Salam Institute

What Salam Institute does

Salam Institute for Peace and Justice is a US-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Washington D.C. with operations in Amman, Jordan, that develops and delivers Islamic peacebuilding, conflict resolution, forgiveness education, and interfaith dialogue programs. Founded in 2008 around forgiveness research in the Arab world and active since the first Islamic Peace Conference in 2006, the institute serves Muslim-majority communities, religious leaders, educators, and civil society organizations across more than 20 countries in MENA, Sub-Saharan Africa (Sahel), South Asia, Southeast Asia, and Europe. Its core offerings include peacebuilding training, inter-religious and intra-religious dialogue, education and curricular development, and development and relief programming, organized around named initiatives such as Pathways to Forgiveness, REACH For Forgiveness (adaptation of Everett Worthington's REACH model in Arabic across Egypt, Tunisia, and Iraq), Peace through Development I and II (Chad, Niger, Burkina Faso), the RELIGIONS LEAD Initiative (Egypt), and the Regional Network for Reconciliation and Forgiveness in the Arab World (launched May 2023 with 37 members across 11 Arab countries). Knowledge products include the Religious Peacebuilding Action Guides (four toolkits on conflict analysis, mediation, reconciliation, and gender), an online Muslim Peacebuilding Network platform, and 14+ scholarly publications.

The organization is funded almost entirely through grants from institutional donors including USAID, the US Department of State, the US Embassy in Chad, the National Endowment for Democracy, the United States Institute of Peace, the Fetzer Institute, and the Templeton World Charity Foundation. Programs are delivered free of charge to participants in target communities, typically through direct implementation partnerships with larger prime grantees (Academy for Educational Development, International Relief for Development, Equal Access International, Search for Common Ground) and local civil society partners. The institute has no commercial pricing model, no proprietary technology products or APIs, and operates with 11-50 employees. Distribution occurs through in-person training workshops, teacher and imam training-of-trainers programs, conferences (including the annual Muslim Peacebuilding, Justice and Interfaith Dialogue conference), webinars, newsletters, and online resource portals. Measurable program outcomes include 600 participants per country across three MENA countries in the REACH study, 192 informal educators trained under a randomized control trial in Chad, over 15,000 people directly reached through the Imam Exchange Program in Chad, and 200+ Quranic school teachers trained across ten localities in Chad.

Name

Salam Institute

Legal name

Salam Institute for Peace and Justice

Website

https://salaminstitute.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Salam Institute for Peace and Justice is a Washington D.C.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that designs and delivers Islamic peacebuilding, forgiveness education, and interfaith dialogue programs for Muslim-majority communities, religious leaders, educators, and civil society organizations across MENA, Africa, and South/Southeast Asia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding Services

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Human Rights Organizations (813311), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus & Resilience Programming (BPADAEAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Post-Conflict Recovery, Reconciliation & Social Cohesion Programs (BPADAFAL), Alternative Dispute Resolution & Restorative Justice Programs (BPAIAFAL), Peace, Security Sector Reform & Stabilization Programs (BPADABAH), Transitional Justice, Accountability & Reparations (BPADAGAL)

Keywords

• Islamic peacebuilding
• Conflict resolution training
• Interfaith dialogue
• Forgiveness education
• Religious peacebuilding

Headquarters

HQ city

Virginia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Grants and Donations: Salam Institute operates as a non-profit organization funded primarily through grants from international organizations, government agencies (USAID, US Department of State, US Embassy), foundations (Fetzer Institute, National Endowment for Democracy), and individual donations.
2. Training and Capacity Building Services: The organization provides training of trainers workshops, peacebuilding programs, and educational interventions for imams, teachers, and community leaders, often implemented through partnerships with USAID-funded projects and other development organizations.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Salam Institute for Peace and Justice is a non-profit organization that delivers peacebuilding training, conflict resolution, and interfaith dialogue services to communities, educators, and religious leaders in Muslim-majority countries. It develops and implements culturally-adapted forgiveness and civic education curricula, runs regional research initiatives such as the REACH Forgiveness study, and operates a Regional Network for Reconciliation and Forgiveness connecting peacebuilders across the Arab world.

