The Peace Alliance

What The Peace Alliance does

The Peace Alliance is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization founded in 2004 by author and activist Marianne Williamson to advocate for the establishment of a U.S. Department of Peacebuilding and to implement peacebuilding programs across five domains. The organization's strategic framework, the Five Cornerstones, organizes activity into Community Peacebuilding, Practicing Peace in Schools, Humanizing Justice Systems, Cultivating Personal Peace, and Fostering International Peacebuilding. Its primary legislative vehicle is HR 1111, the Department of Peacebuilding Act, which has been reintroduced across multiple Congresses including by Rep. Barbara Lee in 2021 and Rep. Ilhan Omar in 2025. The organization has cultivated a coalition of 204+ endorsing organizations and 48 city, county, and tribal government supporters.

Programs and content include Hope Story Circles (community dialogue), Truth Storytelling, the Peace in Every Step Global Walkathon (delivered in partnership with Pathways To Peace), the Peace On Podcast, and the Building Peace Story by Story film series. Recent activity includes a Democracy Vigil under the #Peace2thePolls banner linking peace advocacy to voter mobilization, and a 2025 defensive advocacy response to U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP) staff reductions. Internationally, the organization extends programming into African peacebuilding through a partnership with the World Peace Foundation.

The business model is donation-driven under 501(c)(4) tax status, with revenue derived primarily from individual donors including recurring "Peace Partners" monthly contributors. The organization is volunteer-dependent with 1-10 reported employees and operates with a Managing Director (Dee Shanti, appointed 2020) and a National Field Coordinator (Kathy Kidd, appointed 2021). Go-to-market is grassroots mobilization and coalition-based lobbying rather than product or service sales. No AI/ML technology, proprietary platforms, or disclosed APIs are part of the operating model; programmatic activity is delivered through volunteer-led local chapters, media content, and direct congressional advocacy.

Name

The Peace Alliance

Legal name

The Peace Alliance

Website

https://peacealliance.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Peace Alliance is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit founded in 2004 that advocates for a U.S. Department of Peacebuilding and runs community, educational, justice, personal, and international peacebuilding programs through grassroots mobilization and individual-donor support.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Peacebuilding Advocacy and Nonprofit Education

NAICS

Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Other Social Advocacy Organizations (813319)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Post-Conflict Recovery, Reconciliation & Social Cohesion Programs (BPADAFAL)

Keywords

• Peacebuilding advocacy
• Civic engagement programs
• Nonprofit peace education
• Community peacebuilding initiatives
• Restorative justice advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Arlington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Tax-deductible donations to The Peace Alliance Educational Institute (501(c)(3)) for educational programs, or unrestricted donations to The Peace Alliance (501(c)(4)) for advocacy work. Monthly Peace Partner recurring donations and one-time contributions.
2. Grants and Private Foundation Support: The organization relies on grants and private donations to fund peacebuilding programs and initiatives, as stated in career opportunities and volunteer recruitment materials.
3. iGive Shopping Platform: The organization receives donations through the iGive shopping platform when supporters make purchases at partner retailers. Over $944 raised through this channel.
4. Legacy Gifts: Bequests and legacy gifts designated in final arrangements ensure continued peacebuilding work beyond the donor's lifetime.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Peace Alliance is a nonprofit advocacy organization that educates, mobilizes, and advocates for peacebuilding through its Five Cornerstones framework (Community Peacebuilding, Practicing Peace in Schools, Humanizing Justice Systems, Cultivating Personal Peace, and Fostering International Peacebuilding). It runs the Campaign for a U.S. Department of Peacebuilding, supports grassroots organizing, and offers educational programs, storytelling circles, a podcast series, and signature events such as the Peace in Every Step Global Walkathon.

Product overview

The Peace Alliance is a nonprofit peacebuilding organization that operates as a programmatic portfolio rather than a traditional software product. Its core offerings include advocacy campaigns (Department of Peacebuilding Campaign), educational programs (Five Cornerstones of Peacebuilding), community engagement initiatives (Hope Story Circles, Truth Storytelling, Grassroots Network Calls), media content (Peace On Podcast, Building Peace Story by Story film series), and signature events (Peace in Every Step Walkathon, #Peace2thePolls Democracy Vigil). The organization functions as an alliance of organizers advocating for a Department of Peacebuilding and promoting peacebuilding from the margins into national discourse. The 501(c)(3) arm is The Peace Alliance Educational Institute, which focuses on educational programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Peace in Every Step: A global walkathon initiative promoting peacebuilding through walking events, hosted jointly with Pathways To Peace.
• Peace On Podcast
• Hope Story Circles
• Truth Storytelling
• The Bring the Peace Movement
• #Peace2thePolls
• Blueprint for Peace
• Grassroots Network

