The Vegetarian Resource Group
The Vegetarian Resource Group is a 40-year-old Baltimore-based non-profit that educates the public on veganism through its quarterly Vegan Journal, books, online restaurant guide, free nutrition guides, and student scholarship and contest programs, funded by memberships, donations, and publication sales.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1982
- HeadquartersBaltimore, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What The Vegetarian Resource Group does
The Vegetarian Resource Group (VRG) is a non-profit organization founded in 1982 and headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland, dedicated to educating the public on veganism and interrelated issues of health, nutrition, ecology, ethics, and world hunger. The organization operates with approximately 5 employees and produces a portfolio of publications, educational materials, and community programs targeted at health professionals, food service operators, students, educators, and the general public interested in plant-based diets.
VRG's core offerings include the quarterly Vegan Journal, the Vegetarian Journal, and an extensive catalog of books such as Simply Vegan, the Vegan Handbook, the Guide to Natural Foods Restaurants in the U.S. and Canada (covering over 2,000 venues), and numerous regional cookbooks. The organization maintains a searchable online restaurant guide database for the US and Canada, distributes free downloadable PDF guides on topics including pregnancy nutrition, teen nutrition, and heart health, and runs recurring programs including a $5,000 annual college scholarship, essay contests for youth aged 8-18, and an annual video contest.
VRG's business model is built on three revenue streams: biennial membership subscriptions priced at $35 (which include Vegan Journal delivery and a copy of Simply Vegan), one-time book and publication sales through its e-commerce catalog, and tax-deductible donations solicited via the website and a GiveDirect integration. Content is distributed through vrg.org, a regularly updated blog, a monthly VRG-NEWS email newsletter, social media channels (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram), and direct mail. There is no disclosed enterprise revenue, no funding rounds, and no parent organization.
The Vegetarian Resource Group firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Vegetarian Resource Group
- Legal name
- The Vegetarian Resource Group
- Website
- https://vrg.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1982
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- The Vegetarian Resource Group is a 40-year-old Baltimore-based non-profit that educates the public on veganism through its quarterly Vegan Journal, books, online restaurant guide, free nutrition guides, and student scholarship and contest programs, funded by memberships, donations, and publication sales.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Vegetarian Resource Group industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Vegetarian and Vegan Education Publishing
- NAICS
- Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Plant-Based & Vegetarian/Vegan Nutrition (HSADAFAJ)
Keywords
Where The Vegetarian Resource Group is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Baltimore
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
The Vegetarian Resource Group business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Membership Subscriptions: Annual membership provides access to Vegan Journal for subscription period plus member benefits. Standard membership at $35 provides two years of Vegan Journal and a copy of Simply Vegan.
- Book and Publication Sales: Sale of books and publications including Simply Vegan, Vegan Handbook, Vegetarian Journal's Guide to Natural Foods Restaurants, and other cookbooks and educational materials through the online catalog.
- Donations: Tax-deductible donations from supporters to support VRG's mission of educating the public on veganism.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Standard membership with $35 subscription |
| Subscription | Annual | Promotional membership at $25 |
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
The Vegetarian Resource Group product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Vegetarian Resource Group is a 501(c)-style non-profit organization that publishes the quarterly Vegan Journal (formerly Vegetarian Journal) and an extensive catalog of books, cookbooks, and educational guides on vegetarian and vegan nutrition, ethics, and lifestyle. It sells publications and memberships through its online catalog, distributes free downloadable nutrition guides, maintains an online searchable restaurant guide for the U.S. and Canada, and runs annual college scholarship, essay, and video contests to promote vegetarian advocacy.
Product overview
The Vegetarian Resource Group offers a diverse portfolio of publications, educational materials, and programs centered on vegan and vegetarian lifestyle promotion. The core offerings include the Vegan Journal (quarterly publication), the Vegetarian Journal, and an extensive catalog of books such as Simply Vegan, Vegan Handbook, and regional cookbooks. VRG also maintains an online restaurant guide database and provides free PDF guides on nutrition, pregnancy, teens, and heart health. Additional programs include annual college scholarships ($5,000), essay contests for youth, and video contests. The organization distributes content through email newsletters and a regularly updated blog covering activism, nutrition, recipes, and community topics.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Vegan Journal
Companies that use The Vegetarian Resource Group
Customer profileSegments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
The Vegetarian Resource Group technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
The Vegetarian Resource Group partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators1 record
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights5 records
The Vegetarian Resource Group competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals): The largest animal rights organization globally, with extensive vegan education campaigns, celebrity endorsements, and media presence. Operates in an overlapping mission space but at much larger scale and broader scope than VRG, including activism, investigations, and corporate campaigns.
