League of Wisconsin Municipalities

What League of Wisconsin Municipalities does

League of Wisconsin Municipalities is a private, member-owned non-profit association founded on December 14, 1898, that represents all 190 cities and 415 villages in Wisconsin, covering municipalities that collectively house 70% of the state's population. Its core function is to provide legislative advocacy at the Wisconsin state level, legal services (inquiries, written opinions, amicus briefs, handbooks), professional training and conferences for elected and appointed municipal officials, and information dissemination through The Municipality magazine (~10,000 monthly circulation), e-newsletters (11,000+ reach), and the annual Directory of Cities and Villages. The League also operates a wholly-owned insurance subsidiary, League Insurance (League Mutual Insurance), which provides liability, workers' compensation, auto, cyber, and crime coverage exclusively to member municipalities.

The organization's revenue is generated through multiple streams: municipal membership dues, a tiered Business Membership Program (Leader $15,000 down to Nonprofit Associate $1,500) that sells access to municipal officials to ~20+ named vendor partners, event registrations across six major annual programs, advertising in the magazine and e-newsletters, sale of mailing lists ($10-$180 per category), handbook and publication sales, and a Products & Services Guide ($500-$750 base listing). The technology platform is minimal: a CivicPlus CivicEngage CMS-driven website with no public API or proprietary software products. The organization is governed by a 17-person Board of Directors drawn from member municipalities and operates from a single office in Madison, Wisconsin with approximately 20-25 staff.

Distribution is heavily event-driven (Fall Conference, Chief Executives Workshop, Municipal Assessors Institute, Municipal Attorneys Institute, Building Inspectors Institute, League Locally regional events) and publication-driven, with social media and a classifieds/job board as supplementary channels. The League is currently in a leadership transition, with Emily McFarland announced as the next Executive Director succeeding Jerry Deschane.

Name

League of Wisconsin Municipalities

Legal name

League of Wisconsin Municipalities

Website

https://lwm-info.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1898

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The League of Wisconsin Municipalities is a member-owned non-profit association founded in 1898 that provides legislative advocacy, legal services, training, and publications to all 190 cities and 415 villages in Wisconsin, covering 70% of the state population.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Municipal Government Advocacy and Member Services

NAICS

Professional Organizations (813920), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721)

akta.pro primary industry

Mayor/City Manager & General Administration (BPAIACAA)

Keywords

• Municipal advocacy services
• Government training programs
• Municipal legal services
• Legislative lobbying
• Municipal insurance coverage

Headquarters

HQ city

Madison

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, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Business Membership Program: Tiered membership program with Leader Level ($15,000), Business Partner ($8,500), Business Associate ($3,500), Nonprofit Leader ($10,000), Nonprofit Partner ($5,000), and Nonprofit Associate ($1,500). Provides access to Wisconsin municipalities and marketing opportunities.
2. Advertising and Sponsorship: Magazine advertising (The Municipality reaches nearly 10,000 local officials), e-newsletter advertising (11,000+ municipal officials), event sponsorships, and Products & Services Guide listings.
3. Mailing Lists: Sale of municipal official contact lists separated by category (Chief Executives, Clerks, Administrators, Attorneys, Finance Directors, etc.) priced at $10-$180 per list.
4. Products & Services Guide: Base listing for $500 (before 9/17/25, $750 after) plus display ad for additional $350. Business members receive complimentary base listing.
5. Publications and Handbooks: Sale of handbooks including Wisconsin City Officials Handbook, Wisconsin Village Officials Handbook, and various legal and administrative guides.
6. Event Registrations: Registration fees for conferences, workshops, institutes and training programs including Chief Executives Workshop, Building Inspectors Institute, Municipal Assessors Institute, and others.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The League of Wisconsin Municipalities is a non-profit membership association founded in 1898 that represents 605 Wisconsin cities and villages. It provides legislative advocacy before the Wisconsin Legislature and state agencies, legal services (including attorney inquiries, amicus briefs, and handbook publication), professional training through conferences and institutes, publications such as The Municipality magazine and city/village officials handbooks, and operates a wholly-owned insurance subsidiary offering coverage to member municipalities.

Product overview

The League of Wisconsin Municipalities offers a unified portfolio of member services centered on information dissemination, professional development, and advocacy support for Wisconsin's cities and villages. The core offerings include The Municipality Magazine (monthly publication), Handbooks and Publications (city/village officials handbooks, startup guides), the Directory of Cities and Villages (annual directory), and the Products and Services Guide (business partner directory). Educational programming consists of conferences, training institutes (Municipal Attorneys, Municipal Assessors, Building Inspectors), and workshops. Additional services include Legal Services (attorney support, amicus briefs, Ask the Attorneys), League Insurance (member-owned insurance), Mailing Lists (contact data for municipal officials), and the Business Membership Program (tiered partnership levels). E-newsletters provide regular communications to members. The organization does not operate a software product with a public API.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• The Municipality Magazine The League's monthly magazine circulating to almost 10,000 local elected officials and staff in Wisconsin's cities and villages, covering municipal topics, legal articles, and association news.
• Handbooks and Publications Comprehensive publications including the Wisconsin City Officials Handbook, Wisconsin Village Officials Digital Handbook, Startup Guide for New Officials, and specialized handbooks covering legal topics, police and fire commissions, and municipal licensing.
• Directory of Cities and Villages The League's annual directory considered the municipal phone book for Wisconsin, listing all city and village elected officials, governing body meeting days, key staff, and contact information.
• Products and Services Guide A resource for municipal leaders when sourcing partners, providing exposure to nearly 10,000 municipal officials with a base listing and display ad options.
• League Events, Conferences and Training Institutes Educational programming including the Annual Conference, Fall Conference, Chief Executives Workshop, Municipal Attorneys Institute, Municipal Assessors Institute, Building Inspectors Institute, Police and Fire Commission Workshop, and Local Government Basics training.
• Legal Services Legal support for member municipalities including telephone inquiries, written opinions, amicus briefs, workshop presentations, and published articles; includes Ask the Attorneys service.
• League Insurance Member-owned insurance company providing liability, workers' compensation, auto, cyber, and crime insurance to League members, with a board of directors composed of local government officials and staff.
• Mailing Lists Contact information lists for Wisconsin municipal officials provided in spreadsheet format, including categories such as Chief Executives, Clerks, Attorneys, Finance Directors, Public Works Directors, Police and Fire Chiefs, and Assessors.
• Business Membership Program Premier business partnership program at Leader, Partner, Associate, and Non-Profit levels connecting companies with Wisconsin municipalities through sponsorship and advertising opportunities.
• E-Newsletters Digital newsletters including the League Letter, League-L (legal updates), and various topic-specific communications reaching over 11,000 municipal officials.

