Initiatives of Change

What Initiatives of Change does

Initiatives of Change (IofC) is a Switzerland-registered international nonprofit association (founded as the Oxford Group in the 1920s, renamed Initiatives of Change in 2001) that delivers trustbuilding, peacebuilding, and personal transformation programs across 45 countries. The organization runs an integrated portfolio of methodology-driven programs rather than technology products, including the award-winning Trustbuilding Program (active in 14-15 countries), Creators of Peace Peace Circles (43 countries), Foundations for Freedom, Business & Economy, Farmers' Dialogue, and Initiatives for Land, Lives and Peace. Its core "technology" consists of structured dialogue frameworks — most notably the Trustbuilding Program methodology, Creators of Peace Circles, and a 12-step accompaniment process — that combine inner reflection with community-level reconciliation.

IofC operates a distributed delivery model through 36 national teams and international programmes, anchored by six global centers in Australia, Brazil, Nigeria, India, Switzerland, and the UK, with international headquarters at the Maison de la Paix in Geneva. The organization is donation- and grant-funded, relying on foundation support (e.g., Fetzer Institute, Guerrand-Hermes Foundation for Peace), individual donors, and a UNESCO contract partnership for the Collective Healing Initiative. The Caux Palace in Switzerland functions as its flagship conference venue, hosting the annual Caux Forum, the Caux Scholars Programme (438 graduates from over 100 countries since 1991), and the Trustbuilding Awards. Distribution is community-led and event-driven: the xChange member platform supports online engagement, but program delivery is predominantly in-person through trained volunteer facilitators, with over half of participants joining via trusted personal referrals.

IofC's commercial footprint is that of a membership-based association: there is no parent company, no equity funding, no disclosed revenue, and no software/API product. Its brand, governance, and operating legitimacy are reinforced by the Luxembourg Peace Prize (2026, Outstanding Peace Organisation), the UN Alliance of Civilizations Intercultural Innovation Award (2021), and IofC-conferred Trustbuilding Awards recognizing practitioners in conflict-affected regions including Kenya, Myanmar, Lebanon, DRC, and Jordan.

Name

Initiatives of Change

Legal name

Initiatives of Change International

Website

https://iofc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Initiatives of Change is a Geneva-headquartered international nonprofit that delivers trustbuilding and peacebuilding methodologies — including the Trustbuilding Program and Creators of Peace Circles — through 36 national teams across 45 countries, funded by donations and grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Peacebuilding and conflict reconciliation services

NAICS

Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Social Advocacy Organizations (81331), Human Rights Organizations (813311), Civic and Social Organizations (813410)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Peace, Security Sector Reform & Stabilization Programs (BPADABAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Change Management & Transformation Leadership (EDABAAAD), Community Development & Social Impact Programs (EDAIAGAA), Organizational Change & Transformation Coaching (EDABANAG), Democratic Governance & Public Administration Reform (BPADAGAJ)

Keywords

• Peacebuilding programs
• Conflict reconciliation services
• Ethical leadership training
• Community dialogue facilitation
• Trustbuilding initiatives

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: Initiatives of Change International is a donation- and grant-funded nonprofit organization. The organization receives funding from foundations, individual donors, and organizational grants to support its global peacebuilding work.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Initiatives of Change is a global nonprofit association that designs and delivers peacebuilding and ethical-leadership programs. Its core offerings include the Trustbuilding Program (an award-winning structured dialogue methodology active in 14-15 countries), Creators of Peace (women-led Peace Circles in 43 countries), the Business & Economy Program, Farmers' Dialogue, Foundations for Freedom, and Initiatives for Land, Lives and Peace, delivered through 36 national teams, six global centres, and trained volunteer facilitators.

Product overview

Initiatives of Change (IofC) is a global nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of trustbuilding, peacebuilding, and personal transformation programs rather than a unified software product. The core offerings include the award-winning Trustbuilding Program (active in 14-15 countries), Creators of Peace (women-led peace circles in 43 countries), Business & Economy Program, Farmers' Dialogue, Foundations for Freedom, and Initiatives for Land, Lives and Peace. Supporting infrastructure includes the xChange digital member platform, IC Letters communications, the annual Caux Forum event, the Caux Scholars Programme educational offering, and the Trustbuilding Awards recognition program. The organization operates through 36 national teams across 45 countries and maintains global centers in Australia, Brazil, Nigeria, India, Switzerland, and the UK.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Trustbuilding Program: Award-winning program helping communities in conflict to reconcile and create lasting peace
• Creators of Peace
• Business & Economy Program
• Farmers' Dialogue
• Foundations for Freedom
• Initiatives for Land, Lives and Peace

