What Shareable does

Shareable is a registered U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating since 2009 as both a media outlet and an action network focused on the solidarity and sharing economy. Headquartered in Felton, California with a small core team (~6 key staff plus a 9-member board), it publishes solutions-based journalism, produces long-form podcasts and documentaries, and distributes free implementation toolkits and how-to guides aimed at community organizers, municipalities, and cooperative developers. Its product stack is built on conventional web infrastructure — WordPress for editorial, standard podcast distribution (Apple, Spotify, Pocket Casts), Eventbrite for event registration, and Creative Commons-licensed content — and comprises roughly 4,500+ articles, 300+ how-to guides, 90+ episodes of The Response podcast, 60+ Cities@Tufts lectures, and multiple downloadable toolkits (Library of Things, Mutual Aid 101, Electric Cooperative Organizing, Emergency Battery Network).

The organization's business model is donation- and grant-driven rather than transactional. All toolkits, guides, podcasts, publications, and learning events are provided free of charge, with revenue sourced from individual donations, foundation grants (notably Barr Foundation, Emergent Fund, Shift Foundation, Resist, New Economy Coalition), speaking fees for 500+ global events, and limited book sales through IngramSpark. Its GTM motion is community-led: storytelling and practical resources attract organizers who replicate programs locally, reinforced by an event-driven layer (Co-Lab quarterly trainings, fellowships with 250+ organizers, and municipal advisory relationships such as Seoul's Sharing City initiative). Shareable also functions as a fiscal sponsor and core coalition partner to the Tool Library Alliance and Rural Power Coalition, embedding it structurally in the broader solidarity-economy ecosystem.

Customer engagement is measured in qualitative reach rather than commercial transactions. Shareable claims direct reach to approximately 50 million people across 100+ cities and 6 continents, with on-the-ground adoption indicators including 2,000+ formally established Libraries of Things worldwide, 100+ seed-funded cooperative projects since 2013, and policy work reaching 42 million rural electric cooperative member-owners in the United States. The organization is governed by a board chaired by Tufts University professor Julian Agyeman and co-led by founders Neal Gorenflo and Laurie Schecter, with no parent entity, no subsidiaries, and no disclosed funding rounds or M&A activity.

Name

Shareable

Legal name

Shareable

Website

https://shareable.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Shareable is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit media outlet and action network that publishes solutions journalism, free toolkits, and podcasts (The Response, Cities@Tufts) to help community organizers launch Libraries of Things, mutual aid networks, and cooperative enterprises worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Media and Community Education

NAICS

Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (51621), Civic and Social Organizations (813410)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Miscellaneous Publishing (2741)

akta.pro primary industry

Interest-Based Communities & Forums (BPAMABAC)

Keywords

• Nonprofit media outlet
• Solutions journalism
• Solidarity economy
• Community organizing toolkits
• Mutual aid resources

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Contributions: Shareable is a registered U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that relies on public donations from individuals supporting the sharing movement. The website features a prominent 'Donate' button and donation campaigns.
2. Foundation Grants: Funding from foundations including Barr Foundation, Emergent Fund, Shift Foundation, Resist, New Economy Coalition, and others. These partners support specific programs like Mutual Aid 101, fellowships, and Co-Lab series.
3. Speaking Fees and Event Appearances: Revenue from keynote presentations, workshops, webinars, and panel conversations at conferences, community retreats, and corporate events. Staff and board speak at 500+ events globally.
4. Book Sales and Publications: Sales of 'Sharing Cities: Activating the Urban Commons' book published in 2018. Also publishes free ebooks and toolkits that drive engagement.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Shareable is a registered U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofit media outlet and action network that publishes solutions-based journalism, produces podcasts and documentary content, and develops practical toolkits for community organizers. Its core offerings include The Response podcast, Cities@Tufts lectures, Library of Things Toolkit, Mutual Aid 101, Electric Cooperative Organizing Toolkit, and 300+ how-to guides that help communities launch Libraries of Things, mutual aid networks, and cooperative enterprises. All content is provided free of charge, funded primarily by donations and foundation grants.

