Colorado Women's Chamber of Commerce

What Colorado Women's Chamber of Commerce does

The Colorado Women's Chamber of Commerce (CWCC) is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit membership organization founded in 1988 in Denver, Colorado, and headquartered at 865 N. Albion St., Suite 250 in the TARRA Office building. It operates as one of the largest women's chambers of commerce in the United States, serving over 3,000 members across approximately 435 member businesses (including roughly 15 Visionary-tier corporate sponsors such as Chevron, DaVita, Wells Fargo, Kaiser Permanente, and Xcel Energy) and 1,800 individual members spanning Fortune 500 enterprises to solopreneurs. The organization delivers its services through five membership tiers (Visionary, Elite, Cornerstone, Classic, Solopreneur), annual dues-based subscriptions, signature events and awards programs, and a member portal (Atlas).

CWCC's product portfolio is built around three pillars: (1) signature awards and recognition programs — the Top 25 Most Powerful Women in Business (14+ years, 350+ honorees), ATHENA Leadership Award (20 years running), and Champions of Change; (2) leadership and business development programs — the 8-month Women's Leadership Lab, the member-only Founders Forum peer group, and policy advocacy; and (3) research and thought leadership — most notably the annual Women on Colorado Boards Report covering all Colorado publicly traded companies (70-75 firms, 28.78% board representation in 2025) and the 2022 'Great Reset: Women in the Workforce' report co-produced with TARRA and Amazon. The organization runs approximately 100+ events, workshops, and seminars annually drawing 3,500+ attendees, and is governed by a Board of Directors plus an Associate Board, led by CEO Simone D. Ross (appointed December 2021, the first Black woman to hold the role).

The business model is recurring subscription revenue (annual membership dues across five tiers) layered with event sponsorship and ticketing revenue, supported by a 23-person staff. Distribution is direct and field-driven via a Business Development Manager, a self-serve member portal, and the events themselves, with earned media amplification through regional press (Denver Post, Denver Business Journal, Colorado Springs Business Journal, BizWest, Colorado Gazette). Geographic scope is regional, concentrated in the Denver Metro Area and Colorado, with no global footprint claims. CWCC is an independent entity with no parent company, no private equity backing, and one affiliated nonprofit subsidiary, the Colorado Women's Chamber Foundation.

Name

Colorado Women's Chamber of Commerce

Legal name

Colorado Women's Chamber of Commerce

Website

https://cwcc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Colorado Women's Chamber of Commerce is a Denver-based 501(c)(6) nonprofit operating since 1988 that serves 3,000+ members — women professionals, large corporate sponsors, and small business owners — through tiered memberships, signature awards programs, leadership development cohorts, and the annual Women on Colorado Boards Report.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Business Chamber Association

NAICS

Professional Organizations (813920), Other Similar Organizations (except Business, Professional, Labor, and Political Organizations) (81399), Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Professional & Association Conferences (MPAGAGAB), Exhibitor/Sponsor Management (Corporate Conferences) (THACAFAN)

Keywords

• Women business chamber
• Membership association
• Leadership development programs
• Corporate networking events
• Business awards programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Denver, Colorado

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Tiered membership dues from Visionary, Elite, Cornerstone, Classic, and Solopreneur tiers. Members range from large corporations to startups and solo ventures.
2. Events and Programs: Revenue from event tickets, sponsorships, and program registrations for signature events including Top 25 Gala, State of Women in Business Luncheon, Champions of Change, and ATHENA Awards.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Colorado Women's Chamber of Commerce operates as a nonprofit business association providing tiered memberships, leadership development programs, signature awards (Top 25 Most Powerful Women, ATHENA, Champions of Change), networking events, advocacy, and research publications for women in business across Colorado. Core offerings are accessed through annual membership subscriptions and event participation, serving both corporate members and individual professionals.

Product overview

The Colorado Women's Chamber of Commerce (CWCC) is a 501(c)(6) non-profit organization that operates as a single integrated membership platform rather than a modular software product. The organization's core offerings consist of member programs and services including: membership with five tiers (Visionary, Elite, Cornerstone, Classic, Solopreneur); awards programs (Champions of Change Awards, Top 25 Most Powerful Women in Business Awards, ATHENA Leadership Award); leadership development programs (Women's Leadership Lab, Founders Forum); signature events (State of Women in Business); and research publications (Women on Colorado Boards Report, The Great Reset report). All offerings are delivered through the Atlas member portal system. The organization does not offer a software product in the traditional sense but rather provides advocacy, networking, education, and mentorship services for women in business.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CWCC Membership Program A multi-tiered annual membership program offering five levels (Visionary, Elite, Cornerstone, Classic, Solopreneur) that provides members with networking opportunities, leadership development, mentorship programs, advocacy, and resources for business growth. Serves over 3,000 members from large corporations to startups and solo ventures.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% of Colorado's publicly traded companies now have at least one woman on their board - landmark achievement tracked by CWCC report
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers15 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

