Maryland Leadership Workshops

What Maryland Leadership Workshops does

Maryland Leadership Workshops (MLW), legally Maryland Leadership Workshops, Inc., is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1955 by Felix Simon, a Baltimore County Public Schools guidance counselor. Operating as a division of Leadership Maryland, MLW delivers peer-led youth leadership development programs for middle and high school students primarily in Maryland and, more recently, to international students through partnerships. The organization has graduated more than 15,000 students over six decades across its programs.

MLW's product portfolio consists of five core week-long residential summer programs — Middle School Experience in Leadership (MSEL), Bridge, Senior High Workshop (SHW), Advanced Leadership Seminar (ALS), and Journey — supplemented by year-round Community Outreach Programs that travel across Maryland. The core technology is a proprietary peer-led facilitative instruction model in which delegates take ownership of their personal development, with programs staffed at a 1:7 staff-to-delegate ratio and evaluated by independent evaluators. Curriculum content spans self-awareness, diversity, communication, advocacy, empathy, and creativity, refined over seven decades.

MLW operates a hybrid revenue model combining program fees (offered below actual cost), grants, donations, and corporate sponsorships. The Maryland State Department of Education provides institutional support, and partnerships with organizations such as the Women's Giving Circle of Howard County, Maryland Business Roundtable for Education, First Generation College Bound, Hamden Edux, and Chesapeake Charities sponsor delegate tuition. Distribution occurs through a self-serve online application portal, a school sponsorship channel, and a direct field outreach channel. The organization is led by Executive Director Brett Morales, a Board of Directors, and 2026 program leadership across all five core programs.

Name

Maryland Leadership Workshops

Legal name

Maryland Leadership Workshops, Inc.

Website

https://mlw.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1955

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Maryland Leadership Workshops is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers peer-led residential summer and community outreach leadership development programs for Maryland middle and high school students, founded in 1955 and operating as a division of Leadership Maryland.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Leadership Development Programs

NAICS

Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAMALAK

Leadership, Debate & Model UN Camps

Education/Supplemental & Enrichment Programs (Arts, STEM, Language)/Summer & Holiday Enrichment Camps (Multi-Activity, Academic)

Keywords

• Youth leadership programs
• Residential leadership training
• Nonprofit education services
• Student leadership development
• Community outreach programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Annapolis

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. Program Fees: Tuition fees for week-long residential summer programs. Programs are offered below actual cost as a nonprofit organization. Registration requires a $25 deposit with monthly tuition payments accepted through June.
2. Grants and Donations: As a nonprofit, MLW relies on grants and donations to offer programs below cost and provide scholarship support. Support received from Maryland State Department of Education.
3. Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate partners like First Generation College Bound and Maryland Business Roundtable for Education sponsor delegate tuitions for students who cannot otherwise afford programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Maryland Leadership Workshops operates week-long residential summer leadership programs for middle and high school students—Middle School Experience in Leadership (MSEL), Bridge, Senior High Workshop (SHW), Advanced Leadership Seminar (ALS), and Journey—using a peer-led facilitative instruction model unique among youth leadership programs. Year-round Community Outreach Programs bring tailored workshops to schools and organizations across Maryland. Programs are offered below actual cost on a nonprofit basis, funded through tuition, grants, donations, and corporate sponsorships.

