Women Investment Professionals

What Women Investment Professionals does

Women Investment Professionals (WIP) is a Chicago-based 501(c)(6) non-profit association founded in 1996 by Joanne Hickman Dodd and Carla Straeten to support women working in the investment industry. The organization grew from approximately 15 founding members to a current membership of 400+ professionals spanning 165 financial services firms, and operates through a self-managed volunteer board with no paid staff. Core products include member committees, an annual Trailblazer Awards Dinner (entering its 20th year in 2026), the WIN virtual programming series, school partnerships, and a member directory delivered through YourMembership.com association management software.

The business model is a two-sided revenue construct combining individual member dues, a three-tiered corporate sponsorship program (Platinum $7,500, Gold $4,000, Silver $2,500), and event-based revenue. Visible institutional sponsors include Mercer, Aon, Nuveen, PGIM, T. Rowe Price, BlackRock, Capital Group, Dimensional, TCW, LSV, LGIMA, Jackson, and Principal. The 30th anniversary in 2026 and a July 2025 leadership transition — with Stacy Scapino elected President succeeding Melissa Binder — coincide with deliberate programming expansion (WIN virtual series, school partnerships) intended to broaden WIP's reach beyond its historical Chicago-centric, in-person base. There is no disclosed use of AI/ML, proprietary technology, or paid headcount, consistent with a volunteer-run professional association rather than a technology-enabled commercial enterprise.

Name

Women Investment Professionals

Legal name

Women Investment Professionals

Website

https://wipchicago.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Women Investment Professionals (WIP) is a Chicago-based 501(c)(6) non-profit association serving 400+ women in the investment industry across 165 financial services firms, funded through member dues, tiered corporate sponsorships, and an annual Trailblazer Awards Dinner.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Association Services

NAICS

Professional Organizations (81392)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Professional & Career Networks (BPAMABAB)

Keywords

• Women investment professionals
• Professional association services
• Investment industry networking
• Corporate sponsorship programs
• Professional development events

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Others

Revenue model

1. Corporate Sponsorships: WIP is funded primarily through corporate sponsorships at three tiers: Platinum ($7,500), Gold ($4,000), and Silver ($2,500). Sponsors receive visibility benefits, complimentary memberships, event tickets, and recognition across WIP's communications channels. Sponsorship exposure reaches over 450 members across 165 financial services firms.
2. Individual Membership Dues: WIP offers rolling annual memberships for individuals. While specific pricing is not publicly disclosed on the website, membership provides access to exclusive programming, discounted event pricing, the member directory, professional development series, and networking opportunities.
3. Event Revenue: Selected events generate revenue through ticket sales. For example, the Summer Networking event charges members $50 and non-members $75. Signature events like the Trailblazer Awards Dinner include complimentary tickets for sponsors and paid attendance for non-members.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Women Investment Professionals (WIP) is a Chicago-based non-profit 501(c)(6) membership organization that sells annual individual memberships and tiered corporate sponsorships to women investment professionals and financial services firms. The core deliverable is structured access to networking, professional development, mentorship, signature events (Trailblazer Awards Dinner, Economic Outlook Luncheon, Summer Networking), a curated Career Center, and an exclusive member directory serving more than 400 members across 165 financial services firms.

Product overview

Women Investment Professionals (WIP) is a Chicago-based non-profit professional organization (501(c)(6)) offering a membership-based platform for women in the investment industry. Founded in 1996 with approximately 15 women and now serving over 400 members across 165+ financial services firms, WIP provides a unified suite of offerings including membership access, signature events (Trailblazer Awards Dinner, Economic Outlook Luncheon, Summer Networking), professional development programming (in-person series and virtual WIN series), networking events (Coffee Roulette, Small Group Dinners), a curated Career Center with job postings, corporate sponsorship programs, community outreach initiatives, member directory access, and quarterly newsletters. The organization operates through nine volunteer committees and is funded by a growing list of corporate sponsors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• WIP Membership Annual rolling membership program providing women investment professionals access to professional development events, networking opportunities, member directory, curated job board, committee participation, and mentorship programs.
• Signature Events Programming Large-scale events open to members and non-members including the annual Trailblazer Awards Dinner, Economic Outlook Luncheon, and Summer Networking event featuring markets and economy panel discussions.
• Professional Development Series In-person panel discussions and virtual What's Important Now (WIN) series featuring expert insights on career development topics for women at all career stages.
• Networking Events Program Events including Coffee Roulette (virtual one-on-one networking), Small Group Dinners, and Summer Networking gatherings designed to foster connections among members.
• WIP Career Center Curated job board connecting members with career opportunities across sponsor firms, including job postings, the ability to post roles, and links to sponsor career pages.
• Corporate Sponsorship Program Three-tiered annual sponsorship program (Platinum $7,500, Gold $4,000, Silver $2,500) offering logo placement, event access, complimentary memberships, and recognition across WIP's communications channels for corporate sponsors.
• WIP Member Directory Exclusive searchable directory of members across 165+ financial services firms available only to logged-in members.
• WIP Newsletter Quarterly newsletter providing updates on events, member spotlights, and industry news to the WIP community.

