macae

What macae does

MACAE (Michigan Adult, Community & Alternative Education Association) is a nonprofit professional membership association founded in 1983 and headquartered in Lansing, Michigan. Its functional role is to serve as the statewide advocate and capacity-builder for adult, community, and alternative education professionals in Michigan, providing professional development, advocacy representation, training, resources, and networking across 135+ member agencies and 550+ individual professionals including directors, instructors, employment specialists, and community advocates.

The association has no proprietary technology platform; it operates a WordPress-based public site (macae.org), a member portal at members.macae.org for membership enrollment and event registration, and uses Zoom to deliver virtual programming. Service delivery is built around (1) tiered annual membership (organizational tiers from $200 for small community education departments to $2,000 for 20+ person organizations, plus $375 individual and $40 retired individual rates), (2) a recurring event calendar anchored by the Fall Conference, Spring Institute, Adult Literacy Summit, Advocacy Day, and monthly webinars offering SCECH credits, and (3) sponsorship and grant funding from partners including the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, Michigan Works!, BurlingtonEnglish, Essential Education, and EN-GEN.

Revenue mechanics are diversified across subscription-style membership dues, pay-as-you-go event registrations, and corporate/government sponsorships. The association maintains a dedicated lobbyist presence in Lansing, operates 10+ specialized committees, and holds a Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency (2026). Recent strategic posture emphasizes broadening revenue into grants and national-level partnerships (COABE, ProLiteracy) and launching the Learner Advisory Council to incorporate adult learner voices into governance and advocacy.

Name

macae

Legal name

Michigan Adult, Community & Alternative Education Association

Website

https://macae.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

MACAE is a Lansing, Michigan-based nonprofit professional association founded in 1983 that provides professional development, advocacy, and networking to 135+ member agencies and 550+ adult, community, and alternative education professionals statewide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Association Services (Adult Education)

NAICS

Professional Organizations (81392), Convention and Trade Show Organizers (561920)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYTHAHACAA

Association & Society Conference Management (Nonprofit, Professional Bodies)

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

SECONDARYTHAHACAK

Sponsorship, Exhibitor & Partnership Management Services

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

SECONDARYTHAHACAM

Virtual/Hybrid Conference Production & Platform Management

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

SECONDARYTHAHACAJ

Registration, Housing & Travel Desk Services (Delegate Logistics)

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

Keywords

• Adult education association
• Professional development training
• Membership association services
• Workforce development education
• Literacy program support

Headquarters

HQ city

Lansing

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, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees billed on tiered organizational or individual rates, running July 1 to June 30. Organizational tiers range from $550 (2-3 persons) to $2,000 (20+ persons), with discounted rates for community education departments ($200) and nonprofit literacy agencies ($200), and individual rate of $375 with professional development.
2. Event Registration Fees: Revenue from professional development events including Spring Institute ($250 members, $300 non-members) and Fall Conference. Additional revenue from Literacy Summit and other training sessions at varying price points.
3. Sponsorships and Grants: The strategic plan outlines exploration of grants, sponsorships, and strategic partnerships as funding streams. The organization holds a Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency, indicating active fundraising and grant activity.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

MACAE is a nonprofit professional membership association that delivers professional development, advocacy representation, training resources, and networking opportunities to adult, community, and alternative education professionals across Michigan. The association organizes annual conferences, virtual institutes, monthly webinars, advocacy days, and supports 10+ specialized committees to serve its 135+ member agencies and 550+ individual members.

Product overview

MACAE (Michigan Adult, Community & Alternative Education Association) is a professional membership association, not a technology product company. It provides membership services, professional development events, advocacy, and networking opportunities for adult education professionals across Michigan. The organization operates a website to communicate with members and promote its programs but does not offer a software product, platform, or technology service.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Organizational Membership
• Individual Membership
• MACAE Fall Conference
• Spring Institute (Virtual)
• Adult Literacy Summit
• Advocacy Day

