A Simpler, Sustainable HiPower Membership Model
HiPower is changing its membership model for the 2026-2027 membership year. The change is intended to accomplish three goals:
make it easier for alumni to stay connected to the community through a new lower priced tier membership;
provide members with more choice in how they participate and what they pay for by separating membership from our higher-cost in-person events; and
create more capacity to invest in the programming, connection, and experiences that matter most to our executive members, while building a more sustainable HiPower for the future.
HiPower Core Membership: $395
Core Membership includes full access to the HiPower community and year-round virtual and small group programming, including:
This Is Me
Expert Series
Small Group Socials
Other virtual programming
Optional smaller in-person gatherings throughout the year
Core Membership makes it easier to remain part of the HiPower community year-round, even in years when travel, schedules, budgets, or other priorities make the larger in-person events less practical. Core Members continue to build relationships, learn from and support one another, and continue the work of moving from success to significance.
Core Members can elect to participate in Ignite and/or Spring Refresh by paying additional fees to attend.
Optional Add-On Flagship Events
Members may choose to add either or both of HiPower’s flagship in-person events.
Ignite Conference: $1,195
Nov, 2027 (specific date TBD)
Event space, AV, food and beverage, and administrative costs
Spring Refresh Bay Area: $250
4/3/2027
Food and beverage, AV, and administrative costs; venue is typically sponsored; attendance capped, available on a first-come-first-serve basis.
Spring Refresh Austin: $25
4/3/2027
Supplies and other costs not covered by local sponsorship; venue, AV, parking, and food and beverage are typically sponsored.
Travel and accommodations are not included in event fees.
Flagship Events
Ignite and Spring Refresh are designed as in-person member experiences, centered on time together, peer connection, and conversations that are difficult to replicate virtually.
Programming at both events is created and led primarily by HiPower members and volunteers. Conference fees are designed to cover the direct costs of hosting the events.
Members may participate in HiPower for the year without attending either conference, attend one, or choose both.
Deadlines to sign up and pay
Ignite: December 31, 2026
Spring Refresh Bay Area: January 31, 2027
Ignite requires HiPower to make contractual commitments for meeting and event space, AV, food and beverage, and other event costs approximately 12 months in advance.
Those commitments are based in part on expected attendance. Knowing who plans to participate helps us reserve appropriately sized spaces, avoid committing HiPower to costs that registration fees will not cover, and shape the programming around the members who will actually be in the room.
Because much of the conference content is created and led by HiPower members and volunteers, early visibility into participation also helps us develop the right mix of topics, conversations, and experiences for that group.
Conference registration is first come, first serve. Requests after the published deadline will be considered only if contracted capacity allows.
Why We’re Making The Change
We want HiPower membership to be an easy decision for alumni who want to remain connected to the community.
Two headwinds are driving this decision to become more self-sustaining.
Today’s uncertain economic environment is limiting sponsorship opportunities for organizations like HiPower. In recent years, we have seen a number of other women’s organizations that have relied heavily on sponsorship end up closing their doors.
A significant portion of our volunteer efforts in the past have been directed to new Signature Program participants, limiting the time and energy available to focus on our growing executive membership. Pausing the Signature Program this year gives our volunteer leaders more capacity to shape the programming and experiences that are most valuable to our executive members.
Separating membership from our two larger in-person events allows us to reduce annual membership dues to $395 while giving members the flexibility to choose the experiences that are most valuable to our members.
It also creates a clearer and more sustainable financial model.
Historically, sponsorship revenue and fees from the Signature Program have helped subsidize the cost of executive member programming and our larger in-person events. This year, we are intentionally reducing our dependence on sponsorships and pausing the Signature Program so that we can build a more self-sustaining and enduring HiPower and keep serving our members for years to come.
To support a more self-sustaining model, the cost of Ignite and Spring Refresh will now be reflected in the individual event fees rather than subsidized through sponsorships or Signature Program revenue. We recognize that committing to the Core Membership as well as both Spring Refresh and Ignite represents a significant increase from last year’s single-tier membership. The Board considered this carefully and determined it was the best way to provide value to our existing members while ensuring a sustainable and enduring community.
What remains unchanged is the heart of HiPower:
a community of accomplished leaders supporting one another in the work of moving from success to significance.