Quantifiable outcome

• 400+ women investment professionals connected through the WIP community
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers20 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Deborah's PlaceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWIP partners with Deborah's Place, an organization offering supportive housing and services to homeless women in Chicago. The partnership supports WIP's community outreach mission to help disadvantaged women achieve their goals and move beyond homelessness.
• Chicago-area Middle Schools, High Schools, and UniversitiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWIP is pursuing partnerships with Chicago-based educational institutions to offer programs such as career and college fairs that encourage young women to pursue mathematics, economics, finance, and business courses.
• WINGS (Chicagoland)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWINGS provides housing, integrated services, education, and advocacy to end domestic violence. WIP member Jane Marcus serves on WINGS' Board of Directors and the organization is highlighted in member profiles as a community partner.
• Share Our SpareminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerShare Our Spare ensures children in Chicago have essentials to thrive in their first five years by collecting and distributing infant/toddler items to families in poverty. WIP member Lauren Mueller Buddig volunteers with the organization.
• Open Heart MagicminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOpen Heart Magic partners with 15 Midwest hospitals to bring joy to sick children through personalized magic interactions. WIP member Sue Walton serves on the Board of Directors and volunteers as a hospital magician.
• Cara CollectiveminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCara Collective strives to eradicate relational and financial poverty. WIP member Sarah Mathew serves on the associate board and has connected other WIP members to the organization.
• Dimensional Fund AdvisorscoreOthersDimensional Fund Advisors is a Platinum sponsor of WIP. The firm applies financial science to investing and as of December 31, 2024 managed $777 billion worldwide. Sponsorship provides visibility among WIP's 400+ members.
• Jackson National Life Insurance CompanycoreOthersJackson is a Platinum sponsor and proud founding member of WIP. Jackson is a leading provider of retirement products for industry professionals and their clients.
• Legal & General Investment Management America (LGIMA)coreOthersLGIMA is a Platinum sponsor of WIP. Founded in 2006, LGIMA offers strategies to help institutional clients manage investment objectives including alpha-oriented strategies, liability-centric approaches, derivative overlays, and indexed solutions.
• LSV Asset ManagementcoreOthersLSV Asset Management is a Platinum sponsor specializing in value equity management for institutional investors. As of March 31, 2026, LSV manages approximately $106 billion across approximately 350 clients.
• NuveencoreOthersNuveen, the investment manager of TIAA, is a Platinum sponsor. With operations in 24 countries, Nuveen offers comprehensive investment solutions and has $1.1 trillion in AUM as of December 31, 2019.
• PGIMcoreOthersPGIM, the global asset management business of Prudential Financial, is a Platinum sponsor. Managing over $1.44 trillion in assets, PGIM offers expertise across public and private asset classes through 1,450+ investment professionals in 42 offices across 19 countries.
• TCWcoreOthersTCW is a Platinum sponsor - a privately held global asset manager with over 50 years of experience across fixed income, public equity, and alternative credit.
• T. Rowe PricecoreOthersT. Rowe Price is a Platinum sponsor - an American publicly traded asset management company offering mutual funds, collective investment trusts, separate accounts, and retirement planning services to individual and institutional investors.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Others

• Forté Foundation: Non-profit consortium focused on launching women into business and finance careers through MBA education and corporate partnerships. Mission-adjacent to WIP (advancing women in business/finance) but focused on the educational pipeline into business school rather than ongoing professional community for current investment professionals.

Direct peers

• National Association of Securities Professionals (NASP): U.S. non-profit dedicated to increasing participation of underrepresented groups in the securities and financial services industries. Direct peer in mission (workforce diversity in investment industry) but with a broader demographic and national scope relative to WIP's women-only, Chicago-centric focus.
• Women in ETFs (WE): Global non-profit organization supporting the development and advancement of women in the ETF industry. Direct peer — similar women-in-investing mission, similar event- and sponsorship-driven revenue model, with a narrower product focus (ETFs) that contrasts with WIP's broader institutional investment scope.
• 100 Women in Finance: Global non-profit membership organization for women in the finance and alternative investment industries, offering networking, education, and peer engagement. Closest direct peer to WIP — same mission (advancing women in finance), overlapping member base (institutional investment professionals), with a broader geographic footprint that WIP could benchmark against.

Emerging players

• Girls Who Invest: Non-profit focused on increasing the number of women in portfolio management and investment leadership through intensive education programs. Comparable mission in advancing women in investment management, but GWI is an educational pipeline organization while WIP is an ongoing community/networking platform for current professionals.
• The Investment Diversity Exchange (IDEX): Network and content platform focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion across the investment management industry. Comparable mission (DEI in investments) with a more digital/emerging-platform model and a national footprint — represents an alternative format that could compete for sponsor mindshare against WIP's in-person community model.

Regional players

• CFA Society Chicago: Chicago-based member society of the CFA Institute serving investment professionals. Operates in the same geography and serves overlapping CFA-credentialed investment professionals, but is industry-wide (not women-specific) and benefits from CFA Institute's global infrastructure — making it a regional, broader-ecosystem peer.

Broad incumbents

• CFA Institute: Global association of investment professionals and the issuer of the CFA charter. Sets industry standards, runs credentialing programs, and operates the network of CFA Societies — a broad incumbent that overlaps with WIP's audience of credentialed investment professionals but serves the entire industry globally.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/wipchicago
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wip-chicago

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 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 Women Investment Professionals