Milwaukee Turners, Inc.
Milwaukee Turners, Inc. is a nonprofit civic organization founded in 1853, operating from historic Turner Hall in Milwaukee to deliver affordable physical wellness programs (climbing, gymnastics, fitness) alongside social justice advocacy, youth justice grantmaking, and community wellness services for Milwaukee residents.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1853
- HeadquartersMilwaukee, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Milwaukee Turners, Inc. does
Milwaukee Turners, Inc. is a private nonprofit civic organization founded in 1853 by German immigrants and refugees of the failed 1848 revolution, and is the oldest civic organization in Milwaukee. It operates from Turner Hall, a National, City and County Historic Landmark built in 1882 at 1034 North Vel R. Phillips Avenue, which the organization describes as possibly the longest continuously running gymnasium in the United States. The organization is governed by a volunteer board of directors with approximately 600 voting members and a small staff of 1–10 employees, supplemented by volunteers and partner in-kind support.
The organization's offering combines physical wellness facilities with civic education and social justice programming under a "sound mind in a sound body" philosophy. Physical wellness assets include the oldest rock climbing gym in Wisconsin (top ropes, lead climbing 5.6–5.12, bouldering, a Moon Board, and a Treadwall), Milwaukee's only indoor ice climbing wall with dry-tooling routes, a recreational gymnastics program operating in the same location for over 125 years (ages 18 months to adult), and weight training and cardio equipment. Civic and social-justice programming includes the Vel Phillips Forum panel series, Sound Mind Workshops (Democracy 101, Know Your Rights, bystander intervention), Community Wellness classes delivered at multiple Milwaukee sites, Medicaid-funded Peer Support services in Milwaukee and Waukesha counties, Recovery and Harm Reduction services (including a harm-reduction vending machine stocked with Narcan, fentanyl test strips, and gun locks), the Zero Youth Corrections (ZYC) fiscal-sponsorship and grantmaking initiative, the FPC Monitoring Program with associated dashboard and mobile app, Legal Observing, and Jane's Walk MKE neighborhood tours.
Revenue is generated through a hybrid of subscription memberships ($35/year gym membership, climbing memberships at $55–$560 per term), unit-priced services (rock climbing day passes $8–$20, gymnastics 8-week sessions $125–$150, $60/hour private lessons, group climbing sessions), facility rentals (Palm Garden capacity 270; Turner Hall Ballroom operated by Pabst Theater Group under a 2000 preservation trust), grants (Public Welfare Foundation, Microsoft Justice Reform Initiative, Greater Milwaukee Foundation, Wisconsin DHS, Milwaukee County DHHS), tax-deductible donations via a 501(c)(3), and managed-services/fiscal-sponsorship fees (ZYC, which administers approximately $400,000 in 2025–2026 community-table funding plus $400,000 in Youth Opportunity Community Grants). Customer segments span Milwaukee community residents, youth and families seeking affordable fitness, underserved populations (veterans, older adults, Spanish-speaking communities, returning citizens), individuals with mental-health/substance-abuse needs, and small community-based youth-justice organizations.
Milwaukee Turners, Inc. firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Milwaukee Turners, Inc.
- Legal name
- Milwaukee Turners, Inc.
- Website
- https://milwaukeeturners.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1853
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Milwaukee Turners, Inc. is a nonprofit civic organization founded in 1853, operating from historic Turner Hall in Milwaukee to deliver affordable physical wellness programs (climbing, gymnastics, fitness) alongside social justice advocacy, youth justice grantmaking, and community wellness services for Milwaukee residents.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Milwaukee Turners, Inc. industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Community Recreation and Civic Services
- NAICS
- Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (713940), Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162), Child and Youth Services (62411)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Arts, Sports & Recreation-Based Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK), Group Fitness, Personal Training & Wellness Coaching (EDALAIAE), Recreation Therapy, Stress Management & Mindfulness Programs (EDALAFAO)
Keywords
Where Milwaukee Turners, Inc. is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Milwaukee
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Milwaukee Turners, Inc. business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Membership Dues: Annual membership dues providing access to gym facilities, fitness equipment, climbing, and gymnastics classes with discounted rates for members.
- Fitness and Recreation Services: Revenue from day passes, multi-visit punch passes, climbing memberships, gymnastics class fees, and group climbing sessions.
- Facility Rentals: Revenue from Palm Garden rental space (capacity 270). Turner Hall Ballroom operated by Pabst Theater Group.
- Grant Administration: ZYC program serves as a fiscal sponsor/administrator for youth justice grants, distributing funds to community organizations. Milwaukee Turners receives $400,000 to facilitate the community table.
- Donations: Tax-deductible donations to 501(c)3 nonprofit supporting social justice mission.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Gymnasium Membership - $35/year |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Rock Climbing Day Passes - $8-$20 |
| Subscription | Monthly | Rock Climbing Memberships |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Ice Climbing Gear Rentals |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Gymnastics Classes |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Gymnastics Private Instruction |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Climbing Classes |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Group Climbing |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Milwaukee Turners, Inc. product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Milwaukee Turners, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) civic nonprofit that provides community recreation and wellness services, civic education, and social-justice programming from the historic Turner Hall in Milwaukee. Core paid offerings include a $35/year gymnasium membership with access to weight training and cardio equipment, indoor rock climbing (the oldest rock gym in Wisconsin), indoor ice climbing and dry-tooling (Milwaukee's only such facility), and a recreational gymnastics school for ages 18 months through adult. Programs also encompass Community Wellness Classes at off-site locations, Sound Mind civic-education workshops, Peer Support and Recovery/Harm Reduction services, and grantmaking through the Zero Youth Corrections (ZYC) initiative.
