Pacifica Institute

What Pacifica Institute does

Pacifica Institute is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 2003 in San Fernando Valley, California, by a group of dedicated volunteers. The organization operates as an interfaith and intercultural dialogue platform, delivering programs that convene Muslim, Christian, Jewish, and other faith communities alongside civic, academic, and government leaders across California and the broader Western United States. Its core programs include the Annual Dialogue and Friendship Dinners (now in 16+ cities including Orange County, Los Angeles, Silicon Valley, San Diego, Oakland, San Francisco, Sacramento, Las Vegas, Salt Lake City, Honolulu, Seattle, and Portland), the Anatolian Cultures and Food Festival, the International Children's Festival, Pacifica Talks, Around the Fountain (magazine-based discussion series), Conferences & Panels, Pacifica Connects intercultural trips, Study Abroad Trips for university faculty and PhD students, and the Online Certificate Program on 'Faith in Conversation.' The organization also operates sub-brands including ATOMA (youth branch) and The Blue Chair (expert interview series), and it is the U.S. affiliate inspired by the global Hizmet movement.

The organization is headquartered in Lake Forest, California, with branch offices in Santa Clara (Silicon Valley) and Mission Hills (San Fernando Valley), plus active programming in Bay Area, San Diego, Sacramento, Inland Empire, and Honolulu. It generates no product or service revenue; instead, Pacifica is funded entirely by tax-deductible donations from business people and professionals (Tax ID 42-1607581) and is operated primarily through committed volunteers, which it cites as enabling a high level of programmatic output relative to its 11-50 paid staff. There is no proprietary technology platform; programs are delivered through in-person community events, academic conferences, study abroad trips, and digital content (website, YouTube, email newsletter, social media).

Pacifica's strategic positioning is as a bridge-builder between diverse faith traditions, with stated differentiators including its 20+ year track record, alignment with the Hizmet movement's principles of service, education, and dialogue, and its convening power across an ecosystem of 200+ community partners. Its value proposition centers on creating social capital through positive connections between disparate networks, removing barriers to confidence-building and trust, and generating shared insights that promote mutual respect across faith and cultural lines. Recognition includes the 2016 FBI Director's Community Leadership Award, California State Senate and Assembly recognitions, and local city government honors across multiple California municipalities.

Name

Pacifica Institute

Legal name

Pacifica Institute

Website

https://pacificainstitute.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Pacifica Institute is a 501(c)(3) non-profit founded in 2003 that delivers interfaith dialogue, intercultural understanding, and civic engagement programs across California and the Western US, serving Muslim, Christian, Jewish, and other faith communities through community events, dinners, festivals, conferences, and educational programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Irvine

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Pacifica Institute operates as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that relies on voluntary action for the common good. The organization receives donations and is supported by business people and professionals, and efficiently achieves a high level of output due to the support of committed volunteers. Donations are tax-deductible (Tax ID# 42-1607581).

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Pacifica Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that delivers interfaith dialogue, intercultural understanding, civic engagement, and community service programs. Its offerings include dialogue dinners, festivals, academic conferences, talk series, study abroad trips, online certificate programs, and youth-oriented activities, delivered through regional branches across California and partner faith communities.

Product overview

Pacifica Institute operates as a non-profit organization offering a diverse portfolio of interfaith dialogue and intercultural understanding programs. The core offerings include Pacifica Talks (talk series with civic leaders), Around the Fountain (magazine-based discussions), Conferences & Panels (academic conferences), The Blue Chair (expert interviews), and Annual Dialogue and Friendship Dinners. The institute also runs experiential programs including Pacifica Connects (intercultural trips), Study Abroad Trips (for academics), and festivals such as the Anatolian Cultures and Food Festival and International Children's Festival. OC Around the Table (OCAT) serves as the annual interfaith initiative, while ATOMA engages youth participants. An Online Certificate Program on Faith in Conversation provides structured learning. These programs collectively serve communities across California, the Bay Area, and beyond.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ATOMA: ATOMA is a youth oriented branch of Pacifica Institute.
• The Blue Chair
• Pacifica Talks
• Conferences & Panels

Products and services

• Pacifica Talks A talk series venue to cultivate friendship and strengthen civic dialogue among civil communities, featuring speakers from government, elected officials, corporate leaders, religious leaders, academics, and diplomats.
• Around the Fountain

