Women of Winter

What Women of Winter does

Women of Winter, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2018 in Big Sky, Montana by ski instructor Chris Walch. The organization provides scholarships, training, and community events designed to address the systemic underrepresentation of Black, Indigenous, and Women of Color (BIWOC) and LGBTQIA+ women in snowsports. Its target beneficiaries are women and gender non-conforming individuals seeking certification, mentorship, and leadership pathways in the snowsports industry, with a secondary audience of individual donors and corporate sponsors aligned with outdoor DEI initiatives.

The organization's core product is a portfolio of scholarship programs delivered at partner resort locations, primarily Big Sky Resort in Montana. The flagship offering is a PSIA-AASI Level I Alpine or Snowboard instructor certification scholarship, co-developed with the Professional Ski Instructors of America (PSIA-AASI) and the National Brotherhood of Snowsports (NBS), covering tuition, PSIA-AASI membership, lift tickets, and gear from partners including Rossignol, Giro, Hestra, and Leki. Additional programs include advanced Freestyle Specialist and Children's Specialist Level I certifications (FS1/CS1), AAA Level 1 Avalanche Certification in partnership with Big Sky Avalanche Foundation (BSAFE), the Mountain Mind Project mPEAK mindfulness training, and an advanced instructor training with Olympic Gold Medalist Deb Armstrong at Taos Ski Valley in partnership with JEDI Outdoors. The organization also runs an annual speaker series featuring BIPOC women in snowsports and creative arts.

The business model is community-led and donation/sponsorship-driven. The organization generates no revenue from product sales; its programs are free to qualifying recipients. Cash revenue comes from individual donations (via PayPal) and corporate sponsorships (Yellowstone Club Foundation, The North Face, Greenberg Traurig, Backcountry Access, among others), while in-kind gear sponsorships from Rossignol, Giro, Hestra, Leki, and Halfdays reduce program costs. The organization has no proprietary technology, operates with 1-10 staff supplemented by a volunteer network, and has issued 56+ scholarships since 2019.

Name

Women of Winter

Legal name

Women of Winter, Inc.

Website

https://womenofwinter.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Women of Winter is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides scholarships, certification training, and community events for Black, Indigenous, Women of Color and LGBTQIA+ women pursuing careers in snowsports, delivered through partnerships with PSIA-AASI, Big Sky Resort, and corporate gear sponsors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit snowsports education and scholarships

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Ski & Snowboard Schools (Instruction & Coaching) (THAAAJAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Winter Sports & Snow Training Schools (Ski, Snowboard, Ice Sports) (MPAKAJAI)

Keywords

• Snowsports scholarships
• Women ski instructor certification
• Avalanche safety training
• Outdoor DEI programs
• Nonprofit snowsports education

Headquarters

HQ city

Bozeman

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Sponsorships: Women of Winter raises funds from individual donors and corporate sponsors to cover annual event costs, scholarships, and grants to aligned charitable organizations. Donations are accepted via PayPal and corporate sponsors provide both cash contributions and in-kind gear donations (ski equipment, helmets, gloves, etc.).
2. In-Kind Gear Sponsorships: Corporate partners (Rossignol, Giro, Hestra, Leki, The North Face, etc.) donate gear and equipment to scholarship recipients, reducing program costs and increasing impact. These are non-monetary contributions that support the scholarship value proposition.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Women of Winter provides full-tuition scholarships, gear packages, and on-snow training that enable BIWOC and LGBTQIA+ women and gender non-conforming individuals to obtain professional snowsports certifications (PSIA-AASI Level I Alpine/Snowboard, Freestyle and Children's Specialist, AAA Level 1 Avalanche), mindfulness coaching (mPEAK), and advanced instructor training (JEDI Outdoors with Deb Armstrong). Programs are delivered free of charge at partner resorts, primarily Big Sky Resort in Montana and Taos Ski Valley in New Mexico, and are supported by an annual speaker series that builds visibility and community.

