Lit Youngstown

What Lit Youngstown does

Lit Youngstown is a 501c3 community-based literary arts nonprofit founded in 2015 in Youngstown, Ohio. The organization serves writers, readers, and storytellers in the Youngstown/Mahoning Valley region through a portfolio of recurring programs including the First Wednesday Readers Series (monthly readings at Westside Bowl), Food for Thought book discussions (monthly at Noble Creature), the Youngstown Writers' Guild critique group, the annual Fall Literary Festival, seasonal Writing Camps, multi-month Writing Intensives such as Flash Nonfiction, and the identity-focused Uplifting Voices series livestreamed on YouTube. Most programs are free, with selective fees for workshops and intensives, and programming is delivered through partnerships with venues across Youngstown, Boardman, Girard, and Niles plus select online distribution.

The organization does not build or deploy proprietary technology; operations are supported by standard consumer tools including a Wix-hosted website, Mailchimp email newsletter, social channels (Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram, YouTube), and Zeffy for ticketing. Revenue is generated through individual donations, foundation and government grants (Ohio Arts Council, Ohio Humanities, Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley, Raymond J. Wean Foundation, Youngstown Foundation, Trumbull Memorial Health Foundation), workshop and intensive registration fees, an annual birdbath raffle, an online literary auction, and ticketed gala events. Headcount is reported as 1-10, and the organization is governed by a board of directors.

Strategically, Lit Youngstown is pursuing depth and breadth within its regional niche rather than scale: it is expanding the Uplifting Voices series through partnerships with national and international publishers (Action Books, World Poetry Books) and with Elizabeth's Bookshop & Writing Center, adding therapeutic writing verticals (Writing Through Grief, programming for those facing serious illness), and developing community IP such as the in-progress Lit at the Mic Anthology. Its competitive position rests on being the only literary arts nonprofit of its scope in the region and on a decade of relationship-building with local venues, writers, and funders.

Name

Lit Youngstown

Legal name

Lit Youngstown

Website

https://lityoungstown.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Lit Youngstown is a 501c3 community-based literary arts nonprofit founded in 2015 that serves writers, readers, and storytellers in the Youngstown, Ohio region through readings, workshops, writing camps, book discussions, and an annual literary festival.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Literary Arts Community Programming

NAICS

Fine Arts Schools (61161), Fine Arts Schools (611610), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731)

akta.pro primary industry

Literary Arts & Writing Organizations (BPAGAHAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Fiction Writing Workshops (Short Story, Novel) (EDAMAMAA), Writing Craft & Technique Workshops (Voice, Structure, Character, Style) (EDAMAMAH), Writing Retreats & Intensive Bootcamps (EDAMAMAK), Writing, Journalism & Publishing Camps (EDAMALAM), Children’s & YA Writing Workshops (EDAMAMAF)

Keywords

• Literary arts nonprofit
• Community writing workshops
• Author reading series
• Literary festival programming
• Book discussion groups

Headquarters

HQ city

Youngstown

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Contributions: As a 501c3 nonprofit organization, Lit Youngstown relies heavily on tax-deductible donations from individuals, foundations, and corporate sponsors. They mention donors of $500 and higher being listed as major funders on their website.
2. Program and Event Fees: Registration fees for workshops, writing intensives, and summer camps. For example, Flash Nonfiction Writing Intensives cost $200 and single workshops cost $25.
3. Fundraising Auctions: Online auctions featuring literary experiences and services donated by writers and artists in the community. Items include writing workshops, poetry hikes, manuscript consultations, and local products.
4. Raffle Proceeds: Annual birdbath raffle featuring artwork by local sculptor Tony Armeni, with tickets sold at events and online to raise funds.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Lit Youngstown is a community-based literary arts nonprofit that convenes writers, readers, and storytellers in the Youngstown, Ohio region through in-person and virtual programming. Its core offerings include monthly author readings (First Wednesday Readers Series), monthly book discussions (Food for Thought), an annual multi-day Fall Literary Festival, seasonal Writing Camps, recurring critique-based Writing Groups (Youngstown Writers' Guild), sustained multi-month Writing Intensives, and identity-focused livestreamed Uplifting Voices readings, with most events offered free to the public.

