Josephson Institute of Ethics

What Josephson Institute of Ethics does

Josephson Institute of Ethics is a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan, nonsectarian nonprofit organization founded in 1987 by Michael Josephson, a former lawyer, law professor, and entrepreneur. The institute is headquartered in Los Angeles (Playa Del Rey), California, and operates with a headcount of 11-50 employees. Its mission is to increase ethical commitment, competence, and practice across all segments of society through education, consulting, and thought leadership. The organization is funded by a four-stream revenue model: individual donations, foundation and corporate grants, fees for professional services (consulting, training, and keynote speaking), and sales of educational resources through the CHARACTER COUNTS! online store.

The institute's core intellectual property is the Six Pillars of Character framework (Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring, Citizenship), developed in 1992 by a nonpartisan panel of youth development experts, and operationalized through the TAME implementation method (Teach, Advocate, Model, Enforce) and the Seven-Step Path to Better Decisions. These frameworks underpin a portfolio of branded, trademarked programs including CHARACTER COUNTS! (K-12 youth development, deployed across all 50 U.S. states and 70+ countries), Pursuing Victory With Honor (sports ethics), Exemplary Peace Officer (law enforcement ethics, hosted with Drake University's Ray Center), and Tus Valores Cuentan (Spanish-language adaptation for Puerto Rico). The institute also produces biennial Ethics of American Youth Report Card surveys tracking high school student honesty and integrity since the early 1990s, and maintains one of the longest-running editorial features in radio history through Michael Josephson's CHARACTER COUNTS! commentaries on KNX-1070 and American Forces Network since 1996.

The institute's go-to-market combines direct enterprise sales (keynote speaking, consulting, and training engagements with corporations, government agencies, sports organizations, and law enforcement), a coalition membership model for schools and communities implementing CHARACTER COUNTS!, and grant-funded public-sector rollouts exemplified by the 2009-2011 Tus Valores Cuentan program in Puerto Rico, which trained 200,000+ executive branch employees, nearly 20,000 police officers, and over 1,000 educators across approximately 200 schools with more than $4 million in donated advertising support. Customer segments span five horizontal verticals (Youth/Education, Sports, Business, Public Service, Law Enforcement) plus a secondary Parents/Families persona, served through dedicated Ethics Centers for each vertical. No revenue figures, software products, APIs, or AI capabilities are disclosed.

Name

Josephson Institute of Ethics

Legal name

Josephson Institute of Ethics

Website

https://josephsoninstitute.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Josephson Institute of Ethics is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1987 by Michael Josephson that delivers character education, ethics consulting, keynote speaking, and training to schools, corporations, government agencies, sports organizations, and law enforcement using its Six Pillars of Character framework and branded programs including CHARACTER COUNTS!.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Ethics Education and Training Services

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Code of Conduct & Business Ethics (EDABADAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Leadership, Character Education & Values Development (EDAMAIAG), Ethics, Integrity & Whistleblowing Program Advisory (BPAHAFAI)

Keywords

• Character education programs
• Ethics consulting services
• Ethics training seminars
• Youth development programs
• Corporate ethics training

Headquarters

HQ city

Playa Del Rey

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: The institute accepts individual donations as a primary funding source for its nonprofit mission.
2. Foundation and Corporate Grants: The institute receives grant funding from foundations and corporate sponsors supporting character education initiatives.
3. Fees for Services: Revenue generated from consulting engagements, training programs, keynote speeches, and seminar delivery to corporations, government agencies, and organizations.
4. Educational Resource Sales: Sales of educational materials, curriculum resources, books, guides, DVDs, and branded merchandise through the CHARACTER COUNTS! store.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Josephson Institute of Ethics delivers ethics education, consulting, training, and keynote speaking built around the Six Pillars of Character framework and the CHARACTER COUNTS! program. Its offerings span youth character development curricula for schools, corporate ethics training and risk management consulting, sports ethics programs, law enforcement ethics training, and public service ethics seminars, with the Spanish-language Tus Valores Cuentan adaptation serving Puerto Rico. The institute sells supporting curriculum materials, books, and branded merchandise through the CHARACTER COUNTS! online store and accepts donations and grants to fund its 501(c)(3) nonprofit mission.