Named customers9 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

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState government partner; MACAE coordinates with LEO-WD (Michigan Workforce Development) to advocate for adult education and elevate member concerns at the state level. LEO sponsors MACAE events and is a key stakeholder in state adult education policy.
• Michigan Works!coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMichigan Works! Southeast's Research and Education Manager (Chad Gibbs) serves on the MACAE Board of Directors. Michigan Works! is a key workforce development partner supporting adult education integration.
• BurlingtonEnglishminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of MACAE's Adult Literacy Summit and event exhibitor. Provides English language learning software to adult education programs.
• Essential EducationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor of MACAE; provides digital learning platforms and GED preparation resources for adult education programs.
• EN-GENminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor of MACAE; provides educational technology and workforce development solutions.
• COABE (Coalition on Adult Basic Education)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational membership organization for adult education; MACAE members receive COABE membership and access to national conferences, awards, and resources.
• ProLiteracycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational literacy organization; MACAE members receive membership; ProLiteracy sponsors the Adult Literacy Summit with a 50% early-bird registration discount for MACAE members.
• Michigan's ChildrenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState-level advocacy organization aligned with MACAE's mission; referenced in the strategic plan as a potential partner for joint funding, policy, or data development initiatives.
• MAEO (Michigan Association of Educational Options)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMichigan education organization; referenced in strategic plan for potential partnership in expanding funding, strengthening policy, and sharing data.
• MiLeap (Michigan Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potentials)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide organization referenced in MACAE's strategic plan as a potential partner for joint initiatives around adult education policy and funding.
• MLPP (Michigan League for Public Policy)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPolicy research organization; Alexandra Stamm from MLPP presented at MACAE's Advocacy 101 Webinar, demonstrating ongoing collaboration on adult education policy.
• MCAN (Michigan College Access Network)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollege access organization; referenced in MACAE's strategic plan as a potential partner for expanding adult education funding and policy initiatives.
• NLCF (National Literacy Coalition/Foundation)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerReferenced in MACAE's strategic plan as a potential national partner for joint funding, policy, or data development initiatives.
• MiSidecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorkforce development organization; Senior Director of Workforce Development Karyn Goven serves as MACAE At-Large Director and Workforce Committee contact.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• ProLiteracy: National literacy organization that sponsors MACAE's Adult Literacy Summit and bundles membership. Overlaps in adult literacy professional development, advocacy, and resource publishing; operates at a national scale that MACAE cannot match.
• National Council of State Directors of Adult Education (NCSDAE): National association of state adult education directors; comparable in function (state-level advocacy, professional development) but operates at a national government-director level rather than a practitioner/grassroots level like MACAE.
• COABE (Coalition on Adult Basic Education): National membership organization for adult basic education that already bundles into MACAE memberships. Direct overlap in mission (professional development, advocacy, conferences for adult educators) but at a national scale; represents both a partner and a potential competitive threat.

Others

• Michigan's Children: State-level child and family advocacy organization referenced as a strategic partner; comparable in Lansing-based policy advocacy infrastructure and nonprofit transparency, though focused on K-12/child policy rather than adult education specifically.

Direct peers

• MAEO (Michigan Association of Educational Options): Michigan education organization referenced as a strategic partner; operates in adjacent alternative education space with similar member-driven advocacy and conference formats, directly comparable in scale and Michigan-only geography.
• MiLeap (Michigan Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potentials): Statewide Michigan organization referenced in MACAE's strategic plan as a partner; comparable mission around adult education access, policy, and member coordination within the same state ecosystem.

Regional players

• ValueUSA (Value of Adult Education USA): Multi-state adult education association coalition; comparable practitioner-led mission and professional development focus, but operates at a multi-state regional level rather than a single-state scope like MACAE.
• Literacy Mid-South: Regional adult literacy coalition operating outside Michigan; comparable in nonprofit adult literacy professional development, member agency coordination, and conference/event programming, but serving a different U.S. region.

Emerging players

• Michigan Works!: Michigan's workforce development system and strategic partner; serves overlapping professionals (employment specialists, workforce development practitioners) and shares board representation with MACAE. Comparable in Michigan-centric advocacy and workforce-education integration.
• Michigan League for Public Policy (MLPP): Michigan policy research organization that has presented at MACAE's Advocacy 101 Webinar; comparable in Lansing-based policy advocacy work and partial overlap in adult education policy focus.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mimacae

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 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 macae