non-profit artisans

so·cial en·ter·prise – noun: an organization that applies commercial strategies to maximize improvements in human and environmental well-being, rather than maximizing profits for external shareholders.

We believe in cultivating a culturally rich world so we invest in social programs that help sustain communities. While you may think we’re talking about our favorite social enterprises MEND and VSLA (and we are) but we recently stumbled upon a similar approach based in a community of creativity— Nest.

In the past few years, huge leaps in the possibilities surrounding social enterprises have been made. Among various methods, facilitating micro-loans is a fairly common way NGOs and social businesses implement their concepts. Micro-loans empower people in developing countries to take control of their financial opportunities by borrowing small amounts of capital in hope of starting a small sustainable business. However, not every micro-loan program trains recipients in starting a business, so Rebecca van Bergen took it upon herself to reach out to those who couldn’t benefit because of a lack of business knowledge. In doing so, she began developing the idea of  “microbartering” and soon after Nest was established.

Like micro-loans, Rebecca saw the value in giving people the power to start something new but rather than having people repay the loan, she accepted craft products people invested in creating as repayment. In turn, she marketed and sold the products – connecting artisans in developing regions with an international market. With 80 artisans joining the non-profit within a year of it’s launch in 2006, Nest itself was becoming a sustainable company for Rebecca but not so much for the artisans. In response, she elevated the non-profit to a business training program for artisans and acts as a broker to connect artisans with U.S. fashion brands. As a result, brands pay the artisans for their designs (shirts, bags, jewelry, etc.) and Nest continues to facilitate the artisans’ local and export markets.

Nest non-profit

As the venture continued to evolve, so did Nest’s eight programs. What began with microbartering branched out to programs based in product development, business training,  technology development, and more in order to tailor each community with the best possibilities. Now operating out of 10 cities around the globe ranging from Queens, New York to Kenya, to Guatemala, Nest works toward alleviating poverty, empowering women, and promotes peace.

Over the past six years, Nest artisans have worked with brands such as American Eagle, REEF, and FEED Projects. In the first half of 2012, nearly $500,000 worth of design was purchased from the artisans. Possibilities to change the world are everywhere. All we have to do is seek them out — and get a few thousand free frequent flier miles along the way. #dreambig

– Juan Frausto

(Photo credit: Nest, Nest blog)