AIA West Virginia

What AIA West Virginia does

AIA West Virginia is the West Virginia state chapter of the American Institute of Architects, organized as a private 501(c)(6) nonprofit professional membership association headquartered in Charleston, WV (223 Hale Street). Founded in 1986 and operating with a lean staff of 1-10 employees led by Executive Director Antonia Edwardson, the organization serves licensed architects, emerging professionals, allied practitioners (engineers, interior designers, planners, contractors, suppliers), and architecture students across West Virginia. Its mission centers on advocacy for the profession, design excellence, continuing education, and pipeline development through scholarships.

The organization's core offerings span six membership tiers (Architect, Associate, New Graduate, Emeritus, Allied/Affiliate at $260/year, and Student/AIAS), annual flagship programs (Design Awards Gala, WV Construction and Design EXPO with 400+ booths and 3,000 attendees, Annual Golf Tournament), and ongoing professional development through chapter meetings, lunch-and-learns, Procrastinator's Day, and virtual CEU sessions. It distributes AIA Contract Documents (industry-standard, 100+ contracts) and administers the West Virginia Foundation for Architecture (WVFA), a 501(c)(3) sister entity that has disbursed $352,750 in scholarships to 154 architecture students since 2007. Strategic partnerships include Fairmont State University (AIAS chapter host), Covenant House (CANstruction canned-goods donation drive), and national AIA.

Revenue is generated through four streams: recurring membership dues, event sponsorships (Design Awards Gala tiers $650-$7,000; Golf Tournament tiers $350-$3,500), one-time Design Awards submission fees ($225/entry), and AIA Contract Document sales. Go-to-market is sales-led via direct outreach, networking events, and industry engagement; marketing relies on Facebook, Instagram, monthly newsletters, the website, and earned media coverage (WVVA, Connect-Bridgeport, The State Journal). The organization does not disclose financials publicly.

Name

AIA West Virginia

Legal name

AIA West Virginia

Website

https://aiawv.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

AIA West Virginia is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit professional membership association and West Virginia chapter of the American Institute of Architects, serving licensed architects, allied professionals, and architecture students through membership tiers, annual Design Awards, continuing education, and the WVFA scholarship program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Charleston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees for architects, associate members, allied professionals, and affiliates. Professional Affiliate and Allied Membership dues are $260 per year.
2. Event Sponsorships: Sponsorship revenue from the Design Awards Gala and Annual Golf Tournament. Gala sponsorships range from $650 (AIA Sponsor) to $7,000 (Exclusive Cocktail Hour Sponsor). Golf tournament sponsorships range from $350 (Hole Sponsor) to $3,500 (Premiere Sponsor).
3. Design Awards Submissions: Design Awards submission fees of $225 per entry and Craftsmanship Award submissions at $225.
4. AIA Contract Documents: Sales of AIA Contract Documents, the industry standard contract forms, through paper documents and digital purchasing options.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

AIA West Virginia is the West Virginia state chapter of the American Institute of Architects, providing professional membership services, advocacy, continuing education, networking, and design awards programs for architects and allied professionals. The organization sells membership categories (Architect, Associate, New Graduate, Emeritus, Allied/Affiliate, Student), distributes AIA Contract Documents, and hosts annual events including the Design Awards Gala, WV Construction and Design EXPO, and Golf Tournament. It also administers architecture scholarships through its 501(c)(3) sister organization, the West Virginia Foundation for Architecture (WVFA).

Product overview

AIA West Virginia is a professional membership organization offering a portfolio of membership categories (Architect, Associate, New Graduate, Emeritus, Allied/Affiliate, Student), annual programs (Design Awards Gala, WV Construction & Design EXPO, Golf Tournament), and professional development resources (Continuing Education, Scholarships through WVFA). The organization serves as the leading voice for the architecture profession in West Virginia, focused on advocacy, education, community engagement, and networking. Key programs include the annual Design Awards recognizing architectural excellence, the WVFA scholarship program supporting architecture students, continuing education offerings, and networking events for emerging professionals through EWVA.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Student Membership (AIAS) For students enrolled in an accredited architecture program. Free or low-cost membership providing educational resources, mentorship, and professional connections.
• Architect Membership (AIA) Membership for licensed architects in the United States, providing access to professional development resources, continuing education, networking opportunities, and advocacy efforts at state and national levels.
• Associate Membership (Assoc. AIA) Membership for individuals on the path to licensure, including recent graduates from accredited architecture programs or those working under a licensed architect. Includes mentorship and career advancement focus.
• New Graduate Membership Exclusive for recent graduates of accredited architecture programs within the past 18 months. Offers free or significantly reduced dues for the first year.
• Emeritus Membership For AIA members in good standing for 15 consecutive years who are at least 70 years of age or fully retired. Offers reduced or waived dues while retaining access to AIA resources.
• Allied + Affiliate Professional Membership Designed for licensed professionals (engineers, planners, interior designers, attorneys, developers, educators) and construction industry professionals (manufacturers, suppliers, contractors, consultants). Provides networking events, industry updates, and collaboration opportunities.
• Annual Design Awards Gala & Scholarship Benefit Annual event celebrating architectural excellence, honoring architects, owners, and builders of significant projects, and presenting scholarships. Held at Hotel Morgan in Morgantown with sponsorship tiers ranging from $650 to $7,000.
• Continuing Education Comprehensive educational opportunities providing required Learning Units (LU) and Health, Safety, and Welfare (HSW) courses for architects' licensure maintenance.
• WVFA Architecture Scholarships Scholarship program for West Virginia students pursuing architecture degrees at Fairmont State University, Yale, University of Tennessee, and Thomas Jefferson University. Over $356,000 awarded to 166 students since 1986, with $19,250 awarded in 2026.
• West Virginia Construction and Design EXPO Major regional event with over 400 exhibit booths and 3,000 attendees. Offers more than 70 seminars including free continuing education credits. AIA WV provides continuing education seminars and hosts chapter meetings.
• Annual Golf Tournament Fall event bringing together architects, engineers, designers, and allied members. Primary fundraiser benefiting all AIA WV programs with networking opportunities. Sponsorship tiers range from $350 to $3,500.
• Emerging West Virginia Architects (EWVA) Young professionals group connecting new architects through sketch socials, networking events, and tours. Offers support through licensing registration process including ARE study sessions and mentorship programs.
• AIA Contract Documents Industry-standard contract suite offering over 100 contracts designed for projects of all sizes. Available through shop.aiacontracts.com in paper and digital formats.
• CANstruction Competition in which A/E firms and student groups design and build themed structures from canned goods, with all goods donated to Covenant House food bank after display and judging.
• James L. Montgomery Award AIA West Virginia's highest individual honor recognizing those whose work and service have made a lasting impact on the architectural profession and communities it serves.
• Online Job Board Online job board allowing companies to post architecture job openings and job seekers to explore career opportunities in West Virginia.

