What Nest does

Nest Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2006 and headquartered at 228 Park Ave S, New York, that operates as the leading intermediary in the global handcraft economy. The organization serves two primary customer sets: (1) approximately 300,000 artisans, makers, and creative entrepreneurs across 127 countries, who receive free business development training, mentorship, community access, grants, and market opportunities through programs including the Nest Guild, Makers United, Artisan Accelerators, Makers Future Fund, Heritage Craft Prize, Sustainability Accelerator, and the Climate Academy; and (2) fashion and home brands — including Williams-Sonoma Inc. (with a $50 million purchase commitment), Anthropologie, Madewell, Tory Burch, DÔEN, Gap Inc., and Prada Group — which access vetted ethical supply chains, co-branded product collaborations, and certification services including the Verified Handcrafted™ mark and Seal of Ethical Handcraft launched in June 2026. The technology stack is largely commodity (Squarespace, Stripe, Squarespace Payments, Flodesk, Qualtrics, Printful for print-on-demand merchandise) and the organization functions as a programmatic services nonprofit rather than a technology company.

Revenue is generated through a hybrid model including tax-deductible donations from individuals and foundations (suggested tiers $25, $50, $100, with monthly recurring options), brand-paid program partnership fees (e.g., Anthropologie x Nest Fellowship, Madewell x Nest Maker Collective), marketplace commissions from the Favorite Finds Marketplace (products priced $20-$86), print-on-demand branded merchandise sales ($20-$50 SKUs), and emerging certification/verification licensing tied to the Verified Handcrafted™ standard. The organization additionally partners with multilateral institutions including UNHCR and UNFPA for humanitarian artisan programming (e.g., Refugee Artisan Collection, 2025; Mexico women artisans program with Prada, 2024). Total annual revenue was disclosed at $6 million by the Chronicle of Philanthropy, reflecting 18+ years of compounding growth from a $24,000 starting base.

Name

Nest

Legal name

Nest Inc.

Website

https://buildanest.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Artisan Development and Handcraft Certification

NAICS

Doll, Toy, and Game Manufacturing (33993), Sewing, Needlework, and Piece Goods Retailers (459130)

SIC

Retail-Hobby, Toy & Game Shops (5945), Games, Toys & Children's Vehicles (No Dolls & Bicycles) (3944)

akta.pro primary industry

Fabric, Sewing & Needlecraft Retail (CRALAIAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Model Kits & Miniatures Retail (CRALAIAM)

Keywords

• Artisan development programs
• Handcraft certification services
• Nonprofit marketplace platform
• Ethical sourcing supply chain
• Craft economy nonprofit

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Philanthropic Support: Nest operates as a nonprofit organization supported by tax-deductible donations from individual donors, foundations, and corporate partners. The organization solicits donations at various levels ($25, $50, $100) with options for one-time or monthly recurring contributions.
2. Marketplace Sales (Favorite Finds): Nest operates a curated marketplace featuring handcrafted goods created by Nest Guild members. Products range from $20-$86, with Nest retaining a portion of sales to support operations. Some products include a $5 donation to Nest.
3. Merchandise Sales: Sale of branded merchandise including t-shirts ($25-$35), sweatshirts ($45), hats ($30-$35), tote bags ($30), hoodies ($50), and other apparel. Products are print-on-demand through Printful partnership, reducing overproduction.
4. Certification and Verification Services: Nest provides certification services including the Verified Handcrafted™ mark and Seal of Ethical Handcraft to brands and manufacturers who meet standards for handcraft production processes.
5. Program Partnership Fees: Structured fellowship and accelerator programs with corporate partners (Anthropologie, Madewell) that provide market access, mentorship, and business development support to selected artisan businesses.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Nest is a nonprofit organization that supports the global handcraft economy by providing free business development programs, ethical sourcing certification, and curated marketplaces for 300,000+ artisans across 127 countries. Its core offerings include the Favorite Finds Marketplace where Nest Guild artisans sell handcrafted goods, the Verified Handcrafted™ certification mark and Seal of Ethical Handcraft for brands, structured accelerator and grant programs, and partnerships with major retailers such as Williams-Sonoma, Anthropologie, and Madewell that provide market access for artisan products.