Product overview

Maryland Leadership Workshops is a nonprofit youth leadership development organization offering a portfolio of peer-led residential summer programs and year-round community outreach. The core programs include Middle School Experience in Leadership (MSEL) for middle school students, Bridge for experienced middle school leaders preparing for high school programs, Senior High Workshop (SHW) for high school students, Advanced Leadership Seminar (ALS) for experienced high school participants, and Journey for Howard County girls. These programs use facilitative instruction to develop leadership skills through workshops, group projects, committee work, and small group discussions. The organization also operates Community Outreach Programs that extend programming throughout the year.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Middle School Experience in Leadership (MSEL) A week-long residential summer program for middle school students (grades 6-8) where participants develop individual leadership skills and learn to identify opportunities for leadership in schools and communities.
• Bridge An intensive week-long residential program for experienced student leaders entering grades 7, 8, or 9, designed to prepare them for Senior High Workshops through more advanced leadership training.
• Senior High Workshop (SHW) A week-long residential experience for high school students (grades 9-12) that develops leadership skills needed to succeed in diverse environments through workshops, group projects, and peer-led discussions.
• Advanced Leadership Seminar (ALS) An intensive program for high school students who have completed SHW or equivalent, challenging participants to re-examine themselves as individuals and leaders through innovative workshops, goal setting, and real-world application projects.
• Journey A Howard County-specific week-long residential program for girls entering grades 7-9, focused on female empowerment and leadership development through identifying personal strengths and building confidence in a supportive environment.
• Community Outreach Programs Year-round outreach programs that bring elements of the core residential programs to schools and organizations throughout Maryland, tailored to specific group needs, schedules, and budgets.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 15,000 students have graduated from MLW's residential programs over six decades
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Hamden EduxcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018International education agency partnership to bring students from China to participate in MLW programs. Hamden Edux arranges for 30 students to travel from China to attend week-long MLW programs as part of their Global Experiential Learning (GEL) program. The partnership marked MLW's first time welcoming international delegates, expanding diversity from a global perspective.
• First Generation College Bound (FGCB)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2018FGCB connects low-to-moderate income families with resources to help pay for college. They sponsored 20 ninth-grade students from their Great Minds Great Futures Academy to attend MLW's Senior High Workshops program in 2018. Sherrie Downs, Program Coordinator at FGCB, plans to continue the partnership.
• Maryland Business Roundtable for Education (MBRT)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2018MBRT is comprised of employers invested in the future of education. Through their Next Generation Scholars program in five rural Maryland districts, MBRT sponsored students from each district to attend MLW weeklong programs. Nona Carroll, Chief Strategy Officer, plans to extend the partnership and get students more involved in MBRT efforts.
• Chesapeake CharitiesminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Chesapeake Charities collaborated with MLW to have two 2018 ALS delegates participate in a workshop at the Maryland Association of Prevention Professionals and Advocates Annual Conference on drug prevention training programs for Talbot County students.
• Women's Giving Circle of Howard CountycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2006Women's Giving Circle (WGC) of Howard County, a group of female philanthropists at the Community Foundation, partnered with MLW to create the Journey program specifically for Howard County middle school girls. WGC provides funding for robust scholarships ensuring participation is not limited to those who can afford it. WGC members also participate in the program by sharing stories of struggle and success at award ceremonies.
• Maryland State Department of EducationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMLW receives support from the Maryland State Department of Education. This relationship deepens and enriches students' understanding and adoption of Common Core Standards and provides formal recognition of MLW's programs.
• Leadership MarylandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMLW is a division of Leadership Maryland. Leadership Maryland is the parent organization that oversees MLW as one of its programs, providing organizational support and alignment with broader leadership development initiatives in the state.
• Washington CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWashington College in Chestertown, MD served as MLW's long-time home venue for summer residential programs. MLW returned to Washington College for its 2020 programs after previously hosting at UMBC.
• University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUMBC served as host for MLW's summer residential programs starting in 2018, providing campus facilities for week-long leadership workshops and programs.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Lead4Change: Student leadership development program targeting high school students with project-based leadership curriculum and community impact focus. Comparable to MLW in target demographic and leadership-skill orientation, though it operates as a school-integrated curriculum rather than residential camp.
• Junior State of America (JSA): Student-run civic and leadership development organization for high school students, including summer institutes. Comparable to MLW in target demographic and focus on developing student leadership and civic engagement skills.
• Student Leadership University: Youth leadership development summer programs with residential format for high school students. Comparable to MLW in product (residential leadership training), target demographic, and curriculum focus on leadership skills.
• National Student Leadership Conference (NSLC): For-profit summer residential leadership programs for high school students hosted on college campuses. Directly comparable to MLW in residential format, target demographic, and use of college venues, though for-profit.
• Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership (HOBY): Multi-state nonprofit running summer leadership seminars for high school students through state-level affiliates. HOBY is the closest direct peer to MLW in mission, residential format, state-affiliate structure, and target demographic.
• Close Up Foundation: Nonprofit providing civic education and youth leadership programming for middle and high school students. Comparable to MLW in nonprofit mission, target demographic, and focus on developing engaged student leaders.
• People to People Ambassador Programs: Student leadership and cultural exchange programs, including international delegations. Comparable to MLW's Hamden Edux partnership in bringing international students to leadership programming and in mission of student ambassador development.

Broad incumbents

• 4-H: National youth development organization with leadership programming and summer camp experiences. Broader scope and agricultural/civic orientation but comparable target demographic and competing free leadership programming.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of America: Major national youth development organization with leadership programming for school-age youth. Broader scope than MLW but serves overlapping demographic and offers competing free or low-cost leadership development alternatives.
• Junior Achievement: Large national nonprofit focused on leadership, financial literacy, and career readiness for K-12 students. Broader scope than MLW but overlapping mission of youth leadership development and similar school-district GTM motion.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=Y7T0f-jFWvo
• Facebookfacebook.com/MLWexperience
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/maryland-leadership-workshops

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Maryland Leadership Workshops