Outdoor Writers Association of America

What Outdoor Writers Association of America does

Outdoor Writers Association of America (OWAA) is a nonprofit, international professional association founded on April 9, 1927, and headquartered in Missoula, Montana. It serves approximately 600 professional outdoor communicators — writers, authors, editors, publishers, broadcasters, photographers, film and video producers, fine artists, lecturers, bloggers, and communications/PR professionals — who share outdoor stories across traditional and new media. The organization states that more than 40% of its members are women, and it operates a Student Group alongside affinity groups for women, hunting, and emeritus communicators. OWAA's mission is to improve members' professional skills, set ethical and communications standards, promote conservation of natural resources, and mentor the next generation of outdoor media practitioners. Members adhere to a formal creed and code of ethics, which OWAA describes as commissioning members to provide honest and unbiased outdoor coverage.

OWAA's core products are organized around a membership model and include: (1) the award-winning bimonthly publication Outdoors Unlimited, distributed by mail and online; (2) an annual conference held at rotating U.S. locations, with the 2026 event in Madison, Wisconsin marking the organization's 100th anniversary; (3) the OWAA Collective digital platform showcasing member blogs, podcasts, books, and workshops; (4) a searchable member directory; (5) webinars and professional development; and (6) a portfolio of contests, awards, scholarships, and fellowships (including the EIC Awards, photography contests, and the Joan Wulff Enduring Excellence Award). No proprietary technology platform is described; digital services appear to be standard association infrastructure (website, online member area, PDF publication delivery).

The business model is membership-fee-driven with diversified supplementary revenue. Individual Outdoor Communicator memberships are priced at $195/year and Agency/Group/Business memberships at $1,000/year. Additional revenue comes from conference registration, contest entry fees, publication advertising, and corporate sponsorships/donations. The organization is currently running a centennial campaign targeting a $100,000 endowment (with 81.5% of donations directed to the endowment) to provide long-term financial support. Go-to-market is community-led: members refer new members via a Spring Membership Drive with prize incentives, supplemented by conference recruitment and social media (Instagram, Facebook, X). The organization reports 1–10 employees and is governed by an elected Board of Directors; recent additions include Andy Austin, Megan Plete Postol, and Amanda Thompson.

Name

Outdoor Writers Association of America

Legal name

Outdoor Writers Association of America

Website

https://owaa.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1927

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

OWAA is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit professional association founded in 1927, serving roughly 600 outdoor communicators — writers, photographers, broadcasters, and bloggers — through annual membership, a bimonthly magazine, an annual conference, contests, and professional development programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Association Services

NAICS

Professional Organizations (81392), Business Associations (813910), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Environmental Education & Outreach (BPAGAGAH)

Keywords

• Professional association services
• Outdoor communications
• Membership organization
• Outdoor media network
• Professional development

Headquarters

HQ city

Missoula

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees from Individual Outdoor Communicator members ($195/year) and Agency, Group or Business members ($1,000/year) form the primary revenue stream.
2. Conference Registration: Revenue generated from annual conference registrations, including early-bird discounts and various attendance tiers.
3. Contest and Award Fees: Revenue from contest participation fees including EIC Awards and photography competitions.
4. Sponsorships and Donations: Corporate sponsorships and centennial fundraiser donations (targeting $100,000 endowment goal) provide additional revenue. 81.5% of centennial donations go to the endowment.
5. Outdoors Unlimited Publication: Award-winning bimonthly publication distributed via postal mail to Individual Members and Supporting Groups.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

OWAA is a nonprofit, international professional membership association that provides outdoor communicators with annual memberships, the bimonthly Outdoors Unlimited publication, an annual conference, the OWAA Collective digital member-content platform, a member directory, webinars, and a portfolio of contests, awards, scholarships, and fellowships. Membership is offered at $195/year for individual outdoor communicators and $1,000/year for agencies, groups, or businesses. The organization supports a community of approximately 600 professional outdoor writers, photographers, broadcasters, bloggers, and PR/communications specialists.

