Wisconsin Head Start Association

What Wisconsin Head Start Association does

Wisconsin Head Start Association (WHSA) is a Madison, Wisconsin-based non-profit membership association founded as part of the national Head Start program established in 1965, representing all 39 federally recognized Head Start, Early Head Start, Migrant/Seasonal Head Start, and American Indian/Alaska Native Head Start grantees across Wisconsin. WHSA serves a dual constituency: institutionally, it supports the 39 member grantees that collectively employ over 4,000 staff and 6,500 volunteers serving more than 16,000 children across all 72 Wisconsin counties; programmatically, the children and families served are predominantly low-income, including children with disabilities (2,372 in 2021), homeless children (1,307 in 2021), foster children (640 in 2021), migrant/seasonal farmworker families, tribal families, and pregnant women.

WHSA's core offerings are professional development, advocacy, and program resources rather than technology products. The portfolio includes the Annual Training Conference (24th edition scheduled for February 2026 at Kalahari Resort), Communities of Practice across 10 functional areas (Health/Nutrition, Mental Health, Education Managers, Inclusion/Disabilities, HR, Home Visiting, ERSEA, Family Services, Coaches, Data Management), the Wage Comparability Study (productized using Payscale data, $750-$2,500 per program), the Governance Toolkit ($650 one-time), advocacy training in partnership with Wisconsin Early Childhood Association, and Parent/Staff Affiliate Scholarships ($750 each). Technology infrastructure is standard for an association: Eventbrite for event registration, WP Job Manager for the job board, and Zoom for virtual training — no proprietary platform is developed or maintained.

WHSA's revenue model combines recurring membership dues from the 39 grantees (set annually by the Board of Directors), grants and donations (including management of State Supplemental Head Start Grants), and fee-based professional development services. Geographic concentration is total: Wisconsin-only institutional membership, with limited multi-state product partnerships extending into Ohio, Minnesota, and Indiana through the Wage Comparability Study. The organization is led by Executive Director Jennie Mauer (since 2020) and is governed by a Board of Directors representing member grantees.

Name

Wisconsin Head Start Association

Legal name

Wisconsin Head Start Association

Website

https://whsaonline.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1965

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Wisconsin Head Start Association (WHSA) is a non-profit membership association representing all 39 Head Start and Early Head Start grantees in Wisconsin, providing professional development, advocacy training, and program resources serving more than 16,000 children across all 72 Wisconsin counties.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Early Childhood Education Association Services

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Head Start & Public Pre-K Programs (EDACABAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Apprenticeships, Pre-Apprenticeships & Work-Based Learning (EDAAAOAC)

Keywords

• Early childhood education
• Head Start programs
• Professional development training
• Nonprofit association services
• Workforce development support

Headquarters

HQ city

Madison

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual dues determined by the Board of Directors from the 39 member Head Start and Early Head Start grantees throughout Wisconsin.
2. Grants and Donations: WHSA is involved in numerous projects funded by a variety of grants and donors. State Supplemental Head Start Grants are managed by WHSA.
3. Professional Development Services: Revenue from training events, conferences, Communities of Practice subscriptions, Governance Toolkit sales, and Wage Comparability Study fees.
4. Wage Comparability Study: Payscale-based wage comparability data resource sold to Head Start programs. Priced at $2,500 for programs with over $2M in funding, $750 for programs under $2M.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Wisconsin Head Start Association (WHSA) is a non-profit membership association that supports 39 Head Start and Early Head Start grantees across Wisconsin through advocacy, professional development, workforce support, and state-level grant management. Its core deliverables include the Annual Training Conference, Communities of Practice peer learning networks, the Governance Toolkit, the Payscale-based Wage Comparability Study, advocacy training, and scholarship programs for parents and staff of member programs.

