Black Women in Aviation

What Black Women in Aviation does

Black Women in Aviation (BWIA) is a Delaware-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to addressing the significant underrepresentation of Black women in the aviation industry, where less than 1% of certified pilots are Black women. Founded by Samantha T. Mitchell, an FAA-certified Aircraft Maintenance Technician with over 20 years of industry experience who made history as the first female aircraft mechanic for Air Jamaica at JFK Airport, BWIA operates a tiered membership platform delivered through the Zeffy platform with three annual tiers: Professional ($99/year), Collegiate ($49/year), and Youth ($15/year). The organization serves three primary segments: Black women aviation professionals and industry allies, college students pursuing aviation and STEM, and middle and high school youth in underserved communities, with a stated mission to double Black women's representation in aviation from 1% to 2%.

BWIA's core programmatic offering is Aero Xperience: Aviation in Action, a flagship youth program delivering immersive, hands-on aviation experiences featuring STEM activities, VR-based flight modules, drone exploration, gaming and simulation labs, aircraft displays, and direct mentorship from aviation professionals. Supporting offerings include the '3 Keys to Unlock & Unleash Your Confidence' book (sold through Amazon and Bonfire), virtual workshops (Resume & Job Search Workshop, BWIA Auntie Talk series, Fireside Chats), and corporate sponsorship packages. Technology integrations are limited primarily to standard SaaS — a members-only Discord community hub for Professional and Collegiate members, the Zeffy payments and donations platform, and a Wix-hosted website — with no proprietary AI/ML systems or data products.

BWIA's revenue model combines recurring subscription revenue (membership dues), philanthropic revenue (donations via Zeffy and grants), one-time merchandise and book sales, and corporate sponsorship revenue. The organization secured a multi-year national grant from American Student Assistance (ASA) in December 2025 as part of ASA's $8 million national investment in youth-serving nonprofits, enabling expansion of programs across Delaware and North Carolina. Corporate sponsorships with Piedmont Airlines, GE Aerospace, and 2MQ Consulting provide additional revenue, and the organization is positioned as host of the Women's Empowerment Session at the NBCFAE 50th Annual Training Conference in August 2026. The organization operates with a 1-10 person team and is headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware.

Name

Black Women in Aviation

Legal name

Black Women in Aviation

Website

https://blackwomeninaviation.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Black Women in Aviation is a Delaware-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that empowers Black women to enter and thrive in aviation through tiered memberships, the Aero Xperience youth program, mentorship, and career-connected learning, operating primarily in Delaware and North Carolina.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Aviation Nonprofit Community Services

NAICS

Flight Training (611512)

akta.pro primary industry

Aviation & Aerospace (EDABALAC)

Keywords

• Aviation mentorship programs
• Youth aviation exposure
• Nonprofit community building
• Aviation career development
• STEM aviation education

Headquarters

HQ city

Shawnee On Delaware

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership fees: Annual membership dues across three tiers: Professional ($99/year), Collegiate ($49/year), and Youth ($15/year). Members receive access to newsletters, professional development events, mentorship opportunities, scholarship portals, and exclusive community resources.
2. Donations and fundraising: Individual donations are accepted via the Zeffy platform. BWIA also pursues grants from national organizations such as American Student Assistance (ASA), which awarded a multi-year grant as part of an $8 million national investment in youth-serving nonprofits.
3. Merchandise sales: BWIA operates a merchandise shop selling branded apparel and items, as well as the book 'The 3 Keys to Unlock & Unleash Your Confidence' through Amazon and Bonfire storefronts.
4. Corporate sponsorships: BWIA offers corporate sponsorship packages to aviation industry companies seeking to support underrepresented youth in aviation and connect with the BWIA community.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Black Women in Aviation (BWIA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides a tiered membership community for Black women aviation professionals, college students, and youth. Its core programmatic offering is Aero Xperience, which delivers immersive, hands-on aviation and STEM learning (flight simulation, drones, VR, aircraft displays) to middle and high school students in Delaware and North Carolina. The organization also offers mentorship, professional development workshops, scholarships, corporate sponsorships, and branded merchandise.

Product overview

Black Women in Aviation (BWIA) operates as a nonprofit organization offering a tiered membership platform with three levels (Professional at $99/year, Collegiate at $49/year, and Youth at $15/year). The core programmatic offering is Aero Xperience, a youth-focused aviation immersion program featuring STEM activities, VR/drone exploration, and career exploration zones. Additional offerings include Resume & Job Search Workshops, Auntie Talk mentorship sessions, Fireside Chat events, and the '3 Keys to Unlock & Unleash Your Confidence' book. Corporate sponsorship packages and a scholarship portal round out the product portfolio. The organization is currently expanding via a multi-year grant from American Student Assistance to launch VR-based flight modules and deeper school partnerships.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Aero Xperience: Flagship program delivering 'Aviation in Action' - immersive aviation experiences for youth featuring interactive STEM activities, flight simulation, drone exploration, and career conversations with industry professionals. Serves middle and high school students in North Carolina and Delaware.