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• Rocky Mountain PBScoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 May 2026Co-presenting 'Women Decide: The Colorado Governor's Forum' - a live virtual forum bringing together gubernatorial primary candidates to address issues critical to Colorado women. Scheduled for June 7, 2026.
• The Women's Foundation of ColoradocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 May 2026Co-presenting 'Women Decide: The Colorado Governor's Forum' with Rocky Mountain PBS and CWCC. WFCO commissioned original statewide polling to inform forum questions and is Colorado's only statewide community-funded foundation advancing gender equity.
• AmazonflagshipOthers · 9 February 2022Presented 'The Great Reset: Women in the Workforce' report release at State of Women in Business event.
• TARRAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTARRA is a Denver-based women-focused professional and business network. CWCC co-hosts events with TARRA including the annual State of Women in Business and released 'The Great Reset: Women in the Workforce' report together in 2022. CWCC headquarters is located in TARRA Office building.
• ChevronflagshipOthersVisionary-level corporate member supporting CWCC's mission to advance women in business. Chevron is one of the premier sponsors visible at CWCC events.
• DaVitaflagshipOthersVisionary-level corporate member and past Champions of Change award recipient. DaVita supports CWCC's programs and events.
• Delta DentalflagshipOthersVisionary-level corporate member and sustaining sponsor of State of Women in Business event. Delta Dental's COO Kelli Clifton Ogunsanya moderated the 2026 event panel.
• HCA HealthONEflagshipOthersPresenting sponsor of State of Women in Business Breakfast (2025, 2026). Maureen McDonald received 2026 CWCC Chamber Champion Award. Champion of Change Mission Minded Award recipient (2021).
• Xcel EnergyflagshipOthersVisionary-level corporate member and table sponsor at CWCC events. Supports the organization's work advancing women in Colorado business.
• University of ColoradoflagshipOthersVisionary-level corporate member. Former Chancellor Dorothy Horrell received the 2016 ATHENA Leadership Award from CWCC.
• Vectra BankflagshipOthersVisionary-level corporate member. CEO Bruce Alexander served as 2021 Champions of Change panel moderator.
• Kaiser PermanenteflagshipOthersVisionary-level corporate member providing healthcare content and wellness resources to CWCC community.
• Intermountain HealthflagshipOthersVisionary-level corporate member supporting CWCC's mission and programming.
• Wells FargoflagshipOthersVisionary-level corporate member supporting CWCC's initiatives to advance women in business.
• Denver WaterflagshipOthersVisionary-level corporate member supporting CWCC's Colorado business community programs.
• PBS12flagshipOthersVisionary-level corporate member. Former CWCC CEO Kristen Blessman transitioned to become President and GM of PBS12 (Colorado Public Television).
• Merit TrustflagshipOthersVisionary-level corporate member supporting CWCC's programs and mission.
• Seawald HanflingflagshipOthersVisionary-level corporate member. Named as table sponsor at State of Women in Business events.
• Tallgrass EnergyflagshipOthersVisionary-level corporate member supporting CWCC's initiatives.
• Denver7flagshipOthersMedia sponsor and partner for Top 25 Most Powerful Women events and State of Women in Business. Jessica Porter served as 2026 event emcee.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• TARRA: Denver-based women-focused professional and business network that co-hosts events with CWCC and shares office space. Closest geographic and mission overlap; partnership suggests potential overlap or substitution in some member segments.

Regional players

• Women's Bean Project: Denver-based nonprofit providing workforce training for women facing barriers to employment. Colorado-based peer serving a related women-in-business mission; linked to CWCC via Tamra Ryan's prior leadership role.
• The Women's Foundation of Colorado: Statewide community foundation advancing gender equity in Colorado, focused on research, policy, and grantmaking. Geographic peer and existing co-presenting partner with CWCC; complementary rather than directly competitive.

Direct peers

• U.S. Women's Chamber of Commerce: National chamber-of-commerce style organization serving women business owners and corporations, offering certification, advocacy, and programming. Direct peer in chamber-of-commerce positioning for women, scaled nationally vs CWCC's regional focus.
• Ellevate Network: Professional network for women offering membership, events, and peer circles across major U.S. cities. Comparable membership-tier and peer-group model, although structured as a for-profit network.
• American Business Women's Association (ABWA): National association for working women offering networking, leadership, and education through local chapters. Comparable in mission, chapter model, and event-driven programming.
• National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO): National membership organization for women business owners offering networking, advocacy, and education. Most direct comparable to CWCC in mission and model, but with a national footprint versus CWCC's regional scope.
• Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC): National nonprofit certifying women-owned businesses and connecting them to corporate buyers. Peer in women-in-business membership and corporate engagement, with a certification focus that CWCC does not offer.

Broad incumbents

• Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce: Large general-purpose regional chamber serving the Denver metro area with corporate programming, policy advocacy, and events. Comparable chamber model and regional scope but not women-focused; offers an alternative to CWCC for general employer members.
• Soroptimist International of the Americas: Global volunteer service organization for women focused on economic empowerment, education, and advocacy. Comparable mission and award-driven programming, but operates as a service club rather than a chamber.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/cowomenschamber
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/CWCC1624
• Facebookfacebook.com/ColoradoWomensChamber
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/colorado-women-s-chamber-of-commerce

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Colorado Women's Chamber of Commerce