irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $1.16MFEE FOR SERVICE PROGRAMS: NEST'S SOURCING SERVICES ADVANCE TRANSPARENCY, SOCIAL WELLBEING, AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY FOR GLOBAL ARTISANS AND US MAKERS BY FACILITATING MATCHES BETWEEN BRANDS AND DESIGNERS AND NEST'S NETWORK OF ARTISANS AND MAKERS. NEST COLLABORATES WITH INDUSTRY-LEADING BRANDS INCLUDING CLO, RALPH LAUREN, TORY BURCH, WEST ELM, AND MADEWELL TO CELEBRATE THE BEAUTY AND ARTISANSHIP OF MAKERS IN THE UNITED STATES AND ARTISAN BUSINESS LEADERS WORLDWIDE THROUGH CURATED HANDCRAFTED COLLECTIONS. NEST BELIEVES THAT SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC GROWTH FOR ARTISANS IS ACHIEVED THROUGH TRANSPARENT SOURCING RELATIONSHIPS, WHICH IS WHY NEST CONNECTS BRANDS AND DESIGNERS WITH HANDCRAFT VENDORS OR INDEPENDENT MAKERS DIRECTLY. WE NEVER REQUIRE EXCLUSIVITY AGREEMENTS THAT MAY INHIBIT AN ARTISAN BUSINESS' ABILITY TO GROW AND ENCOURAGE CELEBRATION AND STORYTELLING FOR THE ARTISANS INVOLVED. NEST'S MODEL FOSTERS SUCCESSFUL LONG-TERM RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN MAKERS AND BRANDS. OUR CONSULTATIONS, REPORTS, AND RETAINER SERVICES SUPPORT THE CREATION OF CRAFT VENDOR PROFILES WITH BEAUTIFUL PRODUCT PHOTOS, DETAILS ON THE TECHNIQUES, AS WELL AS CONTACT INFORMATION, APPROXIMATE PRICES AND LEAD TIMES. ALL OF NEST SERVICES INCLUDE AN EXCLUSIVE ARTISAN BEST PRACTICE TRAINING BASED ON NEST'S TWO DECADES OF EXPERIENCE FOR CORPORATE TEAMS, AS WELL AS MARKETING AND STORYTELLING SUPPORT FOR LAUNCHES. NEST PARTNERS WITH DESIGNERS, BRANDS, AND RETAILERS OF ALL SIZES TO PROVIDE HIGHLY-CUSTOMIZED SOURCING SERVICES AND DELIVER INNOVATIVE IMPACT SOLUTIONS WHICH PRIORITIZE DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION, AND CIRCULARITY. THROUGH CUSTOMIZED INITIATIVES, LIKE THE ETSY'S UPLIFT MAKERS PROGRAM, AND UNIQUE UPCYCLING SOLUTIONS, WE WORK ALONGSIDE BRANDS TO DEVELOP OPPORTUNITIES TO SUPPORT US MAKERS AND GLOBAL ARTISANS THAT EXTEND BEYOND SOURCING TO BENEFIT INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITIES.
- #2 $802KRESEARCH & ADVOCACY: MAKERS UNITED BRINGS VISIBILITY TO UNDER-REPRESENTED MAKERS AND THE CHALLENGES THEY FACE TO INCLUSION IN THE MICRO- AND SMALL-BUSINESS ECONOMY BY MAPPING THE REGIONAL LANDSCAPE OF SMALL BUSINESS SUPPORTS AND CONNECTING THE DOTS BETWEEN MAKERS AND THE LOCAL, NATIONAL, AND PEER RESOURCES THEY NEED. WE PUBLISH A REPORT THAT SHOWCASES THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE CREATIVE ECONOMY IN EACH CITY WE WORK IN TO HELP BUILD A STRONG ECOSYSTEM OF SUPPORT FOR MAKERS. NEST'S RESEARCH AND ADVOCACY INITIATIVES AIM TO BRING INDUSTRY AND PUBLIC AWARENESS TO THE OFTEN OVERLOOKED AND UNDER-REPRESENTED HANDWORKER SECTOR. FROM THOUGHT LEADERSHIP PIECES TO CONCISE RESEARCH BRIEFS AND FULL REPORTS, NEST'S PUBLICATIONS INVESTIGATE RESEARCH TOPICS THAT ARE TIMELY AND IMPORTANT TO THE SECTOR AND AIM TO SYNTHESIZE RESULTS IN A WAY THAT CAN BE CONVEYED WITH EASE TO ANY AUDIENCE.
named programs · 3 · from sources
What they call their work
Ethical Handcraft Program
Develops standards and verification methods for decent work in decentralized supply chains, focusing on home-based artisans; implemented with major brands to improve labor policies and environmental practices.
