AMERICAN QUILT STUDY GROUP

What AMERICAN QUILT STUDY GROUP does

American Quilt Study Group (AQSG) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit membership organization founded in 1980 by Sally Garoutte and headquartered in Lincoln, Nebraska. The organization connects quilt enthusiasts, researchers, educators, curators, and collectors through scholarly publications and community programs focused on interdisciplinary quilt-related studies. Its core product is Uncoverings, an annual peer-reviewed research journal the organization describes as the foremost authority in quilt research, complemented by Blanket Statements, a quarterly newsletter delivered to members.

AQSG's underlying technology footprint is minimal: it operates a Neon CRM-based membership portal, a website (americanquiltstudygroup.org) with a Quilt History Snippets blog, and a YouTube channel, while relying on external partners — including the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Digital Commons and the Quilt Index — to archive and distribute its publications. Its flagship community event is the Annual AQSG Seminar (47th in 2026 in Lincoln, Nebraska; 48th scheduled for 2027 in Des Moines, Iowa), supplemented by Virtual Study Centers, a Mentoring Program, a Biennial Quilt Study, and a Research Grants Program offering multiple named awards including the Lucy Hilty Research Grant (up to $2,000).

AQSG's revenue model rests on six annual membership tiers ranging from $40 (Academic) to $1,000 (Patron), supplemented by Seminar registration fees, publication sales through its gift store and Amazon, and charitable donations including named endowments ($10,000+). The organization is volunteer-powered, supported by area representatives across 25+ U.S. states and Canada and a Board of Directors elected by its 900+ members. With only 8 paid staff, AQSG operates as a community-led scholarly society rather than a technology-driven enterprise.

Name

AMERICAN QUILT STUDY GROUP

Legal name

American Quilt Study Group

Website

https://americanquiltstudygroup.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

American Quilt Study Group is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit membership organization connecting 900+ quilt enthusiasts, researchers, and institutions through the Uncoverings journal, the Blanket Statements newsletter, and an annual Seminar. Founded in 1980 and based in Lincoln, Nebraska, it operates as a volunteer-powered scholarly community.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Lincoln

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: AQSG operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation funded primarily through membership dues at multiple levels (Academic $40, Friend $75, Associate/Group $150, Benefactor $250, Advocate $500, Patron $1000). Membership year runs January 1 through December 31.
2. Seminar Fees: Annual Seminar registration fees, hotel, and travel expenses (up to $1,500 fellowships available). The Seminar features tours, study centers, presentations, auctions, and exhibitions.
3. Publication Sales: Sales of Uncoverings annual peer-reviewed journal and Blanket Statements quarterly newsletter. Publications are available for purchase through the AQSG gift store.
4. Charitable Donations: Donations supporting research grants, seminar fund, fellowship fund, endowment fund, and publications fund. Named endowments available for gifts of $10,000 or more.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

American Quilt Study Group is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) membership organization that advances the study of quilts and textiles. It publishes the peer-reviewed Uncoverings journal and the Blanket Statements newsletter, hosts an annual Seminar and biennial Quilt Study, funds original research through grants, and runs a Mentoring Program and Virtual Study Centers.

Product overview

AQSG is a non-profit membership organization (501(c)(3)) offering a portfolio of scholarly products and services focused on quilt-related research and community. The core offerings include Uncoverings, an annual peer-reviewed research journal regarded as the foremost authority in quilt research; Blanket Statements, a quarterly publication with research articles and organization news; and the Annual AQSG Seminar featuring study centers, paper presentations, tours, and auctions. Additional services include the Biennial Quilt Study program for makers, a Research Grants Program with multiple grant types (Lucy Hilty, H. Mark Dunn, Sue Cummings, Seminar Fellowship, Endowment), a Mentoring Program pairing researchers with experienced mentors, and Virtual Study Centers for online learning. These offerings work together to advance interdisciplinary quilt-related studies and build an accurate body of quilt scholarship.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Uncoverings Journal

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Quilt IndexcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAQSG works with the Quilt Index database, where Blanket Statements is archived and AQSG collections are available. The Quilt Index serves as a major resource for quilt documentation and research.
• University of Nebraska-Lincoln Digital CommonscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUncoverings journal and Blanket Statements are archived and made accessible through the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Digital Commons platform, supporting open access to quilt research.
• International Quilt MuseumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormerly the International Quilt Study Center and Museum (IQSCM). AQSG collaborates with this institution which holds significant quilt collections and supports quilt scholarship.
• San Jose Museum of Quilts and TextilesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFeatured in Uncoverings Volume 46 (2025) cover image: 'Pickle Dish' quilt gifted to Lucy Hilty by Julie Silber and Linda Reuther, from Mary Strickler's collection at the museum.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• International Quilt Museum: Located at University of Nebraska-Lincoln, this museum holds the world's largest publicly held quilt collection and is a strategic partner of AQSG. Comparable as an institutional pillar of quilt scholarship, though focused on collection rather than membership-driven scholarship.
• American Quilter's Society: A long-established membership and events organization focused on quilting, with publications, conventions, and quilt shows. Overlaps AQSG in audience and quilting focus but emphasizes commercial/contemporary quilting rather than scholarly study.
• American Craft Council: A national nonprofit advancing contemporary craft, including fiber and textile arts. Broader than AQSG in scope (multi-discipline) but operates a similar nonprofit membership model with publications, events, and awards.

Direct peers

• Textile Society of America: A scholarly, membership-based organization promoting the study and preservation of textiles. Directly comparable to AQSG as a peer academic/cultural-heritage textile membership society publishing research and hosting symposia.
• Costume Society of America: A 501(c)(3) nonprofit membership organization supporting research, preservation, and education in dress and textile history. Closely analogous to AQSG in structure, mission, scholarly publications, and membership tiers.
• The Quilters Hall of Fame: A nonprofit honoring significant contributions to quilting and quiltmaking through induction and celebration. Comparable as a heritage-focused nonprofit organization operating in the same niche of quilt recognition and education.
• Surface Design Association: A nonprofit, international membership organization supporting education in surface design and fiber arts. Comparable as a textile-arts-focused membership body hosting events and publishing content.

Emerging players

• Textile Arts Center: A nonprofit arts organization offering textile-education classes, exhibitions, and community programs. Comparable as a textile-arts-focused education/community nonprofit, though smaller and more studio-practice-oriented.
• Quilt Index: An online quilt-research portal hosting digitized collections and archival records, including AQSG's Blanket Statements. Comparable as a digital research infrastructure provider in the quilt-studies space.

Regional players

• Museum of International Folk Art: A Santa Fe-based museum that has commissioned AQSG quiltmaker-survey research. Comparable as an institutional stakeholder in folk-art and textile preservation, though museum-focused rather than membership-driven.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCnSdyh7Ji7GLiumC9-c9Xkg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/american-quilt-study-group

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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