Product overview

Salam Institute operates as a non-profit peacebuilding organization offering a portfolio of interconnected programs rather than a unified technology product. Its core offerings include Peacebuilding Training and Inter-Religious Dialogue services, alongside specialized educational programs like Pathways to Forgiveness and the REACH For Forgiveness research initiative. The institute maintains the Regional Network for Forgiveness and Reconciliation in the Arab World as a key platform connecting peacebuilders across 11 countries. Knowledge products include Religious Peacebuilding Action Guides and Toolkits developed in partnership with USIP. Education and curricular development work spans Peace through Development programs in Sahel countries and the RELIGIONS LEAD Initiative in Egypt. The Muslim Peacebuilding Network provides an online platform for connecting practitioners. All offerings are service and program-based rather than software products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Regional Network for Reconciliation and Forgiveness in the Arab World: A network launched in May 2023 connecting 37 members from 11 Arab countries working on reconciliation and forgiveness peacebuilding efforts
• REACH For Forgiveness
• Pathways to Forgiveness
• Muslim Peacebuilding Network
• RELIGIONS LEAD Initiative
• Religious Peacebuilding Action Guides

Products and services

• Peacebuilding Training Training programs focused on conflict resolution, nonviolence, and peacebuilding skills delivered to communities in regions including Israel, West Bank and Gaza, Turkey, Sri Lanka, Mindanao Philippines, Africa, and the Balkans.
• Inter-Religious and Intra-Religious Dialogue Facilitation of dialogue programs between different religious groups to promote understanding, tolerance, and peaceful coexistence across Muslim and non-Muslim communities.
• Development and Relief Sustainable community development initiatives and humanitarian relief efforts in Muslim countries, focusing on building resilience and addressing root causes of conflict.
• Education and Curricular Development Development of educational curricula integrating peace education, forgiveness education, civic values, and conflict resolution into formal and non-formal education systems across Arab and Muslim contexts.
• Regional Network for Forgiveness and Reconciliation in the Arab World Regional network connecting 37 members from 11 Arab countries (Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Palestine, Qatar, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, and Yemen) to advance reconciliation and forgiveness through knowledge exchange, capacity building, and collaborative initiatives.
• REACH For Forgiveness Research initiative implementing Everett Worthington's REACH model of forgiveness, translated into Arabic and replicated in Egypt, Tunisia, and Iraq, targeting 600 participants per country including schoolteachers, social workers, and university students.
• Pathways to Forgiveness Program integrating forgiveness education in schools across the Arab world, providing teachers with tools to respond to violence in classrooms, communities, and online spaces, supporting societal recovery through structured forgiveness curriculum.
• Religious Peacebuilding Action Guides Four comprehensive toolkits covering conflict analysis and mapping of the religious sector, mediation for religious actors, religiously-inspired reconciliation, and gender integration in peace efforts, developed with USIP and the Network for Religious and Traditional Peacemakers.
• Publications and Reports Extensive collection of scholarly publications, guidebooks, and reports on Islamic peacebuilding, forgiveness education, interfaith dialogue, conflict resolution, and reconciliation, including works by Dr. Mohammed Abu-Nimer and Dr. Ilham Nasser.
• Muslim Peacebuilding Network Online platform and database connecting Muslim professionals and organizations working for peace and development, supported by quarterly newsletters and the Annual Conference on Muslim Peacebuilding, Justice and Interfaith Dialogue (MPJID).
• Peace through Development Programs USAID-funded programs implemented in Chad, Niger, and Burkina Faso focusing on civic education for peace and diversity, interfaith dialogue, Quranic school reform, and imam training in peacebuilding and conflict resolution.
• RELIGIONS LEAD Initiative Training program for Muslim and Christian clerics in Egypt (Alexandria/Central Delta and Upper Egypt regions) promoting interfaith cooperation, civic values, and community initiatives through interactive workshops and small grant funding.

