What Play For Peace does

Play for Peace is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, founded in 1996 by Craig Dobkin and Michael Terrien. It operates a global peacebuilding methodology built on cooperative play and experiential social-emotional learning, delivered through "Practice Peace" sessions in schools, community centers, and refugee camps across 22 countries. The organization has reached 1.5 million+ children and youth since founding, with a certified trainer network and formalized partnerships with local organizations including YRDP (Kakuma, Kenya), Ark Eden (Hong Kong), and Interfaith Forum Manipur (India).

The underlying methodology is structured around a proprietary "Three Inner Moves" framework: regulation (calming the body through cooperative games), discernment (developing clarity to see others without fear), and connection (making aligned choices that honor self and community). Core programs include Practice Peace sessions, the Certified Trainer Program, specialized school and organizational workshops, corporate wellness offerings, and a planned-giving Legacy Circle. In October 2025, the organization launched the Play for Peace Portal, its first digital platform, to connect members globally. The PLAY for PEACE® trademark is registered.

The organization is funded entirely through donations and grants, with three revenue streams: individual donations (one-time and recurring), planned giving and legacy gifts (estate plans, trusts, retirement accounts), and corporate and foundation grants. No fees are charged for services. Go-to-market is community-led and partnership-driven: certified trainers are trained and then deploy through local partner organizations that serve as entry points into new communities. Sarah Gough serves as Executive Director following co-founder Craig Dobkin's passing in 2025.

Name

Play For Peace

Legal name

Play for Peace

Website

https://playforpeace.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Play for Peace is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating in 22 countries that delivers cooperative play-based peacebuilding programs to children and youth in conflict-affected areas through a certified trainer network and local partner organizations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Peacebuilding and Conflict Resolution Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (624110), Educational Support Services (611710), Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Arts, Sports & Recreation-Based Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Child Protection & Child Rights (BPAGABAG), Peer Mediation, Conflict Resolution & Prosocial Playground Programs (Early Years) (EDACAOAJ)

Keywords

• Peacebuilding programs
• Cooperative play methodology
• Experiential social-emotional learning
• Conflict resolution training
• Youth peace education

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

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, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Play for Peace generates revenue through individual donations from supporters worldwide, with various giving options including one-time gifts and recurring donations.
2. Planned Giving / Legacy Gifts: The organization accepts planned gifts through wills, trusts, retirement accounts, life insurance, and other assets. Donors who include Play for Peace in estate plans become members of the Legacy Circle.
3. Corporate and Foundation Grants: The organization receives grant funding from foundations and corporate partners to support global programming and expansion into new regions.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Play for Peace is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers cooperative play-based peacebuilding programs for children and youth in conflict-affected areas. Through a global network of certified trainers, the organization runs structured 'Practice Peace' play sessions in schools, community centers, and refugee camps across 22 countries. It also provides facilitator certification, school and organizational workshops, and corporate wellness experiences built around experiential learning and conflict transformation.

Product overview

Play for Peace is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that operates as a single, unified mission-driven program rather than a multi-module platform. The core offering centers on cooperative play-based peacebuilding, delivered through Practice Peace sessions, a Certified Trainer Program with a global network of facilitators, and specialized workshops for schools, organizations, and corporations. In October 2025, the organization launched the Play for Peace Portal as its first digital platform to connect members globally. Additional offerings include the Legacy Circle planned giving program and access to experiential activities and training tools for community peacebuilding.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Practice Peace Sessions

Quantifiable outcome

• 1.5 million+ children and youth reached since founding in 1996
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 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

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting and emerging.