Products and services

• Five Cornerstones of Peacebuilding Framework The Peace Alliance's signature educational framework structured around five pillars: Community Peacebuilding, Practicing Peace in Schools, Humanizing Justice Systems, Cultivating Personal Peace, and Fostering International Peacebuilding. Provides the comprehensive structure through which the organization delivers its peacebuilding programs.
• Practicing Peace in Schools An educational cornerstone initiative that integrates peace education, mindfulness, and conflict resolution into school environments. Designed for teachers, administrators, and educational institutions seeking evidence-based peace curricula and tools for student social-emotional development. Includes an audio course offering.
• Campaign for a U.S. Department of Peacebuilding The flagship legislative advocacy campaign of The Peace Alliance, advocating for the establishment of a cabinet-level U.S. Department of Peacebuilding. Includes monthly campaign calls, lobby days, congressional cosponsor recruitment, and coordination with legislative champions such as Rep. Ilhan Omar and Rep. Barbara Lee.
• Community Peacebuilding Program One of the Five Cornerstones focused on fostering peace at the community level through grassroots organizing, the Bring the Peace Movement, neighborhood-based peacebuilding efforts, and local peace initiatives.
• Humanizing Justice Systems Program One of the Five Cornerstones focused on restorative justice practices and transforming the criminal justice system. Targets organizations and individuals working on victim-offender mediation, violence prevention, and rehabilitation alternatives.
• Cultivating Personal Peace Program One of the Five Cornerstones focused on mindfulness, empathy, and personal peace practices for individuals seeking personal peace through compassionate communication, empathy building, and holistic well-being.
• Fostering International Peacebuilding Program One of the Five Cornerstones focused on peace efforts at the international and global level, with connections to the UN High Level Forum on the Culture of Peace and partnerships with organizations such as Pathways To Peace and the World Peace Foundation.
• Peace On Podcast A podcast series offering inspiration for engaging in dialogue in the larger community, featuring conversations with thought leaders across the spectrum on topics related to building peace, fostering nonviolence, and creating a culture of peace. Over 200 episodes produced with 20,000+ downloads as of 2022.
• Hope Story Circles A twice-monthly online community peacebuilding gathering offering a supportive environment for active listening, authentic expression, and storytelling. Held on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays at 9:00am PT/12:00pm ET.
• Truth Storytelling A monthly storytelling gathering that began in January 2021, co-constructing the role of digital and visual Truth Storytelling in peacebuilding and empowering a culture of peace. Meets on the first Saturday of each month.
• Peace in Every Step Global Walkathon An annual global walkathon for peace hosted jointly with Pathways To Peace, running from Mother's Day through Father's Day. Inspired by the Bhavana Center monks' Walk for Peace, the walkathon celebrates and expands peacebuilding through community walks and raises funds to support peace programs.
• Building Peace Story by Story Film Series A multi-part film series collaboration between Western Maine Storytelling, The Peace Alliance, and Mt. Blue TV, featuring stories of people pursuing peace in everyday lives.
• #Peace2thePolls Democracy Vigil A democracy vigil initiative celebrating voting participation and creating space for peace during elections. Promotes civic engagement and voting access through events in partnership with organizations such as When We All Vote and the League of Women Voters.
• Connecting Across Differences Training A training program that empowers participants with tools for building beloved community, teaching how to engage in conversations across differences, speak truth without judgment, and build empathy.

