At Guilded, we believe freelancers deserve more than one-off gigs and inconsistent support—they deserve security, care, and a say in the systems that affect their work. That’s why we built a freelancer cooperative designed by and for independent artists, creatives, and cultural workers. Although we are rooted in supporting creatives, we make our services available to all 1099 workers.
We provide access to health care, contract support, guaranteed payment systems, tax prep, and more—all built to sustain and protect the creative labor that fuels our communities. Together, we’re transforming freelance work from isolated hustle to cooperative power.
We make sure that our services are available for all freelancers. If you want to become a member-owner, with the ability to shape our policy, check out the Membership tab.
At Guilded, we are committed to the 7 cooperative values of
Additionally, we operate according to the 7 cooperative principles of:
Guilded aims to build labor power among freelance workers, especially for BIPOC and queer communities. We also are committed to an ethos of “do no harm,” which guides our decision-making and ensures that our work is always in service to our users. Lastly, we denounce all forms of racism as well as discrimination based on ableism and gender/sexual identity.
Although our staff manages day-to-day operations, members control Guilded’s vision and governance. Member-owners own equity in Guilded and receive a patronage account that grows in value as Guilded grows.
We encourage users to become member-owners if they are interested, but member-ownership is not a requirement. Member-owners gain a real stake in the organization and a collective voice in how it’s governed. That means shaping policies, voting on leadership, and co-creating an economy that values people over profits.
The process of becoming a member is a simple and low time commitment process. But if you aren’t sure that member-ownership is right for you, that’s ok! Users can still use Guilded to process contracts without becoming a full Guilded member.
We’re here to improve your life, not control it.
Executive Director
Jeremy (he/him) became Guilded’s Executive Director in March of 2024. He comes to Guilded after consulting with the US Federation of Worker Cooperatives for over two years in support of their fundraising efforts and international programming.
He has almost two decades of experience in progressive international development, primarily focusing on democratization and human rights. In his previous work as a scholar, Jeremy’s research was supported by a Fulbright fellowship as well as the Max Plank Institute for Social Anthropology, among other accolades. He is also a multimedia and installation artist whose work has been exhibited in Germany and Türkiye.
Operations Manager
Janelle (she/her) is the Director of Operations at Guilded, bringing over twenty years of experience supporting creatives across the arts and entertainment sector. Her work is grounded in a deep commitment to artist advocacy, community building, and economic justice. At Guilded, she channels her expertise in operations, finance, management, and marketing toward strengthening systems that uplift freelance workers and center collective care.
Janelle also serves as a field advisor for ARTPOWER, contributing to the development of sustainable, artist-led ecosystems. Born in Guam to Saipanese and Filipino parents and raised in the Pacific Northwest, she draws from a rich cultural heritage that informs both her work and values. Her approach is shaped by a belief in balance—between systems and people, structure and creativity, community and self.
Outside of work, Janelle finds joy in spending time with her family, seeking out stillness in nature, and nurturing a thriving collection of houseplants.
Client Services Manager
OK Ukah (they/them) is a Black American artist and organizer born in Pittsburgh PA, and raised in Iowa City, Iowa. OK received a B.A in political science and a certificate in Fundraising & Philanthropy from the University of Iowa. Engaging with various grassroots organizing campaigns throughout the years has shaped and molded their worldview and commitment to Black movement building. In their free time, you’ll find them either tapping on their synthesizers and drum machines or watching a classic horror movie.
Member Services Coordinator
Jaq (they/them) is a Black, Non-binary Genderqueer, born and raised in Lenni Lenape/Lenapehockin so called Philadelphia. They are a freelance worker, visual artist, coordinator, organizer, and mobilizer providing extensive community outreach, resource/ tactical mobilization, advocacy, and fundraising experience as well as contemporary artisan to their community. They are invested in the historical shaping of communal living practices, seeking to integrate this knowledge into their own direct-care work centering the material needs of their community.
Guilded will hold elections for a new Board of Directors comprised of members in the summer/fall of 2025. Until then, we have an interim Board made up of people with expertise in worker cooperatives. The members of the interim Board are:
Esteban Kelly (he/him) is the founding President of Guilded. He served as Guilded’s interim Executive Director from its incorporation in 2020 until mid-2023. Esteban works to bridge our present to post-capitalist futures through economic democracy, particularly by expanding multi-racial solidarity and forms of collective ownership. He is the Executive Director for the US Federation of Worker Cooperatives (USFWC) and a worker-owner and co-founder of AORTA (Anti-Oppression Resource & Training Alliance)—a worker co-op that has built capacity for hundreds of social justice projects through intersectional training and consulting. He was a founding board member of the US Solidarity Economy Network, the Democracy At Work Institute, Climate + Community Project, the cross-sector Philadelphia Area Cooperative Alliance (PACA), Cooperative Innovation Lab, and the current iteration of the 501(c)4 Policy Advocates for Sustainable Economies. Esteban is the Board Chair of the National Cooperative Business Association (NCBA–CLUSA), and currently serves on the boards of the Platform Co-ops Consortium, the indie musician’s co-op Ampled, and CICOPA which is the worker co-op sector association of the International Co-op Alliance, the latter being the largest NGO in the world representing a billion members of cooperatives across the globe.
Ajoke Williams (she/her) is Guilded’s former Program Manager with skills in tech development, fundraising, communications, project management, and consulting for artist and activist organizations.
Elizabeth López (she/her/ella) is the Operations Manager at the US Federation of Worker Cooperatives. Elizabeth was born and raised on the South Side of Chicago, the daughter of two working class Mexican immigrants who taught her how to luchar. She began her career organizing for immigrant rights and reproductive justice, which led her into labor organizing. While getting her MA in Latin American Studies at Vanderbilt University, she founded Workers’ Dignity—a Nashville worker center led by low wage workers organizing for economic and transit justice—and eventually served as the organization's Operations Manager and Interim Co-Director. Elizabeth recently returned to the Philly area and is usually found exploring, reading, making things, and eating delicious food with her partner and their dog. Her passions lie in being a “builder” and helping folks empower themselves to fight back, organize, and transform our lives.
Vanessa Bransburg (she/her) is the Co-Executive Director for Operations & Programs at the Democracy at Work Institute (DAWI), Guilded’s Fiscal Sponsor. At DAWI, Bransburg supports staff professional development and builds strong organizational culture. Vanessa also provides training and consultation to cooperative developers working with vulnerable workers and immigrant communities.
Guilded is a part of the social and solidarity economy, a movement that prioritizes sustainability, community well-being, and justice over profits. The social and solidarity economy encompasses several types of organizations including fair trade businesses, cooperatives, mutual aid societies, and free open-source software projects, among others.
We are proud to help build an economy that centers care over extraction.