Mediation and Conflict Resolution Center

What Mediation and Conflict Resolution Center does

Mediation and Conflict Resolution Center (MCRC, legal entity Maryland Community Resource Center, DBA MCRC Howard County) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1999 and headquartered in Columbia, Maryland. The organization delivers community-based conflict resolution services exclusively to Howard County residents and workers, operating four core service lines: Mediation (including specialized Re-entry Mediation for individuals and families post-incarceration), Restorative Justice programs for youth, Group Facilitation for organizations and coalitions, and Community Education/Training. Service delivery follows a co-mediator model in which two trained volunteer mediators facilitate each session in person or virtually, with requests submitted through the organization website and intake coordinated by phone and email.

MCRC relies on a volunteer-driven operating model — a small paid staff of under 10 led by Executive Director Dawn Valentine is supplemented by trained community mediators completing 40+ hours of training plus restorative facilitators completing 20+ hours. There is no proprietary technology platform; the stack is limited to website request forms, the Zeffy donation processing platform, and standard office tools. Demand is generated through a referral network anchored by Howard County Schools, Howard County Courts, and Juvenile Services, supplemented by community partnerships including Leadership Howard County. The organization is community-funded via donations, the Giving Circle program, and grants, including a $5,000 grant from the Community Foundation of Howard County recorded in January 2025; mediation is free for residents and workers while facilitation and training are offered on a sliding scale with no one turned away for inability to pay.

Cumulative impact metrics include 1,000+ cases mediated, 150+ workshops conducted, 25+ events in the current year, 100+ people trained in the past year, and 10,000+ lives impacted over the organization's history. MCRC holds the 2025 Candid Platinum Seal of transparency and operates as an independent entity after separating from its founding host, Howard Community College.

Name

Mediation and Conflict Resolution Center

Legal name

Maryland Community Resource Center

Website

https://mcrchoward.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

MCRC is a Howard County, Maryland 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides free community mediation, restorative justice, group facilitation, and conflict resolution training to residents, schools, courts, and organizations via trained volunteer co-mediators.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Columbia

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, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: As a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, MCRC relies on donations through its Giving Circle program and likely grant funding. Donations processed via Zeffy platform with 100% of funds reaching the organization.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

MCRC provides free or sliding-scale mediation, restorative justice, group facilitation, and conflict resolution training to Howard County residents, families, schools, organizations, and courts. Services are delivered primarily by trained volunteer mediators using a co-mediator model, helping parties resolve disputes without litigation.

Product overview

MCRC operates as a single unified offering of community-based conflict resolution and restorative services, organized into four core service lines: Mediation, Restorative Justice, Group Facilitation, and Training & Education. The organization also provides specialized Re-entry Mediation for families reconnecting after incarceration. These services are supported by volunteer programs and a Giving Circle donation initiative. All services are free or offered on a sliding scale to ensure accessibility. The co-mediator model uses two trained volunteer facilitators per session to ensure balance and neutrality.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Mediation Services

Quantifiable outcome

• 1000+ cases mediated successfully
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered historical and core.

• Howard Community CollegehistoricalOthersMCRC was originally connected to Howard Community College before growing into an independent, community-rooted organization.
• Leadership Howard CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMCRC was selected as a Community Impact Project host with Leadership Howard County. The partnership focuses on strengthening volunteer teams and deepening collaboration practices, extending co-mediation principles to volunteer management.
• Howard County SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing partnership with Howard County schools for school-based mediation and restorative practices. Includes dedicated School Coordinator position.
• Howard County Courts and Juvenile ServicescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorReferral-based partnership where courts and juvenile services refer cases to MCRC for mediation and restorative justice services.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Community Boards Inc. San Francisco-based nonprofit community mediation center providing free conflict resolution services to residents using trained volunteer mediators. Highly comparable operating model to MCRC: volunteer-powered, free-to-user community mediation anchored in a single metro area.
• Center for Community Dialogue: Generic descriptor for a community-based nonprofit mediation program offering free or low-cost conflict resolution services. Listed as a representative direct-peer category match for MCRC's neighborhood- and family-mediation model; primary website not confirmable.

Broad incumbents

• JAMS: Largest private alternative dispute resolution provider in the US, offering mediation, arbitration, and related services across many practice areas. Comparable only at the broad category level — JAMS is a paid, professional provider while MCRC is a free, volunteer-powered nonprofit; useful as a category reference.
• American Arbitration Association: Long-standing nonprofit ADR organization providing arbitration, mediation, and conflict resolution services nationally. Comparable as a category incumbent; differs in scale, geographic reach, and reliance on paid neutrals rather than volunteers.

Others

• Resolution Systems Institute: Chicago-based nonprofit focused on court-based dispute resolution design, training, and program support. Comparable ecosystem role — strengthens the broader community-mediation field — though it operates as a capacity-building intermediary rather than direct service provider.
• National Association for Community Mediation (NAFCM): National membership association for community mediation centers in the US. Comparable as an ecosystem convener and standards body for the exact model MCRC operates; not a direct competitor but a peer in the community-mediation category.
• Mediate.com: Long-running online directory and resource hub for mediators and mediation centers. Comparable as a category ecosystem player; not a direct service competitor but overlaps in raising awareness of mediation as an alternative to litigation.

Regional players

• Maryland Mediation Network: Statewide Maryland network of community mediation programs. Listed as a regional peer representing the same category of service within MCRC's home state; primary website not confirmable from provided data.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/inc_mcrc
• Facebookfacebook.com/mcrchoward
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mcrc-inc

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Mediation and Conflict Resolution Center