MINNESOTA

What MINNESOTA does

Minnesota School Social Workers Association (MSSWA) is a Minnesota-based nonprofit professional association founded in 1969 that represents more than 1,900 school social workers across the state. The organization operates as a membership-based community, offering annual membership (approximately $66/year, free for first-year practitioners) alongside a portfolio of professional learning events, advocacy representation, and recognition programs. Core service offerings include an annual in-person Fall Conference, a virtual Winter Conference, monthly Educate & Elevate professional development sessions, an annual Day on the Hill advocacy event at the Minnesota State Capitol, awards programs (School Social Worker of the Year, Career Achievement, Legislator of the Year, Friend of SSW), and member-only mini-grants and scholarships.

Underlying technology is lightweight and primarily membership-association infrastructure rather than a platform with proprietary IP. The public-facing website is hosted on Wix; the members-only portal historically ran on Wild Apricot and is being transitioned to a new interface; online learning content (including MH-SpEd billing training) is delivered via Teachable. There is no mobile app, no public API, and no documented integration ecosystem. Revenue mechanics center on membership dues (subscription, recurring), conference and professional development fees including sponsor and vendor participation, and minor merchandise sales via a Redbubble storefront.

The organization is governed by an elected volunteer board (President Abbey Pierce, Past President Julie Campanelli, Secretary Nadine Rooney, Treasurer Brianna Nelson) with eight standing committees and a regional representative structure. Strategic positioning is anchored in state-level advocacy leverage, membership of the Midwest School Social Work Council (11-state coalition), affiliation with the School Social Work Association of America, and participation in the Coalition of Licensed Social Workers and the Student Support Personnel Coalition. The organization is independent, with no parent company, no external investment, and no disclosed financial reporting.

Name

MINNESOTA

Legal name

Minnesota School Social Workers Association

Website

https://msswa.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1969

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Minnesota School Social Workers Association (MSSWA) is a Minnesota-based nonprofit professional association representing more than 1,900 school social workers through membership, professional development events, and state-level legislative advocacy.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees provide core revenue stream. First-year school social workers receive free membership as onboarding benefit.
2. Conference and Professional Development Fees: Revenue from Fall Conference, Winter Conference, and other professional learning events including sponsorship and vendor participation fees.
3. Merchandise Sales: MSSWA Redbubble store sells branded merchandise

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

MSSWA is a nonprofit professional association that delivers membership services to school social workers across Minnesota. Its core offerings include annual membership with advocacy representation at the state Capitol, CEU-earning professional learning events (Fall Conference, Winter Conference, monthly Educate & Elevate sessions, Day on the Hill), recognition awards, scholarships, mini-grants, and access to practice resources including Practice Model 2.0. The organization also provides MH-SpEd billing online training via Teachable and runs a branded merchandise store on Redbubble.

