National Bell Festival

What National Bell Festival does

The National Bell Festival is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2020 that operates on an all-volunteer model with no paid staff. Its functional purpose is to celebrate, restore, and commission bells in America, serving bell enthusiasts, bell-holding institutions, and cultural-heritage advocates. The organization delivers an annual festival aligned with the January 1 Westminster Chimes ringing and runs a portfolio of named bell commissions (Tibetan Friendship Bell, U.S. Semiquincentennial Bell, Emancipation Bells), international spotlight programming highlighting a partner nation each year (UK, Japan, Ukraine, Dominican Republic observed), and the global "Ring around the World" event spanning seven continents. Adjacent initiatives include the Bronze Alert public-safety program and bell-diplomacy and restoration services, which extend the mission into civic and service verticals.

The organization's underlying model is project-based cultural programming rather than technology-based. There is no disclosed software platform, data infrastructure, or proprietary technical component; program delivery rests on a volunteer regional coordinator network and partnerships with bell-holding institutions. The product surface consists of events, commissioned bell assets, restoration work, and editorial/diplomacy programming.

The revenue model is donation-driven. The organization states that 100% of donations go to programs, with no paid staff and no public financial disclosure. Funding sources include individual donations, a Bell Raiser annual membership at $75/year, and corporate sponsorships structured in tiers that scale up to $10,000. There are no disclosed enterprise customers, anchor grants, or revenue contracts.

Name

National Bell Festival

Legal name

The National Bell Festival, Inc.

Website

https://bells.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The National Bell Festival is an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) nonprofit that celebrates and restores bells in America through an annual festival, bell commissions, international Spotlight Nation programming, and bell-diplomacy and restoration initiatives.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cultural Heritage Event Services

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Civic and Social Organizations (8134)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Arts & Culture Community Festivals (Multidisciplinary Arts Weeks) (MPAGAEAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Cultural Festivals & Events Organizations (BPAGAHAG)

Keywords

• Bell restoration services
• Community cultural events
• Heritage bell commissioning
• Campanology nonprofit programs
• New Year bell ringing

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the National Bell Festival operates primarily on donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations. Donations are tax-deductible as allowed by law. The organization states that 100% of every donation goes directly to programs and projects that keep bells ringing. Donations can be designated to specific projects (Emancipation Bells, Tibetan Friendship Bell, U.S. Semiquincentennial Bell) or directed wherever needed.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The National Bell Festival is an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) nonprofit that rings in the New Year through free public community events across the U.S. and worldwide. It also commissions new bells (Emancipation Bells, Tibetan Friendship Bell, U.S. Semiquincentennial Bell), restores historic bells and bell towers, and operates membership and educational programs in campanology.

Product overview

The National Bell Festival is a nonprofit organization operating as a single unified offering focused on celebrating and restoring bells in America. The organization's portfolio centers on its annual National Bell Festival—a multi-day celebration featuring events like Ring around the World and Nationwide Bell Ringing—alongside major commissioning projects including the Emancipation Bells (outdoor performing arts space with carillon in Southeast D.C.), Tibetan Friendship Bell (diplomatic gift), and U.S. Semiquincentennial Bell (for America's 250th). Supporting services include bell restoration, regional coordinator networks, the Bell Raisers membership program, the Order of St. Dunstan honors, bell tower consulting and design, the Register Your Bell catalog initiative, and Bronze Alert missing bell recovery. The organization also runs a Spotlight Nation program highlighting different countries' bell heritage annually.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• National Bell Festival (Annual Festival) Annual multi-day community celebration ringing in the New Year through concerts, performances, bell tower access, and synchronized ringing events across the U.S. and worldwide. Free and open to the public.
• Ring around the World Global bell ringing event starting at midnight local time on New Year's Eve near the international date line, with bells tolling the hour playing 'Auld Lang Syne' across successive time zones.
• Nationwide Bell Ringing Synchronized nationwide bell ringing event on New Year's Day at 2:00pm Eastern, inviting bell towers across America to ring together for 20 minutes.
• Bell Restoration Services Services to restore historic bells and bell towers to working condition, including inspections, refurbishment, and preservation of heritage bells.
• Emancipation Bells Project Outdoor performing arts space in Southeast D.C. featuring a concert-grade grand carillon, ring of peal bells, amphitheater, and garden honoring American abolitionists, with each bell named for an abolitionist.
• Tibetan Friendship Bell Cast bronze bell (approximately 3 feet tall) gifted to the Office of Tibet, based on traditional Tibetan imperial-period temple bell profiles, with silver Tibetan coinage added during casting.
• U.S. Semiquincentennial Bell Grand new bell commissioned for the U.S. Semiquincentennial (America's 250th anniversary).
• Bell Tower Tours and Consulting Consulting services covering bell tower design, bell gardens, bell diplomacy (diplomatic gifts), and bell repatriation.
• Register Your Bell Online catalog initiative compiling records and narratives of bells across America into a national online library.
• Bronze Alert Program that publishes details of missing bells to help facilitate their safe return before they are smelted or scrapped.
• America's 250th Bell Ringing Program Coordinated nationwide bell ringing initiative inviting bells and bell towers across America to ring out together on Independence Day to mark the nation's 250th birthday, including registered bells, sheet music for carillon and handbells, and official carillon prelude events.

