Nonviolence Institute

What Nonviolence Institute does

The Nonviolence Institute is a Providence, Rhode Island-based 501(c)-class nonprofit founded in 2000 by the Ministry Team at St. Michael's Church in South Providence in response to the murder of 15-year-old Jennifer Rivera. The organization delivers community-based violence prevention and intervention services across Providence, Pawtucket, Central Falls, and Woonsocket, organized around four core service lines: Community Outreach (street-level mentorship for at-risk youth, gang conflict mediation, and connections to education and employment), Victim Services (24/7 crisis response including hospital visits, counseling referrals, housing and financial assistance, and lifelong emotional support), Case Management (reentry support for individuals returning from incarceration), and Nonviolence Training (workshops and structured modules for corporations, nonprofits, hospitals, schools, and law enforcement).

The Institute's methodology is grounded in the Kingian Nonviolence framework — Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s six principles and six steps of nonviolent social change — and the proprietary Beloved Healthy Community Model (Educate, Console/Grieve, Sustain, Celebrate). The training product is modularized into repeatable units ranging from 1.5 to 3 hours (Understanding Conflict, Violence Is, Beloved Community, Six Principles/Steps), and a specialized Police Nonviolence Training program is led by a dedicated Director. The S.E.E.D. (Skills Enrichment Emotional Development) program delivers nonviolence training with stipends to at-risk youth. There is no technology platform; delivery is conducted through direct human outreach, on-site workshops, speaking engagements, and a case management practice.

The business model is donation-funded with services provided free of charge to beneficiaries. Revenue streams include individual donations (including a $1,000+ Sister Ann Keefe Society tier), corporate sponsorships (Invest in Peace, Resource Fair, SEED, Summer Jobs, General Operating Support), foundation and government grants (Champlin Foundation, Rhode Island Foundation, municipal housing/economic development programs), an annual flagship fundraiser (Invest in Peace, 16th edition in 2025), and legacy/planned giving. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors and led by Executive Director Lisa Pina-Warren, with a staff of 20-30 including outreach specialists, nonviolence trainers, victim advocates, and administrative roles.

Name

Nonviolence Institute

Legal name

Nonviolence Institute

Website

https://nonviolenceinstitute.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Nonviolence Institute is a Providence, Rhode Island nonprofit founded in 2000 that delivers violence prevention, victim services, youth mentorship, and Kingian nonviolence training to communities across Rhode Island, funded by donations, corporate sponsorships, and foundation grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Violence Prevention Services

NAICS

Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Human Rights Organizations (813311), Child and Youth Services (624110)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Justice, At-Risk Youth & Violence Prevention Nonprofits (BPAGADAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Legal Aid & Client Advocacy Services (BPAGAEAM), Human Rights & Anti-Discrimination Organizations (BPAGAFAB), Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK), Therapeutic & Behavioral Health School Programs (Day Treatment) (EDAJAEAE)

Keywords

• Violence prevention services
• Victim advocacy services
• Nonviolence training programs
• Community outreach programs
• Youth mentorship services

Headquarters

HQ city

Providence

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: General donations from individuals supporting the mission of building a culture of nonviolence and supporting victims of violence. The Sister Ann Keefe Society recognizes donors giving $1,000 or more with special events and opportunities.
2. Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate partners provide essential funding through various sponsorship tiers including Invest In Peace Sponsorship, Resource Fair Sponsorship, SEED Sponsorship, Summer Jobs Program Sponsorship, and General Operating Support.
3. Event Fundraising: Annual Invest in Peace fundraiser brings together supporters, corporate partners, and community members. The 16th annual event was held at Farm Fresh Rhode Island in September 2025.
4. Foundation/Government Grants: Referenced as having received support through the city's Housing and Economic Development Bond, TIF, and Neighborhood Opportunity Fund programs for community revitalization projects.
5. Legacy Giving: Planned giving program that allows donors to include the Institute in their estate planning to ensure ongoing support for in-risk youth and victims of violence programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Nonviolence Institute provides direct community-based violence prevention and healing services in Rhode Island, including street outreach, gang conflict mediation, youth mentorship, 24/7 victim services, reentry case management, and the S.E.E.D. youth program. It also delivers nonviolence training workshops and the Kingian Nonviolence curriculum to law enforcement, schools, corporations, hospitals, and community groups. All direct services to individuals are provided at no cost, supported by donations, corporate sponsorships, grants, and fundraising events.

Product overview

The Nonviolence Institute operates as a community-based nonprofit offering a portfolio of interconnected violence prevention and healing services. The core offerings include Community Outreach (gang mediation, youth mentorship), Victim Services (24/7 crisis response, advocacy, ongoing support), Case Management (reentry support), and Nonviolence Training programs. The S.E.E.D. youth program provides structured training with stipends for at-risk youth. Training modules include Understanding Conflict, Violence Is, Beloved Community, and Kingian Nonviolence workshops ranging from 1.5 to 3 hours. Specialized Police Nonviolence Training serves law enforcement. Speaking engagements round out the service portfolio.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Community Outreach
• Victim Services
• Case Management
• Nonviolence Training
• S.E.E.D. (Skills Enrichment Emotional Development) Program
• Police Nonviolence Training
• Speaking Engagements

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 20 years of violence prevention work in Rhode Island
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and moderate.

