Love Your Labels

What Love Your Labels does

Love Your Labels, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization incorporated in 2021 in Worcester, Massachusetts, that supports LGBTQ+ youth and families through fashion, art, and design programming. Its core programs include Threads, a six-month fashion design and identity development program for youth ages 12–18; Drag Story Time, a free family literacy event featuring drag performers reading affirming stories; and Queer AF, an annual art+fashion show fundraiser branded as the 'Queer Met Gala of Massachusetts' held at Mechanics Hall. Supporting offerings include the Kids' Sewcial Club (ages 8–12), an Open Studio makerspace, the Parents & Families Network, the Make. It. Werk. drag competition, a Fashion Council launching in 2025, and a Dungeons & Dragons RPG club.

The organization is led by Cofounder & President Joshua Croke and staffed by a small team (1–10 employees), with industry professionals serving as Fashion Design Activities Lead (Project Runway Allstar Sam Donovan), Designer in Residence (Caelum Lam), and Therapist in Residence (Cass Dallas). Programming is delivered directly at the Love Your Labels studio and partner venues throughout Worcester (JMAC, Mechanics Hall, The White Room, Rockland Trust Plaza), supplemented by an online presence for ticketing, donations, and merchandise via loveyourlabels.shop. The organization also fiscally sponsors the Queer Coalition of Greater Worcester, a collaborative community initiative.

Revenue is generated through a diversified mix of foundation and government grants (including Worcester Arts Council and Mass Cultural Council), individual giving, corporate sponsorships led by multi-year presenting sponsor Saint-Gobain, event ticket sales for Queer AF at tiered price points ($20–$145), scholarships ($250 for Threads), and merchandise. Marketing is community-led, relying primarily on Instagram, an email newsletter, the Squarespace website, word-of-mouth, and signature events. The organization reports no AI/ML technology stack and operates entirely as a program-delivery and community-advocacy nonprofit rather than a technology company.

Name

Love Your Labels

Legal name

Love Your Labels, Inc.

Website

https://www.loveyourlabels.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Love Your Labels is a Worcester, Massachusetts 501(c)(3) nonprofit that supports LGBTQ+ youth and families through fashion, art, and design programming, including the Threads youth program, Drag Story Time, and the annual Queer AF art+fashion show fundraiser.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Community Services / LGBTQ+ Nonprofit Programming

akta.pro primary industry

LGBTQ+ Rights & Advocacy Organizations (BPAGAFAE)

Keywords

• Youth fashion programs
• LGBTQ community support
• Drag story time
• Art fashion fundraiser
• Nonprofit youth advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Worcester

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Foundation and Government Grants: Grant funding from foundations and government sources to support youth programming and organizational operations.
2. Individual Giving: Donations from individual supporters; scholarship funding for youth participants.
3. Corporate Support and Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorships from businesses including presenting sponsor Saint-Gobain and other local and regional companies supporting events and programs.
4. Event Revenue (Queer AF): Queer AF annual art+fashion show is a major fundraiser with ticket sales at various price points ($20-$145), with proceeds supporting Love Your Labels programming.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Love Your Labels is an LGBTQ+ led nonprofit that delivers in-person community programming for queer and trans youth and families through fashion design, art, and storytelling. Its primary offerings are the Threads Youth Fashion & Identity Program (six-month course for ages 12-18), Drag Story Time (free family events), and the Queer AF Art + Fashion Show (annual fundraiser at Mechanics Hall), supported by a Creative Community Room makerspace, Kids' Sewcial Club, Parents & Families Network, and Fashion Council.

Product overview

Love Your Labels is an LGBTQ+ led nonprofit organization that operates a portfolio of youth development and community programs centered around fashion, art, and creativity. The core offerings include the Threads Youth Fashion & Identity Program (a six-month fashion design program for ages 12-18), Drag Story Time (family-friendly story events), and Queer AF (an annual art and fashion show fundraiser). Supporting programs include the Kids' Sewcial Club, Open Studio makerspace, Fashion Council, Parents & Families Network, Dungeons & Dragons RPG Club, and various sewing workshops. The organization also fiscally sponsors the Queer Coalition of Greater Worcester. All programs aim to create safe, welcoming spaces for LGBTQ+ youth and community to explore identity and self-expression through creativity.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Threads: Youth fashion and identity program for middle and high school-age youth using fashion design as a lens for self-discovery
• Drag Story Time
• Queer AF
• Make. It. Werk.
• Parents & Families Network
• Kids' Sewcial Club
• Open Studio
• Fashion Council