Products and services

• Professional Membership Annual membership at $99/year for aviation professionals and allies; includes BWIA newsletter, professional development training and events, signed copy of 'The 3 Keys to Unlock & Unleash Your Confidence', exclusive BWIA Pin, mentorship opportunities, scholarship portal access, and exclusive members-only Discord community hub.
• Collegiate Membership Annual membership at $49/year for college students pursuing aviation and STEM dreams; includes BWIA newsletter, student spotlights, online trainings, in-person meetups, mentorship with aviation professionals, and community hub access.
• Youth Membership Annual membership at $15/year for middle and high school students exploring aviation career pathways; includes youth-focused newsletter and access to online and in-person youth events.
• Aero Xperience: Aviation in Action Flagship youth program bringing 'Aviation in Action' to communities; immerses middle and high school students in aviation through hands-on STEM activities, gaming and simulation labs (including VR and drone exploration), live industry demonstrations, aircraft displays, and career conversations with pilots, mechanics, engineers, dispatchers, and drone operators.
• The 3 Keys to Unlock & Unleash Your Confidence Self-published book revealing three essential keys to building unshakable self-belief; included as a signed copy with Professional Membership and sold separately to the public via Amazon and Bonfire.
• Corporate Sponsorship Packages Partnership opportunities for aviation industry companies and other corporations to support BWIA's mission of expanding career pathways for underrepresented youth; available with a downloadable sponsorship packet outlining partnership tiers.

Quantifiable outcome

• BWIA aims to double the representation of Black women in aviation from 1% to 2%

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Piedmont AirlinesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPiedmont Airlines is listed as a sponsor on the BWIA website homepage and Aero Xperience page. As an aviation industry employer, Piedmont Airlines supports BWIA's mission of expanding career pathways for underrepresented youth.
• GE AerospaceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGE Aerospace is listed as a sponsor on the BWIA website. A GE industry leader, Colleen Johnson, led a Resume & Job Search Workshop for BWIA members. GE Aerospace supports BWIA's mission through sponsorship and workforce development engagement.
• Delaware State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDelaware State University, an HBCU, is cited as a key aviation partner in BWIA's expansion plans. With ASA funding, BWIA will deepen partnerships with Delaware schools, colleges, and aviation leaders, including Delaware State University, to expand career-connected learning opportunities.
• 2MQ ConsultingminorGTM or Marketing Partner2MQ Consulting is listed as a sponsor on the BWIA website, supporting the organization's mission and programs.
• National Black Coalition of Federal Aviation Employees (NBCFAE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBWIA is proud to host the Women's Empowerment Session 'She Rises: Women Elevating Beyond Every Challenge' at the NBCFAE 50th Annual Training Conference & Golden Anniversary Celebration in New Orleans on August 3, 2026. This partnership positions BWIA as a leading voice for women in aviation within a major federal aviation employee advocacy organization.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Sisters of the Skies: Nonprofit specifically supporting Black women in aviation through mentorship, scholarship, and community programs; near-identical target audience to BWIA and a directly comparable community-and-career-pathway nonprofit.
• Women in Aviation International: The largest international nonprofit dedicated to encouraging women in aviation and aerospace, offering memberships, scholarships, and career resources; directly comparable to BWIA's mission of advancing women in aviation careers, though at much greater scale and broader gender focus.
• Latino Pilots Association: Nonprofit promoting Latino representation in aviation through scholarships, mentorship, and outreach to underrepresented youth; a parallel underrepresented-in-aviation nonprofit operating in the same demographic-talent-pipeline niche.
• Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals (OBAP): Nonprofit focused on increasing minority participation in aerospace through scholarships, mentorships, and youth aviation programs; closely aligned with BWIA's mission around Black representation in aviation careers and youth exposure pathways.
• National Gay Pilots Association (NGPA): Nonprofit supporting LGBTQ+ aviation professionals and students through community, mentorship, and career resources; comparable to BWIA as an underrepresented-in-aviation community-and-career nonprofit.
• The Ninety-Nines: International organization of women pilots with a long-standing mission to promote women in aviation through mentorship, scholarships, and networking; a directly comparable membership-driven nonprofit serving women aviators.

Broad incumbents

• Civil Air Patrol (CAP) Aerospace Education: Civil Air Patrol's youth-oriented aerospace education and cadet programs provide hands-on aviation exposure to middle and high school students nationwide; an incumbent analog to BWIA's Aero Xperience youth programming at far greater scale.
• NASA STEM Engagement: Large federally funded initiative that engages underrepresented youth in STEM and aerospace through grants, curriculum, and programs; comparable to BWIA's youth aviation/STEM exposure mission though at much larger scale and broader STEM scope.
• Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) Foundation: Large established general-aviation association with foundation programs supporting youth aviation exposure and workforce development; broader in scope than BWIA but overlapping in aviation-career-pathway education and outreach.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/blackwomeninaviation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/black-women-in-aviation-bwia
• Instagraminstagram.com/blackwomeninaviation

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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 Black Women in Aviation