What WEDC Foundation does

The WEDC Foundation, founded in 1998 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Huntsville, Alabama, empowers women in North Alabama through a multi-component Scholar Program that integrates flexible financial assistance, one-on-one professional mentoring, and structured professional development (etiquette, personal branding, resume writing, mock interviews). The foundation serves collegiate women pursuing higher education across Madison, Marshall, Morgan, and Limestone Counties, operating through academic partnerships with the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH), Alabama A&M University, Oakwood University, Athens State University, and Drake State. Since inception, the foundation has supported over 190 women scholars and disbursed more than $770,000 in flexible financial assistance, serving 33 scholars and 20 children in 2024 and 31 scholars plus 7 graduates in 2025.

The foundation delivers its services without a proprietary technology platform; program execution runs through in-person workshops hosted at partner institutions and venues (Westin Huntsville, Twickenham Advisors), with online touchpoints limited to a Wix-hosted website for applications, donations, and event ticketing, plus GiveButter for recurring monthly giving. Revenue is generated entirely through philanthropic channels with no transactional product sales. Core funding streams include (i) the annual Women Honoring Women (WHW) signature gala, which raised over $234,000 in 2025 with sponsorship tiers ranging from Gold ($2,500) to Diamond ($7,500); (ii) the Pearls monthly recurring donor program ($25/month); (iii) named endowment gifts requiring multi-year $10,000 commitments; and (iv) corporate and foundation grants, notably a $25,000 PPG Foundation grant renewed annually for six consecutive years for STEM scholars.

The organization is led by Executive Director Jennifer Linton with a Board of Directors chaired by Diana King, supported by 11–50 staff and roughly 65 annual volunteers plus 31 active mentors in 2025. In 2025, the foundation added its first paid Program Coordinator (Brittany Gollins), signaling operational scaling. Its market position is anchored by 26 years of regional brand equity, durable tenured sponsorships (Woody Anderson Ford as WHW presenting sponsor for 11+ years, WAAY31 as media sponsor for 11 consecutive years), and an integrated ecosystem of academic, corporate, and volunteer partners that creates significant barriers to entry for new women's-scholarship entrants in the North Alabama market.

Name

WEDC Foundation

Legal name

The WEDC Foundation, Inc.

Website

https://wedcfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The WEDC Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1998 in Huntsville, Alabama, that empowers women in North Alabama through higher-education scholarships, one-on-one mentoring, and professional development workshops, serving collegiate women across four counties and partnering with regional universities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Women's Education Nonprofit

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts (EDADAHAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

STEM, Digital Literacy & Maker Education Nonprofits (BPAGADAG), Corporate & Foundation Relations (Sponsorships, Grants, Partnerships) (EDALAOAE)

Keywords

• Women scholarship programs
• Nonprofit education foundation
• Scholarship fundraising gala
• Women mentoring programs
• Community nonprofit grants

Headquarters

HQ city

Huntsville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: The primary revenue stream is individual and corporate donations channeled through the Women Honoring Women annual gala and general donation campaigns. Donors contribute one-time or monthly gifts. Monthly donors are enrolled in the 'Pearls' program.
2. Event-Based Fundraising (WHW Gala): The Women Honoring Women annual fundraising gala generates significant revenue through ticket sales, table sponsorships, and event donations. The 2024 event raised over $204,000 and the 2025 event raised over $234,000.
3. Named Endowment Gifts: Legacy and endowment giving through bequests and multi-year pledge commitments. Named scholarship endowments require a minimum of $10,000 over three years. The 25th Anniversary Named Endowment requires $2,500/year for four years.
4. Corporate and Foundation Grants: Grant funding from corporate foundations, notably the PPG Foundation ($25,000 in 2025 specifically for STEM scholars) and Dr. Annie Saylor endowment ($10,000). Also supported by grants from community foundations, Rotary Club of Greater Huntsville, Mesa Associates, and Frances C. Roberts Charitable Trust.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

WEDC Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that empowers women in North Alabama to pursue and complete higher education through a combined offering of flexible scholarship funding, one-on-one mentoring with professional women, and professional development workshops. The foundation operates the Scholar Program as its central service and funds it primarily through the annual Women Honoring Women (WHW) fundraising gala, monthly donor (Pearls) giving, and corporate/foundation grants.

Product overview

WEDC Foundation operates as a unified non-profit organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of programs to empower women in North Alabama through education. The core offering is the Scholar Program, which combines scholarship funding with one-on-one mentoring relationships and professional development workshops. Supporting programs include the Women Honoring Women (WHW) annual gala as the primary fundraising vehicle, the Pearls monthly donor program for sustainable giving, a Clothes Closet providing professional attire, and Legacy Giving/Endowment options for long-term donor engagement. The organization serves women in Madison, Marshall, Morgan, and Limestone Counties.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• 190+ women supported since 1998; 33 scholars in 2024 and 31 scholars in 2025
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 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

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Women's Economic Development Council (WEDC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe WEDC founded the WEDC Foundation in 1998 as its charitable arm. The WEDC provides ongoing support, including funds from the Suffrage Mural 'This Girl Can' project. The two organizations share the mission of advancing women's economic development in North Alabama.
• Alabama A&M UniversitycoreOthersA primary academic partner where many WEDCF scholars are enrolled. Workshops and events are hosted at the university, including the Clyde Foster Auditorium. The foundation works closely with the university's administration for scholar recruitment and support.
• Woody Anderson FordcoreOthersPresenting sponsor of the Women Honoring Women event for 11+ consecutive years (13th year in 2026). Provides financial support and brand visibility for the foundation's flagship annual fundraising gala.
• Redstone Federal Credit UnioncoreOthersVIP Party Sponsor of the Women Honoring Women event for four consecutive years (sixth year in 2026). Hosts the Honoree Reception at their Twickenham Terrace venue.
• WAAY31coreOthersExclusive media sponsor of the Women Honoring Women event for 11 consecutive years. Provides media coverage and serves as Mistress of Ceremonies at the gala. Regular segments on 'Connecting North Alabama' feature WEDC Foundation scholars and honorees.
• Green Pea PressminorOthersLocal Huntsville print studio operated by WEDCF alumna Rachel Lackey. Conducted a 'Printing for Change' campaign that donated a portion of t-shirt sales to the foundation. Rachel Lackey was named a 2026 WHW Honoree.
• DesignedByCarla Marketing AgencyminorOthersLocal marketing agency owned by Carla Stiles, who serves as WHW marketing strategist. Created the foundation's new logo for its 25th anniversary and produces video testimonials and campaign materials.
• University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH)coreOthersAcademic institution partner where multiple WEDCF scholars are enrolled. LaFreeda Jordan, UAH Chief of External Affairs, was a 2022 WHW Honoree. WEDCF hosts workshops and events at UAH facilities.
• Oakwood UniversitycoreOthersHistorically Black university in Huntsville where WEDCF scholars are enrolled. Scholar Ruth Misori graduated from Oakwood University with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology.
• Athens State UniversitycoreOthersAcademic institution partner. Scholar Kayla Hale graduated from Athens State University with a Bachelor's in Early Childhood Education.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• The Women's Fund of Greater Birmingham: This is a regional grantmaking and advocacy foundation supporting women and girls in central Alabama through research, grantmaking, and donor education. It is geographically adjacent to WEDCF's North Alabama footprint and shares a women-focused grantmaking mission, though operating in a different Alabama region.
• The Women's Foundation of Alabama: The Women's Foundation of Alabama is a statewide grantmaker focused on economic security for Alabama women and girls. It overlaps directly with WEDCF's Alabama-only geographic focus and women's economic-empowerment mission, though it operates at statewide rather than county scale.

Emerging players

• Step Up Women's Network: Step Up provides mentorship, scholarships, and after-school programming for girls and women, with a strong corporate-partner model (e.g., major entertainment and beauty sponsors). It overlaps with WEDCF's mentorship-plus-scholarship model and its dependence on corporate event sponsors.

Direct peers

• Zonta International Foundation: Zonta funds scholarships and awards for women pursuing education in STEM, business, and public affairs, with local clubs raising funds through events. The club-driven event fundraising and women-in-STEM scholarship focus closely parallel WEDCF's WHW-gala model and PPG-funded STEM scholars.
• American Association of University Women (AAUW): AAUW is a national nonprofit that provides scholarships, fellowships, and grants specifically to women pursuing higher education and graduate study, with local branches delivering programming. It is the closest scaled analogue to WEDCF's women-focused scholarship-plus-mentorship model.
• P.E.O. Sisterhood: P.E.O. Sisterhood administers multiple scholarship and grant programs supporting women pursuing higher education, funded through a national network of local chapters. The chapter-driven fundraising and women-only scholarship model is highly comparable to WEDCF's community- and event-led funding of women scholars.
• Soroptimist International of the Americas: Soroptimist provides the Live Your Dream Awards and other grants specifically to women who are the primary financial support for their families and are pursuing higher education. Its women-focused award structure and emphasis on non-traditional students closely mirrors WEDCF's scholar profile.

Broad incumbents

• United Negro College Fund (UNCF): UNCF is the largest U.S. scholarship-granting organization for students of color, supporting college access, scholarships, and institutional capacity. It is a broad incumbent in the educational grantmaking space with overlapping scholar-recruitment and corporate-sponsorship mechanisms, though at vastly greater scale and a different demographic focus.
• Girls Inc. Girls Inc. is a national nonprofit delivering mentoring, education, and leadership programming for girls and young women, including college-access support. It is a broader incumbent operating an overlapping mentoring-plus-education mission, though with a wider age range and national scope.
• Jackie Robinson Foundation: The Jackie Robinson Foundation provides multi-year scholarships, mentoring, and leadership development to college students, combining financial aid with a structured mentorship program. It is a broader, more established incumbent operating a scholarship-plus-mentorship model comparable to WEDCF's Scholar Program.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCnRVbVzXi9yNCXCnZ2qD3CA
• Facebookfacebook.com/wedcfoundationinc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wedc-foundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/wedcfoundation
• Pinterestpinterest.com/WEDCFoundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about WEDC Foundation