Washington State Leadership Board

What Washington State Leadership Board does

The Washington State Leadership Board (WSLB) is a Washington State trustee agency headquartered in Olympia, founded in 1971 as the Association of Washington Generals and codified in state law in 2005 under RCW 43.388. It is linked to the Office of the Lt. Governor and is governed by a board that includes the Governor, Lt. Governor, and Secretary of State as ex-officio members. The agency's mission is twofold: bestowing official state honors on behalf of Washingtonians and administering free youth leadership development programs.

WSLB's core programmatic portfolio consists of three free youth programs: Washington World Fellows (a 2.5-year global leadership program for high school sophomores featuring a five-week study abroad in Spain, college-level Spanish coursework, and career preparation), Compassion Scholars (a 1.5-year experiential travel and service-learning program pairing scholars with international mentors), and Boundless Washington (a grant-based outdoor and sports leadership program for youth with disabilities). These programs are supported by a monthly Leadership and Advocacy Curriculum covering ten pillars including accountability, emotional intelligence, and resilience. The annual State Honors & Awards program, administered continuously since 1975, recognizes Washingtonians and Washington-based organizations through awards such as Washingtonian of the Year, Emerging Leader, Organization of the Year, and Equity for All.

WSLB is funded primarily through Washington State legislative appropriations and supplements this with specialty license plate royalties from partnerships with the Seattle Seahawks, Seattle Storm, and Seattle Kraken. Senate Bill 5825 (signed March 14, 2026, effective June 11, 2026) newly authorizes WSLB to solicit grants and private donations, representing the agency's first material funding diversification mechanism. All youth programs are provided at no cost to participants, and since 2022 Washington World Fellows participants and alumni have collectively earned over $1.4 million in college grants and scholarships. The agency operates with 1–10 employees and partners internationally with World Fellows España, Red Cross España, and Rioja Acoge to deliver its Spain-based programming.

Name

Washington State Leadership Board

Legal name

Washington State Leadership Board

Website

https://washingtonleaders.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1971

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Washington State Leadership Board is a Washington State trustee agency that delivers free youth leadership development programs—including Washington World Fellows, Compassion Scholars, and Boundless Washington—and bestows official state honors, serving Washington State high school students and honorees since 1971.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Leadership Development Programs

NAICS

Administration of Education Programs (92311)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Student Government & Leadership Programs (EDALAHAA)

Keywords

• Youth leadership development
• State honors program
• Global leadership fellowship
• Study abroad program
• Civic engagement programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Olympia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. State Government Appropriations: WSLB operates as a trustee agency of Washington State, funded through legislative appropriations from the state government. The 2026 legislative session maintained current funding in the supplemental budget.
2. Grants and Donations: Following passage of SB 5825 in March 2026, WSLB gained authority to solicit grants and donations starting June 11, 2026, creating new fundraising opportunities for program sustainability.
3. License Plate Partnerships: Revenue generated through specialty license plate sales with Seattle Seahawks (supporting Washington World Fellows), Seattle Storm (supporting Boundless Washington), and Seattle Kraken (supporting Boundless Washington and One Roof Foundation).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

WSLB is a Washington State trustee agency that delivers free youth leadership development programs for Washington high school students and bestows official state honors on behalf of the Governor and Lt. Governor. Its core offerings include Washington World Fellows (a 2.5-year global leadership program with study abroad in Spain), Compassion Scholars (a 1.5-year service-learning program with mentorship), and Boundless Washington (a grant-based outdoor/sports leadership program for youth with disabilities), supported by the Washington Leadership Awards honors program and a Leadership and Advocacy Curriculum.

Product overview

The Washington State Leadership Board (WSLB) offers a portfolio of free, equity-focused youth leadership development programs. The core offerings include: Washington World Fellows (a 2.5-year global leadership program with study abroad in Spain), Compassion Scholars (a 1.5-year international service-learning program with mentorship), and Boundless Washington (a grant-based outdoor leadership program for youth with disabilities). These programs are supported by the Leadership and Advocacy Curriculum and complemented by the annual Washington Leadership Awards honors program. All programs are provided at no cost to participants.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Washington World Fellows: A 2.5-year global leadership program for high school sophomores featuring study abroad in Spain and career preparation.
• Compassion Scholars
• Boundless Washington
• Washington Leadership Awards

Products and services

• Washington World Fellows A 2.5-year global leadership program for Washington State high school sophomores featuring a five-week study abroad experience in Spain, college-level Spanish language courses, college application support, career preparation, and civic engagement activities. Provided at no cost to participants.
• Compassion Scholars A 1.5-year experiential travel and service-learning program that pairs young scholars with mentors to explore global issues, complete international service projects with Red Cross España and Rioja Acoge, and implement community initiatives upon returning. Provided at no cost.
• Boundless Washington A grant-based outdoor and sports leadership program for young people with disabilities that combines activity funding with WSLB's Leadership Development Curriculum. Provided at no cost to participants.
• Washington Leadership Awards Annual state honors program administered since 1975 that recognizes outstanding Washingtonians through awards including Washingtonian of the Year, Emerging Leader Award, Organization of the Year, Equity for All, Evergreen Award, and Legacy of Service.

