Downtown Madison Inc.

What Downtown Madison Inc. does

Downtown Madison Inc. | 3,009 followers on LinkedIn. Advocacy, research, planning, and community action to create and sustain a healthy and vibrant downtown for all people. | Downtown Madison Inc. is a not-for-profit membership and advocacy organization committed to the economic health and vitality of downtown Madison. DMI members consist of businesses and organizations located throughout the Madison region, as well as local government agencies and downtown residents.

Name

Downtown Madison Inc.

Legal name

Downtown Madison Inc.

Website

https://downtownmadison.org/

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Downtown Madison, Inc. is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit membership organization that uses advocacy, research, planning, and community action to support the economic vitality of downtown Madison, serving 570+ member organizations and 2,500+ individuals across business, nonprofit, government, and resident segments.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Madison

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: DMI generates primary revenue from annual membership dues paid by businesses (scaled by employee count from $330 for sole proprietors to $3,000 for organizations with 500+ employees), nonprofits ($300), and individual residents ($160). Membership provides access to events, committees, directory listings, and advocacy representation.
2. Event Sponsorships: DMI generates revenue through event sponsorship opportunities. Members can sponsor or host DMI events (What's Up Downtown, Annual Celebration, Behind the Scenes, etc.) to gain visibility with DMI members and downtown stakeholders. Sponsorships range from major series sponsors to supporting sponsors and special contributors.
3. Contract Revenue (City of Madison): DMI receives contract revenue from the City of Madison for the preparation of the Greater Downtown Economic Investment Strategy. A $150,000 contract was authorized by Common Council in October 2025 for this planning work.
4. Legacy Fund Donations: DMI's Legacy Fund accepts charitable contributions from businesses, friends, and families to honor individuals who have contributed to downtown Madison. Donations fund research, special projects, grant writing, and staff training at the discretion of the DMI Board.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Downtown Madison, Inc. (DMI) is a not-for-profit 501(c)(4) membership organization that operates through advocacy, research, planning, and community action to create and sustain a healthy and vibrant downtown Madison. It sells tiered annual memberships to businesses, nonprofits, government agencies, and residents, and delivers supporting programs including networking events, committee participation, policy advocacy, data tools (Development Tracker, Data Dashboard), research reports, and a multi-year public-private strategic planning initiative (Envision Downtown Madison).

Product overview

Downtown Madison Inc. (DMI) is a nonprofit membership organization offering a portfolio of member services, events, and advocacy programs rather than a unified software product. The core offerings include a membership directory and database, the Downtown Development Tracker (interactive map of development projects), and the Downtown Madison Data Dashboard. Supporting offerings include multiple event series (What’s Up Downtown, New Faces New Places, Behind the Scenes, Annual Celebration, State of the Downtown), video content through the Downtown Madison Happenings podcast and Advocacy Update Series, annual State of the Downtown research reports, and accessibility resources through the Beyond Compliance program. DMI also leads the Envision Downtown Madison strategic planning initiative in partnership with the City of Madison.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Legacy Fund: A fund established by DMI to honor its founders and support research, special projects, grant writing, and staff training for downtown Madison enhancement.

Quantifiable outcome

• 570 member organizations representing 2,500+ members as of 2025
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and community.