Products and services

• Threads Youth Fashion & Identity Program A six-month fashion design and identity development program for middle and high school-age youth (ages 12-18) that uses fashion design as a lens for self-discovery, teaching design thinking, communication, project planning, and creative expression in an affirming environment. $250 scholarships available.
• Drag Story Time Free community events where drag performers read affirming, inclusive stories to children, strengthening networks of queer and ally families looking for safe spaces while promoting literacy.
• Queer AF: Art + Fashion Show Annual art and fashion show fundraiser featuring LGBTQ+ designers, models, and performers, described as the 'Queer Met Gala of Massachusetts,' held at Mechanics Hall in Worcester with tiered ticketing from $20 to $145.
• Make. It. Werk. Drag Competition A drag competition event where performers compete for prizes and a chance to perform at the Queer AF show, open to drag performers of all experience levels.
• Kids' Sewcial Club A weekly sewing club for children ages 8-12 that teaches machine sewing basics in an affirming, inclusive community environment, meeting on Tuesdays.
• Open Studio A fully equipped fashion and design makerspace open to the community on Tuesday evenings, providing access to machinery and skill-building for creating custom wardrobe pieces, costumes, drag looks, or mending/upcycling items.
• Parents & Families Network A supportive community network for parents, caregivers, and families of LGBTQ+ youth, providing resources, guidance, peer support, and community-building activities across Worcester and Central Massachusetts.
• Fashion Council An advisory council dedicated to shaping the future of fashion events by researching and vetting designers, reviewing portfolios, building industry relationships, and promoting emerging LGBTQ+ designers and creatives.
• Dungeons & Dragons RPG Club A free tabletop RPG club for players ages 12+ playing D&D 5e in the Forgotten Realms setting, held every first and third Sunday, welcoming both new and experienced adventurers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 40% reduction in suicide attempts among LGBTQ+ youth with at least one accepting adult (Trevor Project)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Saint-GobaincoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting sponsor for Queer AF and a longstanding supporter of Love Your Labels mission. Has been presenting sponsor for several years.
• Lasell UniversitycoreGTM or Marketing Partner2024 program sponsor for Threads Youth Fashion Program. Lasell University's School of Fashion provides educational expertise and support.
• JMAC - Jean McDonough Arts CentercoreGTM or Marketing PartnerVenue partner for Threads Youth Fashion Showcase 2026 event at 20 Franklin St, Worcester.
• Mechanics HallcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual venue for Queer AF art+fashion show, one of Worcester's most prestigious event spaces.
• The White RoomminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVenue partner for Model & Volunteer Call for Queer AF 2026 at 138 Green Street, Worcester, MA.
• Rockland Trust PlazaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVenue for BBQueer for Community event at 45 Green Street, across from Femme in Worcester's Canal District.
• Worcester Arts Council (WAC)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerArts funding organization providing support for Love Your Labels programming.
• Mass Cultural CouncilminorGTM or Marketing PartnerState cultural funding organization supporting arts and cultural programming.
• Sam Donovan (Project Runway Allstar)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFashion design activities lead for Threads program; brings industry expertise from Project Runway to youth education.
• Queer Coalition of Greater WorcestercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative community initiative fiscally sponsored by Love Your Labels, working to bring LGBTQ+ supporting activities closer together in Central Mass.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Hetrick-Martin Institute: Long-standing LGBTQ+ youth services nonprofit providing arts, education, and mental health programming to queer young people. Most directly comparable in mission, youth focus, and creative-programming model.
• Point Foundation: LGBTQ+ nonprofit focused on scholarships, leadership development, and mentoring for queer youth. Comparable in LGBTQ+ youth development mission and donor/sponsor-driven funding model.
• True Colors United: National LGBTQ+ nonprofit working to prevent and end homelessness among LGBTQ+ youth. Comparable in LGBTQ+ youth advocacy focus and community-based programmatic delivery.
• PFLAG National: Largest LGBTQ+ family and ally organization in the U.S., with local chapters supporting parents and families of LGBTQ+ youth. Directly comparable to Love Your Labels' Parents & Families Network program.
• Out Youth Austin: Central Texas LGBTQ+ youth organization providing drop-in services, support groups, and arts programming. Comparable in LGBTQ+ youth community programming with creative expression components.

Broad incumbents

• The Trevor Project: National LGBTQ+ youth crisis intervention and suicide prevention organization. Operates at much larger scale; comparable in core LGBTQ+ youth mental-health mission and is cited as a data source by Love Your Labels.
• CenterLink: Umbrella organization supporting a network of LGBTQ+ community centers across the U.S. Comparable as a peer institution coordinating LGBTQ+ community resources; operates at a national scale.

Regional players

• Boston Alliance of LGBTQ+ Youth (BAGLY): Massachusetts-based LGBTQ+ youth organization led by and for queer youth. Comparable mission and programming model; operates in the same state but in Boston rather than Worcester.
• Worcester Educational Foundation: Local education-focused nonprofit serving Worcester youth. Comparable as a Central Massachusetts youth nonprofit competing for similar grant and corporate sponsorship funding.

Others

• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Massachusetts: Regional youth mentoring nonprofit serving the same Worcester/Central Massachusetts geography. Comparable as a local youth-services nonprofit with overlapping donor and volunteer base.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/love.your.labels
• Facebookfacebook.com/LoveYourLabelsMovement
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/loveyourlabels

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Love Your Labels