Product overview
Milwaukee Turners is a nonprofit civic organization founded in 1853, offering a diverse portfolio of community services centered on the 'Sound Mind in a Sound Body' philosophy. The core offerings include: (1) Fitness facilities and programs - rock climbing gym, ice climbing/dry tooling, gymnastics, and weight/cardio training; (2) Wellness programming - community wellness classes, peer support services, and recovery/harm reduction services; (3) Civic education and social justice - Sound Mind Workshops, Vel Phillips Forum, Confronting Mass Incarceration initiatives, Know Your Rights resources, legal observing, and FPC monitoring. Membership-based access provides discounted rates on fitness programs with $35 annual membership fee.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Rock Climbing Gym
- Ice Climbing and Dry Tooling
Quantifiable outcome
- Distributed over $800,000 in grants to youth justice organizations since 2022
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Milwaukee Turners, Inc.
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Milwaukee Turners, Inc. technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Milwaukee Turners, Inc. partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
22 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and major.
- Milwaukee County Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)coreZYC partnership between County's DHHS, Children Youth & Family Services (CYFS), Milwaukee Turners, and Public Welfare Foundation to reduce reliance on youth punishment and detention.
- Pabst Theater Group / Pabst Riverside FoundationcoreOperates Turner Hall Ballroom, a 7,000+ sq ft venue with 31x56 foot stage, for concerts and events. Part of Turner Ballroom Preservation Trust established 2000.
- USA Ice ClimbingminorSupports Turner's Annual Dry Tooling Competition and weekly dry tooling meet-up through dedicated climbers working to make ice climbing more accessible.
- BIPOC BetaminorBlack, Indigenous & People of Color climbing organization bringing people of color into climbing through workshops, community building and education. Hosts Dry Ice Fest at Turner Hall.
- Marquette University / College Climb ClubminorCollege climbing club meets Monday and Wednesday nights from 8-10pm at Turner Hall climbing gym.
- Shorewood/Nicolet/Whitefish Bay School DistrictsminorCommunity recreation classes for kids available through school district Recreation Departments.
- Milwaukee County Behavioral Health (Better Ways to Cope)coreCollaboration providing free 1:1 substance abuse counseling and Courage in Connection recovery support circles.
- Milwaukee Inner-City Congregations Allied for Hope (MICAH)coreCo-sponsor of Vel Phillips Forum, a panel discussion series on civil rights and social justice issues.
- National Lawyers Guild (NLG) MilwaukeecoreCo-sponsor of Vel Phillips Forum.
- Rid Racism MilwaukeecoreCo-sponsor of Vel Phillips Forum.
- Wisconsin VoicescoreCo-sponsor of Vel Phillips Forum.
- Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE)majorStudents from MSOE Honors Program built free phone-based app for FPC Monitoring Program.
- Wisconsin Decarceration PlatformminorPartner in Criminal Legal Systems & Violence webinar series on restorative justice.
- Wisconsin Justice InitiativeminorPartner in Criminal Legal Systems & Violence webinar series.
- Community Advocates - Public Policy InstituteminorPartner in Criminal Legal Systems & Violence webinar series.
- UWM Institute for Systems Change and Peace BuildingminorPartner in Criminal Legal Systems & Violence webinar series.
- Restorative Circles, LLCminorPartner in Criminal Legal Systems & Violence webinar series on restorative justice.
- Project ReturnminorPartner in Criminal Legal Systems & Violence webinar series. Previously incarcerated circle keepers trained through Project Return.
- Marquette University Center for Urban Research Teaching and OutreachminorPartner in Criminal Legal Systems & Violence webinar series.
- ACLU of WisconsinminorPartner in Criminal Legal Systems & Violence webinar series.
- City of Milwaukee Office of Violence PreventionminorPartner in Criminal Legal Systems & Violence webinar series.
- Youth Justice WisconsincoreCollaborator in Milwaukee County Credible Messenger program addressing youth justice milestones.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Milwaukee Turners, Inc. competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Milwaukee Turners, Inc. social profiles
Digital presenceMilwaukee Turners, Inc. financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Milwaukee Turners, Inc. leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Milwaukee Turners, Inc. funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Milwaukee Turners, Inc. M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Milwaukee Turners, Inc.
What does Milwaukee Turners, Inc. do?
Milwaukee Turners, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) civic nonprofit that provides community recreation and wellness services, civic education, and social-justice programming from the historic Turner Hall in Milwaukee. Core paid offerings include a $35/year gymnasium membership with access to weight training and cardio equipment, indoor rock climbing (the oldest rock gym in Wisconsin), indoor ice climbing and dry-tooling (Milwaukee's only such facility), and a recreational gymnastics school for ages 18 months through adult. Programs also encompass Community Wellness Classes at off-site locations, Sound Mind civic-education workshops, Peer Support and Recovery/Harm Reduction services, and grantmaking through the Zero Youth Corrections (ZYC) initiative.
Is Milwaukee Turners, Inc. a public or private company?
Milwaukee Turners, Inc. is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Milwaukee Turners, Inc. founded?
Milwaukee Turners, Inc. was founded in 1853. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Milwaukee Turners, Inc. based?
Milwaukee Turners, Inc. is headquartered in Milwaukee, United States, in the North America region.
How does Milwaukee Turners, Inc. make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Membership Dues are the primary driver. The others are fitness and Recreation Services, facility Rentals, grant Administration and donations.
Does Milwaukee Turners, Inc. have an API?
No public API is recorded for Milwaukee Turners, Inc..
What industry is Milwaukee Turners, Inc. in?
Milwaukee Turners, Inc.'s product category is Community Recreation and Civic Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGADAJ, Arts, Sports & Recreation-Based Youth Development Nonprofits, with a secondary code of BPAGADAK, Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits. Its NAICS code is 713940 and its SIC code is 7997.