Product overview

Lit Youngstown is a community-based literary arts nonprofit offering a portfolio of interconnected programs rather than a single software product. Its core programs include the First Wednesday Readers Series (monthly readings at Westside Bowl), Food for Thought Book Discussion (monthly book club at Noble Creature), the Fall Literary Festival (annual multi-day festival), Writing Camps (summer and winter sessions for all ages), the Youngstown Writers' Guild (critique group), and Writing Intensives (sustained multi-month workshops). Supporting programs include the Uplifting Voices Series (identity-focused livestreamed readings), the Lit at the Mic Anthology (in-progress community anthology), Bird Bath Raffle (annual fundraiser), and a curated Community Resources directory. Together, these programs serve writers, readers, and storytellers in the Youngstown region through readings, workshops, festivals, publications, and community-building events.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• First Wednesday Readers Series A monthly in-person author reading series featuring two authors per event plus an open mic, held at Westside Bowl, with ASL interpretation for accessibility. Designed for readers, writers, and literary enthusiasts in the Youngstown region.
• Food for Thought Book Discussion A monthly book discussion group held on the second Thursday at Noble Creature covering fiction, memoir, graphic novels, and poetry, with a curated reading list (e.g., 2026–2027 list featuring Namwali Serpell, Kaveh Akbar, Téa Obreht, Colum McCann).
• Fall Literary Festival An annual multi-day literary festival featuring readings, workshops, panels, and author appearances across Youngstown venues, serving as Lit Youngstown's flagship community programming event.
• Writing Camps Seasonal (summer and winter) writing camps for writers of all ages, including a one-day 2026 Summer Writing Camp at Ford Nature Center featuring poetry and prose workshops, a naturalist-guided trail walk, and open critique sessions.
• Youngstown Writers' Guild A recurring in-person writing critique group meeting at local libraries (including Boardman Library), open to all genres and experience levels, with scheduled critique hours for members to give and receive manuscript feedback.
• Writing Intensives Sustained in-depth multi-month workshops (e.g., 2026 Flash Nonfiction Writing Intensives, January–June) combining craft discussion, writing prompts, and manuscript review, led by accomplished writers such as Jill Christman, Sarah Freligh, Matt Ferrence, Ira Sukrungruang, and Robert Miltner.
• Uplifting Voices Series A reading and conversation series spotlighting writers from specific identity communities (including Black Women's Voices, Immigrant Voices, Jewish Voices, and Palestinian Voices), livestreamed via YouTube and co-presented with Elizabeth's Bookshop & Writing Center, featuring international poets in translation.
• Bird Bath Raffle An annual fundraising raffle for a one-of-a-kind steel birdbath sculpture handcrafted by Youngstown sculptor Tony Armeni; tickets sold at events and online (2 for $5.00), with proceeds supporting Lit Youngstown's operations.
• Lit at the Mic Anthology A community-driven literary anthology project compiling work from the Youngstown literary community, in progress as of 2025, that documents and celebrates local literary voices.
• Lit Youngstown Literary Auction An online auction featuring donated literary experiences and goods — including writing workshops, manuscript consultations, poetry hikes, readings, and local products — contributed by writers and artists in the community to raise funds for Lit Youngstown.
• Lit Community Resources A curated public directory of regional literary organizations, writing groups, book clubs, literary events, journals, and presses in Northeast Ohio and beyond, maintained by Lit Youngstown.
• Writing Through Grief Workshop A free, open-to-the-public therapeutic writing workshop for adults experiencing grief, hosted at Thrive 10:10 in Girard, Ohio, and funded through grants and donations.
• Ekphrastic Poetry Open Call (with YWCA Women Artists Show) An annual collaborative ekphrastic poetry program paired with the YWCA of Youngstown's Women Artists Show, in which poets submit poems inspired by artwork selected from the show; selected poems are presented alongside the artwork.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 10 years of continuous operation and growth
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• POP! Art Books CulturecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal bookstore partner that provides ongoing support for the First Wednesday Reader Series. Supports book sales for Food for Thought discussions and provides venue co-hosting for Writers Guild meetings at their Boardman location.
• YWCA of YoungstownminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual partnership for the YWCA's Women Artists Show, where Lit Youngstown coordinates poetry submissions. Poets receive artwork images to inspire poems that are presented alongside the artwork.