Product overview

Nest is a nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of programs and marketplaces supporting the global handcraft sector. The core offerings include Nest's Favorite Finds Marketplace (a curated marketplace for handcrafted goods from Nest Guild artisans) and a Branded Merch Collection (print-on-demand apparel and accessories). These are complemented by programs including the Climate Academy (digital climate resilience training), Nest Guild (community and learning), Makers United (city-based maker network), Artisan Accelerators (business mentorship), Makers Future Fund (grants), Heritage Craft Prize (annual craft award), and Sustainability Accelerator (sustainability-focused mentorship). Nest also provides certification programs including the Verified Handcrafted™ Mark and Seal of Ethical Handcraft, plus brand assets (Logo Lockup, Partner Mark) for partner use. A Refugee Artisan Marketplace enables sale of products from refugee artisans worldwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Nest's Favorite Finds Marketplace A curated e-commerce marketplace featuring handcrafted goods (jewelry, home wares, art prints, candles, apothecary, accessories) created by artisan businesses in the Nest Guild, with products priced $20-$86 and free standard ground shipping within the contiguous US.
• Nest Branded Merch Collection Print-on-demand branded merchandise including t-shirts ($25-$35), sweatshirts ($45), hoodies ($50), hats ($30-$35), tote bags ($30), and drinkware featuring Nest's logo, fulfilled through Printful partnership with free standard shipping.
• Climate Academy Digital learning curriculum designed to help US makers and artisans prepare for, adapt to, and recover from the impacts of severe weather, natural disasters, or climate change on their small craft businesses, provided at no cost to participants.
• Verified Handcrafted™ Mark Consumer-facing certification mark designed to define and verify handcraft production processes, developed through a multi-stakeholder initiative with Williams-Sonoma, Tory Burch, and DÔEN, appearing on products at retailers including Pottery Barn and West Elm.
• Refugee Artisan Collection Limited-edition collection of handcrafted accessories featuring crocheted bags, straw bucket hats, and beaded scarves created with refugee artisans from the Middle East, Africa, and Asia, in partnership with CFDA and UNHCR, with American designer Mimi Plange.
• Nest Seal of Ethical Handcraft Certification standard for ethical handcraft production practices used in brand partnerships and product verification, allowing qualifying brands to display the seal as proof of Nest-aligned ethical handcraft standards.
• Nest Guild Membership Community and learning platform providing Nest artisans with resources, training, mentorship access, and opportunities for business growth and peer connection, offered free of charge to qualifying artisan members.
• Artisan Accelerators Business development program providing mentorship, peer support, and tailored guidance for craft enterprises committed to sustainability and growth, provided free of charge to selected artisan participants.

