life skills training.
• General Membership Annual membership at $130/year granting full voting rights and access to all programs. Requires attendance at 5+ meetings per year, service on at least one committee, participation in the Professional Women of the Year Awards, current annual dues payment, and attendance at the November Annual Meeting for voting.
• Patron Membership Premium membership tier at $200/year for members with 3+ years of active general membership history. Allows attendance at up to 3 meetings annually with optional committee participation and no voting rights.
• Sponsorship Packages Event sponsorship packages at five tiers: Premiere ($7,500), Diamond ($5,000), Platinum ($2,500), Silver ($1,000), and Purple ($500). Benefits include event tickets, signage, logo placement, and social media recognition. Designed for corporate supporters seeking brand visibility at the annual awards celebration.
• Legacy Circle Annual giving program with suggested donations of $100-$1,000 that supports WWiB's scholarship program. Donors are listed on the Legacy Circle page. No membership or meeting obligations are required for participation.

Quantifiable outcome

• $15,000 in scholarships awarded in 2026 to support women's education
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/WhatcomWomenInBusiness
• Instagraminstagram.com/whatcomwomen
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/whatcomwomeninbusiness

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Whatcom Women in Business