Products and services

• Trustbuilding Program Award-winning program that helps communities in conflict to reconcile and create lasting peace through structured dialogue, empathetic listening, and facilitation skills. Independent evaluation has measured outcomes including 80% reduction in inter-communal tensions in Kenya. Active in 14-15 countries through trained facilitators and local partner organisations.
• Creators of Peace Women-led initiative that builds bridges across divides of race, religion, gender, and political persuasion through transformative Peace Circles. Delivered by trained volunteer facilitators in 43 countries, including a UNESCO-contracted Collective Healing Initiative component.
• Business & Economy Program Program focused on ethical leadership and sustainable economic practices within the IofC network, addressing responsible business conduct and economic justice.
• Farmers' Dialogue International dialogue program connecting farmers across cultural and geographic boundaries to share experiences and build mutual understanding.
• Foundations for Freedom Visiting courses aimed at students and young professionals, focused on personal freedom and ethical governance, rooted in IofC's 12-Step Accompaniment Process.
• Initiatives for Land, Lives and Peace Program addressing interconnected issues of land rights, community livelihoods, and peacebuilding.
• Caux Scholars Programme Three-week residential program for young leaders from around the world offering a multi-disciplinary approach to conflict transformation, transitional justice, and principled leadership. Alumni network of 438 graduates from over 100 countries since 1991.
• Caux Forum Annual international conference held at Caux Palace, Switzerland, focusing on Inner Development Goals, democracy dialogue, youth training, and community building for the global IofC community.
• Trustbuilding Awards Annual awards program recognising individuals and organisations making a difference in building trust and promoting reconciliation worldwide. Categories include Trustbuilder of the Year, Young Trustbuilder of the Year, and Lifetime Achiever.
• IofC xChange Online member platform for the IofC global community providing login and registration for members to connect and access resources.
• IC Letters Letters from the International Council providing insights and reflections on relevant topics, plus stories of impact from individuals and initiatives around the world.
• Life Matters Course Personal development course offered by IofC New Zealand focusing on life skills and personal transformation.

Quantifiable outcome

• 80% reduction in tensions between Christian and Muslim communities in Kenya following trustbuilding activities
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, major, supporting and minor.

• Guerrand-Hermes Foundation for PeacecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing strategic partner instrumental in the UNESCO Collective Healing Initiative with Creators of Peace. Works closely on exploring intergenerational impact of slavery legacy through Collective Healing Circles.
• UNESCOcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerContract partnership for Collective Healing Initiative. Creators of Peace Circle trained facilitators run Collective Healing Circles in several countries under this initiative.
• World Peace ForummajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-awarder of Luxembourg Peace Prize. Annual multidisciplinary gathering bringing peacebuilders together to meet, exchange ideas, and strengthen collective impact.
• Schengen Peace FoundationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounded in 2005, approved in 2007 by Grand Duke Henri. Peace Think Tank dedicated to supporting peacebuilding initiatives. Awards Luxembourg Peace Prize annually.
• Building Bridges for PeacesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerEvent partner for 2025 Annual Lecture and Trustbuilding Awards ceremony in South Africa.
• Building Communities Resource Centre (BCRC)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNorthern Ireland partner collaborating on Peace Circle implementation in November 2025.
• Mustard Seed InstitutesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerRwanda partner collaborating on Peace Circle implementation in July 2025.
• University of South AfricasupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost venue for 2025 Annual Lecture and Trustbuilding Awards ceremony in Pretoria.
• The American Civil War MuseumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMuseum partner for Intersecting History Community Conversation as part of International Peace Week celebrations.
• Othering & Belonging Institute (OBI)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for restorative workshop during International Peace Week celebrations, focused on belonging beyond borders.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• International Alert: UK-headquartered NGO working on the root causes of conflict, with explicit focus on trust, dialogue and social cohesion. Closely comparable to IofC's Trustbuilding Program in approach and UK/EU funding ecosystem.
• Religions for Peace: Multi-faith coalition engaging religious leaders in peacebuilding — closely analogous to IofC's interfaith Peace Circles and Trustbuilder programmes that explicitly bridge religious divides such as the Kenya Christian-Muslim reconciliation work.
• Search for Common Ground: Largest dedicated peacebuilding NGO, working across dozens of conflict-affected countries with structured dialogue and reconciliation methodologies closely analogous to IofC's Trustbuilding Program and Peace Circles. Direct overlap in target communities, funder base and methodology-driven delivery.
• Interpeace: International peacebuilding organization with a network of country teams that build local capacity for dialogue and reconciliation — same operating model as IofC's 36 national teams spanning 45 countries, and similar focus on inclusive political processes.
• Peace Direct: INGO focused on locally-led peacebuilding, operating through partner organizations across multiple countries — structurally analogous to IofC's distributed national-team delivery model.
• Conciliation Resources: Specialist peacebuilding NGO using dialogue, mediation and inclusive process work to transform deep-rooted conflicts. Comparable methodology and similar scale and funding profile to IofC.

Broad incumbents

• The Carter Center: Large, established conflict-resolution and democracy NGO working globally with much greater resources. Overlaps with IofC on democratic governance and ethical leadership themes but at significantly greater scale and with a US-centric operating base.
• International Crisis Group: Established think tank and policy advisor on conflict prevention and resolution. Overlaps with IofC's Council of Europe and policy-engagement work but focuses on analytical output rather than grassroots facilitation.
• Mercy Corps: Large humanitarian and development NGO with broader scope than IofC; comparable on the peace/conflict-resolution substream and similar in funding through institutional donors and foundations.

Emerging players

• Karuna Center for Peacebuilding: Smaller US-based organization specializing in interreligious peacebuilding and trauma healing methodologies that strongly overlap with IofC's Peace Circles and Collective Healing Initiative work.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/initiativesofchange
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/initiatives-of-change
• Instagraminstagram.com/iofc_international
• Xx.com/IofCIntl

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Initiatives of Change