• Youth Relief and Development Program (YRDP)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026YRDP is a community organization in Kakuma Refugee Camp, Kenya (200,000+ residents), founded by Yusuf Mulamba. Play for Peace certified trainers Swati and Agyat traveled to Kakuma to train 16 facilitators who subsequently reached 100+ children. YRDP became official Partner for Peace in May 2026, led by Yusuf Mulamba and Marketing Liaison Charles Imani Asukulu.
• Interfaith Forum Manipur (IFM)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 February 2026Coalition of diverse religious organizations in Manipur, India committed to peace and reconciliation, led by Deben Bachaspatimayum. Played key role in organizing the Youth Peacebuilding Fellowship program. Play for Peace conducted a 3-day workshop for 30 fellows in collaboration with DM College of Teacher Education.
• DM College of Teacher Education (DMCTE)supportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 February 2026Educational institution at DM University campus in Imphal, Manipur, India. Hosted the 3-day Play for Peace workshop titled 'Life Skills and Value Education for Peace in Formal and Non-Formal Settings' for 30 participants including M.Ed. students and youth peacebuilding fellows.
• Ark EdencoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 July 2025Hong Kong-based organization focused on sustainability and experiential learning. Partnered with Play for Peace to host a two-day immersive workshop led by certified trainer Nikhil, reaching 25-30 educators and facilitators. Ark Eden officially became a Play for Peace partner in Hong Kong.
• KikorisupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerWomen-owned social impact company that makes experiential Social-Emotional Learning activities accessible to educators worldwide. Led by Kendra Bostick, Kikori CEO and certified Play for Peace trainer, operating in 94 countries. Mentioned as valued partner in anniversary celebration.
• Hip Hop WorksemergingStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal nonprofit using music, dance, and art to connect young people across divides. Play for Peace certified trainer Chaun PridGeon presented cooperative play at the 1st Hip Hop Works International Meeting in Barcelona, bringing together educators from Europe, Chicago, and Dominican Republic.
• Association Citoyen des RuessupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSenegal-based organization led by El-Hadj Beye that runs weekly 'Saturdays are for Children' gatherings in partnership with Maman Helen Sayers of Living Values Education, promoting peace values through play.
• Mediators Beyond Borders International (MBBI)supportingGTM or Marketing PartnerHosted the 11th Global Peace Summit in Lima, Peru. Play for Peace Executive Director Sarah Gough attended and participated in discussions on bridging growth and governance.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Search for Common Ground: Search for Common Ground is a large international conflict transformation NGO that works at the community level on peacebuilding. It overlaps with Play for Peace's mission of conflict resolution and emphasis on local actors and experiential methods.
• War Child: War Child works with children affected by war, including through play-based psychosocial support and education programs. The organization shares Play for Peace's targeting of children in conflict zones and use of play as a healing mechanism.
• Living Values Education: Living Values Education runs values-based peace and character education programs for children globally and is referenced as a partner in Play for Peace's Senegal program. Both organizations use experiential methods to teach peace values to children and youth.
• Peace Direct: Peace Direct funds and supports local peacebuilders in conflict-affected regions. Like Play for Peace, it emphasizes local empowerment and grassroots peacebuilding, mirroring Play for Peace's strategy of training local leaders and facilitators.
• Right To Play: Right To Play uses sport and play to protect and educate children in conflict and refugee contexts globally. It is the closest direct competitor in using play-based, experiential methodology for child well-being and social-emotional outcomes in fragile settings.
• Kikori: Kikori is a social impact company that delivers experiential SEL activities to educators and is named as a Play for Peace partner with its CEO as a certified trainer. It is a direct comparable in the play-based SEL methodology space.

Broad incumbents

• Compassion International: Compassion International is a large child development nonprofit that pairs donor funding with local partner organizations to support children in poverty and crisis regions. Its child sponsorship and partner-based model resembles Play for Peace's train-the-trainer and partner-led approach.
• Sesame Workshop: Sesame Workshop operates large-scale educational programs for children including in conflict-affected and refugee contexts. While broader in scope, it shares Play for Peace's targeting of children's emotional well-being and learning in fragile settings.
• Kids in Need of Defense (KIND): KIND focuses on the rights and protection of refugee and migrant children, including legal and social services. It overlaps with Play for Peace's child-focused, child-rights positioning in conflict and displacement contexts.
• International Rescue Committee: IRC is a major humanitarian organization serving refugees and populations in crisis, including children, with operations in many of the same conflict-affected countries where Play for Peace operates. It is a broader incumbent that touches child protection and psychosocial support.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/PlayforPeaceOrg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/play-for-peace
• Instagraminstagram.com/playforpeaceorg
• Xx.com/playforpeaceorg

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Play For Peace