Virginia Voice
Virginia Voice is a Richmond, Virginia-based nonprofit founded in 1978 that provides free audio reading services, live audio description at cultural venues, and informational programming to approximately 8,000 blind, low-vision, and print-disabled individuals throughout Central Virginia, funded entirely through donations and grants.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1978
- HeadquartersHenrico, United States
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Virginia Voice does
Virginia Voice is a 501(c)-style nonprofit organization founded in 1978 and headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, that provides free audio access services to individuals who are blind, low vision, or otherwise print-disabled. Its core offering is a radio reading service that broadcasts readings of newspapers (notably the daily Richmond Times-Dispatch), magazines, television listings, and community information via specialized radio receivers distributed to subscribers, supplemented by online streaming and podcast distribution. The organization also operates a Live Audio Description program at partner cultural venues, including Virginia Opera, Virginia Repertory Theatre, Richmond Ballet, and the Science Museum of Virginia, providing real-time verbal description of visual elements of performing arts and museum exhibits, often paired with tactile tours. Supporting content includes podcast series such as Shards of Light, The Blind Experience with Dr. Joe Ashley, Mighty Pen Project, and Community Connections.
The organization serves approximately 8,000 listeners out of an estimated 19,000 individuals living with blindness in central Virginia (per Virginia Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired data), all free of charge. The business model is entirely donation- and grant-based, with revenue streams including individual donations, corporate giving, foundation grants (e.g., Mary Morton Parsons Foundation), service club contributions, and proceeds from annual events such as the Guide and Stride fundraiser and Anniversary Gala. Distribution is multi-channel: mailed specialized radio equipment, website streaming, podcast platforms, and on-site live audio description at cultural venues. Marketing is community-led, relying on partnerships with disability organizations, healthcare providers (VCU Health, MEDRVA), and word-of-mouth referrals. Leadership comprises CEO Yvonne Mastromano and a Board of Directors, with no parent company and no venture or PE ownership. In 2025 Virginia Voice earned a Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency, reflecting its governance maturity.
Virginia Voice firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Virginia Voice
- Legal name
- Virginia Voice
- Website
- https://virginiavoice.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1978
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- Virginia Voice is a Richmond, Virginia-based nonprofit founded in 1978 that provides free audio reading services, live audio description at cultural venues, and informational programming to approximately 8,000 blind, low-vision, and print-disabled individuals throughout Central Virginia, funded entirely through donations and grants.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Virginia Voice industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Accessibility Services for the Visually Impaired
- NAICS
- Other Sound Recording Industries (51229), Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries (512)
- SIC
- Radio Broadcasting Stations (4832)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Non-Interactive Digital Radio (Lean-Back Streaming) (MPAIACAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Radio Streaming & Catch-Up Audio Platforms (MPAIADAJ), Audiobook & Spoken-Word Streaming Platforms (MPAIADAE)
Keywords
Where Virginia Voice is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Henrico
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Virginia Voice business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Individual Donations: Individual giving program where supporters make financial contributions to fund free services. Donation page available at interland3.donorperfect.net
- Corporate Giving: Corporate sponsorships and giving programs from businesses supporting accessibility initiatives
- Foundation Grants: Grant funding from foundations such as the Mary Morton Parsons Foundation which funded studio equipment upgrades and website development
- Service Club Giving: Support from service organizations and clubs in the community
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Others | Free Service - No Charge |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels8 records
Virginia Voice product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Virginia Voice provides free radio reading services that broadcast audio readings of newspapers, magazines, and current publications to individuals who are blind, low vision, or print-disabled, delivered through specialized radio receivers distributed to subscribers. The organization also provides live audio description services at performing arts venues and cultural institutions, enabling visually impaired patrons to experience theater, opera, ballet, and museum exhibits through real-time verbal descriptions of visual elements.