Product overview

OWAA is a nonprofit membership organization that serves outdoor communicators through a unified platform of membership services. The core offerings include Outdoors Unlimited (the flagship bimonthly magazine), annual conferences for networking and professional development, the OWAA Collective (digital platform for member works including blogs, podcasts, and books), a member directory, webinars, and various contests and awards programs. Founded in 1927, OWAA celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2026-2027. Individual membership is $195/year and Agency/Group membership is $1,000/year. The organization serves approximately 600 professional outdoor communicators including writers, photographers, broadcasters, filmmakers, and bloggers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Outdoors Unlimited: OWAA's award-winning bimonthly publication provided to members via postal mail or online.
• OWAA Collective

Products and services

• Individual Outdoor Communicator Membership
• Agency, Group or Business Membership
• Outdoors Unlimited
• OWAA Annual Conference Annual in-person conference rotating across U.S. locations, featuring keynote speeches, panel discussions, breakout sessions, vendor exhibitions, and networking events. The 2026 conference in Madison, Wisconsin is the 100th anniversary celebration.
• OWAA Collective
• OWAA Membership Directory Searchable online directory of OWAA members enabling networking, member discovery, and connections among professional outdoor communicators, including editors and publications.
• OWAA Webinars Virtual professional development sessions and educational content delivered to OWAA members covering topics relevant to outdoor communications, including exclusive member-only workshops such as 'Editing Forensics: Hands-On Workshop' with The Open Notebook.
• OWAA Contests and Awards Portfolio of annual awards and contests recognizing professional excellence in outdoor communications, including the EIC Award (Excellence in Craft), Photography Awards, Joan Wulff Enduring Excellence Award, Circle of Chiefs Award, Mountain of Jade Award, Ham Brown Award, and various scholarships and fellowships.

Quantifiable outcome

• More than 40% of OWAA's membership is women, demonstrating successful diversity in the outdoor communications profession.
• +1 more outcomes

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

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Outdoor Recreation Roundtable (ORR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOWWA partner ORR welcomed bipartisan House Bill to invest in America's public lands and waters. OWAA members receive communications from ORR on outdoor recreation policy. ORR is particularly excited about recreation pilot programs and healthy communities initiatives.
• VortexsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerPrize sponsor during OWAA's Spring Membership Drive, providing optics including Diamondback HD binoculars, Banshee Eyewear, Jackal Eyewear, and rangefinders valued at $360-$710. Multiple Vortex prizes were claimed by members.
• onX Hunt, onX Off-Road, onX Back CountrysupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerPrize sponsors during OWAA's Spring Membership Drive, each providing Elite Memberships valued at $100. Three separate onX products are represented.
• Trails MagazinesupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerPrize sponsor during membership drive, providing 1-year subscription plus copy of latest issue valued at $70.
• KUIUsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerPrize sponsor during membership drive, providing $200 gift card as membership recruitment incentive.
• Armageddon GearsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerPrize sponsor during membership drive, providing $300 gift card.
• Smithey IronwaresupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerPrize sponsor during membership drive, providing $250 gift card.
• Wilderness AthletesupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerPrize sponsor during membership drive, providing $150 gift card.
• Work Sharp ToolssupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerPrize sponsor during membership drive, providing $150 gift card.
• Harrod OutdoorssupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerPrize sponsor during membership drive, providing cooking seasonings and $100 OFF Rod Series discount.
• enosupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerPrize sponsor during membership drive, providing TravelNest hammock and straps valued at $55.
• Drifter HydrationsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerPrize sponsor during membership drive, providing $100 gift card.
• MyToposupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerPrize sponsor during membership drive, providing gift certificate.
• Covey RisesupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerPrize sponsor during membership drive, providing $45 gift card for 1-year subscription.
• Black Belt Birding FestivalsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerPrize sponsor during membership drive, providing two people with tour tickets, three nights lodging and meals valued at $1,200.
• The Open NotebooksupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for exclusive 'Editing Forensics: Hands-On Workshop' available to OWAA members before opening to public. Drawing on 15 years of experience training science journalists worldwide.
• Destination MadisonsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosting pre- and post-conference tours for OWAA's 2026 conference, including Ice Age Trail experiences.
• Ice Age Trail AlliancesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-hosting post-conference hiking tour and panel discussion at OWAA 2026 conference, showcasing 1,200-mile Ice Age National Scenic Trail.

Scale indicators4 records

Market position

Strengths4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/owaaonline
• Facebookfacebook.com/owaaonline
• Instagraminstagram.com/owaa_official
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/outdoor-writers-association-of-america

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 Outdoor Writers Association of America