American Association Of Woodturners

What American Association Of Woodturners does

AAW is a Minnesota-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit membership organization founded in 1986 that serves the woodturning community. With approximately 16,000 members and 360+ chapters worldwide, AAW functions as the central institutional body for hobbyists, professionals, students, vendors, and educators in the craft of woodturning. The organization provides a structured ecosystem for skill development, community engagement, and knowledge sharing across the global woodturning demographic.

AAW's core products include the American Woodturner journal, the Woodturning Fundamentals instructional series, the AAW Explore video library, and an online member forum. The organization also hosts the annual AAW Symposium, a flagship in-person event rotating between U.S. cities, with the 2026 edition held in St. Paul for the 40th anniversary and the 2027 symposium scheduled for Oklahoma City. AAW coordinates a global chapter network of 360+ local groups that host demonstrations, workshops, and peer learning events.

AAW's business model is built on individual membership dues (priced at $37-$100 per year depending on tier), supplemented by symposium registration fees, journal advertising, merchandise sales, and charitable donations. Governance is exercised by an elected board of directors representing the membership. The organization operates with a small staff (1-10 employees) and is supported by a large volunteer base drawn from its chapter network. Its competitive position rests on a multi-decade brand, a deep content archive, and the network effects of an established global community.

Name

American Association Of Woodturners

Legal name

American Association of Woodturners

Website

https://woodturner.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

AAW is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1986 that serves approximately 16,000 woodturners worldwide through 360+ chapters. It publishes the American Woodturner journal, produces instructional content, and hosts an annual symposium to support its global member community.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint Paul

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, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Subscriptions: Annual membership fees providing access to American Woodturner journal, Woodturning Fundamentals, online resources, chapter network, and member benefits. Multiple tiers available including individual, family, student, digital-only, and business premium memberships.
2. Symposium and Event Registrations: Revenue from annual International Woodturning Symposium registrations, regional symposiums, remote demonstrations, and educational events featuring woodturning demonstrations and vendor exhibitions.
3. Journal Subscriptions (Non-Member): Sale of American Woodturner journal and Woodturning Fundamentals publications, including digital archive access and printed copies for business premium members.
4. Advertising and Sponsorship: Advertising opportunities in American Woodturner journal and Woodturning Fundamentals publications, as well as website advertising for business premium members.
5. Merchandise Sales: Sale of AAW merchandise, including event merchandise and other branded products.
6. Donations: Tax-deductible donations from members and supporters to support the craft and community.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The American Association of Woodturners (AAW) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit membership organization that delivers woodturning education through the American Woodturner journal (published six times per year), Woodturning Fundamentals publication and learning portal, the annual International Woodturning Symposium, and a global network of more than 360 local chapters. Membership tiers (Individual, Family, Student, Digital, Business Premium, Affiliate) provide access to 3,000+ projects, articles, videos, and skill-building resources.