Product overview

The Wisconsin Head Start Association (WHSA) is a membership organization that provides advocacy, professional development, and support services to 39 Head Start and Early Head Start grantees across Wisconsin. Rather than a unified technology product, WHSA offers a portfolio of membership services including training events (Annual Training Conference, Communities of Practice), program resources (Governance Toolkit, Wage Comparability Study), scholarship programs (Parent and Staff Affiliate Scholarships), and advocacy training. These services support the organization's mission to strengthen Head Start programs for the benefit of children, families, and communities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• WHSA Governance Toolkit An on-demand virtual training series that educates participants about the roles and responsibilities of Governing bodies including requirements and regulations, and provides required Governing Body training in Head Start Program Performance Standards (HSPPS) and eligibility, selection, and enrollment requirements. Priced at $650 per program with unlimited usage by all program staff and parents; intended for Head Start and Early Head Start program governing bodies in Wisconsin.
• WHSA Wage Comparability Study A statewide wage comparability study using Payscale data that helps Head Start directors and management teams make decisions about budgets, program design, and enrollment changes. Priced at $2,500 for programs with over $2M in funding and $750 for programs under $2M; includes one full program year of usage. Built for Wisconsin Head Start program directors and management teams.
• WHSA Parent Affiliate Scholarship Annual $750 scholarships awarded to current Early Head Start or Head Start parents and guardians who are enrolled in or planning to attend an accredited school or job training program. Funds can be applied toward course fees, books, childcare, or transportation; two scholarships awarded each year.
• WHSA Staff Affiliate Scholarship Annual $750 scholarships awarded to current Head Start employees with at least one year of service who are furthering their education or pursuing job training. Funds may be applied toward course fees, books, childcare, or transportation; two scholarships awarded each year.
• WHSA Annual Training Conference WHSA's largest annual event bringing together Head Start and Early Head Start program directors, parents, staff, managers, and community partners for innovative training sessions and networking. Held annually at Kalahari Resort & Convention Center in Wisconsin Dells; registration fees apply with a negotiated room block.
• WHSA Communities of Practice A four-part professional development series connecting Head Start and Early Head Start professionals across Wisconsin through collaborative learning, peer networking, and shared problem-solving across ten topic areas. Priced at $90 for the Fall Launch (access to all October sessions) and $320 for the Full Season (unlimited access to all meetings, special presentations, expert speakers, year-round networking, and resource library).
• WHSA Winter Advocacy Series A virtual, multi-part advocacy training series developed in partnership with the Wisconsin Early Childhood Association (WECA) advocacy team to train advocacy skills for Head Start community members. Supports WHSA's broader advocacy work with Raising Wisconsin and other coalitions on long-term state investment in child care and early childhood programs.

Named customers3 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and strategic.

