Woman in Business Inc

What Woman in Business Inc does

Woman in Business, Inc. (WIB) is a 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofit organization founded in 1985 by Judith A. Jaeger and headquartered in Sturbridge, Massachusetts, serving women professionals, entrepreneurs, small business owners, and retirees across South Central Massachusetts. The organization's core offering is a regional membership-based networking platform anchored by monthly luncheons and alternating evening networking events held at local venues (notably Pine Ridge Country Club in North Oxford and Deep Roots Distillery in Fiskdale), supplemented by an online business and member directory, a bi-monthly newsletter, and an annual scholarship program that has awarded more than $65,000 to over 100 area high school graduates over the last 30+ years. The technical stack is minimal and explicitly non-technological in nature: a WordPress website (wibsturbridge.org) managed by Holistic Technologies, Facebook for community engagement, and email newsletters, with no proprietary platform, API, or AI capabilities.

The business model rests on three recurring revenue streams: membership dues at three published tiers (Individual at $75/year, Corporate/Business at $150/year for up to five associates, and Underwriter Plus at $1,500/year with enhanced visibility and event benefits), event-based revenue from monthly luncheons and twice-yearly social networking events, and fundraising through an annual scholarship auction and sponsorships. Payment is processed through PayPal, Stripe, and check. The go-to-market motion is community-led, relying on word-of-mouth referrals, member-invited guests, local PR through a publicity committee, and digital channels (website and Facebook). There are no funding rounds, no acquisitions, no subsidiaries, no patents, and no employees beyond a small operational base of 8, with governance provided by a volunteer board of directors under the 2024-25 leadership of President Jen Jones, Vice-President Becky Barker, Treasurer Brenda Lacaire, and Secretary Sara Vatore.

Name

Woman in Business Inc

Legal name

Woman In Business, Inc.

Website

https://wibsturbridge.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Woman in Business, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofit founded in 1985 that operates a regional networking membership organization for women professionals, entrepreneurs, and retirees in South Central Massachusetts, offering monthly events, directories, and an annual scholarship program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Sturbridge

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Others, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees from individual and corporate members. Individual memberships at $75/year, corporate memberships at $150/year, and underwriter sponsorships at $1,500/year provide recurring revenue stream.
2. Event Revenue: Revenue generated from monthly luncheon programs, networking events, and social gatherings. Members receive discounted rates compared to non-member guests.
3. Sponsorships and Fundraising: Annual fundraiser showcasing youth talent, scholarship auction, raffle proceeds, and underwriter sponsorships support the scholarship program and operational costs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Woman in Business, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) charitable membership organization that operates a regional professional networking platform for women in south central Massachusetts. The organization delivers monthly luncheon programs with guest speakers, twice-yearly after-hours social networking events, an online Business Directory, and a Member Directory to facilitate connections among women professionals. It also administers an annual scholarship program awarding five scholarships to area high school graduates pursuing higher education.