• Amica InsuranceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAmica Insurance's communications team created a promotional video for the Nonviolence Institute at no charge, demonstrating corporate support for the organization's mission.
• St. Michael's Church (Southside Providence)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Ministry Team at St. Michael's Church founded the organization in its church rectory in 2000 after the murder of Jennifer Rivera. This is the founding partnership that gave rise to the organization.
• Sister Ann C. Keefe, SSJcoreOthersSister Ann Keefe was a legendary community activist, co-founder of the Nonviolence Institute, and instrumental in founding more than two dozen service organizations in the Providence area. She passed away and is honored In Memoriam on the Board. The Sister Ann Keefe Society recognizes donors giving $1,000+.
• Rhode Island PBSmoderateGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Nonviolence Institute was featured on Rhode Island PBS, providing visibility and credibility for the organization and its mission.
• Navigant Credit UnionmoderateGTM or Marketing PartnerNavigant Credit Union received the Emerging Leader award at Invest in Peace 2025, recognizing their partnership and support for the Nonviolence Institute's work.
• Farm Fresh Rhode IslandminorOthersFarm Fresh Rhode Island serves as the venue for the annual Invest in Peace fundraiser event.
• Local Organizations and Community StakeholderscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with local organizations and community stakeholders to prevent violence before it happens by building trust in neighborhoods. Partnerships span Providence, Pawtucket, Central Falls, and Woonsocket.
• Invest In Peace 2025 SponsorsmoderateGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsors at various levels for the 16th annual Invest in Peace fundraiser. Sponsorship opportunities include various tiers with benefits outlined in sponsorship forms.
• Hillary Joyce (Development Contact)minorOthersContact person for Invest in Peace 2025 information at 401-239-7802 or [email protected].

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Cure Violence Global: Chicago-headquartered organization that pioneered the 'violence interrupter' public-health model — hiring outreach workers to mediate conflicts and prevent shootings. Directly comparable to NVI's street-outreach, gang-conflict-mediation, and 'boots-on-the-ground' methodology referenced in David Kennedy's 'Don't Shoot.'
• The Anti-Violence Project: New York-based nonprofit providing crisis intervention, counseling, and advocacy for victims of violence, including 24/7 support lines. Comparable to NVI's Victim Services portfolio (hospital response, counseling referrals, relocation support, and ongoing emotional support).
• Roca: Chelsea, Massachusetts-based nonprofit that delivers street outreach, gang-violence intervention, and intensive youth mentorship to high-risk young adults. Directly comparable to NVI's Community Outreach, gang mediation, and S.E.E.D.-style youth programming in a neighboring New England state.
• Los Angeles Violence Intervention Coalition (LA-VIC): Network of community-based violence intervention programs in Los Angeles focused on street outreach, group violence intervention, and victim services. Operates a comparable portfolio of gang-mediation, victim advocacy, and reentry support services to NVI's Community Outreach, Victim Services, and Case Management.

Broad incumbents

• Center for Court Innovation: National nonprofit that operates problem-solving courts, diversion programs, and community-based violence-reduction initiatives. Comparable as a broader incumbent in violence prevention and community justice, with relevant overlap to NVI's case management and reentry services.
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of America: National youth-mentoring nonprofit providing 1:1 mentorship to at-risk youth. Comparable to NVI's 1:1 high-risk-youth mentorship component within its Community Outreach program, though operating at much larger national scale.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of America: National youth-development organization providing after-school programming, mentorship, and violence-prevention curricula. Comparable to NVI's youth-development focus and S.E.E.D. program as a broader incumbent in at-risk-youth services.
• Catholic Charities USA: National network of social-service nonprofits with roots in faith-based organizing — comparable to NVI's founding by the Ministry Team of St. Michael's Church. Provides overlapping social services including case management, victim advocacy, and community outreach.
• National Network for Safe Communities: National organization that supports cities implementing group violence intervention and related strategies based on David Kennedy's work — the same national framework in which NVI is cited. Comparable as an ecosystem player scaling the methodology NVI delivers locally.

Regional players

• Boston StreetSafe: Boston municipal program applying a public-health, violence-interruption model with street outreach workers. Comparable to NVI's community-led outreach and gang mediation, though it operates municipally in Boston rather than as an independent nonprofit in Providence.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/nonviolenceinstitute
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/institute-for-the-study-and-practice-of-nonviolence
• Instagraminstagram.com/nonviolenceinstitute
• Xx.com/nviinstitute

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Nonviolence Institute