Rotary Club of Milwaukee

What Rotary Club of Milwaukee does

The Rotary Club of Milwaukee is a nonprofit civic service organization operating as a chartered member club of Rotary International in Milwaukee, Wisconsin (founded 1913 per firmographic data, 1915 per the company history timeline — minor discrepancy in source materials). It runs a portfolio of community programs anchored by weekly Tuesday lunch meetings at Milwaukee's War Memorial Center, with virtual attendance via YouTube livestream. The club targets business and civic leaders in the Milwaukee metro and structures engagement around 20+ standing committees covering scholarships, environment, veterans, membership, grants, mentoring, marketing, and international service; membership is invitation-only and proposed by existing Rotarians with Board approval.

The organization's program portfolio includes: the Scholarship Program (50 graduates since 2009, ~25 students supported annually, many first-generation college students); Guatemala Highlands community development projects in partnership with Engineers Without Borders, Vista Hermosa Rotary Club, and Alliance for Smiles (nearly 20 projects, $2.5M+ cumulative investment since 2010, $160K+ direct from RCM); the Connecting to the Community Grants program ($25,000 awarded annually to local nonprofits); Live @ The Lakefront summer concert series; Polio Plus fundraising; mentoring and tutoring via I Have a Dream Foundation-Milwaukee, Forward Scholars, and UW Milwaukee Lubar College of Business; and Nourish Our Neighbors, a food-security initiative connected to Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin — an organization the club itself founded in 1982. The club's only material technology asset is ClubRunner, a SaaS membership-management platform used for website hosting, event registration, email communications, and the member portal.

The business model is a hybrid of annual membership dues (invitation-only, with a suggested minimum $50 Rotary Foundation donation), recurring digital sponsorships ($1,200/year for logo placement before Tuesday programs and on the website), event-based fundraising (Scholarship Golf Classic has raised nearly $1M lifetime; Live @ The Lakefront concert series), and general donations to the RCM Community Fund (EIN: 47-5109357). Revenue figures are not publicly disclosed. The club is led by Executive Director Mary McCormick, with rotating annual club presidents — Kent Lovern completing the 2025-26 term and Beth Heller beginning 2026-27 — and a Board of Directors; the staffed organization has 1-10 paid employees.

Name

Rotary Club of Milwaukee

Legal name

Rotary Club of Milwaukee

Website

https://milwaukeerotary.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1915

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Rotary Club of Milwaukee is a 110-year-old nonprofit civic service organization within Rotary International's 1.4 million-member global network that delivers scholarships, community grants, Guatemala development projects, and weekly professional programming for Milwaukee-area leaders.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Civic Service Organization

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (8134), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Local Amateur Clubs & Community Sports Organizations (MPAKACAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community Fundraisers & Charity Events (Gala/Walks excluded) (MPAGAEAK), Volunteer Program Funding, Scholarships & Fundraising Support (EDAIAGAO)

Keywords

• Civic service organization
• Community service programs
• Scholarship programs
• Nonprofit membership club
• International development projects

Headquarters

HQ city

Milwaukee

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Members pay annual dues to belong to the club. The dues structure includes a suggested minimum $50 donation to the Rotary Foundation per year.
2. Digital Sponsorship: Organizations can sponsor the club for $1,200 per year ($100/month), placing their logo on rotating banners before Tuesday programs (both in-person and online) and on the website homepage.
3. Event Sponsorships and Fundraising: The club raises funds through events such as the Annual Scholarship Golf Classic, Live @ The Lakefront concert series, and various donation drives. Donations support scholarships, community grants, global projects (Guatemala), and polio eradication efforts.
4. General Donations: The club accepts donations to the RCM Community Fund (EIN: 47-5109357) for charitable purposes including scholarships, polio, B-Line Park, and memorial donations. Credit card, check, and stock transfer options available.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

The Rotary Club of Milwaukee is a nonprofit civic service organization that delivers community programs through a member-based model. Members join via invitation and participate in weekly programs, committees, and volunteer initiatives. The club funds and operates scholarship programs for Milwaukee students, grants for local nonprofits, international infrastructure projects in Guatemala, food security initiatives through Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin, and events such as the Live @ The Lakefront concert series and the Scholarship Golf Classic.

