What Willowwind School does

Willowwind School is a nonprofit, independent pre-K through 6th-grade school located at 950 Dover Street in Iowa City, Iowa. Founded approximately 50 years ago and operating with around 35 staff, the school delivers a progressive education curriculum spanning Montessori preschool, kindergarten, elementary, exploratory classes, project-based learning, and STEAM/robotics for upper elementary students. Extended care and enrichment offerings include a before- and after-school program, spring break and summer programs, and an arts/science/technology enrichment track, with annual student assessment through ISASP and ERB testing for grades 3-6.

The business model is built on three revenue streams: recurring tuition billed annually on a sliding scale with financial aid and ESA acceptance; the Ignite Campaign (annual giving), which covers approximately 25% of operating costs; and capital/fundraising flows including a Nature Playscape capital campaign, the IISTO Iowa tax-credit donation program targeting roughly $54,000 in 2024, and a GreenState Credit Union Give & Grow matching program. Go-to-market is community-led, driven by family inquiry, school tours, parent volunteer engagement, and community events such as the Young Creators Exhibition in partnership with Summer of the Arts. The school holds ISACS accreditation and PEN membership, and there is no evidence of a proprietary technology platform, AI/ML capabilities, or expansion beyond the Iowa City regional market.

Name

Willowwind School

Legal name

Willowwind School

Website

https://willowwind.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Willowwind School is a nonprofit, independent preschool-through-6th-grade school in Iowa City, Iowa, delivering progressive, Montessori-informed, project-based education with STEAM, arts, and enrichment programs to local families on a sliding-scale tuition model.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private K-12 Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)

SIC

Services-Child Day Care Services (8351), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Mentoring & Positive Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAD)

Keywords

• Private elementary education
• Progressive education
• Montessori preschool
• Project-based learning
• Independent school

Headquarters

HQ city

Iowa City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition: Primary revenue source. Tuition costs exceed what donations cover, with donations covering approximately 25% of costs each year through the Ignite Campaign.
2. Ignite Campaign (Annual Giving): Annual giving campaign providing unrestricted donations covering professional development, facility upgrades, scholarships, and educational materials. Approximately 25% of costs are covered by donations annually.
3. Nature Playscape Capital Campaign: Capital campaign to fund construction of a nature playscape on campus. Goal of $25,000 with potential to raise $15,000 through GreenState's Give & Grow matching program.
4. IISTO Tax Credit Donations: Iowa Independent School Tuition Organization (IISTO) donations providing 75% Iowa tax credit for donors. Minimum donation of $1,000, with funds going to student scholarships. Approximately $54,000 was being raised for the 2024 calendar year.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Willowwind School is a private independent, nonprofit school in Iowa City, Iowa that delivers progressive education for preschool through 6th grade students. It offers Montessori preschool, kindergarten, and elementary programs with a focus on social-emotional learning, the Arts, collaboration, project-based learning, and STEAM (including robotics for 5th-6th graders). The school also provides extended-care programs (before/after school, summer, and spring break) and enrichment programming in arts, science, and technology.

Product overview

Willowwind School is a private elementary school in Iowa City, Iowa, offering a unified progressive education program for preschool through 6th grade students. The school provides a comprehensive academic portfolio centered on progressive education, social-emotional learning, the Arts, and collaborative learning. Core offerings include Montessori preschool and elementary programs, STEAM education with robotics, project-based learning, and academic assessment (ISASP and ERB testing). Extended care services include before/after school programs, summer programs, and spring break care. The school also operates enrichment programs in arts, science, and technology, and hosts special events including the Young Creators Exhibition in partnership with Summer of the Arts. The school is constructing a Nature Playscape for outdoor education and play.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Montessori Preschool Program

Quantifiable outcome

• Students in grades 3-6 participate in ISASP (Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress) and ERB assessments, demonstrating academic achievement.

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Progressive Education Network (PEN)minorOthersWillowwind School holds membership/accreditation with the Progressive Education Network (PEN), aligning with its progressive education mission.
• ISACS (Independent Schools Association of the Central States)minorOthersWillowwind School holds ISACS accreditation, indicating it meets standards for independent schools in the Central States region.
• GreenState Credit UnioncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGreenState Credit Union partners with Willowwind through the Give & Grow for Schools initiative, offering members the opportunity to have donations matched dollar-for-dollar. This partnership has the potential to raise $15,000 for the school (specifically $10,000-$15,000 for the Nature Playscape project) during April each year.
• Backyard AbundancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudents partnered with Fred from Backyard Abundance to create a digital design for the Nature Playscape project. This is a co-development partnership for the design and planning of the outdoor education space.
• Summer of the ArtsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWillowwind School partners with Summer of the Arts to present the Young Creators Exhibition at the Iowa Arts Festival, celebrating the creativity of young artists from kindergarten through 6th grade.
• Iowa City Community School DistrictminorOthersWillowwind School follows the Iowa City Community School District on inclement weather days, aligning its school closing schedule with the public district.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• The Lab School of Washington: Independent, nonprofit progressive school serving K-8 in Washington, DC, with a similar SEL and arts-integrated philosophy. Comparable as a small private progressive institution serving a single metro area with a mission-driven nonprofit structure.
• The Nueva School: Independent, nonprofit PreK-8 school in the Bay Area emphasizing progressive education, design thinking, and SEL. Closely aligned with Willowwind's progressive and project-based philosophy at a similarly selective independent tier.
• The Langley School: Independent, nonprofit K-8 school in McLean, VA, focused on progressive, hands-on learning. Comparable as a small, private, nonprofit school in the same demographic tier with strong progressive credentials.
• Wildwood School: Independent progressive K-12 school in Los Angeles focused on progressive, project-based, and SEL-rich pedagogy. Comparable in progressive education mission and nonprofit independent model, though larger in scale.
• Boulder Journey School: Nonprofit progressive, place-based, and Reggio-inspired early childhood/elementary school in Boulder, CO. Similar in progressive, place-based education philosophy and small nonprofit operating model.
• Mustard Seed School: Independent, nonprofit Montessori- and Reggio-inspired Catholic school serving PreK-8 in Hoboken, NJ. Comparable as a small, mission-driven nonprofit school blending Montessori philosophy with progressive and project-based learning.
• Manhattan Free School: Small, nonprofit progressive free school serving K-8 in New York City. Comparable as a small, mission-driven, progressive nonprofit K-8 institution with a similar community-led ethos.
• Brooklyn Free School: Small, nonprofit progressive school serving K-12 in Brooklyn. Comparable as a small, progressive, democratic nonprofit school operating at a similar community-scale size.
• Pine Cobble School: Independent, nonprofit PreK-9 progressive school in Williamstown, MA. Comparable as a small, mission-driven progressive nonprofit school with community-centered fundraising and a similar single-campus structure.

Emerging players

• Waldorf School of the Peninsula: Independent, nonprofit Waldorf PreK-12 school serving the Bay Area. Comparable as a small, mission-driven, progressive-leaning nonprofit with an alternative education philosophy, though rooted in Waldorf rather than Montessori/progressive traditions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCpu2Sy7rI1Hwk0qWmJSHeSw
• Facebookfacebook.com/WillowwindSchool
• Instagraminstagram.com/willowwindschool
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/willowwind-school

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Willowwind School