Midwest Asian Pacific Islander Desi American Students Union

What Midwest Asian Pacific Islander Desi American Students Union does

MAASU is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1989 and headquartered in Illinois that operates as a student-led regional union for Asian Pacific Islander Desi American (APIDA) college students across 13 Midwest states. It delivers a portfolio of in-person programming anchored by three event tiers: the Spring Conference (700-1,000+ attendees, MAASU's flagship annual gathering), the Leadership Summit (150-200 student leaders focused on skill-building), and MAASUx regional events (50-100 students per campus-hosted gathering). Supporting programs include the APIDA Student Leadership Institute for full executive boards, the MAASU Alumni Association for post-graduate engagement, and a Research Briefings publication series. Governance is provided by a volunteer Executive Coordinating Committee of undergraduate leaders, a Directors Council of recent graduates, and a Board of Advisors of senior professionals.

The organization runs on standard web infrastructure (Squarespace website, Linktree, Instagram, email newsletters) with no proprietary technology platform and no AI/ML capabilities. Revenue is generated through four streams: individual donations, tiered membership fees from member schools ($75 for 1 year, $140 for 2 years, $200 for 3 years), tiered conference registration ($40-$60 depending on member status and registration window), and a one-time $30 Alumni Association membership. The go-to-market motion is community-led and event-driven, relying on M-Reps (campus ambassadors) at ~20 member colleges and universities across Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Ohio, and Wisconsin. Revenue is not publicly disclosed and the organization has no institutional investors or venture backing.

Name

Midwest Asian Pacific Islander Desi American Students Union

Legal name

Midwest Asian Pacific Islander Desi American Students Union

Website

https://maasu.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

MAASU is a 501(c)(3) student-led nonprofit that delivers conferences, leadership summits, and membership programs to Asian Pacific Islander Desi American (APIDA) college students across 13 Midwest states, serving approximately 20 member schools and over 1,000 Spring Conference attendees annually.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Educational Nonprofit and Student Leadership Services

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (611710), Business Associations (813910)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDADABAC

Regional Education Service Agencies (ESAs/BOCES/Intermediate Units)

Education/Education Administration, Accreditation & Policy/School Districts, Local Education Authorities & Boards

Keywords

• Student leadership development
• Cultural community organizing
• Nonprofit member services
• APIDA student advocacy
• Regional student conferences

Headquarters

HQ city

Midwest

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals supporting APIDA student leadership development. Donations fund scholarships, travel awards, conference support, and general organizational operations.
2. Membership Fees: Annual membership fees from member schools: $75 for 1 year, $140 for 2 years, $200 for 3 years. Provides discounted conference rates and access to member resources.
3. Conference Registration: Conference registration fees ranging from $40-$60 for members and $50-$60 for non-members, with tiered pricing for early bird, regular, and late registration periods.
4. Alumni Association Membership: One-time $30 alumni association membership fee that includes access to alumni directory and complimentary MAASU Alumni Association wine glass.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

MAASU provides regional leadership development, cultural community programming, and advocacy for Asian Pacific Islander Desi American (APIDA) students across 13 Midwest states. Its core offerings are the annual Spring Conference, Leadership Summit, the MAASUx student leadership institute, the APIDA Student Leadership Institute, a Membership School Program for institutions, the MAASU Alumni Association, and published Research Briefings.

Product overview

MAASU is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization operating as a student-led regional union that offers a portfolio of programs and services for APIDA (Asian Pacific Islander Desi American) students across the Midwest. The core offerings include the Spring Conference (large annual gathering for 700-1000+ attendees), Leadership Summit (leadership development for 150-200 students), and MAASUx (regional campus-hosted events for 50-100 students). Additional programs include the APIDA Student Leadership Institute for executive board development, Membership School Program for institutional support, MAASU Alumni Association for graduate engagement, and Research Briefings for evidence-based insights. Governance is provided through the Directors Council (early-career professionals) and Board of Advisors (senior professionals). The organization serves approximately 20 colleges and universities annually across 13 Midwestern states.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MAASUx: Regional, campus-hosted event designed for community-building and identity-based engagement, typically attended by 50-100 students. Originally launched as MAASU Mixers in 2010 and renamed in summer 2016.
• Leadership Summit
• Spring Conference
• APIDA Student Leadership Institute
• MAASU Alumni Association (MAA)