• YWCA of YoungstownminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual partnership bringing together poets and visual artists for the YWCA's Women Artists Show, with selected poems presented alongside artwork.
• Elizabeth's Bookshop & Writing CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAkron-based bookstore specializing in QTBIPOC writers. Co-presents the Uplifting Voices series and manages book sales for virtual events. Founded by Rachel E. Cargle with proceeds supporting The Loveland Foundation.
• Action BooksminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublisher collaborating on the Uplifting Voices: Palestinian Poets reading, bringing international poetry to the Youngstown community.
• World Poetry BooksminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublishing partner for Uplifting Voices series featuring international poets in translation.
• LOOP YoungstowncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArts organization that shares tent space at Summer Festival of the Arts and provides the LOOP Arts & Culture Center (805 Mahoning Ave.) as workshop location for teen writing, new moms, empty nesters, and men's writing workshops.
• McKinley Birthplace HomeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHistoric site in Niles, Ohio providing ADA-accessible venue for The Shape of the Wind writing workshop for those facing serious illness.
• Thrive 10:10minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGirard, Ohio venue hosting Writing Through Grief workshops for adults experiencing grief.
• Youngstown State University Poetry ClubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudent organization that volunteers at Lit Youngstown events, providing intergenerational connection between students and the broader literary community.
• Tony ArmeniminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYoungstown steel sculptor who donates a handcrafted birdbath annually for the organization's raffle fundraiser.
• Ghayath AlmadhounminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPalestinian poet (born Damascus, lives Berlin/Stockholm) featured in Uplifting Voices series. Represents international literary connections.
• Philip MetresminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessor at John Carroll University and poet who performs in Uplifting Voices series. Represents academic-literary community connections.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Lighthouse Writers Workshop: Denver-based nonprofit literary arts center offering multi-week writing workshops, intensives, festivals, and readings — closely mirrors Lit Youngstown's workshop-plus-festival model in a different mid-size city.
• The Loft Literary Center: Minneapolis nonprofit providing classes, workshops, readings, and literary events for writers at all levels; comparable community-based literary-arts nonprofit structure and programming mix.
• GrubStreet: Boston-based nonprofit creative writing center offering workshops, intensives, and literary events for adult writers; analogous operating model and audience to Lit Youngstown.
• 826 Valencia: San Francisco nonprofit writing and tutoring center co-founded by Dave Eggers — comparable literary-arts nonprofit with workshops, camps, and community programs, though with a stronger youth focus.
• Community of Writers: Olympic Valley (formerly Squaw Valley) nonprofit running multi-week writing workshops and conferences across genres — comparable workshop-and-festival nonprofit structure serving writers nationwide.
• Hugo House: Seattle nonprofit writing center running workshops, readings, craft intensives, and literary festivals — directly comparable mission, funding model, and program portfolio.
• Sackett Street Writers' Workshop: Brooklyn-based independent writing workshop community offering multi-week classes, craft seminars, and readings — comparable workshop-centric model with similar pricing tiers to Lit Youngstown's intensives.

Broad incumbents

• Association of Writers & Writing Programs (AWP): National nonprofit serving writers and writing programs across the U.S., organizing the largest annual literary conference — broad incumbent representing the institutional category Lit Youngstown sits within.
• Poets & Writers: National nonprofit supporting creative writers through grants, literary events, and resources — operates as a broader incumbent in the same literary-arts space Lit Youngstown serves locally.

Regional players

• Cuyahoga County Public Library – Writers Center: Northeast Ohio library-based writers center offering workshops, critique groups, and literary programming in a region adjacent to Youngstown — comparable public-library-anchored literary programming without geographic overlap.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/lityoungstown
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCSU2yQJz2gpHQWwdMAfrWzw
• Facebookfacebook.com/LitYoungstown
• Instagraminstagram.com/lityoungstown
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lit-youngstown

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Lit Youngstown