Product overview

The Rotary Club of Milwaukee is a civic service organization that offers a portfolio of community programs rather than a unified technology product. Core programs include a Scholarship Program providing financial assistance and mentorship to Milwaukee students, Live @ The Lakefront summer concert series, CONNECTIONS podcast, Guatemala international development projects, Polio Plus eradication efforts, and local community grants. The club also operates the Milwaukee Rotary Centennial Arboretum, food security initiatives, mentoring programs, and various volunteer opportunities. These programs are facilitated through the ClubRunner membership management platform but are not technology products themselves.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Membership Annual membership in the Rotary Club of Milwaukee, by invitation only, proposed by current members and approved by the Membership committee and Board of Directors. Includes access to weekly Tuesday programs, committee participation, networking, volunteer opportunities, and the CONNECTOR program, plus a suggested minimum $50 donation to the Rotary Foundation per year.
• Digital Sponsorship Package Annual sponsorship opportunity for $1,200 ($100/month) placing the sponsor's logo on rotating banners before Tuesday programs (in-person at Memorial Hall and online livestream) and on the website homepage with a direct link to the sponsor's site.
• Scholarship Program Financial assistance and mentorship program for Milwaukee high school students with demonstrated financial need, many of whom are first-generation college students. The program supports 25 students annually with financial awards and mentorship.
• Connecting to the Community Grants Annual grant program awarding $25,000 from the RCM Community Trust to local Milwaukee nonprofits working in education, arts, environment, health equity, and social services.
• Guatemala Service Projects International infrastructure and community projects in the Guatemala Highlands, including water systems, pedestrian bridges, schools, and medical missions, implemented in partnership with Engineers Without Borders and Alliance for Smiles. Over $2.5 million has been invested across nearly 20 projects since 2010.
• Live @ The Lakefront Concert Series Summer concert series held at Milwaukee's lakefront providing community entertainment and promoting public access to the lakefront.
• CONNECTIONS: The Podcast Podcast featuring interviews with community leaders, Rotarians, and partners discussing local and global issues, distributed on podcast platforms.
• Mentoring and Tutoring Programs Mentorship and tutoring programs including partnerships with the I Have a Dream Foundation, Forward Scholars tutoring, UW Milwaukee Lubar College of Business mentorship, and Rotary Scholar mentorship.
• World Affairs Seminar International youth initiative of Rotary District 6270 bringing together young people from around the world to study global problems and promote peaceful conflict resolution; the club offers scholarships to Milwaukee high school students with financial need.
• Nourish Our Neighbors (Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin) Food security initiative supporting Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin, with a RCM Community Trust matching program supporting donations up to $35,000.
• Milwaukee Rotary Centennial Arboretum Environmental initiative featuring planted trees and native grasses supporting local ecology in the Milwaukee area.
• Annual Scholarship Golf Classic Annual fundraising golf tournament that has raised nearly $1 million over its lifetime for the Scholarship Program.
• Guatemala Service Trip Annual trip for Rotarians to visit Guatemala project sites, build relationships with local partners, and witness infrastructure completion, limited to 10 participants per trip. Estimated cost $1,500 to $1,750 excluding airfare, with $100 nonrefundable deposit required.

Quantifiable outcome

• 50 students graduated from college through scholarship program since 2009
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.