• City of MadisoncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Strategic public-private partnership through the Envision Downtown Madison initiative. DMI leads the Greater Downtown Economic Investment Strategy while the City leads the Downtown Area Plan update. Both efforts run in parallel with coordinated public and stakeholder engagement. The Common Council authorized a $150,000 contract with DMI in October 2025 for the strategy preparation, with the broader $1M project funded 15% publicly and 85% privately.
• MIG (MIG, Inc.)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2025Lead National Planning and Economic Development Consultant for the Greater Downtown Economic Investment Strategy (Envision Downtown Madison). MIG is providing national planning expertise and economic development analysis as the primary consulting partner.
• EQT by DesigncoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2025Local Community Engagement Consultant for the Greater Downtown Economic Investment Strategy. EQT by Design is responsible for community engagement and outreach as part of the Envision Downtown planning process.
• Vandewalle & AssociatescoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2025Local Planning Subconsultant for the Greater Downtown Economic Investment Strategy. Vandewalle & Associates provides local planning expertise and is also involved in the Madison LakeWay Project and other downtown initiatives.
• NEOO PartnerscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2025St. Paul-based Real Estate Development Subconsultant for the Greater Downtown Economic Investment Strategy. NEOO Partners provides real estate market analysis and development expertise.
• Milwaukee DowntowncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Partner in the Madison + Milwaukee Downtown Exchange series, launched in 2021. This series brings downtown experts from both cities together to share ideas for greater collaboration, growth, and investment between the two cities.
• Centro Hispano of Dane CountycommunityStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in collaborative programming with DMI and Sustain Dane. DMI members visit the Centro Hispano facility to learn about the organization's work serving the Latino community in Dane County. Centro hosts the weekly Mercadito outdoor farmers market.
• Sustain DanecommunityStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in collaborative programming with DMI, including joint facility visits such as the Centro Hispano tour. Sustain Dane is a nonprofit focused on sustainability and is listed among DMI's inclusiveness partner organizations.
• Urban League of Greater MadisoncommunityStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey inclusiveness partner organization. President & CEO Dr. Ruben Anthony serves on the DMI Board of Directors. The Urban League is one of the organizations DMI recommends for resources, involvement, and financial support related to racial diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD)communityStrategic or Co-development PartnerDMI partner in education and workforce initiatives. Deputy Superintendent Dr. TJ McCray serves as an ex-officio member of the DMI Board of Directors. Dr. Joe Gothard, MMSD Superintendent, was featured on the Downtown Madison Happenings podcast.
• Latino Chamber of Commerce of Dane CountycommunityStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey inclusiveness partner organization. The Latino Chamber is one of the organizations DMI recommends for resources and involvement related to diversity and economic opportunity in the downtown community.
• Destination MadisoncommunityStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional tourism and destination marketing organization. President & CEO Ellie Westman Chin serves as an ex-officio member of the DMI Board of Directors. DMI collaborated with Destination Madison to seek a Senior Director of Placemaking & Economic Development.
• Access to IndependencecommunityStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey inclusiveness partner organization and co-developer of the Madison Festivals and Events Accessibility Guide with DMI and the City of Madison Disability Rights Commission. Jason Beloungy of Access to Independence chairs the Beyond Compliance Subcommittee.
• United Way of Dane CountycommunityStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey inclusiveness partner organization. United Way is one of the organizations DMI recommends for community resources, volunteer opportunities, and donations related to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• JustDanecommunityStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey inclusiveness partner organization. JustDane is one of the organizations DMI recommends for resources and involvement related to diversity, equity, and inclusion in the downtown community.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Milwaukee Downtown: Milwaukee Downtown is a BID/business improvement district serving Milwaukee's downtown with advocacy, events, and economic development programs. It is DMI's closest peer—operating in the same Wisconsin regional economy, sharing a recurring exchange series since 2021, and serving a comparable mix of downtown business stakeholders.
• Chicago Loop Alliance: Chicago Loop Alliance is a member-based nonprofit representing Chicago's central business district through advocacy, public space management, and economic development. It is a scaled-up analogue of DMI, operating a Special Service Area (Chicago's BID equivalent) and offering similar programming—membership, events, data tools, and policy advocacy.
• Downtown Cleveland Alliance: Downtown Cleveland Alliance is a nonprofit downtown management and advocacy organization operating Cleveland's BID and running member services, events, and research. It mirrors DMI's structure with a small staff, member dues model, BID role, and downtown-specific economic development focus.
• Indianapolis Downtown, Inc. Indianapolis Downtown, Inc. is a private nonprofit downtown management organization operating Indianapolis's City Market and providing advocacy, events, and member services. It is highly comparable to DMI in mission, structure, and Midwest downtown-management operating model.
• Downtown Denver Partnership: Downtown Denver Partnership is a private nonprofit business improvement district serving downtown Denver through advocacy, economic development, transportation, and public space programming. It is comparable to DMI in operating a BID, producing research and data tools, and convening member stakeholders.
• Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership: Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership is a nonprofit downtown management organization operating the Golden Triangle BID with a member-driven model covering events, advocacy, and economic development. Comparable to DMI in BID operations, member dues, and city partnership structure.
• Minneapolis Downtown Council: Minneapolis Downtown Council is a nonprofit business association and BID operator for downtown Minneapolis, focused on advocacy, public space activation, and economic vitality. Closely parallels DMI's mix of BID governance, member events, and downtown strategic planning work.

Others

• International Downtown Association: International Downtown Association is the industry association for downtown management organizations, BIDs, and place management entities. DMI is a likely member/peer of IDA; included as a relevant ecosystem and benchmarking organization rather than a direct competitor.
• Destination Madison: Destination Madison is the regional tourism and destination marketing organization for greater Madison. DMI's President/CEO Ellie Westman Chin serves as an ex-officio DMI board member, and the two jointly recruited a Senior Director of Placemaking & Economic Development—indicating a close partnership and partial overlap in downtown promotion.
• Madison Gas and Electric (MGE): MGE is a Madison-based utility and a DMI Pinnacle Partner, Legacy Fund donor, and longstanding supporter. The former MGE CEO was one of DMI's four founding visionaries. While not a peer in function, MGE is one of DMI's most consequential institutional partners and an economic stakeholder in downtown Madison.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xfacebook.com/downtownmadisoninc
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/DowntownMadison
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/downtown-madison-inc.
• Instagraminstagram.com/downtownmadisoninc

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 Downtown Madison Inc.