Search for Common Ground
Search for Common Ground is a Washington, D.C.-based international non-governmental organization founded in 1982 and the world's largest peacebuilding organization. It partners with governments, civil society, and international bodies to transform violent conflict and strengthen democratic participation, with active programming in conflict-affected countries including Nigeria.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1982
- HeadquartersWashington, United States
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Search for Common Ground does
Search for Common Ground is a Washington, D.C.-based international non-governmental organization founded in 1982 that self-identifies as the world's largest peacebuilding organization. Its mission is to transform violent conflict and build sustainable, safe, and healthy societies through community-driven conflict transformation rather than top-down diplomatic approaches. The organization operates a global programmatic footprint spanning multiple conflict-affected geographies, with documented active engagement in Nigeria on electoral violence prevention, democratic consolidation, and youth peace and security initiatives in partnership with national government ministries and civil-society counterparts.
The organization's core 'products' are programmatic rather than technological in nature: conflict-resolution advocacy, democratic-strengthening initiatives (including joint public statements ahead of elections), youth empowerment programs such as the EU-funded Hustle Reality Show in northwest Nigeria, and convening/coordination roles across multi-stakeholder networks including the Global Initiative on Loneliness and Connection (GILC). No proprietary technology platform, software product, or AI/ML system is publicly disclosed; core technology is listed as not publicly disclosed. Partnership infrastructure with bodies such as the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR), the Centre for Democracy and Development, and the Federal Government of Nigeria is the primary mechanism through which programming is delivered.
Search for Common Ground is a private 501(c)(3)-style non-profit with 501–1,000 employees. It does not operate a commercial product or service model; its revenue model is grant and donor-funded (e.g., EU funding for specific initiatives). In March 2023, the organization merged with Preemptive Love Coalition, with both entities continuing to operate under their respective names while sharing resources and learning. Customer segments are horizontal and consist primarily of national governments/government agencies and international organizations (UN agencies, peace institutes, civil-society networks). Revenue figures, funding rounds, leadership team details, and detailed financial metrics are not publicly disclosed in available sources.
Search for Common Ground firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Search for Common Ground
- Website
- https://sfcg.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1982
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- Search for Common Ground is a Washington, D.C.-based international non-governmental organization founded in 1982 and the world's largest peacebuilding organization. It partners with governments, civil society, and international bodies to transform violent conflict and strengthen democratic participation, with active programming in conflict-affected countries including Nigeria.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Search for Common Ground industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Peacebuilding and Conflict Resolution Services
- NAICS
- Human Rights Organizations (813311), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Post-Conflict Recovery, Reconciliation & Social Cohesion Programs (BPADAFAL)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Civil Society Strengthening & Civic Space (BPADAGAD), Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus & Resilience Programming (BPADAEAK), Peace, Security Sector Reform & Stabilization Programs (BPADABAH)
Keywords
Where Search for Common Ground is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Washington
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Search for Common Ground business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels3 records
Search for Common Ground product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Search for Common Ground is a peacebuilding nonprofit that designs and delivers community-driven conflict transformation programs in conflict zones worldwide. Its core work includes electoral violence prevention, democratic consolidation support, youth peace and security programming, and collaborative advocacy with governments, international organizations, and civil society to address root causes of violent conflict.
Product overview
Search for Common Ground is a peacebuilding organization that works to transform conflict and build sustainable peace through collaborative approaches. Based on the available source data, no specific product, technology platform, or service offering is described. The organization engages in programmatic peacebuilding work including conflict resolution advocacy, democratic strengthening initiatives, and youth empowerment programs, but the source material does not identify any distinct product brands, modules, or named technology offerings.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Companies that use Search for Common Ground
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Search for Common Ground technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Search for Common Ground partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.
- Preemptive Love CoalitionflagshipSearch for Common Ground announced a merger with Preemptive Love Coalition in March 2023. The merger is designed to enhance impact and pursue global peace by enabling resource sharing, learning, and expanded activities in conflict zones. Operations continue under their respective names post-merger.
- Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR)coreSearch for Common Ground partnered with IPCR and the Centre for Democracy and Development to issue joint statements warning about electoral violence threats to Nigeria's democratic consolidation ahead of the 2027 general election. Both organizations participated in joint press conferences on Democracy Day 2026.
