Rhode Island Pharmacists Association

What Rhode Island Pharmacists Association does

The Rhode Island Pharmacists Association (RIPA) is a nonprofit professional membership organization established in 1874, making it one of the oldest state pharmacist associations in the United States. It serves licensed pharmacists and pharmacy students practicing in Rhode Island, providing membership services, continuing education, advocacy representation, networking events, and awards. The organization operates as a unified voice for the pharmacy profession in state legislative matters and partners with industry entities such as McKesson, APMS, PAAS National, and Pharmacists Mutual to advance advocacy, quality improvement, compliance, and insurance-related initiatives.

RIPA runs its operations on Wild Apricot, a third-party membership management platform used to handle member sign-ups, dues, and event registration. The association's core offerings include the Annual Golf Outing, the Hepatitis C Project ECHO continuing education program, an advocacy-focused Political Action Committee (PAC), student membership programs, and grant opportunities administered through the affiliated Rhode Island Pharmacy Foundation. Content and outreach are distributed through the website, advocacy newsletters, and professional events.

The association's business model is membership-dues based and recurring, with revenue derived from subscriptions paid by licensed pharmacists and pharmacy students. Pricing is not publicly disclosed, suggesting tiered structures (e.g., pharmacist vs. student). Its geographic scope is strictly Rhode Island, and there are no indications of subsidiaries, parent organizations, M&A activity, venture funding, or external equity ownership. The organization functions as a member-governed trade association with a lean staff footprint (11-50 employees).

Name

Rhode Island Pharmacists Association

Legal name

Rhode Island Pharmacists Association

Website

https://ripharmacists.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1874

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Rhode Island Pharmacists Association is a nonprofit professional membership organization founded in 1874 that unites licensed pharmacists and pharmacy students in Rhode Island through advocacy, continuing education, networking events, and industry partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Association Services

NAICS

Professional Organizations (813920)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Access Policy, Advocacy & Stakeholder Management (HLAIAKAL)

Keywords

• Professional pharmacy association
• Pharmacist continuing education
• Pharmacy advocacy services
• Professional membership organization
• Pharmacy networking events

Headquarters

HQ city

West Warwick

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. Membership Dues: The association generates revenue through membership dues from pharmacists and student members in Rhode Island. This provides access to professional development, advocacy services, networking, and member benefits.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Rhode Island Pharmacists Association unites pharmacists across the state through membership services, professional development courses (such as the Hepatitis C Project ECHO program), advocacy representation via its Political Action Committee, networking events including the Annual Golf Outing, awards and recognition programs, and grant opportunities administered through the Rhode Island Pharmacy Foundation.

Product overview

The Rhode Island Pharmacists Association (RIPA) is a professional membership organization for pharmacists, not a technology product company. It does not offer a distinct product or service portfolio. RIPA provides membership services, professional development opportunities (such as the Hepatitis C Project ECHO course), events (including the Annual RI Pharmacists Association Golf Outing), advocacy for the pharmacy profession, awards and nominations, grant opportunities through its Foundation, and student membership programs. The association is powered by Wild Apricot membership software for managing its operations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• RIPA Pharmacist Membership
• RIPA Student Membership
• Hepatitis C Project ECHO Professional Development Course Free professional development course offered to pharmacists and healthcare providers as part of the Project ECHO telehealth education model, focused on Hepatitis C clinical knowledge.
• 28th Annual RI Pharmacists Association Golf Outing Annual networking and fundraising event held at Cranston Country Club, bringing together RIPA members, partners, and supporters for recreation and community building.
• Rhode Island Pharmacy Foundation Grants Grant opportunities administered through the Rhode Island Pharmacy Foundation to support pharmacy-related initiatives, professional development, and quality improvement projects.
• RIPA Political Action Committee (PAC) Advocacy Legislative advocacy program representing the interests of Rhode Island pharmacists in state policy, supported by advocacy communications and member engagement on pharmacy-related legislation.

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

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• McKessonminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMcKesson is a major pharmaceutical distribution company. Their partnership with RIPA focuses on advocacy efforts dedicated to elevating the pharmacy profession. McKesson's messaging emphasizes that community pharmacies are the nation's front door to accessible healthcare.
• APMS (American Pharmacy Management Services)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAPMS partners with pharmacies to cultivate a culture of quality in the pharmacy profession. They provide ongoing analysis of systems to identify best practices aimed at reducing medication errors, improving medication use, and enhancing patient care.
• PAAS NationalminorOthersListed as a partner on the RIPA partners page. PAAS National provides pharmacy consulting and compliance services.
• Pharmacists MutualminorOthersListed as a partner on the RIPA partners page. Pharmacists Mutual provides insurance products tailored to pharmacists and pharmacies.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• American Pharmacists Association (APhA): The largest national professional association for pharmacists, offering advocacy, CE, and member services across all 50 states. A broader incumbent that competes for the same pharmacist dues dollars as RIPA.
• National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA): National association representing community pharmacists with advocacy, education, and member benefits. Overlaps significantly with RIPA's community-pharmacy-focused mission and member value proposition.
• American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP): National association for hospital and health-system pharmacists. Adjacent professional body whose members in Rhode Island overlap with RIPA's audience.

Direct peers

• Connecticut Pharmacists Association: State-level professional membership association serving Connecticut pharmacists with advocacy, CE, and networking. Direct peer to RIPA with the same nonprofit membership-association model in a neighboring New England state.
• Massachusetts Pharmacists Association: State-level professional membership association for pharmacists in Massachusetts. Closest comparable peer to RIPA in mission, structure, advocacy focus, and member services, differing only by state geography.
• Pharmacists Society of the State of New York: Statewide professional society for New York pharmacists focused on advocacy, education, and member services. Closely analogous to RIPA in mission and organizational model, with a much larger in-state footprint.
• New Jersey Pharmacists Association: State-level pharmacy association for New Jersey pharmacists offering advocacy, networking, and education. A direct peer with a similar membership-association structure in a neighboring Northeast market.
• Pennsylvania Pharmacists Association: State-level pharmacy association serving Pennsylvania pharmacists with advocacy, CE, and member services. Comparable in mission and operating model, differing only by state.

Others

• American Pharmacy Cooperative, Inc. Pharmacy buying and services cooperative serving independent pharmacies. Adjacent ecosystem player that RIPA's community-pharmacy members may also engage with.
• National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP): National umbrella organization for state pharmacy boards. Ecosystem participant that sets standards influencing RIPA's advocacy agenda, but not a direct dues competitor.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rhodeislandpharmacists

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 Rhode Island Pharmacists Association