ICRD

What ICRD does

ICRD (International Center for Religion & Diplomacy) is a 501(C)3 non-profit organization founded in 1998 by Dr. Douglas Johnston and headquartered in Washington, DC. The organization operates across 40+ countries in Asia, the Middle East and North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, Europe, the Americas, and the Balkans, working at the intersection of religion, identity, and diplomacy to prevent and resolve identity-driven conflict. Its core methodology centers on participant-driven peacebuilding training that allows communities to adapt global conflict resolution practices to local cultural and spiritual contexts. Core service offerings include peacebuilding trainings, interfaith dialogue, research and analysis, risk assessment, negotiation and diplomatic support (including back-channel facilitation), program development and implementation, conflict resolution services, and NGO coaching. Distinctive programs include the Women Peacebuilders Program, Resilient Networks initiative, the 1001 Nights civic-values program delivered with Big Bad Boo in Jordan and Lebanon, the Qisasna virtual podcast exchange between Yemeni and American students with AMIDEAST and the Stevens Initiative, documentary films such as Back from the Brink, and the Building Community Series of practitioner guidebooks.

ICRD does not build a software platform; its differentiated 'technology' is a faith-based diplomacy methodology, codified through 90+ programs, original research publications, and curricular content authored or commissioned by the organization. In November 2025, the organization published 'AI & Religion: Shared Insights, Emerging Directions,' a multi-faith forum report examining how AI reshapes moral responsibility and social cohesion—this represents topical engagement with emerging technology rather than an AI product. ICRD holds official consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council and operates core strategic partnerships with the African Union, UN Mediation Support Unit, ASEAN, U.S. State Department, Department of Homeland Security, United States Institute of Peace, and civil society partners such as WILDAF and the Salam Institute for Peace and Justice.

The business model is a non-profit revenue mix consisting of (1) tax-deductible charitable donations from individuals via a Mission Support Fund and Rapid Response Fund (minimum $10 contribution), (2) institutional grants and contracts from government agencies and multilateral organizations to fund specific programs, and (3) limited fee-for-service training, strategic consultations, and NGO coaching offered to governments, civil society groups, and multilateral organizations. Customer segments span women of faith peacebuilders, religious leaders and communities, government and policymakers (U.S. State Department, AU, ASEAN, UN agencies), and civil society organizations. The organization is led by CEO Rodney J. MacAlister and President Martine Miller, with a full-time staff of 11-50 spanning program direction, regional management, financial administration, conflict resolution, and strategic communications.

Name

ICRD

Legal name

International Center for Religion & Diplomacy

Website

https://icrd.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ICRD is a Washington, DC-based 501(C)3 non-profit founded in 1998 that integrates religion and identity considerations into conflict resolution and peacebuilding. It delivers trainings, interfaith dialogue, research, and diplomatic support across 40+ countries to governments, UN agencies, civil society, and religious leaders.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Peacebuilding and Conflict Resolution Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Post-Conflict Recovery, Reconciliation & Social Cohesion Programs (BPADAFAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Interfaith & Ecumenical Councils and Dialogue Organizations (BPAGAJAJ), Faith-Based Social Services & Community Outreach (Food Pantries, Shelters, Counseling) (BPAGAJAG), Peace, Security & Arms Control Organizations (BPADAAAF)

Keywords

• Faith-based peacebuilding
• Conflict resolution services
• Interfaith dialogue programs
• Religious diplomacy consulting
• Preventing violent extremism

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Charitable Donations: ICRD operates as a 501(C)3 non-profit organization receiving tax-deductible charitable donations from individual donors. The organization maintains a Mission Support Fund for general operations and a Rapid Response Fund for emerging peacebuilding opportunities. Minimum donation of $10 required for security reasons.
2. Institutional Grants and Contracts: Funding from government agencies (U.S. State Department, Department of Homeland Security), private philanthropy, and multilateral organizations (UN, African Union, ASEAN) to implement specific peacebuilding programs and initiatives.
3. Program Services: Fee-for-service training programs, strategic consultations, and NGO coaching provided to governments, civil society groups, and multilateral organizations seeking expertise in faith-based peacebuilding approaches.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

ICRD delivers faith-based peacebuilding and conflict resolution services, including peacebuilding trainings, interfaith dialogue facilitation, research and analysis, risk assessment, negotiation and diplomatic support, program development and implementation, and NGO coaching. It also runs specialized programs such as the Women Peacebuilders Program, Resilient Networks initiative, the 1001 Nights civic values program, and the Qisasna virtual podcast exchange. Services are aimed at governments, multilateral organizations, civil society, and religious communities facing identity-driven conflicts.

