Oak Foundation 145d ago

Nest is a US-based not-for-profit organisation that seeks to expand economic opportunity through craft. Nest works on both the supply and demand side of the global marketplace, supporting artisans on the one hand to build viable and sustainable ways of life from their craft, and helping to create pipelines for markets for hand-crafted products on the other. “A big part of Nest is building community with – and among – makers,” says Nest founder and executive director, Rebecca van Bergen. “Not only is craft a livelihood, it’s telling the life story of many of the people we support. That’s why we provide creative entrepreneurs with thoughtfully designed training, resources, and opportunities free of charge, so that those stories can continue.” Practically speaking, Nest helps craft workers earn an independent living from home, which allows women in particular to earn an income while attending to other demands such as childcare or education, helps keep communities and cultures intact, and allows art, craft, and businesses in rural communities to flourish. Nest negotiates good deals for artisans with supply chains, helps grow demand for their brand, and it also works with global companies to support them to adopt appropriate policies that ensure home-based production can be incorporated into their supply chains in a responsible, ethical way. To this end, Nest has worked with makers and global brands to devise a set of ethical standards – supported by a training and certification system – in a bid to uphold fairness, transparency, rights, and wellbeing for workers in homes and informal workshops. Partnering with major global brands, this approach has reached supply chains across five continents. Oak supports Nest through our Special Interest Programme, which connects with a diverse range of partners around the world. Driven by the interests and passions of Oak’s Trustees, the programme provides the space and flexibility to make grants outside of Oak’s other programme strategies. Find out more here: https://oakfnd.org/programmes/special-interest/ and here: https://www.buildanest.org/