Institute on Religion and Democracy

What Institute on Religion and Democracy does

The Institute on Religion and Democracy (IRD), founded in 1981 by Reverend Richard John Neuhaus, is a 501(c)(3) ecumenical nonprofit think tank headquartered at 1023 15th Street NW Suite 200, Washington, DC. The organization operates with a small staff (estimated 1–10 employees) and is governed by a Board of Directors. Its mission is to promote responsible Christian witness in society through the lens of historic church teaching and Christian realism, engaging the intersection of Christian faith, democracy, human rights, and religious freedom. IRD publishes audited financial statements and IRS Form 990 filings, consistent with its nonprofit status.

IRD delivers its mission through a coordinated portfolio of publications, programs, fellowships, and events. Core publications include Providence Magazine (a foreign policy journal on national security and global statecraft, published since 2015), the Juicy Ecumenism blog, Faith and Freedom, and Good News Magazine. The organization's five operating programs are In Defense of Christians (Middle East Christian advocacy), The New Whiggery (American constitutional tradition and natural law), the John Wesley Institute (Wesleyan theological formation), the Coalition of Catholics Against Antisemitism (Catholic-Jewish relations), and a recurring events program including Providence dinners, Christian Realism Social Hours, and lectures. Two named fellowships — The New Whiggery Fellowship and the Elshtain Fellowship in Christian Realism — develop emerging leaders.

IRD's business model is donation-funded, with revenue derived from contributions by individuals, foundations, and institutions that support its mission. All publications, events, and programs are offered free of charge, with donation solicitations embedded in its website and email communications. The organization's go-to-market relies on owned channels (Providence Magazine, Juicy Ecumenism, email newsletters, and a Washington, DC-based events calendar) rather than paid acquisition, and it targets religious leaders, policy professionals, think tank communities, and young professionals in the DC area.

Name

Institute on Religion and Democracy

Legal name

The Institute on Religion and Democracy

Website

https://theird.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Institute on Religion and Democracy is a 501(c)(3) ecumenical think tank in Washington, DC, founded in 1981, that promotes Christian engagement with democracy, human rights, and religious freedom through publications (Providence Magazine, Juicy Ecumenism), advocacy programs, fellowships, and events targeting religious leaders, policy professionals, and young professionals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: IRD operates as a nonprofit organization funded primarily through donations from individuals, foundations, and institutions that support its mission of promoting democracy, human rights, and religious freedom.

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

IRD is an ecumenical think tank that produces research, commentary, advocacy, and education at the intersection of Christian theology, democracy, human rights, religious freedom, and U.S. foreign/national security policy. It sells (free of charge) access to a portfolio of publications, blogs, advocacy programs, fellowships, and live events, while fundraising from individual donors, foundations, and institutions to support this mission.

Product overview

The Institute on Religion and Democracy is an ecumenical think tank that offers a portfolio of publications, programs, fellowships, and events centered on the intersection of Christian faith, democracy, and public policy. Its core products include Providence Magazine (a foreign policy journal published since 2015), the Juicy Ecumenism blog, and five major programs: In Defense of Christians (Middle East Christian advocacy), The New Whiggery (American constitutional tradition), the John Wesley Institute (Wesleyan theology), the Coalition of Catholics Against Antisemitism (Catholic-Jewish solidarity), and an Events Program hosting dinners, lectures, and social hours. The organization also offers two named fellowships and publishes Faith and Freedom and Good News Magazine. The portfolio is unified by IRD's mission to promote responsible Christian witness rooted in Christian realism and democratic principles.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• IRD: Abbreviated form of Institute on Religion and Democracy used on the website
• Providence Magazine
• Juicy Ecumenism
• In Defense of Christians
• The New Whiggery
• John Wesley Institute
• Coalition of Catholics Against Antisemitism
• Faith and Freedom
• Good News Magazine

Products and services

• Providence Magazine A print and digital policy journal addressing national security and global statecraft through historic Christian thinking, distributed to policy professionals and Christian policy audiences.
• Juicy Ecumenism The official blog of the Institute on Religion and Democracy providing smart commentary on contemporary religious and political issues for Christian leaders and policy audiences.
• In Defense of Christians An advocacy program dedicated to the protection and preservation of Christianity in the Middle East, the birthplace of the faith, serving persecuted-Christian communities and policy advocates.
• The New Whiggery A civic-education program promoting the American constitutional tradition and evaluating political decisions in light of history, first principles, prudence, and a moral framework grounded in natural law; primarily targets DC young professionals.
• John Wesley Institute A Wesleyan theological formation and Christian discipleship program, partnering with scholars such as former Asbury Theological Seminary President Timothy Tennent to deliver lectures and formation in Washington, DC.
• Coalition of Catholics Against Antisemitism A Catholic initiative committed to confronting antisemitism in theology, catechesis, culture, and public life in light of Nostra Aetate and the Church's moral teaching, serving Catholic clergy, laity, and interfaith partners.
• Faith and Freedom A publication by the Institute on Religion and Democracy covering religious liberty and public-life topics for Christian readers.
• Good News Magazine A publication affiliated with the Institute on Religion and Democracy, distributed to Christian readers interested in theology and public engagement.
• The New Whiggery Fellowship A fellowship program for DC-based young professionals interested in classical liberty and its roots in transcendence, combining intellectual formation with convening and networking.
• Elshtain Fellowship in Christian Realism A named fellowship in Christian Realism honoring Jean Bethke Elshtain, supporting scholars engaging the Christian-realist tradition in public policy.
• Events Program A program organizing Providence lunches, New Whiggery dinners, Christian Realism Social Hours, Wednesday Worship gatherings, professional women's brunches, and lectures in Washington, DC, free to attendees.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks2 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/theird
• Facebookfacebook.com/TheIRD

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Institute on Religion and Democracy