Product overview

Shareable is a nonprofit media outlet and action network offering a platform of interconnected editorial series, toolkits, and educational content focused on the solidarity economy. The core offerings include The Response (disaster resilience documentary/podcast), Cities@Tufts (urban policy lecture series), and a suite of practical toolkits (Library of Things Toolkit, Mutual Aid 101, Electric Cooperative Organizing Toolkit, Emergency Battery Network Toolkit) alongside the Sharing Cities book and 300+ how-to guides. These products work together as an integrated resource ecosystem—journalism and storytelling (The Response, publications) paired with actionable organizing tools (toolkits, guides)—designed to equip community organizers with both knowledge and practical blueprints for building cooperative projects.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Response: Award-winning documentary and podcast series exploring how communities build collective resilience in the wake of disasters. Includes film, stage production, book, and podcast episodes.
• Cities@Tufts
• Sharing Cities
• SolidarityWorks
• Social Cooperative Academy

Products and services

• The Response Award-winning documentary, podcast, stage production, and book exploring how communities build collective resilience in the wake of disasters. Encompasses an interview and documentary series covering topics from hurricanes to wildfires to reactionary politics. Provided free to community organizers, mutual aid practitioners, and the general public.
• Cities@Tufts Ongoing free lecture series co-presented with Tufts University, featuring diverse voices on urban worlds and planning. Includes podcast, transcripts, graphics, and video content covering urban policy and environmental justice topics.
• Library of Things Toolkit Comprehensive 12-section guide designed to help plan, start, and grow a Library of Things in communities. Includes planning, operations, governance templates, and is provided free for community organizers and aspiring tool library operators.
• Mutual Aid 101 Ongoing learning series and toolkit introducing mutual aid organizing principles and practices. Includes free resources covering intro to mutual aid, building projects, decision-making, legal basics, surveillance/cybersecurity, and case studies.
• Electric Cooperative Organizing Toolkit Free resource supporting electric co-op member-owners and allies who want to organize for democratic control and climate action within rural electric cooperatives. Provides organizing tools, governance templates, and educational content for the 42 million REC member-owners in the U.S.
• Emergency Battery Network Toolkit Comprehensive toolkit co-created with People Power Battery Collective to help organizers build strong and effective community-owned backup power supplies. Includes trainings, templates, and resources for organizing emergency battery networks.
• Sharing Cities Global movement and book documenting over 100 sharing-related case studies and model policies from 80+ cities in 35 countries. Serves as a practical reference for community-based urban solutions and a people-powered alternative to corporate smart city agendas.
• How-To Guides Growing collection of 300+ practical how-to guides covering Built Environment, Climate Resilience, Economy, Food & Wellness, and People Power topics to help communities thrive. Provided free for community organizers and changemakers.
• Publications Collection of downloadable PDFs including toolkits, books, and special reports on sharing economy topics such as resilience, solidarity economy, and community solutions. Provided free for download with optional print editions available.

Quantifiable outcome

• 50 million people directly reached through journalism, events, and campaigns
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