Product overview

Women of Winter is a non-profit grassroots organization offering a portfolio of scholarship programs for women and BIPOC individuals in snowsports. The core offerings include PSIA-AASI Level I Instructor Certification scholarships (Alpine and Snowboard tracks) providing tuition, gear, and lift tickets at Big Sky Resort, Avalanche Level 1 safety certifications through BSAFE, and advanced specialty certifications (Freestyle Specialist and Children's Specialist). Additional offerings include mindfulness training via the Mountain Mind Project mPEAK program, advanced training with Olympic Gold Medalist Deb Armstrong at Taos Ski Valley, and an annual Speaker Series featuring women in snowsports and creative arts. All programs target BIPOC women, LGBTQIA+ individuals, and gender non-conforming persons comfortable in women-centered spaces.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• PSIA-AASI Level I Instructor Certification Scholarship Full scholarship covering tuition, PSIA-AASI membership, lift tickets, and gear package from Rossignol, Giro, Leki, Hestra, and Phunkshun for BIPOC women and LGBTQIA+ individuals to obtain PSIA-AASI Alpine or Snowboard Level I instructor certification through a 4-day prep course and exam at Big Sky Resort.
• PSIA-AASI Freestyle / Children's Specialist Level I Certification Scholarship Advanced scholarship for past Level I recipients providing 12-16 scholarships for FreeStyle Level I (4-day) or Children's Specialist Level I (2-day) certification, including PSIA-AASI e-learning, lift tickets, and coaching at Big Sky Resort from February 25-28, 2026.
• Women's AAA Level 1 Avalanche Course Scholarship Scholarship program partnered with BSAFE providing American Avalanche Association Level 1 Avalanche certification, lift tickets, and instruction by AAA-certified instructors at Big Sky Resort, covering hazard recognition, stability tests, beacon searches, and snow pit analysis for backcountry safety.
• Mountain Mind Project mPEAK Mindfulness Scholarship 8-week online mindfulness training scholarship (Mindful Performance Enhancement, mPEAK) in partnership with Mountain Mind Project for BIPOC women to develop meditation practice and peak performance skills.
• JEDI Outdoors Advanced Instructor Training with Deb Armstrong Scholarship Advanced 5-day training scholarship providing 4 days of coaching and 1 day of Alpine Skiing Performance Module mock exam with Olympic Gold Medalist Deb Armstrong at Taos Ski Valley for Level I or Level II BIWOC ski instructors.
• Women of Winter Speaker Series Annual speaker series showcasing BIPOC women in snowsports and creative arts, with musical performances and visible role-model programming, designed to inspire the next generation of women in snowsports and build community visibility.

Quantifiable outcome

• 56+ scholarships awarded across PSIA-AASI Level 1, Avalanche Level 1, and mindfulness programs
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 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