Quantifiable outcome

• Department of Peacebuilding Act legislation has achieved 38+ congressional cosponsors and support from 204 organizational endorsers
• +3 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Pathways To PeacecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing strategic partnership for co-hosting the Peace in Every Step Global Walkathon and other peacebuilding initiatives. Pathways To Peace co-organizes major events and programs with The Peace Alliance, representing a foundational collaborative relationship.
• United States Institute of Peace (USIP)minorOthersThe Peace Alliance advocates for protection of the U.S. Institute of Peace following news of staff reductions. Not a formal partnership but a shared peacebuilding mission and advocacy alignment.
• Children of the EarthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a partner organization on The Peace Alliance website, indicating collaborative relationship in peacebuilding initiatives and shared mission alignment.
• Founding MothersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization collaborating on peacebuilding efforts as part of The Peace Alliance's network of peace organizations.
• One Humanity InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization working with The Peace Alliance on peacebuilding initiatives as part of the organizational partner network.
• Unity EarthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization listed on The Peace Alliance website, collaborating on peace and nonviolence initiatives globally.
• WE, The WorldminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization collaborating on global peace and nonviolence initiatives through The Peace Alliance's network.
• World Peace FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a partner organization, specifically focused on peacebuilding efforts in Africa (RD Congo) as part of The Peace Alliance's international peacebuilding work.
• Center for Building a Culture of EmpathycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-hosting Empathy Circles for Peacebuilders series. Edwin Rutsch, founding director of the Center, serves as speaker at The Peace Alliance events. Partnership provides empathy-building programming and facilitation skills to peacebuilding community.
• CoPeSe: Conflict Transformation, Peacebuilding and SecurityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLinkedIn group collaboration for bringing peacebuilding communities together. Co-hosts Empathy Cafes with The Peace Alliance.
• Bhavana Center MonksminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInspiration source for the Peace in Every Step Global Walkathon. Buddhist monks who walked 2,500 miles from Fort Worth, TX to Washington D.C. for peace awareness. Their Walk for Peace inspired The Peace Alliance's global walkathon initiative.
• Buddhist Film FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGaetano Kazuo Maida, executive director, featured as special event speaker for Peace in Every Step Walkathon. Producer of International Buddhist Film Festival and films including Peace Is Every Step.
• The Peace SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMaster Charles Kim and Jennifer Kim serve as speakers/presenters at Peace Alliance events. The Peace School provides peacebuilding curriculum referenced by The Peace Alliance.
• River Phoenix Center for PeacebuildingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJeffrey Weisberg, founding member of The Peace Alliance and Executive Director of RPCP, serves as key organizational leader and presenter. Dot Maver was founding executive director. Deep historical and programmatic ties.
• National Peace Academy USAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDot Maver, founding President and Board member/trustee, has participated as speaker on Peace Alliance monthly calls. Shared mission of peace education.
• Living Room ConversationsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounder Joan Blades featured as special guest on Peace Alliance monthly call. Organization focuses on dialogue across political divides, aligning with Peace Alliance's depolarization work.
• When We All VoteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPriestley Johnson, Director of Strategic Partnerships, featured as speaker at #Peace2thePolls Democracy Vigil. Created by Michelle Obama, focuses on voter registration and civic participation.
• Florida Restorative Justice AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDan Kahn serves as Executive Co-Director and former National Field Coordinator with The Peace Alliance. JoHanna Thompson also serves in leadership. Organizational ties through shared staff and mission.
• Full Circle Restorative Justice (FCRJ)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPatty LaTaille served as Program Director before joining The Peace Alliance as Humanizing Justice Systems team lead. Historical organizational relationship.
• League of Women VotersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerReferenced on voter access information page as partner for VOTE411 tool. Provides voter registration and ballot information to Peace Alliance supporters.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Peace Action: Largest U.S. grassroots peace advocacy organization. Comparable as a similarly-missioned U.S. peace advocacy group with grassroots mobilization and legislative campaign work.
• Alliance for Peacebuilding: Coalition-based network of peacebuilding organizations. Comparable as a membership/coalition entity focused on advancing the U.S. peacebuilding field — closely aligned with The Peace Alliance's coalition-building role.
• Pathways To Peace: Direct strategic partner of The Peace Alliance and co-host of the Peace in Every Step Walkathon. Highly comparable grassroots peacebuilding nonprofit with overlapping programs and shared leadership.
• Peace Direct: U.S./UK-based peacebuilding nonprofit that funds and advocates for local peacebuilders globally. Directly comparable as a similarly-sized peace advocacy and grantmaking organization with overlapping programmatic concepts.
• Peace First: Youth-focused peace and social-emotional learning nonprofit. Comparable mission overlap especially with The Peace Alliance's Practicing Peace in Schools cornerstone and Cultivating Personal Peace programs.
• Friends Committee on National Legislation: Quaker-affiliated U.S. lobbying organization advocating for peace and justice. Comparable as a similarly-sized, donation-funded, legislative-advocacy nonprofit working on peace priorities.

Broad incumbents

• United States Institute of Peace: Federally-funded U.S. institution dedicated to conflict resolution globally. Comparable as the institutional embodiment of the policy outcome The Peace Alliance is advocating for, and an explicit advocacy ally in the data.
• Search for Common Ground: Largest dedicated conflict-resolution NGO, operating globally across dozens of countries. Comparable as a more established peacebuilding and conflict-transformation organization with similar mission and stakeholder model.
• International Crisis Group: Independent NGO working to prevent wars and shape policy. Comparable as an established peace/conflict-prevention advocacy organization with significantly larger scale and resources.

Emerging players

• Institute for Economics and Peace: Think tank producing the Global Peace Index and Positive Peace framework. Comparable in mission around measuring and advancing peace, with a research/advocacy hybrid model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/PeaceAlliance
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/thepeacealliance
• Facebookfacebook.com/ThePeaceAlliance

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about The Peace Alliance