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

• Tool Library AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerShareable incubated the Tool Library Alliance (TLA) which now hosts monthly Co-Lab training and resource-sharing webinars for LoT practitioners globally. Shareable serves as TLA's fiscal sponsor.
• Rural Power CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerShareable is a core partner to RPC since 2021, working to elevate rural communities as leaders of a just clean energy transition through coalition building, communications management, and member-owner training.
• People Power Battery CollectivecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to create the Emergency Battery Network Toolkit helping organizers build community-owned backup power supplies. People Power Battery Collective is a project of People Power Solar Cooperative in the SF Bay Area.
• Tufts UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-present Cities@Tufts lecture series with Tufts University Department of Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning, chaired by Shareable board member Julian Agyeman.
• Sustainable Economies Law CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublished 'Policies for Shareable Cities' in 2013, the first-ever policy guide about sharing in cities.
• New Economy CoalitioncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFoundation funder and movement partner supporting Mutual Aid 101. Shareable has worked with NEC since 2013 on cooperative and solidarity economy initiatives.
• Purpose Built CommunitiesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunding partner supporting Shareable's work with Connect Communities (Houston, TX) to incorporate a Library of Things into Connect Highstar Apartments affordable housing development.
• Purpose Built CommunitiesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganizational partner supporting Share Circle Maui recovery efforts following 2023 fires.
• Center for Biological DiversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in University of North Florida Library of Things project. Created campus guide for replicating sharing hubs in dorms.
• Connect CommunitiesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHouston-based affordable housing developer working with Shareable to open Connect Highstar Library of Things and micro-LoT in St. Luke's Garden Youth Center.
• Share Circle MauimajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNeighborhood sharing network supported by Shareable to develop three Libraries of Things in Maui communities affected by 2023 fires, inspired by Hawaiian Ahupua'a system.
• Mutual Aid EastiemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity organization whose little free pantry and library expansion is supported by Shareable. Serves as presenter in Mutual Aid 101 program.
• Central Florida Mutual AidmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollective supported by Shareable for Library of Things expansion serving Orange, Osceola, and Seminole counties. Initial LoT created for disaster response.
• Rocky Mountain Employee Ownership CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLed the 2024 Social Cooperative Academy, co-hosted with CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies, MEDLab, Rochdale Capital, Shareable, and Solidarity Hall.
• CUNY School of Labor and Urban StudiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-host of 2024 Social Cooperative Academy learning series on social cooperatives.
• AutomatticminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWebsite hosting partner (Pressable). Listed as organizational partner on website.
• Data Commons CooperativeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed as organizational partner in Shareable's partner ecosystem.
• LIFT EconomyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed as organizational partner in Shareable's partner ecosystem.
• People Power Solar CooperativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent organization of People Power Battery Collective, Bay Area movement cooperative focused on community energy transition.
• City of Seoul, South KoreamajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerShareable provided advisory services to Mayor Park Won-soon's Sharing City Seoul initiative, including pilot program with 32 lending libraries in apartment buildings.
• Cooperation JacksonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerReceived seed funding from Shareable since 2013. Jackson, Mississippi-based cooperative development organization.
• Post Growth InstituteminorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed as organizational partner in Shareable's partner ecosystem.
• ICLEI - Local Governments for SustainabilityminorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed as organizational partner in Shareable's partner ecosystem.
• Synergia InstituteminorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed as organizational partner in Shareable's partner ecosystem.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Beautiful Trouble: Beautiful Trouble is a publishing and training project providing tools, theories, and case studies for creative activism. It shares Shareable's approach of turning movement experience into accessible resources for organizers, though Beautiful Trouble focuses specifically on creative tactics and direct action rather than the broader sharing economy.

Direct peers

• Grist: Grist is a nonprofit environmental media organization that produces journalism on climate, sustainability, and equity. Like Shareable, Grist combines editorial coverage with audience engagement and is funded by donations and foundation grants; both target engaged, mission-driven readers and operate free distribution models.
• Next City: Next City is a nonprofit news organization covering urban policy, planning, and social innovation in cities. It shares Shareable's focus on urban solutions journalism and its audience of community organizers, policymakers, and city-building professionals, with comparable nonprofit, donation-supported business model.
• Nonprofit Quarterly: Nonprofit Quarterly is a nonprofit media organization publishing news, analysis, and opinion for the nonprofit sector. It compares to Shareable as a mission-driven media outlet serving a specialized audience, with a similar hybrid of journalism, resources, and community engagement funded by grants and subscriptions.
• Yes! Magazine: Yes! Magazine is a nonprofit solutions journalism outlet publishing stories about people building a more just and sustainable world. It mirrors Shareable's combination of editorial content and movement resources, and both organizations focus on positive, solutions-based storytelling for changemakers.

Broad incumbents

• In These Times: In These Times is a nonprofit progressive magazine covering labor, economic justice, and movement politics. It is comparable to Shareable as a mission-driven publication supporting grassroots movements but operates at broader political coverage scale with deeper historical roots in labor journalism.
• Democracy Collaborative: Democracy Collaborative is a research and development organization advancing community wealth building, anchor institutions, and cooperative economies. It overlaps with Shareable on cooperative development and solidarity economy narratives but operates more in the policy and academic research domain while Shareable emphasizes grassroots media and toolkits.
• The Nation: The Nation is one of America's oldest progressive magazines, covering politics, culture, and movement journalism. As a much larger and more established progressive nonprofit media outlet, it provides a comparison point for Shareable's editorial positioning while operating at significantly greater scale and with paid subscriber revenue.

Emerging players

• New Economy Coalition: New Economy Coalition is a network of organizations building a solidarity economy. Shareable has been a partner with NEC since 2013, and NEC's membership-based coalition structure overlaps with Shareable's role as a connector and resource hub for the same movement actors.
• Platform Cooperativism Consortium: The Platform Cooperativism Consortium (hosted at The New School) promotes digital platforms owned and governed by their users. Shareable co-launched the Platform Co-op movement in 2014, and the Consortium's work on cooperative digital infrastructure aligns with Shareable's solidarity economy focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Shareable
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@ShareableNet
• Facebookfacebook.com/shareable
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/shareable
• Instagraminstagram.com/shareable_gram

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Shareable