Fee for Service Programs
Connects global and US-based artisans with brands and designers through customized sourcing services, including vendor profiles, product photography, pricing, lead times, and artisan storytelling support.
Makers United
Research and advocacy initiative that maps small business support ecosystems for makers, publishes city-level reports, and connects artisans with local and national resources to strengthen the creative economy.
activities · 5 groups
What they do
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Small Business Technical Assistance 2 activities
- Delivers capacity-building programs for artisan entrepreneursProvides targeted consulting, expert support, and professional development in product development, merchandising, ecommerce, legal matters, and financial readiness through a network of professional fellows and skilled volunteers. Offers live virtual workshops, on-demand courses, mentorship, and access to the Nest Connect digital learning platform with business tools and templates.
- Supports U.S.-based makers through Makers United and regional initiativesRuns Makers United, a program offering resources, training, and market access to U.S.-based maker entrepreneurs. Delivers city-specific programming in Birmingham, Austin, San Antonio, Detroit, Indianapolis, St. Louis, Houston, Chicago, the San Francisco Bay Area, and Nashville, with targeted support for historically marginalized communities including Gee’s Bend Quilters, Gullah Weavers, Native and Indigenous craftspeople, Appalachian makers, NYC Garment District businesses, and Puerto Rico’s craft community. Also provides regional programming for arriving immigrants and refugees in four states.
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Artist Marketplace Operations 2 activities
- Facilitates market access and brand partnerships for artisansConnects global and U.S. artisans with major brands such as Ralph Lauren, Tory Burch, West Elm, Madewell, and others to co-create curated handcrafted collections, expanding market access and commercial opportunities for artisan enterprises.
- Operates The Nest Guild, a global network for artisan enterprisesRuns The Nest Guild, a global network of over 2,400 artisan enterprises across 125+ countries (growing to over 3,000), providing business support and community improvement through handcraft. Engaged 2,812 artisan and maker businesses in programming across 127 countries.
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Supply Chain Labor Rights Investigation and Advocacy 1 activity
- Implements Ethical Handcraft program for fair working conditionsImplements the Ethical Handcraft program to ensure fair compensation, safe working conditions, and rights for artisans in homes and informal workshops. Partners with brands including Target, West Elm, Pottery Barn, and Patagonia to integrate ethical practices across supply chains on five continents.
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Startup Acceleration & Business Growth Support 1 activity
- Runs accelerator and grant programs for craft businessesOperates application-based accelerator programs, including the Artisan Accelerator, which has supported 78 businesses from 38+ countries since 2018, with participants reporting over $30 million in total revenue by 2022 and a 26% increase in production. Provides $5,000 business boost grants and intensive coaching through the Makers Future Fund to selected U.S. maker-entrepreneurs.
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Uncategorized 2 activities
- Advocates for home-based worker rights through global standardsLaunched the Nest Standards for Homes and Small Workshops at the United Nations in 2017 to improve rights and wellbeing for home-based workers. Contributed to measurable increases in corporate policies: 57% more businesses with rights and wellbeing policies, 72% increase in minimum hiring age policies, and 78% increase in environmental protection guidelines in production.
- Conducts research on handworker economies and climate resilienceConducts and publishes mixed-methods research on economic conditions, climate impacts, and resilience strategies for artisan and maker communities. Key publications include the State of the Handworker Economy (SHE) Report: Climate Edition, the Shared Prosperity study with The Gee’s Bend Quilters, Crafting Prosperity reports on Puerto Rico, Chicago, Detroit, and Appalachia, and co-published disaster preparedness and recovery guidebooks for Indian artisans. Also published reports on climate impacts with Etsy, data-driven support approaches with The McGovern Foundation, transparent supply chains with Allpa Peru, and child rights in textile supply chains with Save the Children.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$6.60M
Contributions & grants$5.58M84%
Program service revenue$812K12%
Investment income$267K4%
Other revenue$-54K
expenses
Total expenses$6.02M
Program expenses79%
Admin / overhead11%
Fundraising10%
Salaries & benefits$4.19M
Grants paid out$190K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$6.80M
Cash$5.43M
Investments$1.12M
Liabilities$597K
Net assets$6.20M
Liquid reserves13.1 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +16.8%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 6
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| REBECCA VAN BERGEN | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $290K |
| CHRISTOPHER VAN BERGEN | CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER | 40 | $204K |
| ASHIA DEARWESTER | CHIEF STRATEGY/PARTNERSHIP | 40 | $177K |
| LINDSEY STRUCK | CHIEF HANDCRAFT PROGRAMS O | 40 | $166K |
| MARIKA SHIGA | DIRECTOR OF ENGAGEMENT/PAR | 40 | $147K |
| AMANDA LEE | SR DIRECTOR- BRAND STRATEG | 40 | $144K |
board members · 12
- AMANDA NUSZ — TRUSTEE
- CARMEN BUSQUETS — TRUSTEE THROUGH MAY 2025
- CLEMENT KING — TRUSTEE
- HEATHER WINN BOWMAN — TRUSTEE
- JIM BRIGHAM — CHAIR
- JULIE MEYER — TRUSTEE
- LOUISE PARZICK — TRUSTEE
- MARTY CORDES — TRUSTEE THROUGH DEC 2024
- NICOLE PECHANEC LUCK — FINANCE CHAIR
- STEPH STEPHENSON — TRUSTEE AS OF DEC 2024
- TRACEY AUSTIN-GROOMS — TRUSTEE
- TRACY REESE — TRUSTEE
relationships · 50
Who they work with
- 7m Workshop Partner — Industry expert partner providing capacity building and program delivery support for the Artisan Accelerator
- Adyen Partner — Partners with Adyen to support programs for makers and artisans.