Products and services

• Spring Conference Annual regional conference convening APIDA students from across the Midwest for workshops, networking, and cultural programming. Target audience: APIDA undergraduate and graduate students at Midwest colleges and universities.
• Leadership Summit Focused leadership development program for APIDA students in the Midwest, providing training, mentorship, and peer learning opportunities. Target audience: APIDA student leaders across Midwest campuses.
• MAASUx (MAASU University) Educational program branded as MAASU University offering structured learning content for APIDA students in the Midwest. Target audience: APIDA students seeking structured leadership and cultural education.
• APIDA Student Leadership Institute Institute-style training program dedicated to developing APIDA student leaders through cohort-based learning and applied leadership practice. Target audience: APIDA students across the Midwest.
• Membership School Program Institutional membership program through which colleges and universities pay annual dues to affiliate with MAASU, gaining access to programming, advocacy support, and a regional student network. Target audience: Midwest colleges and universities serving APIDA students.
• MAASU Alumni Association Alumni network and dues-based association supporting graduates of MAASU programs and member schools, providing ongoing community, mentorship, and contribution pathways. Target audience: MAASU program alumni.
• MAASU Research Briefings Published research briefings addressing APIDA student issues, policy, and campus climate in the Midwest. Target audience: member schools, APIDA students, educators, and advocates.

Quantifiable outcome

• 20 colleges and universities engaged annually across 13 Midwest states
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• NAAAP (National Association of Asian American Professionals)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMAASU's Partnerships team is building relationships with NAAAP as part of their community action and partnership development efforts. The partnership aims to strengthen connections between regional student organizations and national professional networks.
• SAATHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMAASU is exploring partnership with SAATH, a South Asian political advocacy platform, to expand advocacy initiatives and community engagement opportunities for member students.
• APIAVoteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFinance and Donor Relations team is conducting outreach to APIAVote as part of building national partnerships to support MAASU's civic engagement and advocacy programming.
• LEAP (Leadership Excellence through Action and Performance)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMAASU is exploring partnership with LEAP to enhance leadership development programming and professional development opportunities for APIDA student leaders.
• SASE (Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFinance and Donor Relations team is conducting outreach to SASE as part of building relationships with national APIDA organizations to support student programming and resources.
• AARC at Northern Illinois UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMAASU is exploring campus-level engagement through the Asian American Resource Center at Northern Illinois University to strengthen regional partnerships across Midwest institutions.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves16 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• OCA - Asian Pacific American Advocates: National APA civil rights advocacy organization with chapters across the country and programs spanning students, professionals, and civic engagement. Operates at broader scale and scope than MAASU's student-only Midwest focus.

Direct peers

• South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT): National advocacy organization for South Asian American communities, already a MAASU outreach partner. Comparable advocacy-oriented programming for a subset of the APIDA population MAASU serves.
• Southeast Asia Resource Action Center (SEARAC): National nonprofit advancing power and opportunity for Southeast Asian Americans through education, policy, and leadership programs. Overlaps with MAASU on APIDA student leadership development and community-based programming.
• National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum (NAPAWF): National APIDA women's advocacy organization running leadership and policy programs. Overlaps with MAASU in building APIDA leadership capacity, with a more policy-oriented delivery model.
• Asian & Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund (APIASF): National nonprofit providing scholarships and higher education support to APIDA students. Closely comparable mission around APIDA student advancement, with overlapping donor and institutional constituencies.
• East Coast Asian American Student Union (ECAASU): Regional student-union coalition serving Asian American students across East Coast states with conferences and leadership programming. Direct structural analog to MAASU's Midwest regional model with near-identical mission and event formats.
• APIAVote: National nonpartisan nonprofit increasing civic engagement of Asian Pacific Islander Americans. Already a MAASU outreach partner; comparable advocacy orientation serving overlapping APIDA student and community demographics.
• APIA Scholars: National nonprofit supporting Asian Pacific Islander American students through scholarships, leadership programs, and convenings. Closely comparable mission focused on APIDA student development and a similar nonprofit, member-driven delivery model.
• Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers (SASE): National student-run organization supporting Asian heritage students in STEM and leadership. Already a listed MAASU outreach partner; comparable student-led governance, conference programming, and chapter-based membership model.
• National Association of Asian American Professionals (NAAAP): National professional organization with programming for Asian American leaders from college through career stages. Already a listed MAASU partner; offers a national-scale complement to MAASU's student-focused regional work.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/maasuofficial
• Xx.com/maasu_official
• Facebookfacebook.com/maasuofficial
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/maasu

Compliance1 record

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 Midwest Asian Pacific Islander Desi American Students Union