- The Humane Society of the United States: The largest US animal welfare organization, with significant resources, policy influence, and vegan-adjacent advocacy. Overlaps with VRG's ethics-oriented vegetarian/vegan messaging but operates across a much broader animal welfare portfolio.
Direct peers
- Mercy For Animals: An international nonprofit working to end animal agriculture through investigations, corporate engagement, and policy advocacy with vegan education components. Comparable to VRG in nonprofit advocacy model and plant-based education mission, with a more activism-oriented posture.
- Farm Sanctuary: A US-based farm animal protection organization operating sanctuaries and advocacy programs that promote veganism. Comparable in plant-based advocacy mission and nonprofit funding model, with the additional dimension of operating physical sanctuaries VRG does not.
- Forks Over Knives: A plant-based education and media platform built around the documentary of the same name, offering recipes, cooking courses, meal plans, and articles. Comparable to VRG in its consumer-facing educational mission around plant-based diets and similar content format mix.
- Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine: A US-based nonprofit of physicians and health professionals advocating for plant-based nutrition, preventive medicine, and ethical research. Highly comparable to VRG in audience overlap (health professionals, nutrition information consumers) and mission emphasis on plant-based diets for health.
- VegNews: A leading plant-based media brand publishing a magazine, daily digital content, recipes, restaurant reviews, and cookbooks. Closely comparable to VRG in its mix of editorial content, restaurant coverage, and educational publishing targeting the vegetarian/vegan community.
- Vegan Outreach: A US-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to vegan education and outreach through leafleting, advocacy materials, and online resources. Directly comparable in vegan education mission, donor-supported funding model, and grassroots advocacy approach.
Others
- VegFund: A grantmaking nonprofit that funds vegan activists and outreach projects. Adjacent to VRG's mission as an enabling/funder organization in the vegan advocacy ecosystem rather than a direct content competitor.
Regional players
- The Vegan Society: The original UK-based vegan advocacy organization founded in 1944, producing educational content, trademarking the word 'vegan,' and running campaigns. Highly comparable in mission (vegan education and advocacy) and content portfolio (publications, guides, recipes), but primarily serves the UK and Europe rather than VRG's North American focus.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat2 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The Vegetarian Resource Group social profiles
Digital presenceThe Vegetarian Resource Group financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Vegetarian Resource Group leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
The Vegetarian Resource Group funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Vegetarian Resource Group 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 The Vegetarian Resource Group
What does The Vegetarian Resource Group do?
The Vegetarian Resource Group is a 501(c)-style non-profit organization that publishes the quarterly Vegan Journal (formerly Vegetarian Journal) and an extensive catalog of books, cookbooks, and educational guides on vegetarian and vegan nutrition, ethics, and lifestyle. It sells publications and memberships through its online catalog, distributes free downloadable nutrition guides, maintains an online searchable restaurant guide for the U.S. and Canada, and runs annual college scholarship, essay, and video contests to promote vegetarian advocacy.
Is The Vegetarian Resource Group a public or private company?
The Vegetarian Resource Group is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The Vegetarian Resource Group founded?
The Vegetarian Resource Group was founded in 1982. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is The Vegetarian Resource Group based?
The Vegetarian Resource Group is headquartered in Baltimore, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Vegetarian Resource Group make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Membership Subscriptions are the primary driver. The others are book and Publication Sales and donations.
Who are The Vegetarian Resource Group's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) and The Humane Society of the United States. Direct peers are Mercy For Animals, Farm Sanctuary, Forks Over Knives, Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, VegNews and Vegan Outreach. VegFund is listed as an others. The Vegan Society is listed as a regional player.
Does The Vegetarian Resource Group have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Vegetarian Resource Group.
What industry is The Vegetarian Resource Group in?
The Vegetarian Resource Group's product category is Vegetarian and Vegan Education Publishing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HSADAFAJ, Plant-Based & Vegetarian/Vegan Nutrition. Its NAICS code is 813.