Artists For Humanity
Artists For Humanity is a Boston-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1991 that employs over 300 teens annually in paid creative apprenticeships across six studios, delivering commissioned art, design, and media services to enterprise clients while also operating an event venue, online shop, and school-day programs.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1991
- HeadquartersBoston, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Artists For Humanity does
Artists For Humanity (AFH) is a Boston-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1991 that operates a youth-employment social enterprise in which paid teen apprentices deliver commissioned creative services to corporate, institutional, and community clients. AFH runs six creative studios in Boston — Painting, Graphic Design, Photography, 3D Design, Creative Technology, Animation, and Video Production — staffed by teen artists working under professional studio mentors and equipped with industry-standard tools including Adobe Creative Cloud, Figma, Unreal Engine, Blender, laser cutters, water-jet cutters, and 3D printers. Deliverables span murals, branding, websites, video, photography, animation, custom furniture, wayfinding systems, and leased fine-art exhibitions for clients across financial services, technology, healthcare, real estate, legal, education, and retail sectors.
AFH's revenue architecture blends earned income with philanthropic support. Earned streams include B2B creative-services commissions, EpiCenter venue rental (LEED Platinum-certified facility, Best of Boston 2018), direct-to-consumer art and merchandise sales through the AFH Shop, fellowship program fees, and school-day collaborations through AFH Co-Lab. Grant and donation revenue is sourced from corporate supporters (State Street, EY, Fidelity, Sidley, Citizens Financial Group), foundations (Cummings Foundation), state and federal cultural agencies (Mass Cultural Council, NEA, NEFA), and the City of Boston Youth Employment program. In 2023 AFH employed 397 teens, paid $1.3M+ in wages and commissions, and reported 100% high-school graduation and 87% college enrollment among participants, 88% of whom came from low or very low income households.
The organization expanded to New York City in 2023 with a Bushwick-based studio serving approximately 30 teens, and in 2026 launched the Portrait Project exhibition commemorating America's 250th anniversary alongside the 2026 Artists Fellowship and a Citizens Financial Group-sponsored community mural. AFH is governed by a Board of Directors and Board of Advisors; the founder Susan Rodgerson remains active, and the organization underwent an Executive Director transition reflected in the 2024 Annual Report.
Artists For Humanity firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Artists For Humanity
- Legal name
- Artists For Humanity
- Website
- https://afhboston.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1991
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Artists For Humanity is a Boston-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1991 that employs over 300 teens annually in paid creative apprenticeships across six studios, delivering commissioned art, design, and media services to enterprise clients while also operating an event venue, online shop, and school-day programs.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Artists For Humanity industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Youth Arts Education and Creative Services
- NAICS
- Fine Arts Schools (61161), Fine Arts Schools (611610), Graphic Design Services (54143), Art Dealers (459920)
- SIC
- Services-Mailing, Reproduction, Commercial Art & Photography (7330)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Arts Education & Community Arts Programs (BPAGAHAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Visual Arts (Drawing, Painting, Illustration) (EDAAAGAA), Digital Arts & Design (Graphic Design, Illustration, Animation) (EDAMAAAB), Crafts & Maker Arts (Ceramics, Textiles, Jewelry, Mixed Media) (EDAMAAAD), Content & Creative Studio for Creators (Concepting/Production) (MPAAAHAD)
Keywords
Where Artists For Humanity is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Boston
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Artists For Humanity business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Creative Services: Revenue from commissioned art and design projects for businesses and organizations. Teen artists create murals, branding, logos, websites, videos, photography, custom furniture, and other creative work for paying clients.
- Venue Rental: Rental fees from hosting events at the AFH EpiCenter, including weddings, corporate events, and social gatherings. Membership fee of $1,000 required for individuals and for-profit entities hosting events.
- Donations and Grants: Philanthropic contributions from foundations, corporations, and individuals supporting the mission. Includes corporate sponsorships and foundation grants.
- Art Sales: Sales of original artwork, prints, and merchandise created by teen artists through the online shop and gallery exhibitions.
- Artists Fellowship Program: Six-month fellowship offering stipends ($9,600 per fellow) for emerging artists with program fees supporting operations.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | EpiCenter Venue Rental - Event space rental with membership requirement |
| Other | Monthly | 2026 Artists Fellowship - 6-month program with stipend |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Event Tickets - 35th Anniversary Celebration |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Artists For Humanity product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Artists For Humanity is a nonprofit social enterprise that employs teens in paid apprenticeship in visual arts and creative industries, then delivers those teens' work through six in-house creative studios (Painting, Graphic Design, Photography, 3D Design, Creative Technology, Animation, Video Production) as commissioned art and design services for businesses and organizations. Core deliverables include murals, branding and logos, websites, wayfinding, video, photography, animation, public art, custom furniture, and leased exhibitions. Revenue is supplemented by LEED Platinum-certified venue rentals, an online shop selling teen-created artwork, an Artists Fellowship program, and AFH Co-Lab school partnerships.
