N.A.D.O.
The National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) is a 501(c)(4) membership association founded in 1967 that provides federal advocacy, training, research, and peer networking to over 500 Regional Development Organizations and 400 Economic Development Districts across the United States.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1967
- HeadquartersWashington, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What N.A.D.O. does
N.A.D.O. (National Association of Development Organizations) is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit membership association founded in 1967 and headquartered in Washington, DC. The organization represents a national network of more than 500 Regional Development Organizations (RDOs) — multi-jurisdictional, quasi-governmental entities such as Councils of Government, Planning and Development Districts, and Regional Planning Commissions — as well as over 400 federally-designated Economic Development Districts (EDDs). Its core function is to provide federal policy advocacy, peer learning, professional development, research, and capacity-building resources to these regional entities, with primary operational accountability to the U.S. Economic Development Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation, USDA, and EPA.
NADO operates a portfolio of program affiliates and initiatives rather than proprietary technology products. Its affiliated entities include the NADO Research Foundation (a 501(c)(3) established in 1988 that conducts research, training, and technical assistance) and RPO America (a program affiliate established in 2006 serving regional and rural transportation professionals). Member-facing digital assets include the My NADO member portal (my.nado.org), an interactive EDD Map built on ArcGIS, the CEDS Central resource repository, and the Membership Map. Programs include the EDD Community of Practice (peer learning groups, CEDS peer exchanges, mentor program, and wealth creation cohort), the Emerging Leaders Training Program, the Rural Energy Academy, the Aliceann Wohlbruck Impact Awards (operating since 1986), and the Excellence in Regional Transportation Award. The organization does not develop proprietary technology products, offer an API, or maintain third-party software integrations.
NADO's revenue is generated through five channels: tiered annual membership dues from RDOs ($3,000 to $10,000 across General, Sustaining, Platinum, Platinum Plus, and Diamond tiers), affiliate membership dues from non-RDO organizations ($1,000 to $2,000), RPO America subscriptions ($500 to $1,500), conference registration fees for the Annual Training Conference, National Regional Transportation Conference, and Washington Conference (co-hosted with DDAA), and federal grant funding channeled through the NADO Research Foundation (notably EDA award ED22HDQ3070106 supporting the EDD CoP). The organization is governed by a 65-member Board of Directors organized into six U.S. regional chapters, with an Executive Committee led by a President drawn from the membership base; staff size is approximately 20–25 individuals.
N.A.D.O. firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- N.A.D.O.
- Legal name
- National Association of Development Organizations
- Website
- https://nado.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1967
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) is a 501(c)(4) membership association founded in 1967 that provides federal advocacy, training, research, and peer networking to over 500 Regional Development Organizations and 400 Economic Development Districts across the United States.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
N.A.D.O. industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Regional Development Association Services
- NAICS
- Business Associations (813910), Professional Organizations (81392)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Official Development Assistance (ODA) Program Management (BPADAOAC)
Keywords
Where N.A.D.O. is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Washington
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
N.A.D.O. business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Standard Membership Dues: Annual membership dues from RDOs at five tiers: General ($3,000), Sustaining ($4,000), Platinum ($5,000), Platinum Plus ($7,000), and Diamond ($10,000). These dues fund advocacy, publications, conferences, and member services.
- Affiliate Membership Dues: Annual membership dues from non-RDO organizations including tribal governments, local governments, state agencies, nonprofits, and private sector firms. Associate level: $1,000; Partner level: $2,000.
- RPO America Subscriptions: Optional paid subscriptions supporting rural transportation advocacy: Bronze ($500), Silver ($1,000), Gold ($1,500) annually. These contributions fund NADO's transportation policy tracking and capacity building.
- Conference Registration Fees: Revenue from Annual Training Conference, National Regional Transportation Conference, and Washington Conference registrations. Fees vary by membership level ($700-$950 non-members; discounted for members) plus mobile workshop fees.
- EDA Funding (NADO Research Foundation): Federal funding from U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) supporting the EDD Community of Practice program and related technical assistance activities. Grant award ED22HDQ3070106.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | General Members - Entry-level RDO membership with basic benefits including access to publications, awards program, conference discounts, member portal, and job board |
| Subscription | Annual | Sustaining Members - Mid-tier membership with enhanced benefits for established RDOs |
| Subscription | Annual | Platinum Members - Premium membership with expanded conference benefits |
| Subscription | Annual | Platinum Plus Members - High-tier membership with substantial conference benefits |
| Subscription | Annual | Diamond Members - Top-tier membership with maximum benefits |
| Subscription | Annual | Associate Affiliate Members - For non-RDO organizations seeking basic affiliation |
| Subscription | Annual | Partner Affiliate Members - For non-RDO organizations seeking elevated affiliation |
| Subscription | Annual | RPO America Bronze Subscription - Basic transportation advocacy support |
| Subscription | Annual | RPO America Silver Subscription - Enhanced transportation advocacy support |
| Subscription | Annual | RPO America Gold Subscription - Premium transportation advocacy support |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | 2026 ATC Non-Member Registration - Full conference access for non-members |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | 2026 ATC Member Registration - Discounted conference access for members |
| Subscription | Annual | Membership Level Selection |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels9 records
N.A.D.O. product offering
Product offeringCore offering
NADO is a 501c4 membership association representing more than 500 Regional Development Organizations (RDOs) across the United States. It provides federal advocacy, professional training, research publications, peer-learning networks, and annual conferences to support regional community and economic development practitioners. Core programming is delivered through the NADO Research Foundation (501c3), RPO America transportation program affiliate, and the EDD Community of Practice.