Product overview

The American Association of Woodturners (AAW) operates as a comprehensive membership-based woodturning education and community organization. The core product portfolio centers on the American Woodturner journal and Woodturning Fundamentals publication/learning portal, providing the largest portfolio of woodturning-related material in the world with 3,000+ projects, articles, videos and tips. The AAW organizes the annual AAW International Woodturning Symposium and supports a global network of 360+ chapters. Additional offerings include the AAW EXPLORE! search tool, Woodturning Gallery, Discover Woodturning portal, AAW Online Forum, AAW Guidebook App for symposia, and the ReTurn to the Community charitable program. The organization offers multiple membership tiers including Individual/Family, Student, Digital-Only, Business Premium, and Affiliate memberships.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• American Woodturner Journal Award-winning periodical published six times annually, delivered in print and digitally, with online archive access to 175+ past issues dating to 1986. Premier membership benefit for AAW members.
• Woodturning Fundamentals Publication Online learning portal and publication with projects, skill builders, and downloadable PDF guides tailored for new turners to build foundational woodturning skills. Includes 40+ archive issues.
• AAW International Woodturning Symposium Annual three-and-a-half day in-person symposium featuring woodturning demonstrations, panel discussions, vendor exhibitions, hands-on sessions, and special events led by internationally known woodturners and expert instructors.
• AAW EXPLORE! Search Tool Online keyword search tool enabling members to quickly locate information, projects, videos, tips, and articles across AAW's content library.
• AAW Online Forum Community discussion platform where members share woodturning work, ask questions, and exchange technique advice. Includes weekly Turning of the Week features.
• Woodturning Gallery Online gallery showcasing woodturning work created by AAW members ranging from professionals to beginners.
• Discover Woodturning Learning Portal Public online learning portal introducing the art and craft of woodturning, covering its origins, appeal, and how to get started.
• Woodturning Fundamentals Learning Portal Members-only online learning portal with structured projects, skill builders, and instructional content for new turners building foundational woodturning skills and techniques.
• AAW Chapters Network Global network of 360+ independent local chapters of woodturning enthusiasts who gather for hands-on instruction, demonstrations, and community fellowship.
• Individual & Family Membership Annual membership tier (Individual $74/year; Family $74 plus $5/household member) providing print and digital subscriptions to American Woodturner and Woodturning Fundamentals, access to 3,000+ projects, AAW Forum, 15,000+ turners network, discounts on events and merchandise, and AAW general liability insurance for AAW roles.
• Student Membership Digital-only annual membership at $37/year for students age 10-25, providing access to American Woodturner (6 issues/year), 175+ digital archives, and Woodturning Fundamentals with 40+ archive issues.
• Digital Membership Annual digital-only membership at $60/year providing full digital access to American Woodturner and Woodturning Fundamentals publications without printed copies.
• Business Premium Membership Annual business membership at $100/year (worldwide) including six printed American Woodturner copies, Woodturning Fundamentals access, full online content access, AAW newsletters, voting privileges, business profile with logo and website link, demonstrator/maker profiles, and 5% advertising discount.
• Affiliate Membership Free introductory short-term membership allowing prospective members to explore AAW offerings before committing to a paid tier.
• ReTurn to the Community Program Charitable program spanning more than 15 years in which AAW woodturners support charities and innovative projects through donations and handmade items.

Quantifiable outcome

• Access to 3,000+ woodturning projects, articles, videos and tips
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• International Association of Penturners: A membership organization specifically for pen turning — a sub-discipline of woodturning. Directly comparable to AAW as a niche craft membership association serving woodturners with publications, community, and educational resources.
• The Furniture Society: A membership-based nonprofit organization dedicated to the art of furniture making, including woodworking crafts. Directly comparable to AAW in that it serves a niche craft community through education, publications, and events.
• Architectural Woodwork Institute: A trade association for architectural woodworkers, manufacturers, and suppliers. Comparable to AAW as a membership-driven wood industry association offering education, certification, and industry standards to a wood-focused membership.
• Caricature Carvers of America: A membership organization for caricature woodcarvers, a niche woodcraft community. Comparable to AAW in operating model as a craft-specific membership association with educational focus, member gallery, and member community.
• Scroll Saw Woodworkers Association: A membership-based association serving scroll saw and intarsia woodworkers. Directly comparable to AAW as a niche woodcraft membership organization with publications, educational content, and member community.

Broad incumbents

• Fine Woodworking / Taunton Press: Premier woodworking magazine and digital content brand serving serious woodworkers. Comparable to AAW in audience overlap and craft education mission, but functions as a commercial media company rather than a member-driven association.
• Highland Woodworking: Specialty woodworking retailer and education provider serving serious woodworkers and turners. Comparable to AAW's audience overlap, including woodturning products and instructional content, but operating under a retail business model.
• Woodcraft: Major national woodworking retailer offering tools, supplies, classes, and educational content to woodworkers. Comparable to AAW as it serves hobbyist woodworkers with educational resources, but with a retail/commercial business model.
• Popular Woodworking / Active Interest Media: Major woodworking media brand publishing magazines, books, videos, and online content for hobbyist woodworkers. Comparable to AAW in audience and craft focus, but operates as a commercial publisher rather than membership nonprofit.

Emerging players

• Marc Adams School of Woodworking: Largest private woodworking school in the US, offering hands-on classes across many disciplines including turning. Comparable to AAW in serving woodworking education, but operates as a for-profit school rather than membership association.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/AAWwebmaster
• Facebookfacebook.com/AAWoodturners
• Instagraminstagram.com/aawoodturners
• Pinterestpinterest.com/aawoodturners
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/american-association-of-woodturners

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 American Association Of Woodturners