Named customers10 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• American Institute of ArchitectscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational AIA organization providing matching contributions for scholarships, professional development resources, contract documents standards, and organizational framework. AIA WV is the West Virginia chapter.
• Covenant HouseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal food bank recipient of CANstruction West Virginia program, where A/E firms and student groups build themed structures entirely out of canned goods for donation.
• Fairmont State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHome to the FSU AIAS (American Institute of Architecture Students) chapter. AIA WV supports student membership and provides scholarships in partnership with the university.
• AIA Contract Documents ProgramcoreTechnology or IntegrationAIA Contract Documents are recognized as the industry standard, offering over 100 contracts designed for projects of all sizes. AIA WV distributes these through the organization.
• WV Construction and Design EXPOcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor regional event presented by several organizations including AIA WV, featuring 400+ exhibit booths and 3,000+ attendees. AIA WV provides continuing education seminars and hosts chapter meetings.
• Advantage Valley Inc.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered to provide AIA WV members with access to Succession Planning Video Series helping business owners understand long-term transition options.
• Connect-BridgeportminorPR/ Earned MediaPress coverage partner that published announcement of William E. Yoke Jr. receiving the 2026 James L. Montgomery Award.
• WVVAminorPR/ Earned MediaPress coverage partner that published the WVFA $19,250 scholarship awards announcement in January 2026.
• The State JournalminorPR/ Earned MediaPress coverage partner that covered the 2026 Design Awards Gala in Morgantown recognizing design excellence.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• American Institute of Architects (AIA National): National umbrella organization for architects in the U.S. AIA West Virginia operates as a state chapter under AIA National, sharing the same brand, credential, and contract documents program. Directly comparable membership-association model at a national scale.
• National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB): National organization managing architectural licensure and the ARE exam. AIA WV supports members on the licensure path through ARE study sessions and mentorship; NCARB is a complementary — not competing — peer in the architect professional ecosystem.

Direct peers

• AIA Pennsylvania: Neighboring state chapter of the American Institute of Architects, offering the same membership categories, design awards, advocacy, and continuing education programming to architects in Pennsylvania. Closest structural and operational analog to AIA WV.
• AIA Ohio: Another adjacent state chapter of AIA with the same mission of advocacy, professional development, networking, and design awards for Ohio-licensed architects. Direct peer in structure, scope, and revenue model.
• AIA Virginia: Regional peer and fellow Appalachian/mid-Atlantic AIA chapter providing the same suite of membership tiers, design awards galas, continuing education, and advocacy for Virginia-licensed architects. Directly comparable in offerings.
• AIA Kentucky: Direct neighboring-state peer offering the same architect, associate, allied, and student membership categories plus design awards and CE programming. Comparable small-state chapter structure with similar geographic constraints.

Emerging players

• American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS): National student architecture organization that partners with AIA WV to funnel architecture students into the AIA pipeline via the FSU AIAS chapter. Overlaps on student membership and emerging-professional development.
• Construction Specifications Institute (CSI): Professional association for construction specifiers and building product professionals that overlaps AIA WV's allied/affiliate membership segment. Comparable in providing CEUs, networking, and chapter-based engagement for the broader A/E/C industry.
• U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC): National sustainability-focused membership organization operating LEED credentialing programs. Overlaps with AIA WV's Committee on the Environment (COTE) and offers an alternative professional home for sustainability-minded architects.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/AIAWV
• Instagraminstagram.com/aiawestvirginia
• Xx.com/AIAWV
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/west-virginia-society-of-architects

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about AIA West Virginia