MILWAUKEE, WI — The Wisconsin LGBT Chamber of Commerce has been named the 2026 Affiliate Chamber of the Year by the National LGBTQ+ & Allied Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC), the highest honor presented to an affiliate chamber within NGLCC’s national network.

The award was presented Friday during NGLCC’s International Business & Leadership Conference in San Diego. The Affiliate Chamber of the Year Award recognizes a chamber that demonstrates vitality and relevance in its community while providing a strong, unified voice for the businesses it serves. The recipient is selected by its peers through a review process that includes past Affiliate Chamber of the Year honorees.

“We are incredibly honored to be named the 2026 NGLCC Affiliate Chamber of the Year,” said Jason Rae, President & CEO of the Wisconsin LGBT Chamber of Commerce. “This recognition reflects the work of our entire Chamber community. It belongs to our members, our staff, our board, and the partners who continue to believe in and invest in this work. Together, we have built a strong statewide organization that is creating real, meaningful opportunities for LGBTQ+ and allied businesses across Wisconsin.”

The recognition follows several years of continued growth and measurable impact by the Wisconsin LGBT Chamber. The Chamber has grown its membership, strengthened corporate partnerships, expanded opportunities for connection and education, and continued to build programs that support LGBTQ+ and allied businesses at every stage of growth. That includes newer offerings like the LEAD webinar series, alongside established programs such as the Entrepreneur Bootcamp and Business Leadership Academy.

The Chamber has also worked intentionally to make that growth sustainable, maintaining strong services and programming while navigating a changing economic, political and legal environment for organizations focused on LGBTQ+ inclusion.

“What makes me especially proud is not simply that we have grown, but how we have grown,” Rae said. “We have been intentional about building something sustainable, expanding our reach across Wisconsin, strengthening our programming and investing in the long-term capacity to serve our members. We have done that during a challenging period for LGBTQ+ inclusion, without losing sight of why we exist in the first place: to help LGBTQ+ and allied businesses succeed.”

The 2026 award marks the second time the Wisconsin LGBT Chamber has been named NGLCC Affiliate Chamber of the Year, following its first recognition in 2015. NGLCC’s national network includes more than 50 affiliate chambers across the United States. The Wisconsin LGBT Chamber also received NGLCC’s Rising Star Chamber Award in 2014 and has earned additional NGLCC honors for excellence in community impact, programming and communications.

“We are deeply grateful to NGLCC for this recognition,” Rae said. “We believe Pride is 365, and this award only strengthens our commitment to keep showing up, keep innovating and keep building an economy where LGBTQ+ and allied businesses can thrive.”

About the Wisconsin LGBT Chamber of Commerce

The Wisconsin LGBT Chamber of Commerce works to create a strong, pro-fairness business community by supporting LGBTQ+ and allied businesses and corporations across Wisconsin. Through connection, education, advocacy and economic opportunity, the Chamber helps its members grow while working to build a stronger, more inclusive Wisconsin economy. The organization has nearly 700 businesses as members from around the state. More information can be found online at www.wislgbtchamber.com.