Named customers11 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

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

• Journalists and Writers Foundation (JWF)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 July 2026Pacifica Institute partners with JWF for the 11th Annual SDGs Conference 2026, held in the margins of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The conference brings together civil society leaders, diplomats, scholars, journalists, human rights advocates, youth leaders, and community partners to discuss advancing the Sustainable Development Goals.
• Newport Mesa Irvine Interfaith Council (NMIIC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 May 2026Pacifica Institute partnered in the 2026 Interfaith Prayer Breakfast organized by NMIIC in cooperation with Greater Huntington Beach Interfaith Council (GHBIC), held at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Newport Beach with theme 'Rooted in Faith, United in Purpose'.
• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Danville)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 March 2026First interfaith iftar gathering organized among these communities, hosted at the church and co-organized with Pacifica Institute and BAYCC.
• Congregation Beth ShalomcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 March 2026Abrahamic Iftar collaboration honoring women's leadership, hosted at Enver Community Center, bringing together Muslim, Jewish, Christian, and interfaith community members.
• Saint Mark's United Methodist ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 March 2026Co-organizer of Abrahamic Iftar honoring women's leadership alongside Pacifica Institute and Congregation Beth Shalom.
• Sa-Rang Korean Community ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 February 2026Co-hosted 'Friendship Beyond Borders' Iftar evening with Pacifica Institute, including weekly scripture study groups where participants explore holy texts together—not for conversion, but for connection.
• Tri-City Interfaith CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 February 2026Co-organizer of 3rd Interfaith Iftar at St. Paul United Methodist Church, Fremont, focusing on 'Healing the World' theme.
• Tri-City MuslimscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 February 2026Co-organizer of 3rd Interfaith Iftar at St. Paul United Methodist Church, Fremont.
• California State SenateflagshipOthers · 1 February 2026California State Iftar Dinner held annually in Sacramento with participation of State Senators, Assembly members, law enforcement officials, and academics. Now in its 4th year, highlighting Pacifica Institute's role in bringing together civic and faith leaders.
• Bay Area Cultural Connections (BAYCC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBAYCC collaborates with Pacifica Institute on Northern California events including interfaith iftar dinners, community service projects, and the Fremont 3rd Interfaith Iftar centered on 'Healing the World'. BAYCC volunteers work alongside Pacifica on homeless shelter meal services and community outreach.
• Congregation Netivot ShalomcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual Ramadan Interfaith Iftar Dinner collaboration at Congregation Netivot Shalom in Berkeley, now in its 17th year, themed 'Women Shaping Faith: Stories from Our Traditions' in observance of International Women's Day.
• Los Altos United Methodist ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner12-year Community Iftar partnership with Pacifica Institute, including Compassion Week service projects and Conversation Partnership Project matching families for cross-faith relationships.
• Orange County Human Relations CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on hate crime presentations and human relations programming for Orange County communities.
• OC Around the Table (OCAT)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual interfaith and intercultural initiative bringing diverse communities together through shared meals and conversation across Orange County. OCAT 2026 expects participation from 10 cities with the goal of breaking a world record.
• WeHOPEminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Ramadan meal service at Berryessa RV Safe Parking site, serving dinner to homeless community members during Ramadan.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Religions for Peace: Religions for Peace is a global interfaith coalition with 90+ national chapters. Comparable to Pacifica Institute as a larger incumbent in the interfaith dialogue space, with broader international reach but less concentrated regional programming.
• The Woolf Institute: The Woolf Institute is an academic center at Cambridge focused on interfaith relations. Comparable to Pacifica Institute as an interfaith dialogue organization, though more academically anchored and internationally focused rather than community-event driven.

Direct peers

• NewGround: A Muslim-Jewish Partnership: NewGround is a non-profit fostering Muslim-Jewish dialogue and collaboration in Los Angeles. Comparable to Pacifica Institute as a regional interfaith dialogue organization focused on Abrahamic faith community bridge-building.
• Interfaith America: Interfaith America (formerly IFYC) is a national non-profit focused on building interfaith cooperation on college campuses and beyond. Directly comparable to Pacifica Institute as a peer interfaith dialogue organization serving diverse faith communities across the US.
• Islamic Networks Group (ING): ING is a US non-profit combating religious prejudice through education and interfaith dialogue. Directly comparable to Pacifica Institute as a peer running interfaith community programs, cultural events, and civic engagement across multiple US regions.
• Tanenbaum Center for Interreligious Understanding: Tanenbaum is a secular non-profit combating religious prejudice through interfaith education and dialogue. Comparable to Pacifica Institute as a peer organization running interfaith programs, training, and convenings across faith communities.

Emerging players

• Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom: Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom is a US-based non-profit building Muslim-Jewish women's relationships. Comparable to Pacifica Institute as an emerging interfaith organization focused on cross-faith community building, though narrower in demographic scope.
• Jewish Council on Urban Affairs: JCUA is a Chicago-based non-profit organizing across faith lines for social justice. Comparable to Pacifica Institute as a faith-rooted non-profit running civic engagement and interfaith coalition work, though focused on policy advocacy rather than dialogue events.

Regional players

• Council of Religious Leaders of Metropolitan Chicago: The Council of Religious Leaders is an interfaith clergy organization serving the Chicago metropolitan area. Comparable to Pacifica Institute as a regional interfaith convener, though operating in a different geography with a more clergy-focused model.
• Orange County Human Relations Commission: The OC Human Relations Commission is a county agency addressing discrimination and hate crimes in Orange County. Pacifica Institute is an actual partner with this organization, making it a closely aligned regional civic actor focused on intergroup relations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/Pacificainstituteorg
• Facebookfacebook.com/pacificainstitute
• Instagraminstagram.com/pacifica_ins
• Xx.com/pacifica_ins

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Pacifica Institute