Illinois Woman's Press Association

What Illinois Woman's Press Association does

Illinois Woman's Press Association (IWPA) is a nonprofit professional membership organization founded in 1885 by 47 women journalists in Illinois to provide communication and support among women writers at a time when few opportunities existed for female journalists. Headquartered in Palos Park, Illinois with a mailing office in Chicago, IWPA today serves professional communicators across Illinois including journalists, writers, authors, editors, public relations professionals, and high school journalism students, while formally embracing members of all genders and generations. It is an affiliate of the National Federation of Press Women (NFPW), founded in 1935, giving Illinois members direct access to national contests, conferences, and recognition platforms.

IWPA's core offerings are membership services, two annual communications contests (the Mate E. Palmer Professional Communications Contest established in 1941 and the High School Communications Contest spanning 23 categories), and three signature awards — the Silver Feather (top professional contest scorer), Silver Pen (top high school), and Communicator of Achievement (highest member honor). Supporting products include the Pen Points monthly newsletter, the IWPA Authors Portfolio showcasing member publications, and event programming such as the annual awards luncheon and Printer's Row Lit Fest author stations ($130-$250 per station). The technology stack is non-proprietary: the organization uses OpenWater software for contest entry management, PayPal for membership payments, and standard website/social channels (Facebook, Twitter/X, LinkedIn, YouTube) for member engagement.

IWPA generates revenue through three streams: annual membership dues (rates not publicly disclosed), contest entry fees structured with member discounts, and event revenue from awards luncheons and literary festival participation. It operates as a member-governed nonprofit with elected officers and a board, led by Art Brauer (51st President, first male president since 2016), with no parent company, no institutional investment, and no M&A activity. Strategic priorities evidenced in the data center on legacy preservation (140th anniversary in 2025), gender-inclusive membership expansion, high school pipeline development, and ecosystem partnerships with Chicago-area literary organizations (Chicago Literary Hall of Fame, Newberry Library, Guild Literary Complex, Chicago Writers Association, AAUW-IL).

Name

Illinois Woman's Press Association

Legal name

Illinois Woman's Press Association

Website

https://iwpa.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1885

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Illinois Woman's Press Association is a nonprofit professional membership organization founded in 1885 that serves journalists, writers, authors, and high school students across Illinois through contests, awards, networking events, and an affiliate relationship with the National Federation of Press Women.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees for professional communicators, writers, and journalists in Illinois. IWPA/NFPW combined membership provides access to state and national contests, networking, awards, and professional development resources.
2. Contest Entry Fees: Fees for entering the Mate E. Palmer Communications Contest (professional) and High School Communications Contest. Entry fees fund awards, judging, and ceremony events. Members receive fee discounts.
3. Event Revenue: Revenue from events such as the annual awards luncheon, Printer's Row Lit Fest author stations ($130-$250 per station), and educational programming.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

IWPA is a nonprofit professional membership association that provides journalists, writers, and communicators in Illinois with membership services, annual communications contests (Mate E. Palmer Professional Communications Contest and High School Communications Contest), networking events, awards ceremonies, advocacy for First Amendment and press freedom, and author promotion through an Authors Portfolio. It operates as an affiliate of the National Federation of Press Women (NFPW), enabling members to compete and be recognized at the national level.

Product overview

The Illinois Woman's Press Association (IWPA) operates as a professional membership organization rather than a technology product. Its core offerings include membership services for journalists, annual communications contests (Mate E. Palmer Professional Communications Contest and High School Communications Contest), the Silver Feather Award, Silver Pen Award, and Communicator of Achievement Award. The association also maintains an Authors Portfolio showcasing member publications and produces the Pen Points newsletter. IWPA is an affiliate of the National Federation of Press Women (NFPW) and has operated since 1885.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• IWPA/NFPW Membership Annual professional membership for journalists, writers, authors, editors, public relations professionals, and communicators in Illinois. Members gain access to IWPA and NFPW state and national contests, networking events, awards ceremonies, professional development resources, and advocacy programs.
• Mate E. Palmer Professional Communications Contest Annual professional communications contest recognizing excellence in writing, journalism, photography, design, broadcasting, and video across multiple categories. Open to IWPA/NFPW professional members with member-rate entry discounts; awards include the Silver Feather Award for the top points scorer.
• High School Communications Contest

