The Women In Fitness Association (WIFA) has transferred its business and programmatic assets to the American Council on Exercise (ACE), the two organizations announced on Nov. 14.
ACE will deliver all WIFA programs including WIFA LEAD, Writers Academy and Speakers Academy. These programs, designed to elevate women in the fitness industry with the knowledge, skills and expertise to rise into leadership positions, will be managed in ACE’s Community Health and Wellness Services department.
Because both groups are non-profits, no monetary exchange occurred for the transfer, but ACE absorbed WIFA, including all its financial obligations and a small operating budget that allows for the singular employee of WIFA to stay employed, according to Lindsey Rainwater, who founded WIFA.
Rainwater dissolved the organization as part of the process.
“Supporting women in fitness has been my primary goal since founding WIFA in 2017,” Rainwater told Club Industry in an email. “Since its inception, WIFA has been a non-profit. As such, the board governed this transition to give WIFA the support of a larger organization looking after the mission continuing to flourish.”
Rainwater resigned her paid role in July due to budget constraints, and at that time, the board voted to pursue a deal with ACE to protect WIFA’s mission.
Rainwater will continue on the WIFA board of directors, and all the board members will collaborate with ACE as a volunteer advisory panel to ensure the integrity of WIFA’s programs, she said.
The two organizations have worked together in the past, most recently in 2021 when ACE and WIFA partnered to deliver WIFA Growth Grants, a scholarship that provided more than 1,100 current ACE certified professionals the opportunity to build and grow their careers with a one-year WIFA membership. ACE also had been providing credits for the 13-week WIFA LEAD (Leadership through Elevation, Awareness and Discovery) program as well as WIFA's Writers Academy and Speakers Academy.
“ACE is grateful that WIFA chose our organization to deliver their continuing education programs and continue their impactful work,” said Scott Goudeseune, ACE chief executive officer. “As part of ACE’s commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion, we are honored to champion women in our industry and do our best to support women exercise professionals or health coaches.”
According to a recent report analyzing U.S. Census data, women make up 58 percent of the recreation and fitness workforce, but only earn 86 cents to every dollar earned by men in the same occupational role. Additionally, women only make up 29 percent of senior leadership positions globally (e.g., CEO, CFO, COO, CIO, CMO). These data highlight the importance of uplifting women in fitness.
“I look forward to the future where ACE’s support and delivery of WIFA’s programs helps women in fitness flourish for decades to come,” Rainwater said.