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• PSIA-AASI (Professional Ski Instructors of America - American Association of Snowboard Instructors)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPSIA-AASI is Women of Winter's primary certification partner. Together they co-develop and co-deliver the Women of Winter x PSIA-AASI Level I Alpine and Snowboard scholarship program, the FS1/CS1 advanced certification scholarship, and the JEDI Outdoors Advanced Instructor Training. PSIA-AASI provides curriculum, examiners, membership dues coverage, and industry credibility. The partnership has enabled 16+ scholarships per season across multiple years.
• National Brotherhood of Snowsports (NBS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNBS collaborates with WoW and PSIA-AASI to offer 16 scholarships for NBS members to obtain PSIA-AASI Alpine or Snowboard Level I Certification. NBS provides scholarship candidates drawn from its membership base of diverse snowsports professionals and enthusiasts.
• Big Sky Avalanche Foundation for Education (BSAFE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBSAFE partners with Women of Winter to deliver AAA Level 1 Avalanche Certification courses at Big Sky Resort. BSAFE provides certified avalanche instructors who teach recipients how to be safe in backcountry environments. The program runs February 26-28, 2026 with 8 scholarship spots.
• Big Sky ResortcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBig Sky Resort serves as the primary host venue for WoW's scholarship programs, providing lift tickets, facilities, and logistical support. The resort is the venue for Level I Alpine/Snowboard, FS1/CS1, Avalanche Level 1, and advanced training programs. It is a key operational partner enabling program delivery.
• The Snow Pros (PSIA-NRM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Snow Pros (PSIA-NRM division) partners with WoW to deliver Children's Specialist Level I certification courses. They provide curriculum, examiners, and certification administration for the CS1 track of the advanced scholarship program.
• JEDI OutdoorscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJEDI Outdoors, led by Humaira Falkenberg, partners with WoW to create an Advanced Instructor Training program with Olympic Gold Medalist Deb Armstrong at Taos Ski Valley. The program aims to increase inclusion and leadership of advanced BIWOC ski instructors. JEDI Outdoors designs the initiative and WoW provides funding and scholarship recipients.
• Mountain Mind ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMountain Mind Project partners with WoW to provide mindfulness coaching scholarships through the mPEAK (Mindful Performance Enhancement) 8-week training program. Sasha Dingle, Founder and Director of Mountain Mind Project, also serves as a WoW ambassador and past speaker.
• RossignolcoreOthersRossignol is a gear sponsor providing demo skis, snowboards, and bindings to scholarship recipients. Founder Chris Walch is also a Rossignol ambassador. Rossignol hosts welcome receptions for scholarship events.
• GirominorOthersGiro provides helmets and goggles to Women of Winter scholarship recipients as part of the gear package supporting Level I certification scholarship participants.
• HestraminorOthersHestra provides gloves and mittens to Women of Winter scholarship recipients as part of the gear sponsorship package.
• LekiminorOthersLeki provides ski poles to Women of Winter scholarship recipients as part of the gear sponsorship package.
• The North FaceminorOthersThe North Face is a 2024 program partner and gear sponsor supporting Women of Winter's scholarship programs.
• Backcountry Access (BCA)minorOthersBackcountry Access (BCA) is a 2024 program partner supporting Women of Winter's programs and community events.
• HalfdaysminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHalfdays, a women-owned ski and outdoor apparel brand, partners with Women of Winter for brand amplification and community alignment. Brit Schulte, WoW ambassador, is on the marketing team at Halfdays.
• Chef Sally WallyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerChef Sally Wally is a 2024 program partner, supporting Women of Winter events with culinary services and hospitality for scholarship recipients.
• Taos Ski ValleyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTaos Ski Valley hosts the JEDI Outdoors Advanced Instructor Training with Deb Armstrong scholarship program, providing the resort venue, lift tickets, and facilities for the 5-day training.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• GirlTrek: GirlTrek is the largest health nonprofit for Black women and girls in the US, mobilizing outdoor walking and nature engagement. While focused on walking rather than snowsports, it shares WoW's mission of empowering BIWOC through outdoor activity and operates at a comparable grassroots, community-driven scale.

Direct peers

• JEDI Outdoors: JEDI Outdoors advances justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion in outdoor recreation through training and instructor development, and is WoW's direct program partner on the Advanced Instructor Training with Olympic Gold Medalist Deb Armstrong. Both organizations operate at the intersection of DEI and snowsports certification pathways.
• National Brotherhood of Snowsports (NBS): NBS is a national nonprofit focused on increasing diversity in snowsports through education, events, and community programs for people of color. It is WoW's direct scholarship partner for the PSIA-AASI Level I program and serves an overlapping BIWOC snowsports audience with comparable community- and certification-focused programming.
• SheJumps: SheJumps is a nonprofit increasing female participation in outdoor activities including skiing, snowboarding, and backcountry sports through community events, education, and mentorship. It targets a closely overlapping audience of women in snowsports with comparable community-driven, volunteer-led program delivery.

Emerging players

• Outdoor Afro: Outdoor Afro is a national nonprofit reconnecting Black communities with outdoor recreation through education, events, and leadership programs. While broader in activity scope than WoW, it serves a substantially overlapping BIWOC outdoor audience and pursues a similar community-driven, donor-supported nonprofit model.
• Big City Mountaineers: Big City Mountaineers is a nonprofit providing wilderness experiences for under-resourced youth, including winter and snowsports programming. It shares WoW's mission of breaking down access barriers in outdoor recreation and uses a similar donor- and sponsor-supported nonprofit structure.
• Catalyst Sports: Catalyst Sports is a nonprofit increasing access to adaptive and inclusive mountain sports, including snowboarding and skiing, for individuals with disabilities and underrepresented communities. It overlaps with WoW's mission of expanding access to snowsports and uses a community-event-plus-scholarship delivery model.
• Brown Girls Climb: Brown Girls Climb is a nonprofit creating inclusive opportunities for women of color in climbing and outdoor adventure through education, scholarships, and community events. It mirrors WoW's scholarship-plus-community model but focuses on climbing rather than snowsports.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/womenofwinterbzn
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/women-of-winter

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 Women of Winter