Wisconsin Family Business Center

What Wisconsin Family Business Center does

The Wisconsin Family Business Center (FBC) is a nonprofit, membership-based organization founded in 1996–1997 and operated by the Center for Advanced Studies in Business, Inc., an affiliate of the Wisconsin School of Business at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Headquartered at the Fluno Center in Madison, Wisconsin, the FBC provides education, peer groups, and programs tailored to family-owned businesses and their next-generation leaders, addressing succession planning, governance, leadership development, and family dynamics. The organization serves a Wisconsin-based community of more than 60 member companies with annual programs including a Speaker Series, Food For Thought sessions, Round Tables, regional peer groups (Future Leaders, CEOs, key non-family leaders), and Skills Accelerators, supported by live streaming for remote participants.

The FBC monetizes primarily through tiered annual membership fees ($2,000 to $6,000 depending on member company revenue) and corporate sponsorships priced at $14,000 per year, with sponsors capped at two per industry across finance, law, insurance, and investment verticals. Founding sponsors include BDO USA, LLP, Associated Bank, and DeWitt LLP, and the co-stewarded BDO Wisconsin Family Business of the Year Award has recognized over 100 Wisconsin family businesses since 2004. Members receive a 20% discount on more than 70 professional development programs through the Wisconsin School of Business Center for Professional & Executive Development (CPED), and a reciprocity agreement extends access to Loyola Family Business Center Institutes.

Distribution is anchored at the Fluno Center for in-person programming with live streaming for statewide reach, plus peer groups in Madison/Milwaukee and Northeast Wisconsin (the latter delivered in partnership with Strategic Solutions Consulting/Seefeldt Institute for Family Business since 2023). The go-to-market motion is community-led: prospective members attend programs as guests before joining, with growth driven by peer referrals, educational programming, and the institutional credibility of the UW-Madison affiliation.

Name

Wisconsin Family Business Center

Legal name

Center for Advanced Studies in Business, Inc.

Website

https://uwfbc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Wisconsin Family Business Center is a nonprofit, membership-based organization affiliated with the University of Wisconsin–Madison that provides education programs, peer groups, and sponsorship-driven advisory services to family-owned businesses across Wisconsin, addressing succession, governance, and leadership development.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Family Business Education & Peer Learning Services

NAICS

Business Service Centers (56143)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Next-Gen Education & Family Learning Programs (FSAAADAM)

Keywords

• Family business education
• Peer group learning
• Succession planning
• Leadership development
• Business community network

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, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: The Wisconsin Family Business Center generates revenue through tiered annual membership fees based on a company's reported annual revenue. Membership is valid from July 1 to June 30, and fees include four in-person registrations for all FBC programs and events (peer groups are not included). New members may join at any time during the program year with prorated fees.
2. Sponsorship Fees: Organizations can become sponsors of the FBC for $14,000 per year paid in two installments. Sponsors receive recognition at events, access to FBC resources, networking opportunities, and a 20% discount on Center for Professional & Executive Development programs. Sponsors are limited to two per industry.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Wisconsin Family Business Center is a membership-based nonprofit organization that delivers educational programs, peer learning groups, and networking resources to family-owned businesses. Its core offerings include Speaker Series, Food For Thought sessions, Round Tables, regional peer groups for CEOs and Future Leaders, and discounted access to professional development programs through the Wisconsin School of Business Center for Professional & Executive Development (CPED).

Product overview

Wisconsin Family Business Center is a membership-driven organization offering a suite of educational programs and peer-based learning opportunities for family-owned businesses. The core offerings include Speaker Series programs featuring national guest experts, Food For Thought sessions facilitated by sponsor experts, and Round Tables for collective best practice sharing. Peer Groups are available for Future Leaders, CEOs, and key non-family business leaders, with dedicated offerings in both Madison/Milwaukee and Northeast Wisconsin regions. In partnership with the Wisconsin School of Business Center for Professional & Executive Development (CPED), the organization provides professional development programs including Skills Accelerators, Finance and Accounting training, Change Management, Business Acumen and Strategy, and Influence training, all available to members at a 20% discount. Additional member benefits include newsletter subscription, access to program recordings and materials, and reciprocity with the Loyola Family Business Center.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Speaker Series Advanced learning programs featuring guest speakers from across the country discussing timely topics aligned with the current needs and interests of family businesses. Held at Fluno Center and live-streamed.
• Food For Thought Programs facilitated by FBC sponsors discussing important and timely business topics to help create and support family business legacies.
• Round Tables Forum for conversation between FBC members and sponsors to collectively share best practices around topics relevant to family businesses.
• Future Leaders Peer Group Peer group for individuals in positions of future leadership within family-owned businesses where parents are still considered company heads.
• Northeast Wisconsin Peer Groups Family business-focused peer groups in northeast Wisconsin, a collaboration with Strategic Solutions Consulting/Seefeldt Institute for Family Business, meeting 10 times per year.
• Professional Development Program Discount (CPED Partnership) 20% discount on over 70 professional development programs offered through Wisconsin School of Business Center for Professional & Executive Development (CPED).
• Corporate Sponsorship Program Annual corporate sponsorship of the Wisconsin Family Business Center at $14,000 per year. Sponsors receive program participation access, networking, sponsor recognition, a rotating seat on the FBC Advisory Board, and a 20% discount on CPED programs. Limited to two sponsors per industry.