Product overview
N.A.D.O. (National Association of Development Organizations) operates as a membership-based association organization rather than a software product company. The core offering consists of NADO itself (a 501c4 membership association established in 1967 representing over 500 Regional Development Organizations) combined with its research arm, the NADO Research Foundation (a 501c3 providing technical assistance, education, and training). The organization provides multiple program affiliates including RPO America for transportation professionals and the Economic Development District Community of Practice (EDD CoP) for EDA-designated districts. Member-facing tools include the My NADO Portal for event and member communications, the interactive EDD Map and Membership Map for geographic visualization, and CEDS Central as a resource repository. Training offerings encompass the Emerging Leaders Training Program, Rural Energy Academy, and various Peer Learning Communities. The organization also manages award programs including the Aliceann Wohlbruck Impact Awards and Excellence in Regional Transportation Award, plus research initiatives like the Wealth Creation Initiative and Solving the Housing Puzzle. No API or programmatic integrations are offered.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- NADO Research Foundation: 501c3 non-profit providing technical assistance, education, research, and training to support Regional Development Organizations
- RPO America
- EDD Community of Practice
- Rural Energy Academy
- Emerging Leaders Program
- Aliceann Wohlbruck Impact Awards
- National RPO Council of Peers
Products and services
- NADO Standard Membership Annual membership for Regional Development Organizations at five tiers (General $3,000, Sustaining $4,000, Platinum $5,000, Platinum Plus $7,000, Diamond $10,000) plus Affiliate membership (Associate $1,000, Partner $2,000). Includes access to publications, awards program, conference discounts, member portal, job board, and complimentary webinar/lab registrations.
- NADO Annual Training Conference (ATC) Major annual four-day conference featuring plenaries, hands-on training, peer-led presentations, conversation cafés, and networking events for NADO members and non-members. Registration $700-$950 plus optional mobile workshop fees.
- National Regional Transportation Conference (NRTC)
Quantifiable outcome
- Nearly 2,000 member projects recognized through Impact Awards since 1986
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use N.A.D.O.
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
N.A.D.O. technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
N.A.D.O. partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.
- National Association of Regional Councils (NARC)coreNADO partnered with NARC through the Economic Development District Community of Practice (EDD CoP) to produce the EDDs in Action video series showcasing the vital role EDDs and RDOs play in helping distressed regions grow into economically vibrant communities.
- University Economic Development Association (UEDA)corePartner in the EDD CoP, bringing university economic development expertise to the national network of Economic Development Districts. Contributes academic perspective and research to EDD capacity building efforts.
- First Nations Development InstitutecorePartner in the EDD CoP providing expertise on tribal engagement and Native American economic development. Supports EDDs in building partnerships with Tribal governments.
- National Association of Counties (NACo)coreNADO partners with NACo and Mana Group Consulting on the Rural Energy Academy, serving as national resource and peer-learning center for regional practitioners and local elected officials on energy planning and development.
- Mana Group ConsultingsupportingConsulting partner in the Rural Energy Academy, providing technical expertise for energy planning and development support to rural communities.
- U.S. Department of TransportationcoreFederal agency partner through which many RDOs receive designation as Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) or Regional/Rural Transportation Planning Organizations (RTPOs) for transportation planning activities.
- U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA)coreEDA provides grant funding (award ED22HDQ3070106) supporting the EDD Community of Practice managed by NADO Research Foundation. EDA also designates Economic Development Districts (EDDs) that NADO represents.
- U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)supportingUSDA provides funding supporting NADO's Rural Energy Academy and technical assistance for rural transportation systems, including partnership with Western Transportation Institute at Montana State University.
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)supportingEPA supports NADO resources related to environmental planning, brownfields, and climate resilience initiatives for regional development organizations.
- Development District Association of Appalachia (DDAA)coreCo-hosts annual Washington Conference with NADO, combining sessions on regional development, federal landscape, and programs and policies affecting RDOs and their stakeholders.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
N.A.D.O. competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Competitive moat4 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
N.A.D.O. social profiles
Digital presenceN.A.D.O. financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
N.A.D.O. leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
N.A.D.O. subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
N.A.D.O. funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
N.A.D.O. 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 N.A.D.O.
What does N.A.D.O. do?
NADO is a 501c4 membership association representing more than 500 Regional Development Organizations (RDOs) across the United States. It provides federal advocacy, professional training, research publications, peer-learning networks, and annual conferences to support regional community and economic development practitioners. Core programming is delivered through the NADO Research Foundation (501c3), RPO America transportation program affiliate, and the EDD Community of Practice.
Is N.A.D.O. a public or private company?
N.A.D.O. is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was N.A.D.O. founded?
N.A.D.O. was founded in 1967. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is N.A.D.O. based?
N.A.D.O. is headquartered in Washington, United States, in the North America region.
How does N.A.D.O. make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Standard Membership Dues are the primary driver. The others are affiliate Membership Dues, RPO America Subscriptions, conference Registration Fees and EDA Funding (NADO Research Foundation).
Does N.A.D.O. have an API?
No public API is recorded for N.A.D.O..
What industry is N.A.D.O. in?
N.A.D.O.'s product category is Regional Development Association Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPADAOAC, Official Development Assistance (ODA) Program Management. Its NAICS code is 813910 and its SIC code is 8600.