Nick Virgilio Haiku Association Inc.

What Nick Virgilio Haiku Association Inc. does

Nick Virgilio Haiku Association Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1989 in Camden, New Jersey, that preserves and extends the literary legacy of haiku poet Nick Virgilio while delivering free community poetry programming. Headquartered at the Nick Virgilio Writers House at 1801 Broadway in Camden's Waterfront South district (opened 2018, renovated with multi-sponsor support), the organization runs workshops, open mics, ginko (mindful nature) walks, youth contests, and school-based poetry classes, and operates the Healing Through Writing and Midnight Notes programs alongside a co-located Mighty Writers Camden site.

Its core assets are programmatic and editorial rather than technology-driven: a weekly online journal (Haiku in Action) accepting free submissions, a digitized Nick Virgilio Archive of approximately 8,750 typed pages and 20,000+ drafts/fragments housed at Rutgers University Camden Special Collections, and a publishing imprint (Upright Remington Press) producing the Collected Haiku ($24), Selected Haiku ($15), A Life in Haiku ($15), and Writers House Anthology series ($15–$20) sold through its own online storefront at modest single-unit price points. Digital infrastructure is conventional: a WordPress site, Mailchimp newsletter ("From the Lily Pad"), and active channels on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, and X.

NVHA's revenue model rests on three streams: book and merchandise sales (one-time purchases, flat-rate $6.00 shipping); tax-deductible donations via web, check, and ACH; and grants/sponsorships from corporate funders (Campbell Soup Company, PNC, NJ American Water), state/county arts agencies (NJ State Council on the Arts, Camden County Cultural and Heritage Commission, NJ Department of Community Affairs), and the Haiku Society of America. Programs are largely free to youth, educators, and Camden residents, with the 2025 expansion into Camden public schools and a 2025 NJ Literary Landmark Award signaling the growth vector. There is no disclosed revenue, no funding rounds, and no M&A activity.

Name

Nick Virgilio Haiku Association Inc.

Legal name

Nick Virgilio Haiku Association

Website

https://nickvirgiliohaiku.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Nick Virgilio Haiku Association Inc. is a Camden, NJ-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating the Nick Virgilio Writers House to deliver free poetry workshops, school programs, contests, and the weekly Haiku in Action journal, preserving the literary legacy of haiku founder Nick Virgilio through its Upright Remington Press imprint and the digitized Virgilio Archive at Rutgers Camden.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Literary Arts and Poetry Education (Nonprofit Community Services)

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (8134), Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71)

SIC

Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731), Miscellaneous Publishing (2741)

akta.pro primary industry

Literary Arts & Writing Organizations (BPAGAHAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Arts Education & Community Arts Programs (BPAGAHAC), Poetry Workshops (EDAMAMAB), Literature & Book Clubs / Guided Reading Groups (EDAMAJAG)

Keywords

• Haiku poetry workshops
• Community literary arts
• Poetry education nonprofit
• Youth poetry programs
• Literary publications and contests

Headquarters

HQ city

Camden

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, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Book and Merchandise Sales: Sale of haiku books and poetry publications through NVHA store including Nick Virgilio Collected Haiku ($24), Selected Haiku ($15), A Life in Haiku ($15), Writers House Anthologies ($15-20), and branded merchandise including Haikuist Mugs. Shipping available via flat rate $6.00.
2. Donations and Charitable Contributions: The organization is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit accepting tax-deductible donations. Supporters can donate online, by check (mailing to 1924 Mt. Vernon Street, Philadelphia PA 19130), or add processing fees to donations. ACH bank transfers available.
3. Grants and Sponsorship: Funding from sponsors including Campbell Soup Company, PNC, NJ American Water, NJ Department of Community Affairs, NJ State Council on the Arts, and Camden County Cultural and Heritage Commission for programs, construction, and operations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The Nick Virgilio Haiku Association Inc. is a 501(c)(3) literary-arts nonprofit that operates the Nick Virgilio Writers House in Camden, NJ, delivering free community programming around haiku and poetry. Its core activities include community writing workshops, Ginko walks, school-based youth poetry programs, public readings and open mics (in-person and virtual), the annual Nicholas A. Virgilio Memorial Haiku and Senryu Competition, and a publishing line of poetry books, anthologies, and the online journal "Haiku in Action," supported by donations, grants, and book/merchandise sales.