• Engineers Without Borders (EWB)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2010Long-standing partnership for sustainable infrastructure projects in the Guatemala Highlands. EWB provides technical expertise for water systems and pedestrian bridges. The club leads annual trips with EWB teams working alongside community members. Multiple university EWB chapters participate, including Marquette University. Partnership has resulted in nearly 20 completed projects since 2010.
• Feeding America Eastern WisconsincoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1982Originally founded by the Rotary Club of Milwaukee in 1982 as Second Harvest. Now Wisconsin's largest hunger relief organization with 100+ pantry partners. The club supports through donations and member volunteerism. RCM Community Trust matching program supports donations up to $35,000.
• Alliance for SmilessecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership providing free comprehensive medical treatment for children impacted by cleft lip and palate in Guatemala. Combines Rotary volunteer resources with Alliance for Smiles medical expertise.
• Vista Hermosa Rotary ClubcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGuatemala City-based Rotary club partner with strong track record of successful, sustainable projects. Essential for on-ground monitoring, bill payment, and project management in Guatemala. Critical relationship for ensuring project sustainability and accountability.
• World Affairs SeminarsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational youth initiative of Rotary District 6270 bringing together young people from around the globe to study world problems and promote peaceful conflict resolution. Club offers scholarships to Milwaukee high school students with financial need.
• I Have a Dream Foundation - MilwaukeesecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership providing mentorship opportunities for Rotarians paired with 3rd grade 'Dreamers' students. Mentors provide academic support, goal-setting assistance, career exploration, and personal development guidance for one hour weekly.
• Forward ScholarssecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal nonprofit partnership providing tutoring opportunities for Rotarians. Kindergarten through 3rd grade students in Milwaukee Public Schools receive reading support. Rotarian tutors meet with students up to twice weekly with site coordinator guidance.
• UW Milwaukee Lubar College of BusinesssecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerLubar College of Business Mentorship Program pairs Rotarian mentors with junior and senior students (particularly diverse and first-generation). Mentors provide career guidance and soft-skill development for one-year commitment.
• Rotary District 6270coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal Rotary District providing governance, programming support, and connection to the broader Rotary International network. District Governor visits and initiatives provide additional resources and coordination for club activities.
• Rotary InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal organization of 1.4 million members providing brand identity, programmatic resources (Polio Plus, Peace Fellowships), Foundation funding, and international network access. Club is part of this global ecosystem.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Milwaukee Urban League: Local Milwaukee civic and economic-empowerment nonprofit operating in the same metro and overlapping on equity, education, and youth-development programming (scholarships, mentorship). Regional peer with adjacent mission scope.
• Greater Milwaukee Foundation: Milwaukee-based community foundation distributing charitable grants to nonprofits via a similar donor-advised model. Comparable local geography and community-grant function (Connecting to the Community Grants), though operates through grants rather than service-club volunteerism.

Direct peers

• Rotary Club of Chicago: Other large-metro U.S. Rotary club operating weekly Tuesday meetings, scholarships, and international service projects. Closest direct operating peer in terms of scale, programming mix (community grants, scholarships, fellowships), and big-city civic profile.
• Kiwanis International: Comparable service-club membership model with weekly meetings, member dues, local grants, and youth-focused programming (Kiwanis Builders Club, Key Club, scholarships). Competes for the same civic-minded professional member demographic.
• Junior League: Invitation-based civic membership organization for professionals, focused on volunteer service, leadership development, and community grants in metro areas. Similar member-vetted admissions, dues structure, and women-leader-driven programming adjacent to Rotary's professional-leader model.
• Lions Clubs International: Parallel membership-based civic service organization with similar dues model, local chapter structure, signature international initiatives (LCIF, vision programs analogous to Polio Plus), and community grants/fellowship recognition programs.
• Rotary International: Parent global organization of 1.4 million members that RCM is a club within. Identical service-club mission, Polio Plus, Rotary Foundation, and Paul Harris Fellow model — RCM operates as one chapter in this direct comparable ecosystem.
• Rotary Club of New York: Another flagship large-metro Rotary club with weekly professional programming, scholarships, and international service projects in major cities. Nearest peer for benchmarking weekly-speaker programming, digital sponsorships, and major-project fundraising formats.

Broad incumbents

• United Way Worldwide: Broader incumbent in workplace-giving charitable campaigns that compete with Rotary for corporate sponsorship dollars and donor contributions in the same Milwaukee market. Large-scale community impact framing parallels RCM's local/global model.
• Points of Light: Larger volunteer-engagement and civic-service platform that scales the kind of community-service programming RCM delivers locally (Done-In-A-Day, volunteer matching, recognition programs). Represents a more modern, scalable alternative to the Rotary civic-club model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@MilwaukeeRotary/featured
• Facebookfacebook.com/mkerotary
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mkerotary
• Xx.com/mkerotary

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

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Frequently asked questions about Rotary Club of Milwaukee