Nest’s Research and Advocacy initiatives aim to bring industry and public awareness to the often overlooked and under-represented handworker sector.
Fueled by a human-centric approach that places beneficiaries at the heart of our research design and methodology, we are committed to amplifying data-driven advocacy and thought leadership through strategic partnerships with industry leaders, academia, and other NGOs.
From thought leadership pieces to concise research briefs and full reports, Nest’s publications investigate research topics that are timely and important to the sector and aim to synthesize results in a way that can be conveyed with ease to any audience.

FEATURED REPORT

Despite contributing more than $14 billion to the domestic economy in 2021 alone, little has been known about maker entrepreneurs and the US maker sector—until now.
Made possible by the generous support of Bloomberg Philanthropies and data contributions from a number of industry partners, Nest’s latest State of the Handworker Economy (SHE) Report explores the US maker economy and creates a first-of-its-kind benchmark from which we can begin to measure the size and value of this important sector, as well as its challenges and opportunities for growth.
Photo courtesy of Tasha Throws Raw | Sacramento, CA
Get the ReportNest Publications

Insights for Impact: Using Data to Support Artisans Through Climate Change
Issued Summer 2023
Funded by the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation