The Chamber of Lawrence and Douglas County

What The Chamber of Lawrence and Douglas County does

The Chamber of Lawrence and Douglas County is a nonprofit, membership-based chamber of commerce headquartered at 718 New Hampshire St. in Lawrence, Kansas, with operations spanning Douglas County and a regional footprint through the METL Coalition (Manhattan, Emporia, Topeka, Lawrence). Founded in 1926 and celebrating its 100th Annual Meeting in January 2026, the organization aggregates roughly 3,000 member businesses across industries and serves both individual professionals and organizations ranging from one-person operations to large manufacturers.

The Chamber's core offering is a tiered membership program priced from $105 (retiree) to $450-$525 for SMBs, with custom pricing for 20+-employee companies and reduced rates for nonprofits ($330) and individual professionals ($230). Members gain access to the ChamberMaster online portal (profile management, directory listings, job postings, hot deals, member-to-member offers, Member Reel videos), signature and recurring events (Annual Meeting, Sandtrap Classic, Empowerment Expo, Taste of Lawrence/Business Expo, Legislative Breakfast, Business After Hours, Coffee Connections, Ribbon Cuttings), advocacy through Government & Community Affairs and the METL Coalition, the Leadership Lawrence professional development program ($1,600 tuition, ~35 participants per class, now in its 44th cohort), and add-on benefits including Chamber Solutions group health insurance and the NetWork Kansas E-Community Revolving Loan Fund (up to $45,000 gap financing).

The Chamber is led by President & CEO Bonnie Lowe, supported by a lean executive team (COO, VP Economic Development, VP External Affairs, VP Membership & Programs, Director of Communications, Director of Business & Investor Relations) and a volunteer Board of Directors drawn from major regional employers (INTRUST Bank, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas, KU Endowment, Amarr, Truity Credit Union, KU Athletics, Lawrence Public Library). Revenue is derived from membership dues, event sponsorships, Leadership Lawrence tuition, and ancillary fees; financial figures are not publicly disclosed.

Name

The Chamber of Lawrence and Douglas County

Legal name

The Chamber of Lawrence and Douglas County, KS

Website

https://lawrencechamber.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1926

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Chamber of Lawrence and Douglas County is a nonprofit, membership-based chamber of commerce serving ~3,000 member businesses across Lawrence, Kansas and the regional METL Coalition, offering tiered memberships, signature events, Leadership Lawrence professional development, advocacy, and gap-financing loan funds.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Chamber of Commerce / Business Association Services

NAICS

Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Professional Organizations (813920)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Association & Society Conference Management (Nonprofit, Professional Bodies) (THAHACAA)

Keywords

• Chamber of commerce
• Business membership services
• Business networking events
• Economic development programs
• Leadership development programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Lawrence

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

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: Tiered annual membership fees based on business size (1-5 employees: $450, 5-10: $480, 10-20: $525, 20+: custom quote), with additional categories for nonprofits ($330), professionals/individuals ($230), and retirees ($105)
2. Event Sponsorship: Sponsorship opportunities at signature events including Annual Meeting, Sandtrap Classic, Empowerment Expo, Taste of Lawrence, and other events throughout the year
3. Leadership Program Tuition: Leadership Lawrence professional development program with tuition of $1,600 per participant, plus optional financial aid

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

The Chamber of Lawrence and Douglas County is a nonprofit membership organization that sells tiered annual memberships to local businesses, nonprofits, and individuals. Members gain access to networking events, advocacy representation, leadership development programs (Leadership Lawrence), signature and recurring events, marketing tools, and resources such as a revolving loan fund for entrepreneurs.

Product overview

The Chamber of Lawrence and Douglas County is a membership-based organization offering a portfolio of programs rather than a unified technology product. The core offerings include a tiered Membership Program with benefits such as networking events, marketing tools, advocacy, and access to ChamberMaster member portal. The Leadership Lawrence program is a flagship professional development initiative featuring a structured curriculum with retreats and monthly sessions. Signature Events include Annual Meeting, Sandtrap Classic, Empowerment Expo, Taste of Lawrence/Business Expo, and Legislative Breakfast, complemented by recurring events like Business After Hours and Coffee Connections. Additional services include Advocacy Programs (METL Coalition, GCA), the Metropolitan E-Community Revolving Loan Fund (up to $45,000 gap financing), DEI Resources, Chamber Solutions health insurance, and marketing tools including Member Reel videos and online directory listings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Membership Program Tiered annual membership program offering business and individual membership with benefits including networking events, marketing tools, advocacy representation, and member portal access. Pricing scales from $105 (retiree) to $450–$525 (1-20 employees) with custom quotes for larger businesses and $330 for nonprofits.
• Leadership Lawrence Professional development program providing participants first-hand exposure to the inner workings of Lawrence and Douglas County through a two-day retreat and nine one-day sessions on collaborative leadership skills. Tuition is $1,600 per participant with optional financial aid; each class comprises about 35 individuals.
• Signature Events