Product overview

Nick Virgilio Haiku Association Inc. operates as a non-profit poetry organization with a multi-faceted portfolio centered on the Nick Virgilio Writers House (a community space opened in 2018 in Camden, NJ) and Haiku in Action (an online weekly haiku journal). The organization offers diverse programs including online workshops, ginko walks, the Midnight Notes Live Series, Healing Through Writing classes, and virtual open mics. Educational initiatives encompass poetry teaching in Camden schools and the annual Nicholas A. Virgilio Memorial Haiku and Senryu Competition. The product line includes published books through Upright Remington Press (Collected Haiku, Selected Haiku, A Life in Haiku, and two Writers House Anthologies) and branded merchandise (Haikuist Mugs). The organization maintains a newsletter (From The Lily Pad) distributed via Mailchimp and hosts events both in-person at the Writers House and online.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Nick Virgilio Writers House (Community Programming) A community literary-arts space in Camden, NJ that hosts free haiku and poetry workshops, Ginko walks, readings, open mics, and youth programming for individual community members, students, and teachers.
• Healing Through Writing A community writing program focused on using poetry and haiku for healing and emotional well-being, offered to individual community participants.
• The Midnight Notes Live Series A live readings/event series produced by the association for poetry audiences, combining featured poets and community readings.
• The Virgilio Virtual Haiku Open Mic A recurring virtual open mic for haiku poets, allowing individual participants to read and share work online.
• Poetry Teaching for Camden Schools A free youth poetry teaching and mentorship program delivered in partnership with Camden-area schools for K–12 students and teachers.
• Nicholas A. Virgilio Memorial Haiku and Senryu Competition An annual haiku and senryu poetry contest for practicing poets, with winning entries published and recognized by the association.
• "Haiku in Action" Online Journal An online haiku and poetry journal published by the association for individual readers in the haiku community.
• "Nick Virgilio: Collected Haiku 1963–2012" (Book) A published poetry book compiling Nick Virgilio's haiku, sold to individual readers and poetry enthusiasts via the association's e-commerce store.
• "Selected Haiku by Nicholas A. Virgilio" (Book) A published selected-haiku book by Nicholas A. Virgilio, sold to individual readers and poetry enthusiasts via the association's e-commerce store.
• "Nick Virgilio: A Life in Haiku" (Book) A published literary book chronicling Nick Virgilio's life in haiku, sold to individual readers and poetry enthusiasts via the association's e-commerce store.
• Writers House Anthology Vol. 1 (Book) A published poetry anthology tied to the Nick Virgilio Writers House community, sold to individual readers via the association's e-commerce store.
• Writers House Anthology Vol. 2 (Book) A second published poetry anthology tied to the Nick Virgilio Writers House community, sold to individual readers via the association's e-commerce store.
• Haikuist Black Glossy Mug (Branded Merchandise) A branded "Haikuist" black glossy mug sold as supporter merchandise to individual customers via the association's e-commerce store.

Quantifiable outcome

• Programs free to the public including workshops, readings, open mics, ginko walks, and online haiku publication
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 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

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Rutgers University CamdencoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Collaboration on the Nick Virgilio Poetry Project and Virgilio Archive digitization project. Partnership brings Midnight Notes program to Rutgers Camden campus on four select dates in 2025. Rutgers Institute of Jazz Studies is a previous Literary Landmark recipient showing institutional literary partnership history.
• Haiku Society of AmericacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual Nicholas A. Virgilio Memorial Haiku and Senryu Competition for middle and high school students (grades 7-12). NVHA manages and sponsors the competition; HSA provides judging, guidelines, and promotion through virgilioawards page.
• Mighty Writers CamdencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNVHA houses Mighty Writers Camden at Writers House location, offering educational opportunities plus food and diaper distribution to Camden families. Co-location creates integrated community services hub.
• Salvation Army Kroc Center (Camden)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAfter teaching short-form poetry classes at the Kroc Center in 2023, NVHA launched expanded school-based poetry programs. Kroc Center provides venue for community programming.
• Camden County Cultural and Heritage Commission (CCCHC)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor supporting Midnight Notes program, helping NVHA keep late-night poetry workshops free for attendees.
• Heart of CamdencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHousing organization that acquired the property at 1801 Broadway in 2010, at the urging of Monsignor Michael Doyle of Sacred Heart Church, to transform it into the Nick Virgilio Writers House. Enabled the physical home for NVHA programs.
• Sacred Heart Church (Camden)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChurch led by Monsignor Michael Doyle who urged Heart of Camden to acquire property for Writers House. Father Michael Doyle was a collaborator and supporter of Nick Virgilio and NVHA, bringing poetry and social justice mission to the organization.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Dodge Poetry Foundation: New Jersey-based poetry nonprofit producing the Geraldine R. Dodge Poetry Festival and statewide programming. Most directly comparable NJ-anchored poetry nonprofit peer, overlapping in audience, mission, and geography.
• Poets & Writers: Nonprofit supporting writers and literary organizations through funding information, programs, and editorial coverage. Directly comparable as a literary nonprofit serving writers, with overlapping audience of poetry and short-form writers.
• The Loft Literary Center: Minneapolis literary center running classes, workshops, readings, and community programs. Directly comparable as a literary-arts nonprofit operating a physical community house with programs for emerging and established writers.
• Hugo House: Seattle literary-arts center offering workshops, classes, readings, and residencies in a dedicated community space. Comparable to NVHA's Writers House in combining a physical community literary center with workshops, open mics, and publishing-adjacent programs.
• Mass Poetry: Massachusetts-based literary nonprofit running the Mass Poetry Festival and statewide poetry programs. Comparable as a state-level poetry nonprofit running festivals, education, and community programs analogous to NVHA's Writers House model.
• Mighty Writers: Philadelphia-based literacy nonprofit serving underserved youth through writing programs; operates Mighty Writers Camden inside NVHA's Writers House. Directly comparable as a community-based youth writing nonprofit partner, sharing audience and Camden footprint.

Broad incumbents

• Poetry Foundation: The largest nonprofit literary-arts organization in the US, publishing Poetry magazine and running a national education and programs portfolio. Most comparable as the dominant incumbent in the poetry-nonprofit space NVHA operates in, though orders of magnitude larger.
• Academy of American Poets: National poetry nonprofit running the Poets.org site, Poem-A-Day, the American Poets Prize, and school/teacher programs. Comparable to NVHA in mission (promoting poetry) and education programming, but with national rather than community-anchored reach.

Emerging players

• Kundiman: Nonprofit dedicated to nurturing Asian American poets through workshops, retreats, and publications. Comparable to NVHA in running community-rooted poetry workshops and publishing programs, though centered on a specific community.
• Cave Canem Foundation: Nonprofit organization supporting Black poets through residencies, retreats, and publications. Comparable as a community-anchored poetry nonprofit running programs for emerging writers and publishing anthologies, though focused on a specific community.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/NVWritersHouse
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/NickVirgilioWritersHouse
• Facebookfacebook.com/NickVirgilioHaiku
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nick-virgilio-haiku-association
• Instagraminstagram.com/nickvirgiliowritershouse

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 Nick Virgilio Haiku Association Inc.