• National Head Start Association (NHSA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1974NHSA is a nonprofit organization committed to the belief that every child, regardless of circumstances at birth, has the ability to succeed in life. WHSA represents Wisconsin grantees on the National Head Start Association. NHSA is the voice for more than 1 million children, 245,000 staff and 1,600 Head Start grantees.
• Region V BoardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWHSA represents Wisconsin grantees on the Region V Board. Region V is made up of Wisconsin, Minnesota, Ohio, Illinois, Michigan and Indiana. A representative of each affiliate is selected through a vote to represent Wisconsin on the Region V Board.
• Wisconsin Department of Public InstructioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction holds the contract for the Head Start Collaboration Office. WHSA collaborates with the DPI on various early childhood initiatives and the State Superintendent's Advisory Committee of 4-Year-Old Kindergarten.
• Wisconsin Early Childhood Education (WECA)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization in the Wisconsin early childhood education community. WHSA collaborates on professional development opportunities.
• The RegistrystrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerWisconsin's career information system for early childhood professionals. WHSA collaborates on professional development opportunities.
• Kids Forward at WCCFstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerKids Forward (formerly Wisconsin Council on Children and Families) is a partner in early childhood advocacy and professional development collaborations.
• Wisconsin Early Childhood Collaborating PartnersstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide collaborative partnership for early childhood education. WHSA participates as a partner in this coordination effort.
• Thriving WisconsinstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization supporting early childhood development in Wisconsin. WHSA collaborates on professional development.
• YoungStarstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerWisconsin's child care quality rating system. WHSA programs participate in YoungStar ratings, with most WHSA programs earning 5-star ratings.
• STGi InternationalstrategicTechnology or IntegrationSTGi International administers the Head Start Training & Technical Assistance System for Region V, which includes Wisconsin. WHSA co-hosts training events with STGi such as Practiced Based Coaching, Class Observation Training, and the New Director Series.
• Ohio Head Start AssociationstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerWHSA collaborated with the Ohio Head Start Association to create a statewide wage comparability study using Payscale data.
• Minnesota Head Start AssociationstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerWHSA collaborated with the Minnesota Head Start Association to create a statewide wage comparability study using Payscale data.
• Indiana Head Start AssociationstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerWHSA collaborated with the Indiana Head Start Association to create a statewide wage comparability study using Payscale data.
• PayscalestrategicTechnology or IntegrationPayscale is a world leader in wage comparability data conglomeration. Their data is used in the WHSA Wage Comparability Study covering 79 Wisconsin cities and 58 position categories.
• Wisconsin Early Childhood AssociationstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerWHSA partnered with WECA advocacy team to bring advocacy training series. Both organizations advocate together for child care funding in state budget priorities.
• Raising WisconsinstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerWHSA and Raising Wisconsin are advocating together for a long-term, substantial state investment to support child care professionals and early childhood programs.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• National Head Start Association: National membership association representing 1,600+ Head Start grantees and 245,000 staff nationwide. WHSA explicitly holds a seat at NHSA and represents Wisconsin grantees at the national level, making NHSA WHSA's most direct national counterpart.

Direct peers

• Ohio Head Start Association: State-level Head Start association co-developing the Wage Comparability Study with WHSA and fellow Region V member. Operates the same association model — dues, training, advocacy — for Ohio grantees.
• Wisconsin Early Childhood Association (WECA): Wisconsin's statewide early childhood membership organization and explicit WHSA advocacy partner. WECA co-hosts the Winter Advocacy Series with WHSA and they jointly lobby the state legislature on child care funding priorities.
• Minnesota Head Start Association: Region V peer state association that co-developed the Wage Comparability Study with WHSA. Operates an identical membership-association model for Minnesota's Head Start and Early Head Start grantees.
• Indiana Head Start Association: Region V state Head Start association that collaborated with WHSA on the Wage Comparability Study. Provides the same mix of advocacy, training, and member services to Indiana's Head Start grantees.
• Kids Forward (Wisconsin Council on Children and Families): Wisconsin child and family advocacy nonprofit identified as a WHSA partner. Operates in the same Wisconsin early-childhood policy ecosystem and shares advocacy campaigns with WHSA.
• Pennsylvania Head Start Association: State-level Head Start association that co-published the ICE enforcement impact survey with WHSA. Closely comparable in mission, structure, and advocacy focus to WHSA.
• Washington State Association of Head Start and ECEAP: State Head Start and ECEAP association that partnered with WHSA on the ICE enforcement survey. Operates a parallel state-level association model covering Washington's Head Start grantees.

Emerging players

• STGi International: Federal contractor that administers the Region V Head Start Training & Technical Assistance System and co-hosts WHSA training events (Practice Based Coaching, Class Observation, New Director Series). Comparable as a peer provider of Head Start PD services in the same region.

Regional players

• YoungStar: Wisconsin's child care quality rating and improvement system. WHSA's member programs participate in YoungStar (most earn 5-star ratings), making YoungStar a tightly coupled peer in Wisconsin's early-childhood quality and ratings ecosystem.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/whsaonline
• Facebookfacebook.com/pages/Wisconsin-Head-Start-Association-WHSA/143728422311716
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/national-centers-for-learning-excel-lence-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Wisconsin Head Start Association