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• B.A. Sunderlin BellfoundrycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerB.A. Sunderlin Bellfoundry in Ruther Glen, Virginia is commissioned by the National Bell Festival to cast the Tibetan 'Truth Will Prevail' Bell. The foundry produces cast bronze bells based on traditional Tibetan imperial period profiles, approximately 3 feet tall, with silver Tibetan coinage added to the molten bronze during casting.
• Office of TibetcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Office of Tibet in Washington D.C. (representing His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama and the Central Tibetan Administration to North America) is the recipient of the Tibetan 'Truth Will Prevail' Bell gift from the National Bell Festival. The bell is cast based on traditional temple bell profiles and installed at the Office of Tibet.
• Bridge District (Southeast D.C.)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Bridge District is a new development adjacent to the National Bell Festival's Emancipation Bells project site in Southeast D.C. The Emancipation Bells carillon and amphitheater will rise within a manicured park adjacent to the Bridge District, making it the first grand carillon east of the Anacostia River.
• Emancipation Bells Campaign Cabinet MembersminorOthersA campaign cabinet of community leaders including Bennard Cann, BJ Douglass, Liam Flood, Michael Gancz, Winston Gray, Linda Harris, Keyonna Jones, Cheriss May, Kamilah Mitchell, and Bruce Purnell serves as the planning committee for the Emancipation Bells project.
• Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes NortonminorOthersCongresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton of the District of Columbia has provided a message of support for the Emancipation Bells project and advocates for the initiative.
• National Women's History MuseumminorOthersThe National Women's History Museum has provided a letter of support for the Emancipation Bells project.
• Lincoln Group of the District of ColumbiaminorOthersThe Lincoln Group of the District of Columbia has provided a letter of support for the Emancipation Bells project.
• National Abolition Hall of Fame and MuseumminorOthersThe National Abolition Hall of Fame and Museum has provided a letter of endorsement for the Emancipation Bells project.
• Central Council of Church Bell RingerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Central Council of Church Bell Ringers is the global representative body for all who ring bells in the English tradition with rope and wheel. Eileen Butler, President of the North American Guild of Change Ringers, serves on the National Bell Festival's Honorary Council.
• Carillon Society of Britain and IrelandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Carillon Society of Britain and Ireland is the primary organization for carillon enthusiasts in the UK and Ireland. Jonathan Galloway represents the society on the National Bell Festival's Honorary Council.
• Handbell Musicians of AmericacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHandbell Musicians of America is the national organization supporting handbell musicians and ensembles. Linda Onorevole, Executive Director, serves on the National Bell Festival's Honorary Council.
• American Bell AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe American Bell Association is a major organization for bell collectors and enthusiasts. Bonnie Tippery represents the association on the National Bell Festival's Honorary Council.
• John Taylor & Co. Bell FoundryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJohn Taylor & Co. is described as the last major bell foundry in the UK and Commonwealth, with bells exported worldwide. Featured in the UK spotlight for its historical significance.
• Washington Ringing SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Washington Ringing Society coordinates quarter peal and full peal attempts at Washington National Cathedral and the Old Post Office Tower during the National Bell Festival. They are the primary change ringing group for festival bell performances.
• OceanX (Ocean Exploration Trust)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOceanX provided submersible footage for the 'Under the Sea: Bell Ringing from the Deep' event at the National Bell Festival, ringing bells from a deep-sea submersible on New Year's Day. The event was streamed across social channels.
• World Carillon FederationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe World Carillon Federation organized concerts for peace in Ukraine. The National Bell Festival blog covers these events, linking bell ringing to international solidarity.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/BellFestival
• Instagraminstagram.com/BellFestival

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about National Bell Festival