The Longest Table
The Longest Table is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit initiative that organizes free neighborhood potluck events across 30+ U.S. cities and Paris to combat social isolation, funded entirely by voluntary donations and executed through a volunteer host network.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2022
- HeadquartersNew York City, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What The Longest Table does
The Longest Table is a nonprofit community-building initiative founded in 2022 by Maryam Banikarim and Andrew Lerner and operated as a program of NYCNext, a 501(c)(3) parent organization headquartered in New York City. The organization hosts free, open-to-all neighborhood potluck events in public spaces—blocked-off streets, parks, libraries, schoolyards, and university campuses—across more than 30 U.S. cities and in Paris, France. Its stated mission is to address the loneliness epidemic and rebuild local social connections through shared meals with no speeches, no agenda, and no cost to attend.
The core 'product' is the community event itself, supplemented by a Host Toolkit that provides branding assets, templates, and coordination guidelines so that local volunteer hosts can stage their own Longest Tables. Execution is decentralized: Table Captains (volunteer mini-hosts) recruit groups of 8-10 attendees, registration is handled through Eventbrite, and a small central core team of fewer than 10 employees coordinates support and press outreach. There is no proprietary software, mobile app, or technology platform.
The revenue model is entirely donation-based. All events are free to attend and operational costs are funded through voluntary tax-deductible contributions from individuals and organizations, with suggested donation tiers of $10, $50, $100, $150, or custom amounts. Growth is driven by earned media coverage from outlets such as ABC's GMA, NBC News, the New York Times, USA Today, and local publications, by word-of-mouth among participants, and by the September 2025 partnership with the Nextdoor Foundation to support nationwide expansion. The organization has not disclosed financial figures, external funding rounds, or institutional investors.
The Longest Table firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Longest Table
- Legal name
- NYCNext
- Website
- https://longesttablecommunity.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2022
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- The Longest Table is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit initiative that organizes free neighborhood potluck events across 30+ U.S. cities and Paris to combat social isolation, funded entirely by voluntary donations and executed through a volunteer host network.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Longest Table industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Community Event Services
- NAICS
- Community Food Services (62421)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Multi-Purpose Event Halls & Community Centers (THAHAAAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Venue Sourcing & Site Coordination (HSACAAAD), Nightlife & Club Guest List / Table Reservations (HSACALAG)
Keywords
Where The Longest Table is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York City
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
The Longest Table business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals and organizations supporting the community-building mission. Donations cover hard costs associated with organizing events including tables, chairs, tablecloths, and operational expenses.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Free community events |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels4 records
The Longest Table product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Longest Table is a free community potluck event that brings neighbors together for a shared meal and conversation at long tables set up in public spaces such as parks, blocked-off streets, libraries, and schoolyards. Local hosts organize events in their own neighborhoods using a toolkit provided by the organization, which includes logo assets, templates, and coordination support. Events are agenda-free, open to all, and designed to combat social isolation and foster neighbor connections across 30+ U.S. cities.
Product overview
The Longest Table is a community-building initiative organized by NYCNext (a 501(c)(3) nonprofit) that operates as a single unified offering: a free neighborhood potluck event designed to combat loneliness and build community connections. The organization provides a host toolkit with branding resources and templates to enable local organizers to stage their own events. Events are held in public spaces across 30+ cities nationwide and are free to attend, relying on volunteer Table Captains and community participation.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- The Longest Table Community Event
Companies that use The Longest Table
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
The Longest Table technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
The Longest Table partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Nextdoor FoundationcoreNextdoor Foundation partnered with The Longest Table to support nationwide expansion of neighborhood potluck events, helping bring the community-building initiative to more cities across the US.
- NYCNextcoreThe Longest Table is an initiative of NYCNext, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. NYCNext serves as the parent organization providing operational support and organizational infrastructure.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
The Longest Table competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- The Big Lunch: UK initiative originally launched by the Eden Project that encourages neighbors to share a meal together on a single day each year. Closest analog in terms of a nationwide potluck-for-community mission and scale ambition.
- The Welcome Dinner Project: An Australian nonprofit that hosts potluck dinners to connect newcomers with established residents. Directly comparable community-meal model focused on building neighborhood belonging through shared food.
Broad incumbents
- Nextdoor: Hyperlocal neighborhood social network. Already partners with The Longest Table and could host its own potluck feature at scale; represents both a distribution ally and a potential competitor.
- Meetup: Platform for organizing local community gatherings. Comparable in facilitating community-led event creation, though it spans many topics rather than focusing on shared meals.
- Slow Food USA: Nonprofit advocating for local food cultures and communal eating. Shares the food-as-community-connection thesis and could partner or compete for the same donor mindshare.
Others
- Eventbrite: Self-service event registration platform used by The Longest Table for sign-ups. Functions as enabling infrastructure rather than a direct competitor.
- Edible Schoolyard Project: Nonprofit that integrates food and community education. Tangentially comparable as a food-and-community nonprofit that could host Longest Table-style activations in schools.
Regional players
- City Harvest: NYC-based food rescue nonprofit. Comparable in mobilizing community around food, though focused on hunger relief rather than social connection.
Emerging players
- The Dinner Party: Nonprofit that hosts community dinners for people grieving losses. Directly comparable in using shared meals to build community around a social mission, though narrower in target audience.
- EatWith: Marketplace for communal dining experiences in hosts' homes. Comparable in centering shared meals as the core mechanism, though monetized rather than donation-funded.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
The Longest Table social profiles
Digital presenceThe Longest Table financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Longest Table leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
The Longest Table funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Longest Table 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 Longest Table
What does The Longest Table do?
The Longest Table is a free community potluck event that brings neighbors together for a shared meal and conversation at long tables set up in public spaces such as parks, blocked-off streets, libraries, and schoolyards. Local hosts organize events in their own neighborhoods using a toolkit provided by the organization, which includes logo assets, templates, and coordination support. Events are agenda-free, open to all, and designed to combat social isolation and foster neighbor connections across 30+ U.S. cities.
Is The Longest Table a public or private company?
The Longest Table is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The Longest Table founded?
The Longest Table was founded in 2022. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is The Longest Table based?
The Longest Table is headquartered in New York City, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Longest Table make money?
One revenue line is on record: donations.
Who are The Longest Table's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are The Big Lunch and The Welcome Dinner Project. Broad incumbents are Nextdoor, Meetup and Slow Food USA. Others are Eventbrite and Edible Schoolyard Project. City Harvest is listed as a regional player. Emerging players are The Dinner Party and EatWith.
Does The Longest Table have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Longest Table.
What industry is The Longest Table in?
The Longest Table's product category is Community Event Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAHAAAI, Multi-Purpose Event Halls & Community Centers, with a secondary code of HSACAAAD, Venue Sourcing & Site Coordination. Its NAICS code is 62421 and its SIC code is 7900.