Product overview
Virginia Voice is a nonprofit organization offering a unified suite of accessibility services centered on audio access for the blind and visually impaired. The core offering consists of a free radio reading service that broadcasts readings of newspapers, magazines, and current publications via specialized equipment provided to eligible subscribers. The organization also provides Live Audio Description services for performing arts and cultural venues, making theater, museum exhibits, and visual performances accessible. Supporting the core services are multiple podcast and audio programming series including Shards of Light (personal stories from the blind and vision-impaired community), The Blind Experience with Dr. Joe Ashley (rehabilitation and accessibility topics), Mighty Pen Project (veterans' stories in partnership with Virginia War Memorial), and Community Connections (local community interviews). All services are provided free of charge to individuals with qualifying disabilities.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Radio Reading Service Audio access service providing readings of newspapers, magazines, and current publications to individuals who are blind, low vision, or have other disabilities that prevent them from accessing print material. Services are provided free of charge to subscribers via specialized radio receivers and online streaming.
- Live Audio Description Service Live audio description service for performing arts, theater performances, opera, ballet, and museum exhibits that describes critical visual elements for patrons with vision impairment. Includes tactile tours and pre-show descriptive introductions at partner cultural venues throughout the Richmond region.
- Listen on Demand Audio access to previous broadcasts including the Richmond Times-Dispatch and Community Voices series, available for on-demand listening through the website and podcast platforms.
- Richmond Times-Dispatch Reading Service Daily radio reading of the Richmond Times-Dispatch newspaper, providing blind and visually impaired readers access to current news, editorials, and local coverage.
- Tactile Tours Hands-on guided tours offered before live audio described performances, allowing visually impaired patrons to explore sets, costumes, and props through touch.
- Shards of Light Podcast Series Podcast series featuring interviews with blind and vision-impaired individuals, sharing personal stories of overcoming challenges, artistic achievements, and community engagement. Hosted by Lamont Crawley with 14 episodes.
- The Blind Experience Podcast Series Podcast series hosted by Dr. Joe Ashley exploring topics related to blindness, rehabilitation services, assistive technologies, and programs for the visually impaired community, with 13 episodes.
- Mighty Pen Project Podcast Series Series produced in partnership with Virginia War Memorial that highlights stories written by military veterans and those touched by their service, featuring personal narratives and memoirs.
- Community Connections Series Interview series featuring community members, leaders, and organizations including interviews with public officials, nonprofits, and local business owners.
Quantifiable outcome
- 8,000 listeners served out of 19,000 potential recipients in Central Virginia
Companies that use Virginia Voice
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Virginia Voice technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Virginia Voice partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Virginia OperacoreArts partnership for live audio description services enabling blind patrons to experience opera performances through real-time visual description.
- Virginia Repertory TheatrecoreOngoing partnership for audio-described theatrical productions including Mamma Mia and other performances at Virginia Rep venues.
- Richmond BalletcorePartnership providing live audio description for ballet performances to make dance accessible to visually impaired audiences.
- Science Museum of VirginiacoreCollaboration for audio-described films and sensory-friendly events including 'Minds of All Kinds' program. Virginia Voice provides description for dome theater films.
- SPARCminorArts education partner for audio-described performing arts experiences.
- The Valentine MuseumminorCultural partner for museum exhibit audio description services.
- Friendship CircleminorCommunity partnership for accessibility programs.
- Cadence TheatreminorTheater partnership for audio-described performances.
- Richmond Triangle PlayersminorTheater partnership for accessible performances.
- Agecroft Hall and GardensminorHistorical site partnership for accessible tours and events.
- Richmond ShakespeareminorTheater partnership for Shakespeare performances audio description.
- Richmond Flying SquirrelsminorMinor league baseball team partnership for accessible game experiences.
- MEDRVAminorHealthcare partnership for accessibility initiatives.
- VPM/Virginia Foundation for Public MediacorePublic media partner; Jayme Swain (first woman president and CEO of VPM) has been interviewed about VPM's support of Virginia Voice and accessibility initiatives.
