Search for Common Ground

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.

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

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

• Peacebuilding services
• Conflict resolution
• Democratic governance
• Social cohesion programs
• Youth peacebuilding

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core 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

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• Preemptive Love CoalitionflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 March 2023Search 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)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSearch 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)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSearch 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 NigeriacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership 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

Emerging 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

• Xx.com/sfcg_
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/search-for-common-ground

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&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