Product overview
Artists For Humanity (AFH) is a social enterprise that employs teens in creative arts and design services. The organization operates a portfolio of interconnected programs: a core Teen Employment Program providing paid apprenticeship in visual arts and creative industries; Creative Services offered through six studios (Painting, Graphic Design, Photography, 3D Design, Creative Technology, Animation, Video Production) producing commissioned work for businesses; the AFH EpiCenter Venue Rental (LEED Platinum certified event space); the AFH Shop selling teen artwork and merchandise; the Artists Fellowship Program for emerging artists; AFH Co-Lab school collaboration; and AFH NYC (Brooklyn location). The organization recently launched the Portrait Project commemorating America's 250th anniversary. All programs work together to fulfill AFH's mission of harnessing the power of art, mentorship, and paid professional experiences to inspire teens to build their future.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- AFH Co-Lab: School collaboration program sharing the AFH Model and creative studio access with schools during the day, promoting advanced skills development in industrial design, digital media, and STEAM.
- EpiCenter
Products and services
- Creative Services Commissioned art and design services for businesses and the community, including murals, websites, wayfinding, videos, public art, custom furniture, branding and logo design, artistic bike racks, animation, photography, mixed media, leased exhibitions, and paintings, delivered by teen artists working with professional studio mentors.
- Teen Employment Program Paid apprenticeship program employing teens annually (325+ in Boston, ~30 in NYC) in the visual arts and creative industries, providing wages, intensive mentorship, and professional development opportunities across six creative studios.
- Creative Studios (Boston)
Quantifiable outcome
- 100% teen high school graduation rate
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Artists For Humanity
Customer profileNamed customers14 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Artists For Humanity technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Artists For Humanity partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.
- Boston Children's MuseumcoreAFH's 3D Design Studio collaborated with Boston Children's Museum on the 'Dream it! Build it!' permanent exhibit teaching children about construction, architecture, and engineering through hands-on play. Collaboration included YouthBuild Boston and Minuteman High School.
- Citizens Financial GroupflagshipCitizens Financial Group partnered with AFH for a community mural project celebrating America's 250th anniversary. This was part of Citizens' presenting sponsorship of Boston Harborfest. Citizens also awarded a $50,000 grant to Boston Cares to engage 250 employees in volunteer projects.
- David ByrneflagshipLegendary musician collaborated with AFH teens on 'Imagination Over Reality' 120-foot mural for CRISPR Therapeutics headquarters.
- CRISPR TherapeuticscoreCommissioned AFH and David Byrne for 120-foot interior mural and additional artwork for South Boston headquarters.
- BXP (Boston Properties)coreOngoing partnership for murals, digital exhibitions, and artwork at Prudential Center and other properties.
- Brimmer & May SchoolcoreAFH Co-Lab partnered to create 'Gloria the Gator' sculpture, a 900 lb. slotted wood bench for campus, designed by juniors and seniors with AFH 3D Design Studio mentors.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Artists For Humanity competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Artists For Humanity social profiles
Digital presenceArtists For Humanity financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Artists For Humanity leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Artists For Humanity subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Artists For Humanity funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Artists For Humanity M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Artists For Humanity
What does Artists For Humanity do?
Artists For Humanity is a nonprofit social enterprise that employs teens in paid apprenticeship in visual arts and creative industries, then delivers those teens' work through six in-house creative studios (Painting, Graphic Design, Photography, 3D Design, Creative Technology, Animation, Video Production) as commissioned art and design services for businesses and organizations. Core deliverables include murals, branding and logos, websites, wayfinding, video, photography, animation, public art, custom furniture, and leased exhibitions. Revenue is supplemented by LEED Platinum-certified venue rentals, an online shop selling teen-created artwork, an Artists Fellowship program, and AFH Co-Lab school partnerships.
Is Artists For Humanity a public or private company?
Artists For Humanity is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Artists For Humanity founded?
Artists For Humanity was founded in 1991. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Artists For Humanity based?
Artists For Humanity is headquartered in Boston, United States, in the North America region.
How does Artists For Humanity make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Creative Services are the primary driver. The others are venue Rental, donations and Grants, art Sales and artists Fellowship Program.
Does Artists For Humanity have an API?
No public API is recorded for Artists For Humanity.
What industry is Artists For Humanity in?
Artists For Humanity's product category is Youth Arts Education and Creative Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAHAC, Arts Education & Community Arts Programs, with a secondary code of EDAAAGAA, Visual Arts (Drawing, Painting, Illustration). Its NAICS code is 61161 and its SIC code is 7330.