Quantifiable outcome

• Since 2022, Washington World Fellows program participants and alumni have earned over $1.4 million in grants and scholarships for college education
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Senate Bill 5825 (SSB 5825)coreOthers · 14 March 2026Washington State legislation signed by Governor Bob Ferguson on March 14, 2026, granting WSLB authority to solicit grants and donations starting June 11, 2026. This enables WSLB to diversify funding sources and pursue external partnerships.
• Seattle SeahawkscoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2022Sale of Seattle Seahawks license plates directly benefits the Washington World Fellows global leadership program. WSLB Board member Andrew Johnston serves as Director of Government Affairs and Compliance for Seattle Seahawks.
• Seattle StormcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2022Sale of Seattle Storm license plates directly benefits the Boundless Washington outdoor leadership program for youth with disabilities.
• Seattle KrakencoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2022Sale of Seattle Kraken license plates directly benefits the Boundless Washington outdoor leadership program, as well as the Kraken's 'One Roof Foundation' to increase access to hockey for underserved youth.
• World Fellows EspañacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Partnership with World Fellows España enables the international youth exchange component of both Washington World Fellows and Compassion Scholars programs. Students live with host families vetted by the local Spanish government and participate in collaborative leadership summits with Spanish peers. The collaboration includes annual international youth summit designed and directed by students.
• Red Cross España (Cruz Roja)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Partnership with Red Cross España develops service learning projects that foster civic responsibility, empathy, and cultural awareness for Compassion Scholars program participants during their international travel.
• Rioja AcogecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Collaboration with Rioja Acoge, a community organization in Spain, supports cultural exchange and service learning experiences for Compassion Scholars in the La Rioja region.
• Central Washington UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Initial partnership with Central Washington University for hosting Welcome Day events and program orientations for Washington World Fellows.
• Honorary Consulate of SpainminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Partnership with Honorary Consulate of Spain supported the establishment of the Washington World Fellows program and facilitates international relations aspects.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• 4-H: U.S. national youth development organization offering leadership, civic engagement, and STEM programs through cooperative extension. Comparable to WSLB's youth leadership mission but operates at much larger national scale and serves primarily rural/agricultural communities.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of America: Large national youth development organization providing leadership programs among broader youth services at local club affiliates. Overlapping with WSLB's youth development mission but operating at vastly larger scale with a broader service portfolio.

Direct peers

• AIESEC: Global youth-led nonprofit providing cross-cultural leadership development and international exchange programs for students. Closely comparable to WSLB's Washington World Fellows and Compassion Scholars programs in their international exchange leadership component.
• Congressional Award: U.S. Congress-chartered program recognizing youth achievement in volunteer service, personal development, physical fitness, and exploration/expedition. Directly comparable to WSLB's Washington Leadership Awards function as a government-backed youth recognition program.
• Close Up Foundation: Nonprofit providing civic education programs, Washington D.C. study visits, and youth leadership development for high school students. Closely comparable to WSLB's civic engagement and youth leadership programming model.
• Junior State of America (JSA): Student-run organization promoting civic engagement, debate, and leadership among high school students. Comparable to WSLB's youth civic leadership programs, with similar focus on developing young leaders through experiential learning.
• Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership (HOBY): National nonprofit running multi-day youth leadership seminars and ambassador programs for high school students. Most directly comparable to WSLB's leadership development mission, though operated as a private nonprofit rather than a state agency.
• National Youth Leadership Council: Nonprofit providing youth leadership training and service-learning programs, including the annual National Service-Learning Conference. Directly comparable to WSLB's leadership development and service-learning mission for youth.
• People to People International: Nonprofit founded by Eisenhower fostering international understanding through youth exchange, leadership, and ambassador programs. Comparable to WSLB's international youth exchange model, with similar ambassador/honor recognition function.

Others

• City Year: National service organization engaging young adults (ages 18–25) in AmeriCorps-based leadership and community service in schools. Adjacent to WSLB's leadership and service-learning programs but targets a different age cohort and uses a federal service model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/TheWALeaders
• Instagraminstagram.com/thewaleaders
• TikToktiktok.com/@thewashingtonleaders
• Xx.com/TheWALeaders
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/washington-state-leadership-board

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 Washington State Leadership Board