- Global Initiative on Loneliness and Connection (GILC)coreSearch for Common Ground participates in GILC's 35-country network bringing together senior leaders across public health, policy, philanthropy, and civic systems to explore how social connection can repair and prevent polarization. Features in panels alongside RAND Corporation and More in Common US.
- Federal Government of NigeriacorePartnership with the Nigerian Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning and Ministry of Youth Development to revise Nigeria's National Action Plan on Youth, Peace and Security. Search for Common Ground collaborated with government officials to develop an impact-focused second plan.
Scale indicators1 record
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Search for Common Ground competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Peace Direct: Peace Direct is a smaller peacebuilding NGO focused on locally led peacebuilding and supporting local peace organizations. It addresses similar thematic areas (community-driven peacebuilding) but operates at meaningfully smaller scale and is positioned around localization rather than global institutional funding.
- More in Common US: More in Common US is a newer organization focused on polarization and social connection, and a co-participant with Search for Common Ground in the Global Initiative on Loneliness and Connection. It shares thematic overlap on division repair but focuses on US and Western democracies rather than conflict-affected states.
Direct peers
- International Alert: International Alert is a London-based peacebuilding NGO working on conflict transformation and security sector governance. It targets similar institutional donors (EU, FCDO, UN) and competes head-to-head for peace and security programming contracts.
- Pact: Pact is an international development organization focused on governance, health, and peacebuilding in fragile states. It targets similar bilateral and multilateral funders and operates overlapping programs on youth empowerment and democratic participation.
- Conciliation Resources: Conciliation Resources is a peacebuilding organization focused on inclusive dialogue and just peace. It overlaps with Search for Common Ground on community-driven conflict transformation methodology and competes for similar peace and governance funding streams.
- Preemptive Love Coalition: Preemptive Love Coalition merged with Search for Common Ground in 2023 and continues operating under its own name. Both organizations pursue similar peacebuilding missions, share resources, and continue to collaborate in conflict zones globally.
- International Crisis Group: International Crisis Group is a leading conflict-prevention organization producing analysis and policy advice on fragile states. It directly competes with Search for Common Ground for multilateral and bilateral peacebuilding funding and operates in overlapping geographies like Nigeria and other conflict-affected regions.
Broad incumbents
- Mercy Corps: Mercy Corps is a large international NGO working on humanitarian assistance, peace and conflict, and governance across fragile states. It competes for overlapping institutional donor funding, particularly around peacebuilding and youth engagement in conflict zones.
- United States Institute of Peace (USIP): USIP is a congressionally funded US institution working on conflict prevention, mediation, and peacebuilding globally. It overlaps with Search for Common Ground's mandate on democratic stability and electoral violence but operates as a larger, publicly funded entity with broader training and policy functions.
- Carter Center: The Carter Center is a major conflict resolution and democracy-promotion institution. It conducts election monitoring and conflict mediation analogous to Search for Common Ground's electoral violence work in Nigeria, but operates at larger scale and with broader thematic scope.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Search for Common Ground social profiles
Digital presenceSearch for Common Ground financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Search for Common Ground leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Search for Common Ground funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Search for Common Ground M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Search for Common Ground
What does Search for Common Ground do?
Search for Common Ground is a peacebuilding nonprofit that designs and delivers community-driven conflict transformation programs in conflict zones worldwide. Its core work includes electoral violence prevention, democratic consolidation support, youth peace and security programming, and collaborative advocacy with governments, international organizations, and civil society to address root causes of violent conflict.
Is Search for Common Ground a public or private company?
Search for Common Ground is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Search for Common Ground founded?
Search for Common Ground was founded in 1982. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is Search for Common Ground based?
Search for Common Ground is headquartered in Washington, United States, in the North America region.
Who are Search for Common Ground's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are Peace Direct and More in Common US. Direct peers are International Alert, Pact, Conciliation Resources, Preemptive Love Coalition and International Crisis Group. Broad incumbents are Mercy Corps, United States Institute of Peace (USIP) and Carter Center.
Does Search for Common Ground have an API?
No public API is recorded for Search for Common Ground.
What industry is Search for Common Ground in?
Search for Common Ground's product category is Peacebuilding and Conflict Resolution Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPADAFAL, Post-Conflict Recovery, Reconciliation & Social Cohesion Programs, with a secondary code of BPADAGAD, Civil Society Strengthening & Civic Space. Its NAICS code is 813311.