Quantifiable outcome

• BDO has recognized over 100 Wisconsin family-owned businesses through its Annual Wisconsin Family Business of the Year Award since 2004

Named customers8 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

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.

• Strategic Solutions Consulting/Seefeldt Institute for Family BusinesscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2023Collaboration to bring family business focused peer groups to Northeast Wisconsin. Peer groups consist of 8-12 participants from non-competing organizations, facilitated by a family business expert, meeting 10 times per year. Contact: Shipra Seefeldt, President.
• Wisconsin School of Business Center for Professional & Executive Development (CPED)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrograms are delivered by the Center for Advanced Studies in Business, an affiliate of the Wisconsin School of Business. FBC members receive a 20% discount on all CPED professional development programs. The partnership provides access to UW-Madison resources and expertise.
• Fluno CentercoreOthersPrimary venue for FBC programs and events. Located at 601 University Avenue, Madison, WI. The partnership provides the physical location for in-person programming.
• University of Wisconsin-MadisonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe FBC is affiliated with UW-Madison through the Wisconsin School of Business. Members have access to connections with the university.
• BDO USA, LLPflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding Sponsor. BDO's Private Client Services Practice works with family-owned businesses in all aspects of estate, income, and gift taxation. BDO has recognized over 100 Wisconsin family businesses through its Annual Wisconsin Family Business of the Year Award since 2004.
• Associated BankflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding Sponsor. Provides commercial and specialty lending, commercial real estate lending, fiduciary and investment services, and specialized financial services. Operates 200 banking locations across Wisconsin, Illinois, and Minnesota.
• DeWitt LLPflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding Sponsor. Full-service law firm with expertise in corporate law, employment law, estate planning, succession planning, tax law, and family business matters. Nearly 140 attorneys serving from offices in Madison, Brookfield, Green Bay, and Minneapolis.
• Loyola Family Business CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFBC members can participate in the Loyola Family Business Center Institutes (Stewardship, Next Generation Leadership, Governance) at the Loyola FBC member price through reciprocity agreement.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Loyola Family Business Center: Loyola's Quinlan School of Business Family Business Center offers education and peer programs for family-owned businesses and has a reciprocity agreement with Wisconsin FBC, making it the most directly comparable peer in mission, structure, and member offerings.
• Conway Center for Family Business: Ohio-based membership organization providing education, peer groups, and resources for family businesses; comparable membership model and programming structure.
• Arthur M. Blank Center for Family Business (Babson College): One of the leading university-affiliated family business centers in the U.S., serving multi-generational businesses with education, peer learning, and advisory support — directly comparable mission and academic-affiliate structure.
• University of Vermont Family Business Center: Grossman School of Business Family Business Center offers education, peer groups, and succession resources to multi-generational family businesses in Vermont — analogous academic-affiliated model.
• Stetson Family Business Center (Opus College of Business): University of St. Thomas Family Business Center provides programming for family-owned businesses in the Twin Cities region, with a comparable academic-affiliate structure and similar member programming.

Emerging players

• Family Business Magazine / Family Business Services: Long-running media and resource organization serving family-owned businesses with publications, awards, and educational content; complements but does not directly substitute for community/peer-group offerings like FBC.
• Family Enterprise USA: National advocacy and education organization for family-owned businesses, focused on policy, research, and community-building; broader thematic overlap but not a direct membership-program competitor.

Regional players

• Lancaster County Family Business Center (LCFBC): Pennsylvania-based membership organization serving family businesses with education and peer networking, with a similar regional focus and community-led approach as Wisconsin FBC.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/uw-family-business-center

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Family Business Center