- Allpa Peru Partner — Co-published a report with Nest on rendering transparent artisan supply chains.
- Appalachia Partner — Engages with makers throughout Appalachia to support their creative businesses and preserve regional craft traditions.
- Benevity Partner — Platform partner for workplace giving, enabling employee donations to Nest.
- Block Partner — Partners with Block on financial access programs for artisan businesses.
- Bloomberg Philanthropies Funder — Philanthropic foundation partner providing financial support
- CFDA Partner — Partnered with Nest through Tara Levy's work in driving sustainability and philanthropic initiatives.
- Council of Fashion Designers of America Partner — Programmatic partner collaborating on initiatives
- Etsy Partner — Collaborates with Etsy to support maker-entrepreneurs, as indicated by co-branded materials.
- Etsy Partner — Collaborates with Etsy to support makers and artisans through shared initiatives.
- Etsy Partner — Partnered with Nest on publications including 'Understanding Climate Impacts on U.S. Artisan and Maker Entrepreneurs' and co-developed guidebooks for Indian artisans with SusPot.
- Etsy Partner — Partnered with Nest to support artisans in the maker economy.
- Etsy Partner — Partners with Etsy on climate resilience and capital access initiatives for artisans.
- Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation Funder — Philanthropic foundation partner providing financial support
- Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation Partner — Collaborated with Nest on the Shared Prosperity research series, including reports on makers in Puerto Rico, Chicago, Detroit, and Appalachia.
- Feeding America Network — Member of national network supporting food security and community development (inferred from sector alignment and partnership language).
- Gee’s Bend Quilters Partner — Collaborates with the Gee’s Bend Quilters of Alabama to support and preserve their craft traditions.
- Gullah Weavers Partner — Works with the Gullah Weavers of South Carolina to support and preserve their craft traditions.
- MADE51 UNHCR Partner — Programmatic partner supporting artisan programs
- Mekeka Designs Partner — Participating artisan enterprise in the Artisan Accelerator program
- Moody’s Foundation Funder — Philanthropic foundation partner providing financial support
- NYC’s Garment District Partner — Supports creative businesses in NYC’s Garment District through Makers United programming.
- National Endowment for the Arts Partner — Collaborated with Nest on the Shared Prosperity research series, including reports on makers in Puerto Rico, Chicago, Detroit, and Appalachia.
- Native and Indigenous craftspeople Partner — Supports Native and Indigenous craftspeople across the U.S. in preserving their craft traditions.
- Oak Foundation Funder — Philanthropic foundation partner providing financial support
- Patagonia Partner — Implements NEST's ethical handcraft programming within its supply chain.
- Patagonia Partner — Partnered with Nest to support artisans in the maker economy.
- Patrick J. McGovern Foundation Funder — Philanthropic foundation partner providing financial support
- Pinterest Partner — Collaborates with Pinterest as part of capital access programming for makers.
+ 20 more
strategies · 3
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Craft-Based Economic Empowerment with Cultural Preservationmethodology: culture_preserving_economic_developmentBy investing in artisan entrepreneurship through craft-based livelihoods, the organization generates economic empowerment for women and marginalized groups while preserving cultural heritage, because sustaining traditional crafts strengthens community identity and creates dignified, culturally rooted income opportunities.
- Global Market Access via Capacity Building and Networked Supportmethodology: holistic_support_modelBy combining business accelerator programming, skills-based volunteering, digital inclusion, and peer cohorts with global market linkages, the organization enables artisan businesses to become internationally competitive, because holistic support addressing both capability and access overcomes structural barriers faced by marginalized makers.
- Human-Centered Commerce Through Ethical Standards and Co-Designmethodology: human_centered_commerceBy applying human-centered design and co-creating programs with artisans, and by establishing ethical handcraft standards, the organization ensures that support is equitably matched to needs and informal workers are protected, because involving makers in shaping their own development leads to more effective, transparent, and sustainable outcomes.