Quantifiable outcome

• 600 participants recruited per country for REACH Forgiveness Study in Egypt, Tunisia, and Iraq
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 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

Feature4 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Freedom HousecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a partner organization on Salam Institute's website, indicating collaboration in peacebuilding and human rights initiatives.
• Hayat Center – RASED (Jordan)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-spearheaded the launch of the Regional Network for Reconciliation and Forgiveness in the Arab World in May 2023. Hayat Center serves as the Jordanian partner for this flagship regional initiative.
• Network for Religious and Traditional PeacemakerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborating on the Religious Peacebuilding Toolkits initiative to produce four comprehensive guides on religious peacebuilding for secular and faith-based organizations.
• KAICIID (King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Centre for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupported the Voices for Harmony social media campaign to counter religious hate speech and promote coexistence across the Arab world.
• ACT for Conflict ResolutionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Voices for Harmony social media campaign alongside Salam Institute and the Regional Network for Reconciliation.
• University of MichigancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in action research project evaluating barriers to nonformal education success in MENA region, particularly for critical thinking and emotional literacy.
• Northwestern UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-partner with University of Michigan in research project on critical thinking and emotional literacy interventions in the Middle East.
• Academy for Educational DevelopmentflagshipImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerImplementing partner for Peace through Development I project funded by USAID, with Salam Institute providing technical expertise on peacebuilding and civic education.
• ISESCO (Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerChadian office partnered with Salam Institute to incorporate peace and tolerance messages into existing curriculum and train teachers.
• American UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvided conflict resolution training program for Iranian scholars visiting the US through Salam Institute's exchange programs.
• Equal Access InternationalcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartner in Peace through Development I program implementing peacebuilding activities alongside Salam Institute.
• International Relief for Development (IRD)flagshipImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerImplementing partner for Peace through Development II funded by USAID, with Salam Institute as a key partner for peacebuilding components.
• Search for Common GroundcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Peace through Development II program contributing to peacebuilding efforts in the Sahel region.
• International Center for Religion and Diplomacy (ICRD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with Salam Institute on measuring impact of civic values training programs for informal educators in the Lake Chad region.
• Arigatou InternationalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead organization of the 'Stand Up for Children in War' campaign with Salam Institute as one of 30+ global partners.
• American Councils for International EducationminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartner in providing Transformational Leadership Workshop for YES alumni, with Salam Institute delivering conflict transformation training.
• Centre for Peace Building and Reconciliation (CPBR) - Sri LankacoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSalam Institute provided intensive training in interfaith dialogue and advocacy to religious and youth leaders working with CPBR's interfaith network in Sri Lanka.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Search for Common Ground: Largest dedicated international peacebuilding NGO; runs interfaith dialogue and CVE programs in many of the same MENA, Sahel, and South Asian geographies as Salam. They are a co-implementing partner under Peace through Development II, making them the closest operational peer.
• International Center for Religion and Diplomacy (ICRD): Direct collaborator on the Lake Chad civic-values RCT; focused on religion-and-conflict programming with comparable curriculum and trainer-of-trainers delivery models.
• KAICIID (King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Centre for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue): Intergovernmental dialogue centre that co-funded Salam's Voices for Harmony campaign; comparable mandate on interfaith cooperation, MENA focus, and grantmaking-style program delivery.
• Network for Religious and Traditional Peacemakers: Co-producer of the Religious Peacebuilding Action Guides; a global network of religious peacebuilders with parallel convening and toolkit-publishing functions.
• Berghof Foundation: European-based conflict research and peacebuilding organization that publishes the Berghof Handbook featuring Salam-affiliated authors; comparable thematic focus on religious actors in peace processes.

Broad incumbents

• United States Institute of Peace (USIP): US federal institution that both funds Salam and produces its own religious-peacebuilding toolkits; comparable thematic scope but a much larger mandate and budget as a federally-backed incumbent.
• Religions for Peace: Global multi-religious coalition with long-standing interfaith programming; comparable mission and interfaith convening, but operates at significantly larger scale across more regions.
• Mercy Corps: Large humanitarian and peacebuilding INGO operating in many of the same fragile states (Iraq, Chad, Niger); not a thematic specialist but a major competitor for USAID peace-and-stability funding.
• Carter Center: Established conflict resolution and election-monitoring NGO; comparable academic-and-field approach to peacebuilding with greater resources and brand recognition.

Emerging players

• Peace Direct: NGO that localizes peacebuilding funding to community-level actors; an adjacent model that competes for the same 'local peacebuilder' narrative Salam uses for its regional network.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/salam_justice
• Facebookfacebook.com/SalamInstitute
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/salam-institute-for-peace-and-justice
• Instagraminstagram.com/salaminstitute__

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Salam Institute