- CultureWorkscoreRegional arts funding partner providing support for live audio description programs and performances.
- Richmond Times-DispatchcoreMajor content sponsor; Virginia Voice reads the daily Richmond Times-Dispatch for subscribers. Tom Silvestri, President and Publisher, has discussed the partnership.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Virginia Voice competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- American Foundation for the Blind (AFB): National nonprofit providing research, advocacy, and services for the visually impaired, including accessible media initiatives. Comparable accessibility-services focus at much greater scale.
- National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS, Library of Congress): Federal program distributing audiobooks and reading materials to print-disabled Americans via a national network. Comparable mission and consumer base; vastly larger scale and institutional backing.
- Lighthouse Guild: National nonprofit providing services, advocacy, and technology for people with vision loss. Adjacent service provider for the same visually impaired consumer base, including accessible programming.
- National Federation of the Blind (NFB): National advocacy and service organization for the blind community with affiliated programs including publications and audio content. Same core constituency and overlapping mission of empowerment through information access.
Emerging players
- Be My Eyes: App connecting blind/low-vision users with sighted volunteers and AI for visual assistance. Overlaps with Virginia Voice's mission of enabling blind individuals to access information and visual experiences.
- Aira Tech Corp: Subscription-based visual interpretation service connecting blind users to trained agents via smartphone. Adjacent accessibility mission with a for-profit, technology-led model competing for the same end users.
Direct peers
- INSIGHT Radio Reading Service: Regional radio reading service for the visually impaired community, broadcasting readings of print media. Same volunteer reader model and target audience as Virginia Voice.
- ACB Radio (American Council of the Blind): Operates radio reading and information services for the blind community. Same core radio reading service model, comparable volunteer-driven delivery and disability-focused audience.
- Audio Description Associates / Descriptive Video Works: Commercial audio description provider for theater, museums, and cultural venues. Direct overlap with Virginia Voice's live audio description practice for performing arts partners.
- WBFO Reachout Radio (WNY Public Radio): Regional radio reading service affiliated with a public radio station, providing readings of newspapers and information to blind/print-disabled listeners. Directly analogous operating model and audience.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Virginia Voice social profiles
Digital presenceVirginia Voice financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Virginia Voice leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Virginia Voice funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Virginia Voice M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Virginia Voice
What does Virginia Voice do?
Virginia Voice provides free radio reading services that broadcast audio readings of newspapers, magazines, and current publications to individuals who are blind, low vision, or print-disabled, delivered through specialized radio receivers distributed to subscribers. The organization also provides live audio description services at performing arts venues and cultural institutions, enabling visually impaired patrons to experience theater, opera, ballet, and museum exhibits through real-time verbal descriptions of visual elements.
Is Virginia Voice a public or private company?
Virginia Voice is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Virginia Voice founded?
Virginia Voice was founded in 1978.
Where is Virginia Voice based?
Virginia Voice is headquartered in Henrico, United States, in the North America region.
How does Virginia Voice make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Individual Donations are the primary driver. The others are corporate Giving, foundation Grants and service Club Giving.
Who are Virginia Voice's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are American Foundation for the Blind (AFB), National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS, Library of Congress), Lighthouse Guild and National Federation of the Blind (NFB). Emerging players are Be My Eyes and Aira Tech Corp. Direct peers are INSIGHT Radio Reading Service, ACB Radio (American Council of the Blind), Audio Description Associates / Descriptive Video Works and WBFO Reachout Radio (WNY Public Radio).
Does Virginia Voice have an API?
No public API is recorded for Virginia Voice.
What industry is Virginia Voice in?
Virginia Voice's product category is Accessibility Services for the Visually Impaired. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAIACAB, Non-Interactive Digital Radio (Lean-Back Streaming), with a secondary code of MPAIADAJ, Radio Streaming & Catch-Up Audio Platforms. Its NAICS code is 51229 and its SIC code is 4832.