Product overview

Woman in Business, Inc. (WIB) is a 501c(3) charitable networking organization founded in 1985 that supports women by fostering networking, sharing information and experiences, and providing educational opportunities. The organization operates as a unified membership-based platform rather than a modular product architecture. The core offering centers on monthly luncheon programs with guest speakers, regular networking events (including twice-yearly after-hours social events), and an annual scholarship program that awards five scholarships totaling $3,000 annually to area high school graduates. Supporting offerings include a Business Directory featuring 59 member businesses, a Member Directory with individual professional profiles, a bi-monthly newsletter and e-blasts, community outreach programs (WIB Gives Back), and an annual scholarship fundraiser with an online auction. The organization offers three membership tiers: Individual ($75/year), Corporate/Business ($150/year for up to 5 associates), and Underwriter Plus ($1,500/year with enhanced benefits). Additional engagement opportunities include speaker sponsorship, table display sponsorship, and the annual Outstanding Woman In Business Achievement Award.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Monthly Luncheon Programs Monthly speaker luncheons held on the second Wednesday of each month (12–2:00pm) featuring knowledgeable guest speakers addressing topics relevant to business and self-care, available to WIB members and guest participants.
• After-Hours Social Networking Events Twice-yearly after-hours social networking events held 5:30–7:30pm where members are invited to display and distribute information about their companies.
• Business Directory Online searchable directory of member businesses featuring company profiles, contact information, and links to member websites and social media, facilitating business-to-business referrals among 59 listed member businesses.
• Annual Scholarship Program Annual program awarding five scholarships (four $500 awards plus a $1,000 Judith A. Jaeger Memorial Scholarship) to graduating high school seniors from Tantasqua, Shepherd Hill, Southbridge, and Bay Path schools pursuing higher education.
• Annual Scholarship Fundraiser Annual online auction held in May to raise funds for the scholarship program, featuring items donated by members and supported through corporate sponsorships.
• WIB Gives Back Community Programs Community outreach initiatives including donation drives and long-standing support for the Festival of Giving Trees cancer-care fundraiser, coordinated through member volunteer participation.
• Individual Membership Single-person membership at $75 per year offering 12-month membership, discounted event rates, directory profiles, newsletter, advertising opportunities, meeting sponsorship, volunteer ambassador roles, and WIB Gives Back program involvement.
• Corporate/Business Membership Company membership at $150 per year allowing up to 5 company associates to receive all WIB benefits including 12-month membership, directory profiles, discounted event rates, newsletter, and networking opportunities.
• Underwriter Plus Sponsorship Premium sponsorship at $1,500 per year including corporate membership, 2 tickets per monthly meeting, 2 holiday party tickets, table display at 1 WIB meeting, on-site signage, brand promotion, producer status for scholarship program, and recognition in scholarship event marketing materials.
• Outstanding Woman In Business Achievement Award Annual recognition of women in the community making a difference with their time, talents, vision and resources; presented at the annual fundraiser. Past recipients include Irene Garand, Carol Porra, Rita Schiano, Alexandra McNitt, Margaret Morrissey, and Cindy Howard.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $65,000 awarded in scholarships to 100+ students over 30+ years
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Deep Roots DistilleryminorOthersHost venue for WIB summer networking events. Located at 559 Main Street, Fiskdale, MA 01518. Co-owned by WIB member Errica DeVarenne.
• Pine Ridge Country ClubminorOthersHost venue for WIB monthly luncheons. Located at 28 Pleasant Street, North Oxford, MA 01537.
• Tantasqua Regional High SchoolminorOthersSource of scholarship applicants for WIB's annual scholarship program serving graduating seniors.
• Shepherd Hill Regional High SchoolminorOthersSource of scholarship applicants for WIB's annual scholarship program serving graduating seniors.
• Southbridge Middle/High SchoolminorOthersSource of scholarship applicants for WIB's annual scholarship program serving graduating seniors.
• Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High SchoolminorOthersSource of scholarship applicants for WIB's annual scholarship program. Also serves adult women entering Bay Path University's One-Day-A-Week Saturday program.
• Chamber of Commerce - Central Massachusetts SouthminorOthersRegional chamber serving Sturbridge, Southbridge, Charlton, and surrounding communities. WIB operates within this business community ecosystem.
• Festival of Giving TreesminorOthersAnnual community event raising money for various cancer-care organizations. WIB has long supported this initiative with a member-created tree, participating for many years.
• Tri-Community YMCAminorOthersYMCA of Central MA location in Southbridge. WIB member Hannah Lieske serves as Director of Program Development. WIB engages with the YMCA community.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Women's Business League: Membership-based networking organization for women business owners and professionals with multiple local chapters. Closely comparable to WIB in mission and member profile — community-led women's business networking — but operates through multiple city-based chapters rather than a single regional footprint.

Broad incumbents

• National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO): The largest U.S. membership organization for women business owners, with national reach and local chapters offering networking, education, and advocacy. Comparable to WIB as a mission-aligned women's professional networking body, but operates at significantly larger scale and broader geographic scope.
• Women Presidents' Organization (WPO): Membership peer advisory organization for women presidents and founders of multimillion-dollar enterprises. Comparable to WIB as a curated women's business membership body but serves a higher-revenue segment with a formal peer-advisory model.
• Ellevate Network: Global membership network for professional women offering virtual and in-person events, mentorship circles, and career resources. Closely aligned with WIB's networking and professional-development mission but operates digitally and at much larger scale.
• American Business Women's Association (ABWA): National nonprofit for working women offering chapters, networking events, leadership development, and scholarship programs. Comparable to WIB in its combination of networking, education, and scholarships for women, but operates nationwide with hundreds of chapters.
• eWomenNetwork: National women's business networking and entrepreneurial empowerment organization offering events, mastermind groups, and marketing tools. Comparable to WIB in audience and member benefits but operates at significantly larger scale with a digital-first delivery model.

Regional players

• The Women's Forum of New York: Regional membership organization for senior women leaders offering programs, awards, and networking. Comparable in structure and mission to WIB but serves the New York metro area and targets C-suite executives rather than regional SMB owners.
• SCORE Worcester: Regional chapter of SCORE providing free mentoring, workshops, and networking for small business owners in the Worcester/central Massachusetts area. Operates in overlapping geography with WIB and serves a comparable SMB audience, though open to all genders.
• Chamber of Commerce Central Massachusetts South: Regional chamber serving Sturbridge, Southbridge, Charlton, and surrounding communities — explicitly listed as WIB's community ecosystem partner. Comparable as a regional SMB membership body offering networking and visibility, though gender-neutral and broader in industry scope.

Others

• Tri-Community YMCA: Local YMCA branch in Southbridge serving the same south-central Massachusetts geography. Listed as a WIB community organization partner (with a WIB member serving as Director of Program Development); comparable as a regional nonprofit community institution rather than a direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Woman-In-Business-Inc-102123459854020
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/woman-in-business-inc-ma-ct

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Woman in Business Inc