Product overview

ICRD offers a portfolio of peacebuilding services centered on harnessing faith as a bridge for diplomacy. Core services include peacebuilding trainings, interfaith dialogue facilitation, research and analysis, risk assessment, negotiation support, conflict resolution services, program development, and NGO coaching. Key programs include the Women Peacebuilders Program for empowering women of faith, the Resilient Networks initiative for stakeholder collaboration, the 1001 Nights civic values program with Big Bad Boo, and the Qisasna virtual podcast exchange between Yemeni and American students. ICRD also produces media content including the Back from the Brink documentary and publishes the Building Community Series guidebooks for practitioners.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Peacebuilding Trainings Participant-driven training programs that allow communities to adapt conflict resolution and peacebuilding techniques to their cultural and spiritual contexts, strengthening religious leaders as peacebuilders.
• Interfaith Dialogue Programs Facilitated dialogues bringing together religious leaders from different faith traditions to promote mutual understanding and collaborative peacebuilding efforts.
• Research and Analysis Multi-year studies and capacity-building initiatives examining the role of religious actors in preventing radicalization and informing policymaking.
• Risk Assessment Assessment services evaluating potential risks of violent extremism and conflict in specific regional and community contexts.
• Negotiation and Diplomatic Support Discreet diplomatic engagements and support for negotiations between conflicting parties, including back-channel communications.
• Program Development and Implementation Design and execution of context-specific peacebuilding programs tailored to local community needs and challenges.
• Conflict Resolution Services Services empowering faith actors and civil society organizations to address root causes of conflict and extremist violence.
• Women Peacebuilders Program Tailored programs providing specialized training in conflict transformation, context analysis, and transitional justice to empower women of faith as peacebuilders.
• 1001 Nights Program Cultural and religiously relevant program with Big Bad Boo promoting civic values, life skills, conflict resolution, civic participation, preventing gender-based violence, and rule of law for vulnerable youth in Jordan and Lebanon.
• Qisasna Podcast Program Virtual podcast exchange program between Yemeni and American higher education students to discuss shared values and concerns, implemented with AMIDEAST and the Stevens Initiative.
• NGO Coaching Capacity building support for non-governmental organizations engaged in peacebuilding and extremism prevention.

Quantifiable outcome

• Secured release of 21 Korean missionaries held hostage by Taliban in Afghanistan (2007)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers8 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

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, notable and minor.

• African UnioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to develop and implement mechanisms for religious inclusion in ongoing peace processes across Africa, including work in Sudan, Libya, Ethiopia, and other African nations.
• UN Mediation Support UnitcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on developing mechanisms for religious inclusion in formal peace processes in Syria, Libya, Myanmar, and other conflict zones.
• ASEANcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to develop mechanisms for religious inclusion in ongoing peace processes in Southeast Asia, particularly Myanmar.
• WILDAF (Women in Law and Development in Africa)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartnership to build capacity of Malian women from 15+ regions to lead sustainable prevention of violent extremism initiatives, focusing on psychosocial support, religious literacy, and indigenous peacebuilding methods.
• Big Bad BoonotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to implement the 1001 Nights program in Jordan and Lebanon, promoting civic values, life skills, conflict resolution, civic participation, preventing gender-based violence, and rule of law for vulnerable youth.
• AMIDEASTnotableImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartnership with the Stevens Initiative to facilitate the Qisasna virtual podcast exchange program between Yemeni and American higher education students to discuss shared values and concerns.
• Stevens InitiativenotableGTM or Marketing PartnerFunding and programmatic support for the Qisasna Exchange virtual exchange program connecting Yemeni and American university students.
• Salam Institute for Peace and JusticenotableImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartnership under USAID West Africa-supported program to test impact of civic values, critical thinking, and constructive pedagogy on extremist attitudes among informal educators and students in Lake Chad Region (Cameroon and Chad).
• United States Institute of Peace (USIP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-hosting events such as Bridging Divides: The Power of Religious Engagement in Global Diplomacy. ICRD staff participate in USIP panels and discussions on faith-based peacebuilding approaches.
• U.S. State DepartmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic consultations and programs on violent extremism prevention, including partnerships in Kazakhstan and Yemen for government engagement on P/CVE.
• Fundación Cruz BlancaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMentioned in research on Ceuta border issues,这家非营利组织致力于打击性剥削，支持人口贩运受害者。

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Religions for Peace: Global multi-religious coalition with UN consultative status advancing interfaith cooperation for peace. Directly comparable to ICRD's interfaith dialogue, women-of-faith, and religious-actor-included peace process work, and competes for the same multilateral funding pools.
• Search for Common Ground: Large international conflict transformation NGO operating in 30+ countries with a similarly local-partner-led model, sharing overlapping concerns on interfaith dialogue, preventing violent extremism, and inclusive peace processes. ICRD's faith-specialist positioning differentiates it within a comparable programmatic space.
• Karuna Center for Peacebuilding: U.S.-based peacebuilding organization running interfaith dialogue, religious leader training, and conflict transformation programs in fragile states. Comparable delivery model (faith-led, locally embedded) and competing for similar faith-engagement grant funding.
• Berghof Foundation: Germany-based foundation supporting conflict transformation and peace education, with substantive work on religion in peacebuilding. Highly comparable on European/multilateral axis, on training cohorts of mediators, and on academic-practitioner outputs.
• International Alert: London-headquartered peacebuilding NGO working on security, governance, and inclusive peace processes with strong P/CVE and women-in-peace programming. Most comparable international peer on multi-region program footprint and policy advisory work in conflict-affected states.
• United States Institute of Peace (USIP): U.S.-based federal institution focused on conflict prevention and peacebuilding globally. Co-hosts events with ICRD (e.g., 'Bridging Divides: The Power of Religious Engagement in Global Diplomacy') and overlaps directly on faith-based peacebuilding, P/CVE training, and policy advisory work.
• International Dialogue Centre (KAICIID): Intergovernmental organization promoting interreligious and intercultural dialogue globally with UN-affiliated status. Most direct peer on mission (religion-as-bridge-to-peace) and on access to multilateral forums for religious inclusion.

Emerging players

• Peace Direct: U.K.-based peacebuilding organization funding and partnering with local peacebuilders worldwide. Comparable on locally led peacebuilding ethos and on support to civil-society actors, though less specialized in faith-based diplomacy than ICRD.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/icrd_ngo
• Facebookfacebook.com/ICRD1999
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/international-center-for-religion-and-diplomacy

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about ICRD