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 2,000 entries submitted annually to NFPW National Communications Contest
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Chicago Literary Hall of FameminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2017Joint partnership for induction ceremonies and literary recognition events. CLHOF and IWPA collaborated on the induction of IWPA member Fanny Butcher into the Chicago Literary Hall of Fame in 2017, with IWPA serving as event sponsor.
• Newberry LibraryminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2017Venue partner for IWPA events including Fanny Butcher induction ceremony held at Newberry Library's Ruggles Hall. IWPA collaborates with Newberry for literary events and archival preservation.
• Guild Literary ComplexminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2017Chicago literary organization that co-sponsored the Fanny Butcher induction ceremony. IWPA partners with Guild for literary programming and author events.
• Chicago Writers AssociationminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2017Writing organization that co-sponsored the Fanny Butcher induction event. IWPA and CWA share member overlap and collaborative programming for Chicago-area writers.
• American Association of University Women - Illinois (AAUW-IL)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2016Co-host of Jane Addams Day Celebration, an annual event honoring women's history and contributions. IWPA partners with AAUW-IL for joint programming celebrating women's achievements.
• National Federation of Press Women (NFPW)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1885IWPA is an affiliate of NFPW, a national organization of professional newspaperwomen and writers founded in 1935. This 75+ year relationship enables IWPA members to compete in national contests, attend national conferences, and receive recognition on the national platform. NFPW provides contest structure, national awards ceremony, and advocacy network for press freedom and First Amendment rights.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ): Largest national journalism membership organization. Comparable as a professional association for journalists, though SPJ operates at national scale and is not women-specific; provides similar networking, awards, and advocacy for press freedom.
• Women's National Book Association (WNBA): National nonprofit connecting readers, writers, and the publishing industry, with a historical emphasis on women. Comparable as a long-standing women-led professional association for writers and published authors.
• Authors Guild: National professional society for published authors offering advocacy, contracts review, and legal resources. Comparable as a membership-based professional organization serving writers, with overlapping mission of supporting published authors.
• National Federation of Press Women (NFPW): National umbrella organization for professional presswomen and communicators. IWPA is a state affiliate of NFPW, making it the most natural peer: same membership model, same contest structure, and overlapping leadership pipelines, but operating at a national rather than state level.

Direct peers

• Chicago Writers Association: Chicago-area writers' organization co-sponsoring IWPA events. Comparable as a regional writer-focused membership group offering networking, events, and contests to Illinois authors and communicators.
• Chicago Headline Club (SPJ Chicago chapter): Chicago-area chapter of SPJ and the largest SPJ chapter in the U.S. Directly comparable as a regional journalism professional association serving Illinois communicators, with overlapping awards programs and member base.
• Independent Writers of Chicago (IWOC): Chicago-area professional organization for freelance writers. Comparable as a regional membership association serving Illinois-based professional writers with networking, professional development, and advocacy programs.
• Women in Communications (WICI/The Communicator): National organization for women in communications offering membership, scholarships, and professional recognition. Directly comparable to IWPA's mission of advancing women communicators, with similar awards (e.g., Clarion Awards) and student programs.

Regional players

• American Association of University Women - Illinois (AAUW-IL): Illinois state affiliate of AAUW, an organization advancing equity for women through education and advocacy. Existing IWPA partner (Jane Addams Day co-host); comparable as a regional women-led nonprofit membership organization in Illinois with advocacy focus.

Emerging players

• International Women's Writing Guild (IWWG): Long-standing membership organization for women writers offering workshops and support groups. Comparable as a women-focused professional writing association with similar contest/community ethos, though IWPA is Illinois-specific while IWWG serves members across geographies.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/iwpa1885
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCNCgFOxELWKGFdG49ouyg8Q
• Facebookfacebook.com/IllinoisWomansPressAssociation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/iwpa---illinois-woman%27s-press-association

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Illinois Woman's Press Association