Wisconsin Association of School Councils (WASC)

What Wisconsin Association of School Councils (WASC) does

Wisconsin Association of School Councils (WASC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, founded in 1935 and headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin, that builds student leadership and civic-engagement skills in K-12 youth across the state. Its constituency is the student councils of Wisconsin elementary, middle, and high schools, supported by a small staff of 1–10 employees and a broader volunteer base; the organization states it has served more than 350,000 young leaders over its operating history.

The product surface is a portfolio of in-person programming layered onto a school-membership subscription model. Core offerings include Leadership Camp, the State Conference, the Fall Leadership Tour, Future Fair, the Fall Elementary Leadership Conference, and "Leadership Day with the Bucks." Membership is sold at the school level across elementary, middle, and high school tiers, with a Plan2Lead installment payment option, and engagement is extended beyond graduation via a Young Alumni Group (YAG). Partnerships with the Milwaukee Bucks, MATC, Delta Kappa Gamma, UW-Stevens Point, and Madison Marriott West are co-delivery and venue relationships, while Amazon Smile provides a donation channel.

The business model combines multiple revenue streams — school membership dues, event and camp registration fees, individual and corporate donations, sponsorships, and merchandise — into a diversified nonprofit funding base. Operations are run from Madison with a lean staff, and a planned executive transition (Julie Lietz succeeding Bjorn Berg on September 1, 2026) signals organizational continuity. No technology platform, AI components, or quantified financial metrics are disclosed in the available source material.

Name

Wisconsin Association of School Councils (WASC)

Legal name

Wisconsin Association of School Councils, Inc.

Website

https://wasc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1935

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Wisconsin Association of School Councils (WASC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, founded in 1935 in Madison, WI, that delivers in-person student leadership training — camps, conferences, and council programming — to K-12 schools across Wisconsin, supported by memberships, events, and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

K-12 Educational Leadership Services

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Business Associations (813910), Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAJAJAH

Student Government & Leadership Programs

Education/K–12 / Primary & Secondary Education/K–12 Extracurriculars & Athletics (School-Run)

SECONDARYEDAMALAK

Leadership, Debate & Model UN Camps

Education/Supplemental & Enrichment Programs (Arts, STEM, Language)/Summer & Holiday Enrichment Camps (Multi-Activity, Academic)

SECONDARYEDAJAJAI

Community Service & Service-Learning Programs (School-Run)

Education/K–12 / Primary & Secondary Education/K–12 Extracurriculars & Athletics (School-Run)

SECONDARYTHAHACAA

Association & Society Conference Management (Nonprofit, Professional Bodies)

Travel & Hospitality/MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences & Exhibitions)/Professional Conference Organizers (PCOs) & Meeting Planners

SECONDARYBPAGADAB

K–12 Support & School Improvement Nonprofits

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Education & Youth Development Nonprofits

SECONDARYEDALAHAA

Student Government & Leadership Programs

Education/Student Services & Campus Operations/Student Activities, Clubs & Campus Life

Keywords

• Student leadership development
• K-12 leadership programs
• Youth leadership training
• Educational conferences
• Nonprofit member services

Headquarters

HQ city

Madison

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. School Membership Fees: Annual membership fees paid by schools and districts to access WASC programs, resources, and discounted event pricing. Tiers include Basic ($100), Plus ($200), and All-Access ($300) for individual schools, plus District memberships ranging from $500-$900.
2. Event and Camp Registration Fees: Revenue from summer leadership camps ($485-$515 per delegate with various discount tiers), State Conference ($96-$106 per attendee), Fall Leadership Tour ($39-$49), and other programs including Future Fair registration fees.
3. Donations and Charitable Contributions: 501(c)(3) nonprofit accepting tax-deductible donations. The Roger Chambers Camp Scholarship Fund and other designated giving options support students who need financial assistance to attend programs.
4. Sponsorship Revenue: Partnership and sponsorship opportunities at State Conference and Future Fair events ranging from $200 (booth) to $10,000 (Title Sponsorship). Includes recognition on signage, event materials, and website.
5. Merchandise Sales: Online store selling WASC branded merchandise including apparel, with CLC-specific items available for Collaborative Leadership Council members.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

WASC delivers year-round K-12 student leadership development programming in Wisconsin through an annual school and district membership model combined with fee-based events. Its core deliverables are the multi-day summer Leadership Camp at UW-Stevens Point (with six progressive levels), the State Conference & Competitions (with 11 competitive events), the regional Fall Leadership Tour at five Wisconsin cities, the Fall Elementary Leadership Conference at UW-Green Bay, Leadership Day with the Bucks at Fiserv Forum, and the Future Fair college and career exploration event. The organization sells individual school memberships at three tiers (Basic, Plus, All-Access) and district-level memberships scaled to district size.

Product overview

The Wisconsin Association of School Councils (WASC) is a statewide K-12 student leadership organization founded in 1935, offering a comprehensive portfolio of leadership development programs. The core offerings include WASC Leadership Camp (a 5-day immersive summer experience with six progressive levels), the State Conference & Competitions (featuring 11 competitive events and WI Student Voice presentations), Fall Leadership Tour (regional events across five Wisconsin locations), and the Future Fair (college and career exploration fair). Supporting programs include Camp Discovery Day, Leadership Day with the Bucks, Spirit of Excellence Awards, and the Young Alumni Group. The organization operates membership programs at individual (Basic, Plus, All-Access tiers) and district levels, and offers the Plan2Lead payment program for flexible camp tuition payments.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• WASC School Membership Annual membership for individual Wisconsin K-12 schools at three tiers — Basic ($100), Plus ($200), and All-Access ($300) — providing discounted event pricing, member handbook, monthly communications, exclusive offers, fee waivers, and conference credits.
• WASC District Membership District-level annual membership scaled by number of schools: Small District under 10 schools ($500), Mid-Size District 10-15 schools ($700), and Unlimited School District 15+ schools ($900).
• WASC Leadership Camp Five-day immersive summer leadership experience for middle and high school students held at University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, with six progressive levels (Levels 1-6) developing leadership skills, communication, self-esteem, and advocacy. Tuition ranges from $465 to $515 with multiple discount tiers.
• Camp Discovery Day Free one-day experience for school staff to observe WASC Leadership Camp in real time, with lunch provided plus $100 payment or mileage reimbursement.
• Fall Leadership Tour Regional leadership development events offered at five Wisconsin locations (Eau Claire, Stevens Point, Green Bay, Milwaukee, Madison) featuring motivational content, instruction, and networking for school leadership programs. Member pricing $39/attendee.
• Fall Elementary Leadership Conference Leadership conference for 4th, 5th, and 6th grade student leaders covering student council structure, leadership traits, goal setting, communication, and project planning at University of Wisconsin-Green Bay.
• Leadership Day with the Bucks Day-long leadership training partnership with the Milwaukee Bucks combining programming at Fiserv Forum and Milwaukee Area Technical College with attendance at a Bucks game.
• Future Fair Annual college and career exploration fair at Madison Marriott West connecting middle and high school students with colleges, careers, and professionals through booth and partnership packages ranging from $200 (Booth) to $2,000 (Title Partner).
• State Conference & Competitions Wisconsin's premier two-day student leadership experience featuring competitions, elections, keynote speakers, breakout sessions, banquet, and closing ceremony. Member pricing $96/attendee, non-member $106/attendee. Includes WI Student Voice presentations and the State Competitions Program covering 11 competitive events.
• Plan2Lead Payment Program Installment payment plan allowing families to spread WASC camp tuition across multiple monthly payments with no setup fees and 100% refund if cancelled before June 1.
• WASC Branded Merchandise Online store selling WASC-branded apparel and merchandise, including CLC-specific items available for Collaborative Leadership Council members via wasc.store.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 350,000 young leaders served since 1935
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Future Fair Booth and Partner OrganizationscoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 20 April 2026Colleges, businesses, non-profits, and organizations participate as booth hosts at the annual Future Fair career exploration event. Partnership levels include Booth Only ($200), Event Partner ($500), Spotlight Partner ($1,000), and Title Partner ($2,000). Partners receive logo recognition, booth placement, and promotional visibility to student leaders.
• Delta Kappa GammaminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025International organization promoting professional and personal growth of women educators. Offers two $500 camp scholarships for female registrants in 10th or 11th grade attending Level 4 camp.
• Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 December 2023Partnership expanded Student Leadership Day with the Bucks to include leadership programming at MATC. Students transition from Fiserv Forum to MATC for continued leadership sessions before returning for the Bucks game.
• Milwaukee BuckscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 December 2023Over 10-year partnership bringing Student Leadership Day with the Bucks. Includes leadership training at Fiserv Forum followed by Bucks game attendance. Students experience professional sports environment while developing leadership skills. The partnership combines WASC's student leadership expertise with the Bucks' platform and visibility.
• University of Wisconsin - Stevens PointcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost venue for 2026 WASC Summer Leadership Camps (July 12-16, 2026). Provides campus facilities, housing, dining, and programming space for the 5-day camp experience.
• Madison Marriott West Hotel & Conference CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost venue for State Conference (2026) and Future Fair events. Provides conference facilities, sleeping rooms, and event space. WASC receives room block rates for participant accommodations.
• Amazon SmileminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAmazon Smile program donates 0.5% of eligible purchases to WASC. Supporters can select WASC as their charity preference at smile.amazon.com.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• SkillsUSA: National nonprofit serving middle, high, and college students preparing for skilled trade and service careers, with leadership components and statewide chapter structures. Adjacent competitor for K-12 student engagement time and school membership dollars.
• National 4-H Council: Youth development organization with K-12 leadership programming, summer camps, and state-level affiliates (including Wisconsin 4-H). Comparable mission and structure but broader scope including agriculture, STEM, and civic engagement rather than student councils specifically.
• DECA Inc. International student organization preparing emerging leaders for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality, and management. While more career-track focused, it competes for the same K-12 student leadership engagement and runs conferences, competitions, and chapters at member schools.
• National Association of Student Councils (NASC): National-level student council/leadership organization affiliated with NASSP. Operates a similar model (memberships, conferences, leadership training) for student councils but at a national scale rather than a single state, making it the most direct analog to WASC's programming.

Direct peers

• Texas Association of Student Councils (TASC): One of the largest state student council associations, providing leadership training, state conventions, and curriculum for Texas K-12 student leaders. Comparable model at larger scale with similar membership and event-driven structure.
• Missouri Association of Student Councils (MASC): Statewide student leadership organization for Missouri K-12 schools, hosting state conferences, leadership workshops, and advisor resources. Direct comparable in mission, programming, and target customer to WASC.
• Illinois Association of Student Councils (IASC): Statewide K-12 student leadership association serving Illinois schools through conferences, camps, and workshops. Operates the same membership-and-events model targeting student councils and advisors in a neighboring Midwest state.

Emerging players

• Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership (HOBY): National nonprofit running state and regional leadership seminars for high school sophomores, including ambassador programs and alumni networks. Overlaps with WASC's leadership development mission for high schoolers but uses seminar-based delivery rather than camps.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks4 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/WisconsinAssociationOfSchoolCouncils
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wisconsin-association-of-school-councils

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Wisconsin Association of School Councils (WASC)