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to $45,000 in gap financing available through Metropolitan E-Community Revolving Loan Fund for entrepreneurs
• +2 more outcomes

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

Feature2 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• National League of CitiesminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026Met during 2026 DC Fly-In for discussions on advocacy and policy issues affecting Lawrence.
• National Association of CountiesminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026Met during 2026 DC Fly-In for discussions on advocacy and policy issues affecting Lawrence.
• United States Chamber of CommerceminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026Met during 2026 DC Fly-In for discussions on national business advocacy priorities.
• United States Economic Development AdministrationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026Met during 2026 DC Fly-In for discussions on economic development opportunities.
• Kansas Department of CommerceminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Event partner for Empowerment Expo conference, supporting business leaders and entrepreneurs in Lawrence and Douglas County.
• Kansas Small Business Development CenterminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Event partner for Empowerment Expo conference supporting small business development.
• Elevate Lawrence, LLCminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Event partner for Empowerment Expo supporting local business community.
• The Toolbox KCminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Event partner for Empowerment Expo providing business resources.
• METL Coalition (Manhattan, Emporia, Topeka, Lawrence)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional coalition of four Kansas chambers (Manhattan, Emporia, Topeka, and Lawrence) seeking to leverage combined strength of nearly 3,000 member businesses and organizations, represented by 30 elected representatives and senators. Motto: 'Stronger Together.'
• NetWork Kansas Entrepreneurship (E-) CommunitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership creates revolving loan fund reviewed at local level, intended as gap financing to help entrepreneurs start or grow businesses. Can provide up to $45,000 per project. Includes programs: Destination Bootcamp, Youth Entrepreneur Challenge Series, Kansas Ice House Entrepreneur Program, Economic Gardening.
• Douglas County E-CommunitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerE-community for Douglas County residents outside of Lawrence, administered by Jill deVries Jolicoeur. Provides entrepreneurial resources and revolving loan fund access for Douglas County entrepreneurs.
• Chamber Executives of KansascoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership offering Chamber Solutions health insurance group plan option through Chamber membership. Provides health insurance option that may fit the needs of member businesses.
• The Racial Equity InstituteminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDEI resource partner providing racial equity resources and training for Chamber members.
• Racial Equity ToolsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDEI resource partner providing tools and resources for diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.
• Native Governance CenterminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDEI resource partner providing resources for Native governance and tribal leadership.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Kansas Chamber of Commerce: Broader incumbent — statewide Kansas business advocacy organization operating in the same legislative/advocacy lane as the Lawrence Chamber's GCA and METL work, often engaging overlapping policy issues.
• Overland Park Chamber of Commerce: Broader incumbent — Kansas suburban chamber serving Johnson County with tiered memberships, signature events, leadership programs, and economic development services; comparable business model at larger scale.
• U.S. Chamber of Commerce: Broader incumbent — national federation of chambers that the Lawrence Chamber engages with through the 2026 DC Fly-In. Provides the policy/advocacy infrastructure that local chambers rely on, and competes for corporate memberships at the national level.
• Wichita Regional Chamber of Commerce: Broader incumbent — large Kansas metropolitan chamber with a much wider portfolio (workforce, aviation, regional economic development) than the Lawrence Chamber, but overlapping membership, events, and advocacy offerings.

Direct peers

• Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce: Direct peer — local Kansas chamber and METL Coalition partner offering tiered memberships, networking events, and advocacy for Manhattan-area businesses. Highly comparable in scale, revenue model, and customer base.
• Greater Topeka Partnership (Topeka Chamber): Direct peer — Kansas-based chamber of commerce serving the Topeka metro with membership programs, signature events, leadership development, and policy advocacy. Co-member of the METL Coalition alongside the Lawrence Chamber, sharing structure, pricing model, and member benefits.
• Emporia Area Chamber of Commerce: Direct peer — Kansas regional chamber serving Emporia businesses with membership dues, events, and community advocacy; also a METL Coalition partner alongside the Lawrence Chamber.

Others

• NetWork Kansas: Adjacent / ecosystem partner — Kansas entrepreneurship support organization partnering with the Chamber to administer the Metropolitan E-Community Revolving Loan Fund and entrepreneurship programs. Provides infrastructure the Chamber depends on rather than competing directly.
• Chamber Executives of Kansas: Adjacent / ecosystem partner — the Kansas association of chamber professionals that delivers the Chamber Solutions health insurance group plan to Lawrence Chamber members. Not a competitor but a strategic counterpart providing shared services.

Regional players

• Lawrence Board of Realtors: Regional peer — Lawrence-based professional membership association sharing the same geography, overlapping board membership with the Chamber, and offering comparable networking and advocacy for its members in real estate.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/LawrenceChamber
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/lawrencekschamber
• Facebookfacebook.com/LawrenceChamber
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lawrence-chamber-of-commerce
• Instagraminstagram.com/lawrencechamber
• TikToktiktok.com/@lawrence_chamber

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 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 The Chamber of Lawrence and Douglas County