Independent Colleges of Washington

What Independent Colleges of Washington does

Independent Colleges of Washington (ICW) is a private, not-for-profit membership association founded in 1953 and headquartered in Seattle, Washington. It represents nine private, not-for-profit colleges and universities in Washington state: Gonzaga University, Heritage University, Pacific Lutheran University, Saint Martin's University, Seattle Pacific University, Seattle University, University of Puget Sound, Whitman College, and Whitworth University. Collectively, ICW member campuses enroll more than 30,000 students, graduate approximately 9,800 students per year with bachelor's and advanced degrees, contribute $2.5 billion in economic activity, and employ nearly 8,000 people, making the consortium one of Washington's top 20 private sector employers.

ICW's core offerings center on advocacy, student recruitment support, scholarship administration, transfer pathway programs, and career development resources rather than technology products. Operationally, ICW runs on YourMembership.com association management software that powers its website, membership management, event registration, and communications. The organization does not offer an app, API, or proprietary AI/technology stack. Its services include administering more than $500,000 in annual scholarships, managing transfer pathway agreements with community colleges, curating counselor resources, and running advocacy campaigns such as "Save Student Aid."

ICW's business model relies on three revenue streams: recurring membership dues from its nine member institutions, donations processed through various scholarship and endowment funds, and corporate/foundation sponsorships and event support. The organization does not charge students directly for services. Member campuses set their own tuition and financial aid policies independently. ICW's go-to-market is community-led, combining legislative advocacy, outreach to prospective students and high school counselors, donor cultivation, and coalition building with business and education partners.

Name

Independent Colleges of Washington

Legal name

Independent Colleges of Washington

Website

https://icwashington.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Independent Colleges of Washington is a non-profit membership association that advocates for nine private, not-for-profit colleges and universities in Washington state, serving prospective students, member campuses, and policymakers through scholarships, transfer pathways, and policy advocacy.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Seattle

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: ICW is funded through membership dues from its 9 private, not-for-profit member colleges and universities in Washington state
2. Donations and Scholarships: ICW receives donations through various funds including the ICW Board of Directors Scholarship Fund, Leaders for Tomorrow Scholarship, competitive scholarships, endowed scholarships, named scholarships, and transfer pathways initiatives. They distribute more than $500,000 annually in scholarships to students.
3. Sponsorships and Events: Sponsorships for ICW events and operating support from corporate and foundation partners

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Independent Colleges of Washington (ICW) is a non-profit membership association representing 9 private, not-for-profit colleges and universities in Washington state. The organization provides advocacy for equitable student aid policy, administers more than $500,000 in annual scholarships, supports transfer pathways from community colleges to member campuses, coordinates career development resources, and delivers unified outreach and communications on behalf of its member institutions.

Product overview

Independent Colleges of Washington (ICW) is an association of 9 private, not-for-profit colleges and universities in Washington state that serves as a membership organization rather than a technology product company. The organization's core offerings include student recruitment and enrollment services, financial aid programs, scholarship administration (disbursing over $500,000 annually), transfer pathway support, career development resources, and higher education advocacy. ICW connects prospective students with member campuses and provides donation processing for scholarship funds. The portfolio consists of service programs supporting educational access and attainment rather than software products or technology platforms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ICW Scholarships

Quantifiable outcome

• 9,800 students graduate annually with bachelor's and advanced degrees from ICW member campuses
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, secondary and minor.

• Association of Washington Business (AWB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAWB is Washington's oldest and largest statewide business association with nearly 7,000 members representing 700,000 employees. ICW works with AWB on workforce development and policy advocacy.
• National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNAICU is the only national organization solely focused on representing private, nonprofit higher education on public policy issues in Washington, D.C. ICW holds membership and collaborates on federal higher education policy.
• American Council on Education (ACE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerACE mobilizes the higher education community to shape effective public policy and foster innovative, high-quality practice. ICW collaborates through this membership.
• The Council of Independent Colleges (CIC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCIC supports college and university leadership and advances institutional excellence. ICW participates in CIC's State Councils Advisory Committee.
• Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerICW collaborates with SBCTC on transfer pathways, helping students transfer from community colleges to ICW member campuses. Joint efforts include FAFSA filing encouragement.
• Joint Transfer CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide transfer coordination bringing together higher education partners to support students transferring from two-year community colleges to four-year institutions.
• Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWSAC administers the Washington College Grant and College Bound Scholarship programs. ICW advocates for equitable student aid and works with WSAC on postsecondary attainment goals.
• Council of Presidents (COP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCOP collaborates with ICW and SBCTC on statewide higher education initiatives and policy advocacy.
• WICHE (Washington Interstate Commission on Higher Education)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerWICHE supports interstate collaboration on higher education. ICW participates in regional higher education coordination.
• AonminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAon is a global professional services firm providing risk, retirement and health solutions. Business affiliate member supporting ICW's mission.
• TIAAminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFounded by Andrew Carnegie, TIAA provides financial services to institutions and individuals. Business affiliate supporting ICW's educational mission.
• U.S. BankminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFifth largest commercial bank providing banking services to colleges and universities. Business affiliate supporting ICW's mission.

Scale indicators8 records

Broad incumbents

• National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU): National organization solely focused on private, nonprofit higher education at the federal level. Already a strategic partner of ICW, and comparable because it performs a scaled-up version of ICW's federal advocacy role.
• American Council on Education (ACE): The major coordinating body for U.S. higher education institutions. Comparable as an incumbent association peer covering a wider higher education portfolio, with ICW as a collaborating member organization.
• Council of Independent Colleges (CIC): National organization supporting leadership and excellence at private nonprofit colleges. Comparable to ICW in mission alignment and membership overlap; ICW already participates in CIC's State Councils Advisory Committee.

Direct peers

• Foundation for Independent Higher Education: National aggregator of state-level independent college associations, including ICW itself. Comparable because it bundles similar advocacy and development functions across member state associations, providing economies of scale ICW might otherwise lack.
• Council of Independent Colleges and Universities of Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania's state-level association for private, nonprofit colleges. Comparable peer with similar advocacy, scholarship administration, and member support functions across a multi-institution consortium.
• Georgia Independent College Association: Georgia's state-level association for private, nonprofit higher education. Comparable peer delivering similar advocacy, scholarship, and member services on a state-by-state basis.
• Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Association: State-level membership association representing private, not-for-profit colleges and universities in Tennessee. Directly comparable to ICW in structure, mission, advocacy function, and scholarship administration, operating on a similar scale across member institutions.
• Independent Colleges of Indiana: Indiana's state-level association for private, not-for-profit colleges and universities. Closely comparable to ICW in advocating equitable state student aid, facilitating transfer pathways, and providing collective voice for private higher education.
• Association of Independent Colleges and Universities in Massachusetts (AICUM): State-level private higher education association in Massachusetts with analogous member advocacy, financial aid policy work, and student recruitment support. Comparable scale and structure to ICW.
• Minnesota Private College Council: State-level association representing Minnesota's private nonprofit colleges and universities. Directly comparable peer with similar member services, scholarship programs, transfer pathways, and state-level advocacy focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/icwashington

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 Independent Colleges of Washington