Product overview

MSSWA (Minnesota School Social Workers Association) is a professional association offering a unified portfolio of services rather than a platform architecture. The core offerings include professional learning events (Fall Conference, Winter Conference, Day on the Hill, and monthly Educate & Elevate sessions), awards and recognition programs (School Social Worker of the Year, Career Achievement, Legislator of the Year, Friend of SSW), scholarships and grants (Don Rinkenberger Scholarship, Mini-Grants), and practice resources (Practice Model 2.0, SSW resources). Additionally, the organization provides MH-SpEd online training through Teachable. Membership unlocks access to all these services and the member-only portal.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• MSSWA Annual Membership Professional membership for Minnesota school social workers providing advocacy at the Minnesota State Capitol, statewide networking, conference discounts, member-only resources, updates, job listings, and collective voice representation. Priced at approximately $66/year, with free first-year membership for new school social work practitioners.
• Fall Conference A 2-day annual in-person conference scheduled for November 16-17, 2026 at the McNamara Event Center, University of Minnesota, bringing together school social workers from across Minnesota for CEU-earning learning, networking, and inspiration.
• Winter Conference A mid-year virtual conference delivered via Zoom providing practical strategies and best practices for supporting students and schools. Earns CEUs for attendees.
• Educate & Elevate / Book Club Monthly lunch-hour professional development sessions and book club discussions offering ongoing CEU-eligible training throughout the school year.
• Day on the Hill Annual advocacy event held each March at the Minnesota State Capitol bringing school social workers together to advocate for students, families, and the profession before state legislators.
• MH-SpEd Online Training Expert-led online course hosted on the Teachable platform designed to help Minnesota school social workers navigate Mental Health-Special Education (MH-SpEd) billing and reimbursement.
• School Social Worker of the Year Award Annual MSSWA award recognizing a Minnesota school social worker who reflects the highest professional standards and demonstrates creative leadership and service. The 2025 recipient was Nancy Williams of Owatonna School District.
• Career Achievement Award Award established in 2015 recognizing school social workers with outstanding achievement in practice, leadership, accomplishments, and advocacy. Requires a minimum of 15 years of experience.
• Legislator of the Year Award Annual recognition of legislators demonstrating commitment to being true champions of social justice at local, state, or national legislature. Honored each year at the Fall Conference since 2003.
• Friend of SSW Award Recognition for collaborative individuals who support and help advance MSSWA's mission. Nominated by the Board and presented at the Fall Conference.
• Don Rinkenberger Scholarship Two $500 scholarships awarded each spring to BSW or MSW students in accredited Minnesota social work programs, with preference for those interested in school social work internships and MSSWA student members. Application deadline February 28.
• MSSWA Mini-Grants Two $500 awards provided twice yearly (deadlines January 1 and July 1; awarded in February and August) to support projects conducted by full MSSWA members in the schools where they work.
• School Social Work Practice Resources A member resource collection that includes National SSW Standards, the SSW Manual, Role of SSW documentation, Code of Ethics, crisis resources, and social-emotional learning standards for school social work practice in Minnesota.
• Practice Model 2.0 A framework defining core values, domains, focus areas, and professional activities that guide 21st-century school social workers in Minnesota.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1,900 school social workers represented across Minnesota
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Midwest School Social Work Council (MSSWC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative coalition representing eleven Midwestern state school social work associations: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, and Wisconsin. Member states rotate hosting the annual Midwest School Social Work Conference held each fall. The Council is comprised of state association presidents, state consultants, and practicing school social workers working to strengthen member organizations and advance professional development across the Midwest.
• School Social Work Association of America (SSWAA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational organization dedicated solely to advancing the profession of School Social Work. Founded in 1994, SSWAA promotes the profession and professional development of school social workers to enhance the educational experience of students and their families.
• Coalition of Licensed Social Workers (Minnesota)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization of professional social work associations providing advocacy on regulatory and legislative issues affecting professional social work practice. Members include Minnesota Association of Black Social Workers, Minnesota Hmong Social Workers' Coalition, Minnesota Nursing Home Social Workers Association, Minnesota School Social Workers Association, Minnesota Society for Clinical Social Work, and NASW Minnesota Chapter.
• Student Support Personnel CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMultidisciplinary partnership of school social workers, school psychologists, school counselors, and school nurses working together to support student success. Addresses social, emotional, mental health, and wellness needs through a coordinated, systems-based approach to promote student well-being and reduce barriers to learning.
• Minnesota Board of Social WorkcoreOthersState regulatory body protecting the public through licensing and regulation of the social work profession in Minnesota. Establishes education, licensure, and examination requirements for practicing school social work.
• Minnesota Department of EducationcoreOthersState education department responsible for teacher and related service provider licensure. School social workers must hold licensure as Teacher/Related Service Provider through this body.
• Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB)minorOthersNational organization providing support and services to the social work regulatory community to advance safe, competent, and ethical practices. Administers the national multiple-choice examination required for licensure (except for city, county, and state-employed social workers).
• National Association of Social Workers (NASW)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational association working to enhance the growth and development of social work members, create and maintain professional standards, and advance sound social policies. NASW Minnesota Chapter is part of the Coalition of Licensed Social Workers.
• Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)minorOthersNational association representing social work education in the United States. Sets educational standards for BSW and MSW programs.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• Minnesota School Psychologists Association (MSPA): Minnesota's state professional association for school psychologists, a co-member of the Student Support Personnel Coalition alongside MSSWA. Comparable advocacy/PD model serving an adjacent student support profession in the same geography.

Others

• Midwest School Social Work Council (MSSWC): Coalition of 11 Midwestern state school social work associations including MSSWA; rotates hosting the annual Midwest School Social Work Conference. Ecosystem/coalition partner rather than a direct competitor.

Broad incumbents

• American School Counselor Association (ASCA): National professional association for school counselors. Parallel structure to MSSWA (membership, advocacy, PD, state affiliates) but serves a related-but-distinct student support profession.
• National Association of Social Workers (NASW): The largest US professional association for all social workers. Comparable to MSSWA as a membership/advocacy body but covers the full social work profession rather than specializing in school-based practice.
• National Association of School Psychologists (NASP): National professional association for school psychologists. Comparable membership/advocacy/PD model for an adjacent student support profession that is co-listed with MSSWA in the Student Support Personnel Coalition.

Direct peers

• NASW Minnesota Chapter: State chapter of NASW operating in the same Minnesota geography as MSSWA and sharing the same Coalition of Licensed Social Workers. Directly comparable membership/advocacy/PD model for Minnesota-licensed social workers.
• Illinois Association of School Social Workers (IASSW): State-level professional association for Illinois school social workers and co-member of the Midwest School Social Work Council alongside MSSWA. Near-identical structure: dues, conferences, advocacy, awards.
• Wisconsin Association of School Social Workers (WASSW): Wisconsin's state-level professional association for school social workers and Midwest Council co-member with MSSWA. Same membership/advocacy/PD operating model in an adjacent state.
• School Social Work Association of America (SSWAA): National professional association dedicated to advancing school social work, founded in 1994. Directly comparable to MSSWA but operating nationally rather than statewide, serving the same profession and offering advocacy, PD, and resources.
• Iowa School Social Workers' Association (ISSWA): Iowa's state association for school social workers and a co-member of the Midwest School Social Work Council with MSSWA. Directly comparable in scope, governance, and offerings.

Market position

Strengths3 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ssw_minnesota
• Facebookfacebook.com/MSSWAMN
• Instagraminstagram.com/mnschoolsw
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/minnesota-school-social-workers-association

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 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 MINNESOTA