Quantifiable outcome

• 70% of Wisconsin population resides in member municipalities
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and major.

• Bolton-MenkcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerLeague Leader Level business member providing engineering and consulting services to Wisconsin municipalities. Prominent firm in the League's business partner program.
• EhlerscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerLeague Leader Level member and public financial advisor specializing in municipal finance, serving Wisconsin local governments.
• League Insurance (League Mutual Insurance)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerLeague Leader Level member providing liability, workers' compensation, auto, cyber, and crime insurance exclusively to League member municipalities.
• Municipal Property Insurance Company (MPIC)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerLeague Leader Level member providing property insurance solutions for Wisconsin municipalities.
• IPA (Insurance Producer Alliance)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerLeague Leader Level member representing insurance producers serving municipal clients in Wisconsin.
• American Transmission Company (ATC)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerLeague Partner Level member providing transmission services and infrastructure support.
• Stafford Rosenbaum LLPmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerLeague Partner Level member law firm specializing in local government law and municipal representation.
• Alliant EnergyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLeague Associate Level member utility company providing energy services to Wisconsin communities.
• AT&TminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLeague Associate Level member telecommunications provider.
• Boardman ClarkminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLeague Associate Level member law firm serving municipal clients.
• Kraemer BrothersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLeague Associate Level member construction services firm.
• Kunkel Engineering GroupminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLeague Associate Level member engineering firm serving Wisconsin municipalities.
• MSA Professional Services, Inc.minorGTM or Marketing PartnerLeague Associate Level member providing professional services to local governments.
• Trotter and AssociatesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLeague Associate Level member engineering and consulting firm.
• VierbicherminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLeague Associate Level member providing development and planning services.
• von Briesen & RoperminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLeague Associate Level member law firm serving Wisconsin municipalities.
• Waukesha State BankminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLeague Associate Level member financial institution serving municipal clients.
• WPPI EnergyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLeague Associate Level member municipal power utility organization.
• Metropolitan Builders Association of Greater MilwaukeeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLeague Non-Profit Level member representing builders in the greater Milwaukee area.
• Wisconsin Concrete Pavement AssociationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLeague Non-Profit Level member industry association.
• U.S. CommunitiesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGovernment purchasing alliance providing cooperative purchasing programs for League members.
• Public Finance AuthorityminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPublic finance entity providing financing solutions for municipal members.
• National League of CitiesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational parent organization providing resources, conferences, and advocacy coordination with state municipal leagues across the country.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Indiana Association of Cities and Towns: Indiana's statewide municipal association offering legislative advocacy, legal services, and training programs — a structural peer to LWM in a neighboring Midwest state.
• Michigan Municipal League: Michigan's statewide municipal association providing legislative advocacy, legal resources, training institutes, and a foundation — directly comparable in mission, structure, and service mix to LWM.
• Ohio Municipal League: Ohio's statewide association of municipalities focused on legislative advocacy, legal services, and training for city and village officials — comparable mission and member services.
• League of California Cities: California's statewide municipal league offering advocacy, legal assistance, training, and a business partner program — a larger but structurally identical state municipal league peer.
• League of Minnesota Cities: State municipal league serving Minnesota cities with advocacy, legal services, training, and publications — the closest structural analogue to the League of Wisconsin Municipalities in a comparable Midwest state.
• Pennsylvania Municipal League: Pennsylvania's statewide association serving boroughs and cities with advocacy, training, and member services — directly analogous to LWM's role for Wisconsin cities and villages.
• Wisconsin Towns Association: Wisconsin's statewide association for towns (the unincorporated municipal tier alongside LWM's cities and villages), providing parallel advocacy, training, and insurance services in the same geography.

Broad incumbents

• National League of Cities: National umbrella organization for municipal governments providing advocacy, research, and programming — LWM's formal strategic affiliate and the broader national analogue to its mission.
• International City/County Management Association (ICMA): Global professional association for municipal and county managers and administrators — comparable member-services model (training, publications, advocacy) targeting similar local-government professionals.

Emerging players

• American Planning Association — Wisconsin Chapter: Wisconsin chapter of a national professional association serving municipal planners and zoning officials — overlapping audience and adjacent service portfolio (training, publications, advocacy) to LWM.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/LeagueWIMunis
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCCP4mDSOl2m1WM6cS_CawTw?view_as=subscriber
• Facebookfacebook.com/LeagueOfWisconsinMunicipalities
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/league-of-wisconsin-municipalities

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 League of Wisconsin Municipalities