Quantifiable outcome

• 300,000+ artisans supported across 127 countries
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Williams-Sonoma Inc. (Pottery Barn, West Elm)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 June 2026Williams-Sonoma is a founding partner in the multi-stakeholder initiative to develop the Verified Handcrafted™ certification mark. The company has committed $50M to purchase Nest ethically handcrafted products through its family of brands including Pottery Barn and West Elm.
• Tory BurchcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 June 2026Tory Burch is a brand partner in the multi-stakeholder initiative to develop the Verified Handcrafted™ certification mark, working with Nest to define and verify handcraft production processes.
• DÔENcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 June 2026DÔEN is a brand partner in the multi-stakeholder initiative to develop the Verified Handcrafted™ certification mark, contributing to standards development for handcraft verification.
• CFDA (Council of Fashion Designers of America)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 August 2025Nest partnered with CFDA and UNHCR to launch a limited-edition collection of handcrafted accessories featuring refugee artisans from the Middle East, Africa, and Asia, including work with American designer Mimi Plange.
• UNHCR (UN Refugee Agency)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 August 2025UNHCR partnered with Nest and CFDA on the Refugee Artisan Collection, working with six social enterprises that support refugee artisans globally, where 123 million people are forcibly displaced.
• AnthropologiecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 March 2025Anthropologie and Nest partner on pop-up markets, the 18-month Fellowship Program supporting US-based creative entrepreneurs, sourcing opportunities, and events showcasing Makers United members. Anthropologie has been a longstanding partner committed to supporting artisans.
• Prada GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 March 2024Prada Group partnered with UNFPA and Nest on 'Fashion Expressions: The Stories She Wears' program expanding fashion training to 30 women artisans in Querétaro, Mexico, providing technical, artistic, and financial skills.
• UNFPAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 March 2024UNFPA partnered with Prada Group and Nest on fashion training programs for women artisans, combining health-focused curriculum with Nest's business development resources.
• MadewellcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Nest x Madewell Maker Collective (formerly Hometown Heroes) has fostered growth of 157 independent makers across 31 states since 2019 through grants, mentorship via Nest's fellowship network, and market access on Madewell.com.
• Gap Inc.majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGap Inc. partnered with Nest to nurture creativity in San Francisco, supporting local artisan and maker communities through collaborative programs.
• EtsymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNest partnered with Etsy to develop climate preparedness and post-disaster guides for US makers, helping artisan businesses increase operational resiliency against climate-related disruptions.
• PrintfulminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPrintful provides print-on-demand fulfillment for Nest's branded merchandise collection, reducing overproduction through made-to-order manufacturing.
• Yellow Rose by Kendra ScottmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on the annual Heritage Craft Prize celebrating artists who reimagine heritage craft techniques through innovative motifs and materials, with the 2025 prize winner announced in Austin.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Etsy: Publicly traded online marketplace for handmade and handcrafted goods, directly connecting artisans to consumers globally. Operates at vastly larger scale but with overlapping artisan supplier base and a shared mission of supporting independent makers — Etsy has even partnered with Nest on climate-resilience programming for US makers.
• Ten Thousand Villages: Nonprofit fair-trade retailer specializing in handcrafted goods sourced from artisan groups in developing countries. Operates retail stores and e-commerce — closest direct comparable to Nest in mission, nonprofit structure, and artisan-sourcing model, though at smaller scale and with less focus on certification.
• SERRV International: Nonprofit fair-trade organization selling handcrafted products from global artisan cooperatives through e-commerce and partner retail. Mirrors Nest's nonprofit-plus-artisan-sourcing model and emphasizes ethical supply chains, providing a direct comparison point for mission-aligned commerce.
• NOVICA: Online marketplace (originally a National Geographic partner) connecting artisans worldwide directly to consumers of handcrafted jewelry, home décor, and apparel. Comparable product categories, artisan-supplier model, and global reach — though NOVICA is for-profit rather than nonprofit.
• The Citizenry: Direct-to-consumer home goods brand that partners with artisan makers across the globe to produce limited-edition, ethically sourced collections. Shares Nest's brand partnership DNA, emphasis on artisan storytelling, and premium positioning in the ethical home goods category.
• Made Trade: Certified B Corp online marketplace offering ethically sourced and sustainably made fashion, home goods, and accessories from independent makers. Comparable mission of connecting conscious consumers to artisan-made goods with transparent supply chains.
• GOEX: Ethical apparel brand with a transparent US supply chain that supports apparel makers and reinvests profits into artisan and maker communities. Shares Nest's artisan-empowerment model and emphasis on transparent, domestic/semi-domestic production partnerships.

Others

• Ashoka: Global network supporting leading social entrepreneurs (including Nest's founder Rebecca van Bergen as an Ashoka Fellow). Comparable as a social-impact infrastructure organization — Ashoka funds and incubates the type of entrepreneur that runs Nest, providing donor and peer-network overlap rather than direct marketplace competition.
• UNHCR (UN Refugee Agency): UN agency partnering with Nest on the Refugee Artisan Collection featuring refugee artisans from the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. Comparable as a multilateral institution channeling displacement-related funding and visibility to Nest's refugee artisan programs.

Broad incumbents

• Goodwill Industries International: Large established nonprofit supporting workforce development and economic opportunity for disadvantaged populations through retail and training programs. Operates at vastly greater scale in mission-adjacent space (workforce/economic empowerment via nonprofit structure), but does not specialize in artisan handcraft.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/buildanest

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Nest