STAINED GLASS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA

What STAINED GLASS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA does

The Stained Glass Association of America (SGAA) is a 501(c)(6) non-profit professional trade association founded in 1903, originally as the National Ornamental Glass Manufacturers Association in Columbus, Ohio, and now headquartered in Buffalo, NY. It is the national voice of the American stained glass field, serving more than 600 members across four membership tiers (Affiliate, Professional, Accredited Professional, and Industry Partners) plus an adjacent audience of caretakers, enthusiasts, and historians.

The association's core offerings center on peer-reviewed professional accreditation, with the Accredited Professional classification requiring portfolio review, documentation, and panel interview; the continuously published Stained Glass Quarterly trade journal (in print since 1906 and reaching approximately 2,000 subscribers); the Sourcebook directory of accredited studios; annual national conferences and SGAA: On the Road regional programming; the SGAA Reference and Technical Manual; and SGAA Foundation scholarships supporting artistry, academia, and research.

Revenue is generated primarily through tiered annual membership dues (Affiliate $85-$105, Professional $350-$500, Accredited Professional $900-$1,200 for 2027-2028), membership application fees, Stained Glass Quarterly subscriptions and advertising, conference registrations and sponsorships, and an online store for back issues, classified ads, and publications. SGAA additionally pursues advocacy functions on tariffs, OSHA workplace safety, and lead regulation, and has recently broadened into adjacent glass communities through partnerships with the Society of American Mosaic Artists (2022) and joint conferences with the Glass Art Society and the International Society of Glass Beadmakers (Corning 2026).

Name

STAINED GLASS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA

Legal name

The Stained Glass Association of America

Website

https://stainedglass.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1903

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Stained Glass Association of America is a 501(c)(6) non-profit trade association founded in 1903 that serves more than 600 members across four membership tiers, providing professional accreditation, the Stained Glass Quarterly journal, conferences, advocacy, and technical resources for the American stained glass craft.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Buffalo

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees from four tiers: Affiliate, Professional, Industry Partners, and Accredited Professional members. Dues range from $85-$1,200 annually depending on membership level.
2. Stained Glass Quarterly Publication: Quarterly publication subscription revenue, included with membership. Also available as standalone subscription. Approximately 2,000 subscribers. Revenue from subscriptions, advertising, and classified ads.
3. Conferences and Events: Revenue from annual conferences, workshops, and regional programming events including registration fees and sponsorships.
4. Application and Processing Fees: Application fees for Professional Membership ($125) and Accredited Professional Membership ($300 per classification).
5. Store and Publications: Revenue from sale of back issues, publications, merchandise, and educational materials through the SGAA store.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Stained Glass Association of America operates a national trade association for the American stained glass field, providing tiered membership programs (Affiliate, Professional, Accredited Professional, and Industry Partners), publishing Stained Glass Quarterly continuously since 1906, delivering annual conferences and regional workshops (SGAA On the Road), running the Sourcebook directory of accredited professionals, and providing advocacy and professional standards for studios, artists, educators, suppliers, and institutions that care for historic glass.

Product overview

The Stained Glass Association of America (SGAA) operates a membership-based trade association structure rather than a technology product platform. Its core offerings center on the Stained Glass Quarterly (SGQ), a continuously published trade magazine since 1906 serving as the industry's documentary record. The association provides tiered membership programs including Affiliate, Professional, and Accredited Professional classifications, with the latter being the highest peer-reviewed credential for studios. Additional offerings include an online Sourcebook directory for finding accredited studios, annual conferences and the SGAA On the Road regional programming, educational scholarships through the SGAA Foundation, and technical reference documentation including the Reference and Technical Manual. The association also supports the 100 Moments Project exhibition program and maintains advocacy initiatives for the stained glass industry.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Affiliate Membership Entry-level membership open to anyone interested in stained glass, providing access to the SGAA community, Stained Glass Quarterly subscription, online directory listing, Affiliate Member logo, and access to the Community Facebook page.
• Professional Membership Program Mid-tier membership for studios, artists, educators, and retailers with 3+ years of professional practice. Includes voting rights, directory listings, calls for bid eligibility, and committee/board service eligibility. Requires one year of prior Affiliate Membership.
• Accredited Professional Membership Program The highest level of SGAA recognition for experienced studios and practitioners, earned through peer-reviewed portfolio review, documentation of professional practice, and a panel interview. Available across three classifications: Restoration/Preservation Studio, Architectural Art Glass Studio, and Artist/Designer. Includes the SGAA Accredited seal, Sourcebook directory profile, calls for bid access, two votes, advocacy, and first access to conferences.
• Industry Partners Membership Membership tier for companies and organizations that support the stained glass field with materials, tools, equipment, and services. Provides market access, advertising, and industry relationships. Pricing is not publicly disclosed.
• Stained Glass Quarterly (SGQ) Official award-winning quarterly trade publication of the SGAA documenting the history, craft, people, and projects of American stained glass. Published continuously since 1906, it serves as the documentary record of the field and reaches approximately 2,000 subscribers across North America. Included with membership and available as a standalone subscription; also carries advertising and classified ads.
• SGAA Annual Conference National annual conference featuring workshops, seminars, exhibitions, and networking for SGAA members and the broader stained glass community. Includes registration, sponsorship, and exhibition opportunities.
• SGAA On the Road Regional Workshops Regional programming initiative bringing workshops, seminars, and community engagement to stained glass studios and cities across the country. Includes scheduled stops such as Potekglass (September 2026) and Feral Studio (October 2026).
• SGAA Sourcebook Directory Online membership directory and resource portal providing search functionality for finding Accredited Professional studios, suppliers, and members across the stained glass industry. Promotes accredited members to institutions and clients seeking qualified studios.
• SGAA Online Store E-commerce storefront operated at store.stainedglass.org selling back issues of Stained Glass Quarterly, publications, merchandise, and educational materials.
• SGAA Foundation Scholarship Program Charitable scholarship program operated through the SGAA Foundation supporting artistry, academia, and research for emerging stained glass practitioners. Awards include named scholarships such as the Dorothy L. Maddy Memorial Scholarship and Steven Bridges Memorial Scholarship.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 600 members across four membership tiers
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered supporting and core.

• ClickSafetysupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 March 2023SGAA partnered with ClickSafety to provide affordable, standardized safety programs exclusively for Stained Glass Association members. This partnership addresses workplace safety needs and provides access to safety training and resources.
• Cascade MetalssupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 October 2022Cascade Metals partnered with Ariana Makau at Nzilani Glass Conservation to promote lead safety while working with leaded glass. Video content was produced to educate the stained glass community on lead safety practices.
• Society of American Mosaic Artists (SAMA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 February 2022SGAA and SAMA announced a partnership and joint conference (Confluence 2022) in Toledo, Ohio. The partnership aims to preserve SAMA's legacy while inspiring growth for both organizations. Executive Directors Megan McElfresh (SGAA) and Dawnmarie Zimmerman (SAMA) are coordinating efforts to serve artists, suppliers, manufacturers, preservationists, and collectors. The collaboration represents a significant integration of the glass and mosaic art communities.
• International Commission on Glass (ICG)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSGAA participated in the International Year of Glass 2022, declared by the UN. Dr. David Pye from Alfred University worked with ICG on the UN resolution. SGAA played a role in the IYoG and continues to foster relationships across science, technology, and art.
• International Year of Glass 2022supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerUN-declared year to celebrate glass as an indispensable material. SGAA sent a letter of support and participated in National Day of Glass Conference in Washington, DC. Executive Director Megan McElfresh spoke on Art and Glass in Society panel.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• American Craft Council: The American Craft Council is the broader US craft trade and advocacy organization supporting artists across disciplines. It overlaps with SGAA on craft advocacy, education, and the magazine-publishing model, but lacks the stained-glass-specific accreditation focus.
• International Commission on Glass (ICG): ICG is the global glass research and policy organization that partnered with SGAA through the UN International Year of Glass 2022. ICG spans science, technology, and art glass, making it a thematically aligned ecosystem peer rather than a direct US craft-association competitor.

Direct peers

• International Society of Glass Beadmakers (ISGB): ISGB is a membership organization serving glass beadmakers and flameworkers, sharing the craft-glass-education and conference-driven model. It co-hosted Corning 2026 with SGAA and serves an adjacent glass-art membership base.
• Society of American Mosaic Artists (SAMA): SAMA is a craft membership association serving mosaic artists. SGAA entered a formal partnership with SAMA in 2022, providing financial support during SAMA's financial distress and co-hosting Confluence 2022 in Toledo—an almost identical member-base and conference model.
• Glass Art Society (GAS): Glass Art Society is a peer membership-based organization focused on glass arts education and advocacy, with international reach. SGAA and GAS co-hosted Corning 2026 (GAS x SGAA x ISGB), making them the closest functional peer in scope and member model.

Broad incumbents

• National Glass Association (NGA): NGA is the broader US glass industry trade association covering commercial glazing, fenestration, and architectural glass. It is not specialized in stained glass but overlaps with SGAA Industry Partners and architectural glass customers, and is the dominant US glass trade body.

Regional players

• British Society of Master Glass Painters: The British Society of Master Glass Painters is the UK equivalent professional body for stained glass artists and conservators, with a comparable accreditation, education, and publication mandate. It is the closest international analog to SGAA but serves the UK market rather than competing directly in the US.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/SGAA1
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/stained-glass-association-of-america
• Instagraminstagram.com/sgaa_hq

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

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 STAINED GLASS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA