What Patchwork A Storytelling Guild does

Patchwork: A Storytelling Guild is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization incorporated in Pennsylvania in 1984, dedicated to preserving and revitalizing oral storytelling as both an art form and a tool for personal and social transformation. It operates as a community-driven, event-based storytelling organization serving storytellers, performing artists, and general audiences across the Philadelphia Metro area, the Lehigh Valley, New Jersey, and the broader Delaware Valley. The organization delivers monthly story swaps, coaching sessions, workshops, and signature annual events including Tellabration (held each November at The Rotunda in Philadelphia and the Ice House in Bethlehem), World Storytelling Day celebrations, and Philadelphia Fringe Festival productions, with virtual programming via Zoom and an archive of show recordings on YouTube.

The organization's offerings are entirely community-based live arts programs; there is no proprietary technology, no app, no SaaS product, and no AI component. Distribution relies on venue partnerships with The Rotunda (a University of Pennsylvania-affiliated community-gathering place hosting 300+ events annually) and the Charles A. Brown Ice House (hosting 800+ artists from 40+ arts organizations annually), plus broadcast partnerships with PhillyCAM and WDIY Lehigh Valley Public Radio. The business model is a mix of recurring membership dues ($25 annual household membership), tiered small-business sponsorships ($100/$250/$500), pay-what-you-can event ticketing via Zeffy, and tax-deductible donations via PayPal, supplemented by member-governed participation. The organization is led by a volunteer board including President Denise McCormack, Treasurer Ingrid Bohn, and advisory members representing The Rotunda, Ice House, and Folk Arts Consortium. Patchwork has earned the GuideStar Platinum Seal of Transparency and is associated with award-winning storytellers including NSN Circle of Excellence recipient Ed Stivender.

Name

Patchwork A Storytelling Guild

Legal name

Patchwork: A Storytelling Guild

Website

https://patchworkstorytelling.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Patchwork: A Storytelling Guild is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1984 that runs community storytelling events, workshops, and showcases across the Philadelphia Metro and Lehigh Valley regions, serving storytellers and general audiences through venue partnerships, membership dues, and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Live Storytelling and Community Arts Programming

NAICS

Performing Arts Companies (7111), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Performing Arts Centers & Presenters (Programming/Booking) (MPAGABAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community Theatre & Storytelling Festivals (MPAGAEAI), Cultural Festivals & Events Organizations (BPAGAHAG)

Keywords

• Storytelling events
• Oral tradition programs
• Live performance showcases
• Community arts nonprofit
• Membership-based arts

Headquarters

HQ city

Philadelphia

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. Membership Dues: Annual household membership at $25 provides recurring revenue, access to storytelling events, coaching, discounts on National Storytelling Network membership, and voting rights within the organization.
2. Event Revenue: Pay-what-you-can (PWYC) ticketing model for storytelling performances and showcases. Tickets sold through Zeffy platform. Revenue supports stipends for storytellers.
3. Sponsorship: Three-tiered sponsorship program: Friend of Storytelling ($100), Champion of Storytelling ($250), Storytelling Advocate ($500). Includes recognition on social media, event flyers, website, and audio/visual backdrop. Businesses can also sponsor individual events or entire series.
4. Donations: Tax-deductible charitable contributions accepted via PayPal and mail. Organization is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Patchwork A Storytelling Guild is a member-supported 501(c)(3) nonprofit that organizes live storytelling performances, monthly story swaps, and coaching programs for storytellers and audiences in the Philadelphia and Lehigh Valley regions. Its flagship offerings include the annual Tellabration showcase, Philadelphia Fringe Festival solo storytelling productions, World Storytelling Day events, and seasonal performances at The Rotunda in Philadelphia and the Ice House in Bethlehem. The organization also runs a $25 annual household membership program, a three-tiered business sponsorship program ($100/$250/$500), and an archive of show recordings on YouTube.

Product overview

Patchwork A Storytelling Guild is a member-supported 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of in-person and virtual storytelling programs. The core offering consists of monthly story swaps and circles, storytelling coaching, and live performance showcases. Signature recurring programs include Tellabration (an annual flagship storytelling celebration held each November at venues including The Rotunda in Philadelphia and The Ice House in Bethlehem), Philadelphia Fringe Festival solo storytelling performances, World Storytelling Day events, and seasonal showcases. The organization also provides a video/show recordings archive for past event content, membership with storytelling opportunities and professional development, and a tiered business sponsorship program (Friend of Storytelling at $100, Champion of Storytelling at $250, and Storytelling Advocate at $500). There are no digital or SaaS product offerings; all programs are community-based live arts events.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Annual Household Membership $25/year household membership that gives storytellers opportunities to perform at Patchwork events, request story coaching, receive a discount on National Storytelling Network membership, participate in organizational governance, and become eligible for leadership roles. Targeted at individual storytellers, performing artists, and story enthusiasts in the Philadelphia Metro and Lehigh Valley regions.
• Tellabration Annual Storytelling Showcase Annual signature storytelling celebration held in November at The Rotunda (Philadelphia) and The Ice House (Bethlehem), featuring selected storytellers who receive $100 stipends. Targeted at storytellers performing for general audiences and story enthusiasts in the mid-Atlantic region.
• Monthly Story Swaps and Circles Recurring monthly gatherings where storytellers share stories, practice their craft, and connect with peers. Targeted at Patchwork members, storytellers, and performing artists in the Philadelphia Metro and Lehigh Valley.
• Storytelling Coaching One-on-one or small-group story coaching provided upon request to Patchwork members. Targeted at Patchwork members seeking to develop their storytelling craft and prepare for performances.
• Business Sponsorship Program Three-tiered sponsorship program for local small businesses: Friend of Storytelling ($100), Champion of Storytelling ($250), and Storytelling Advocate ($500), plus custom event, showcase, or full-series sponsorships. Sponsors receive recognition on social media, event flyers, websites, and audio/visual event backdrops at venues including The Ice House and The Rotunda. Targeted at local small businesses in the Philadelphia and Lehigh Valley areas.
• Philadelphia Fringe Festival Storytelling Productions Solo storytelling performances produced as part of the Philadelphia Fringe Festival, presented at partnered venues. Targeted at story enthusiasts, general audiences, and Fringe Festival attendees in the Philadelphia region.
• World Storytelling Day Events Annual World Storytelling Day celebrations delivered through live and virtual programming. Targeted at storytellers and story enthusiasts across the mid-Atlantic region and broader virtual audience.
• Show Recordings and Video Archive Public archive of recorded storytelling showcases and event excerpts published on the Patchwork YouTube channel, including recordings from Tellabration and A Patchwork of Stories for GrownUps. Targeted at general audiences, storytellers, and story enthusiasts who cannot attend live events.
• Seasonal Storytelling Showcases Recurring seasonal storytelling performances including Halloween Storytelling, Favorite Stories of the Season, and other themed showcases hosted at community venues such as the Chestnut Hill Library. Targeted at families, children, and general audiences in the Philadelphia region.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• The RotundacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Rotunda at 4014 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, is a key venue partner for Patchwork storytelling events. This community-gathering place affiliated with University of Pennsylvania hosts over 300 events annually. Gina Renzi serves as Director and is on Patchwork's board. Patchwork presents regular storytelling showcases and annual events like Tellabration and Fringe Festival productions at this venue.
• Charles A. Brown Ice House (IceHouse Performing Arts Collaborative)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Ice House at 56 River Street, Bethlehem, PA is a key venue partner. Over 800 local artists from 40+ arts organizations perform at the IceHouse annually. Doug Roysdon, Director/Owner of Ice House, serves on Patchwork's board. Patchwork hosts regular storytelling events and annual Tellabration celebrations at this venue.
• National Storytelling NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational affiliate organization for the storytelling community. Denise McCormack serves as NJ state liaison. Patchwork participates in Tellabration events initiated by the NSN. Patchwork offers members discounts on NSN membership.
• WDIY 88.1 FM Lehigh Valley Public Radio NPRminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal NPR affiliate station that sponsored the EarthWoven: Stories of Connection, Creation, and Wonder event at the Ice House. Station listed as 'Many Choices, Real Voices' and provides promotional and promotional support for storytelling programming.
• PhillyCAMminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity media center committed to teaching, creating, and distributing locally-produced media content. EarthWoven event was broadcast on PhillyCAM TV (Xfinity 66/966HD, Fios TV 29/30, Roku, Apple TV) and PhillyCAM Radio WPPM 106.5 FM.
• Chestnut Hill LibraryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublic library partner that hosts storytelling events including Halloween Storytelling, Favorite Stories of the Season, and the Chestnut Hill Ghost Walk. Library serves as community venue for outreach programs.
• Parisian Phoenix PublishingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal publisher that co-sponsored the EarthWoven: Stories of Connection, Creation, and Wonder event at the Ice House.
• Princeton Storytelling CircleminorOthersRegional storytelling organization in New Jersey. Member organizations share storytelling events and networking opportunities. Maria LoBiondo and MaryAnn Paterniti are members.
• Lehigh Valley Storytelling GuildminorOthersRegional storytelling guild in the Lehigh Valley. Ingrid Bohn serves as Board member and Coordinator for Lehigh Valley Storytelling Guild Family Storytelling Series. Denise McCormack is a board member.
• Please Touch MuseumminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPhiladelphia children's museum that hosted Denise McCormack for storytelling performances at the Please Touch Museum for seasonal storytelling programming.
• Folk Arts ConsortiumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional arts organization. Norm Williams, President of Folk Arts Consortium, serves on Patchwork's advisory board. Denise McCormack is a board member.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• The Stoop & Storytelling Studio: Baltimore-based storytelling organization producing live shows and podcasts featuring personal stories from everyday people — comparable live storytelling showcase model with regional scope similar to Patchwork.
• The Moth: The Moth operates live storytelling events, slams, and workshops nationally and internationally — directly comparable to Patchwork's live storytelling showcase model, but at vastly greater scale with a podcast and global footprint.
• Lehigh Valley Storytelling Guild: A regional storytelling guild in the Lehigh Valley with overlapping board members and co-programming with Patchwork; the most direct comparable peer in geography, scale, and programming format.
• StoryCorps: StoryCorps preserves and broadcasts personal oral narratives through recorded conversations and a national archive — closely comparable mission to Patchwork's preservation of oral storytelling tradition, though at much larger scale with NPR distribution.
• Massmouth: Greater Boston-based storytelling organization running story slams, workshops, and showcases — directly comparable format to Patchwork's monthly story swaps and live showcases, though regionally distinct.
• Princeton Storytelling Circle: A New Jersey regional storytelling organization with shared members and cross-promotion with Patchwork; comparable as a regional storytelling guild serving storytellers and audiences.

Others

• Philadelphia Fringe Festival (FringeArts): Major Philadelphia performing arts festival in which Patchwork participates with solo storytelling performances; comparable as a presenting/booking organization for live performing arts, but with much broader multi-genre programming.
• Folk Arts Consortium: Regional folk arts organization with advisory board overlap (Norm Williams) — comparable as a community-focused folk/traditional arts programming organization in the same mid-Atlantic region.

Broad incumbents

• National Storytelling Network: The NSN is the national umbrella organization for storytelling of which Patchwork is an affiliate; comparable mission and programming (Tellabration, World Storytelling Day) but operates as the national body rather than a regional guild.

Regional players

• NJ Storytelling Network: Regional storytelling network in New Jersey that cross-pollinates with Patchwork through shared members and festivals; a regional peer in the same mid-Atlantic storytelling ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC-pQOE4rYFgB_HCpBoEXpBQ
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/patchwork-a-storytelling-guild

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 Patchwork A Storytelling Guild