Minndependent
MINNDEPENDENT is a Minnesota-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit membership association serving 189 private and independent K-12 schools statewide through membership dues, STEM grants, annual leadership and STEM conferences, professional development, advocacy at the state legislature, and corporate sponsorship programs.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1976
- HeadquartersEdina, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Minndependent does
MINNDEPENDENT is a Minnesota-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit membership association founded in 1976 as the Minnesota Independent School Fund, Inc., serving as the largest organization dedicated to the state's private and independent K-12 school community. The organization's core function is to connect and strengthen its 189 member schools through three integrated pillars: programming (STEM grants, annual School Leadership Conference and STEM Education Conference, professional development seminars, and the Private & Independent Education Awards), partnerships (corporate sponsorship programs with Thrivent, 3M, Xcel Energy, and others), and public policy advocacy at the Minnesota State Legislature including an annual Advocacy Day at the Capitol.
The organization does not operate proprietary technology. Its digital infrastructure is limited to a content website, a Constant Contact email newsletter reaching over 2,200 subscribers, a Mighty Networks-based private online community (the Member School Network, operated via partnership with ChangeMakers for Impact), and webinar/virtual meeting capabilities for ongoing professional development. No API, mobile application, patents, or proprietary software products are disclosed.
Revenue is generated through a diversified nonprofit model: recurring annual membership dues priced at $5.50 per student ($300 minimum) for accredited schools with a discounted $4.50/student first-year rate for new members and a flat $300 associate membership tier; conference and event registration fees ranging from $75-$480 depending on event and attendee type; corporate sponsorships and donations from a concentrated set of leadership and program sponsors; jobs board posting fees ($65 per posting for nonmember schools, free for members); and pass-through STEM grant administration funded by corporate partners. The customer base is segmented into accredited full member schools (primary), non-accredited affiliate schools, and individual association representatives (associates), all operating within Minnesota.
Minndependent firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Minndependent
- Legal name
- Minnesota Independent School Forum
- Website
- https://minndependent.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1976
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- MINNDEPENDENT is a Minnesota-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit membership association serving 189 private and independent K-12 schools statewide through membership dues, STEM grants, annual leadership and STEM conferences, professional development, advocacy at the state legislature, and corporate sponsorship programs.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Minndependent industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Private School Membership Association Services
- NAICS
- Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139), Civic and Social Organizations (81341)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- STEM, Digital Literacy & Maker Education Nonprofits (BPAGADAG)
Keywords
Where Minndependent is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Edina
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Minndependent business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Membership Dues: Annual membership dues from private and independent K-12 schools in Minnesota. Dues are calculated at $5.50 per student for current members ($300 minimum for schools with 55 or fewer students), with new members paying $4.50 per student ($260 minimum) in their first year. Associate membership is $300 annually.
- Conference and Event Registration: Revenue from annual conferences including the School Leadership Conference (pricing from $135-$480 depending on attendance type and timing) and STEM Education Conference ($75 for members, $175 for nonmembers). First-time attendee discounts and early bird pricing are offered.
- Donations and Sponsorships: Annual fund donations, event sponsorships, and gift-in-kind donations from supporters. The organization cultivates relationships with corporate sponsors including Thrivent, Escale Advisors, and others for conference sponsorship.
- Jobs Board Posting Fees: Nonmember private and independent schools pay $65 per job posting to use the MINNDEPENDENT jobs board. Member schools and associate members may post at no cost. Postings are live for 60 days.
- STEM Grants Administration: MINNDEPENDENT administers STEM grants to member schools, funded through partnerships with corporations like 3M, Xcel Energy, and the Schott Foundation. In 2014-15, over $122,000 was awarded to 33 schools through Innovation and Starter grants.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Full School Membership - $5.50 per student or $300 minimum |
| Subscription | Annual | Affiliate School Membership - $5.50 per student or $300 minimum |
| Subscription | Annual | New Member - $4.50 per student or $260 minimum (first year) |
| Subscription | Annual | Associate Membership - $300 |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | School Leadership Conference - Early Bird Pricing |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | School Leadership Conference - Regular Pricing |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | School Leadership Conference - First-Time Attendee |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | STEM Conference - Member Rate |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | STEM Conference - Nonmember Rate |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Jobs Board - Member Schools |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Jobs Board - Nonmember Schools |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
Minndependent product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Minndependent is a Minnesota 501(c)(3) nonprofit membership organization that connects and strengthens the state's private and independent K-12 schools through membership programs, STEM grants, professional development conferences and seminars, legislative advocacy, and a member-only online community. It sells school and associate memberships, runs two flagship annual conferences, administers STEM grant funding from corporate partners, and represents members before state policymakers.
Product overview
MINNDEPENDENT is a nonprofit membership organization (not a technology company) serving Minnesota's private and independent schools. The organization offers a suite of membership programs (Full School, Affiliate, and Associate membership), professional development events (STEM Education Conference, School Leadership Conference, Professional Development Seminars), grant programs (STEM Grants), advocacy services, and member resources (Newsletter, Jobs Board, Law Guide, Member School Network). These offerings work together to connect and strengthen Minnesota's private and independent schools through programming, partnerships, and public policy advocacy, enabling member schools to be student-centered and mission-driven.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Full School Membership
- Affiliate School Membership
- Associate Membership
- STEM Grant Program
- STEM Education Conference
- School Leadership Conference
- Private & Independent Education Awards
- Professional Development Seminars and Webinars
- MINNDEPENDENT Newsletter
- Jobs Board
- MINNDEPENDENT Member School Network
- Advocacy Services
Quantifiable outcome
- 189 schools statewide participate in the MINNDEPENDENT network
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Minndependent
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Minndependent technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Minndependent partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Heritage Christian AcademycoreHost Sponsor for the 2026 STEM Education Conference. Provides venue for the annual event serving hundreds of STEM educators from member schools.
- ChangeMakers for ImpactcoreTechnology partner providing the Mighty Networks platform for the MINNDEPENDENT Member School Network - a private online community for member schools to collaborate and share resources.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Minndependent competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Minndependent social profiles
Digital presenceMinndependent financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Minndependent leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Minndependent funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Minndependent 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 Minndependent
What does Minndependent do?
Minndependent is a Minnesota 501(c)(3) nonprofit membership organization that connects and strengthens the state's private and independent K-12 schools through membership programs, STEM grants, professional development conferences and seminars, legislative advocacy, and a member-only online community. It sells school and associate memberships, runs two flagship annual conferences, administers STEM grant funding from corporate partners, and represents members before state policymakers.
Is Minndependent a public or private company?
Minndependent is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Minndependent founded?
Minndependent was founded in 1976. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Minndependent based?
Minndependent is headquartered in Edina, United States, in the North America region.
How does Minndependent make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Membership Dues are the primary driver. The others are conference and Event Registration, donations and Sponsorships, jobs Board Posting Fees and STEM Grants Administration.
Who are Minndependent's main competitors?
National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Minndependent have an API?
No public API is recorded for Minndependent.
What industry is Minndependent in?
Minndependent's product category is Private School Membership Association Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGADAK, Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits, with a secondary code of BPAGADAG, STEM, Digital Literacy & Maker Education Nonprofits. Its NAICS code is 8139 and its SIC code is 8600.