Product overview

Josephson Institute of Ethics is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of ethics education products and services built around its core CHARACTER COUNTS! framework. The primary offerings include The Six Pillars of Character (Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring, and Citizenship) and the Seven-Step Path to Better Decisions methodology. The institute delivers its programs through multiple channels: business ethics consulting and training, keynote speaking by Michael Josephson, and licensed curriculum materials. Specialized programs target specific sectors including Pursuing Victory With Honor for sports, Exemplary Peace Officer for law enforcement, and public service ethics seminars. Tus Valores Cuentan is the Spanish-language adaptation serving Puerto Rico. All offerings are educational and consultancy-based rather than technology products, with no software, API, or AI capabilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CHARACTER COUNTS!: The largest and most comprehensive student development program in the nation, working with existing curriculum and easily braided within existing programs including PBIS and Common Core.
• Pursuing Victory With Honor
• Tus Valores Cuentan
• The Six Pillars of Character

Products and services

• CHARACTER COUNTS! CHARACTER COUNTS! is the institute's flagship youth development and character education program, positioned as the largest and most comprehensive student development program in the United States. It works with existing curriculum and is designed to braid easily within PBIS and Common Core programs in schools, reaching more than 7 million children and families across all 50 U.S. states and more than 70 countries.
• The Six Pillars of Character The Six Pillars of Character is the institute's foundational ethical values framework identifying Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring, and Citizenship as universal ethical values. It serves as the core intellectual property underlying all of the institute's programs and is offered as a registered trademark framework adopted by organizations across all 50 U.S. states and more than 70 countries.
• Seven-Step Path to Better Decisions The Seven-Step Path to Better Decisions is a structured ethical decision-making methodology teaching a systematic process: Stop and Think, Clarify Goals, Determine Facts, Develop Options, Consider Consequences, Choose, and Monitor and Modify. It is taught to individuals and organizations as a standalone framework for ethical decision-making.
• Business Ethics Training and Consulting Business Ethics Training and Consulting is a service offering through which the institute delivers consulting, training, and keynote speeches to help corporations build ethical, effective, and sustainable cultures that safeguard reputation and overall brand. The offering includes risk management consulting, ethics seminars, and culture-building engagements sold directly to corporate buyers.
• Pursuing Victory With Honor Pursuing Victory With Honor is the institute's sports ethics program providing coaches and parents with tools to build athletes' character and create true champions, with a focus on sportsmanship and ethical conduct in athletics. It is offered as a registered trademark program targeting athletic programs, coaches, athletes, and parents.
• Exemplary Peace Officer Exemplary Peace Officer is the institute's premier ethics training program for police officers and administrators, designed to help manage risk and build and sustain public trust. It is delivered in partnership with the Ray Center at Drake University and has been used to train nearly 20,000 officers in the Puerto Rico Police Department across all 13 regions.
• Public Service Ethics Seminars and Consulting Public Service Ethics is a service offering of seminars and consulting that help public sector leaders manage risk and ensure integrity and sustainability of an ethical culture. It has been delivered to government agencies including the Puerto Rico cabinet and agency heads and is positioned as required ethics training for executive branch employees.
• Tus Valores Cuentan Tus Valores Cuentan is the Spanish-language adaptation of CHARACTER COUNTS! developed for Puerto Rico. It covers education, public service, and sports sectors, serving hundreds of schools and government agencies, and is supported by advertising and media partnerships whose donated coverage exceeded $4 million in value by October 2010.
• Michael Josephson Keynote Speaking Keynote Speaking by institute founder Michael Josephson is delivered to corporate, government, education, sports, law enforcement, and nonprofit audiences to inspire ethical cultures and elevate leadership. Josephson has presented to more than 100,000 leaders from nearly every segment of society and is recognized as one of the country's most renowned ethicists.
• CHARACTER COUNTS! Educational Resource Store The CHARACTER COUNTS! online store at store.charactercounts.org sells books, curriculum guides, DVDs, activity kits, and branded merchandise to schools, families, and individuals. It serves as a direct e-commerce channel for the institute's educational resources and contributes revenue alongside donations and grants.

Quantifiable outcome

• National Report Card biennial surveys document high levels of self-reported cheating (74% in 2002, ~60% in 2010) and lying/theft among high school students, providing benchmark data for ethics intervention
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

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

• International Olympic Committee (IOC)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021The IOC's 2021 Framework on Fairness, Inclusion and Non-Discrimination on the Basis of Gender Identity and Sex Variations is referenced as a model framework for sport-specific and evidence-based eligibility criteria. IOC has funded research on transgender athlete performance (2024 BJSM study).
• Puerto Rico Department of EducationflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2010Implementation of Tus Valores Cuentan character education program in approximately 200 schools across Puerto Rico starting August 2010. The department identified schools for participation and coordinates ongoing implementation with over 1,000 educators trained.
• Puerto Rico Police DepartmentflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2010The Puerto Rico Police Department with nearly 20,000 officers made Tus Valores Cuentan a centerpiece of its community-outreach activities. Training sessions were conducted for officers and senior managers from all 13 regions in March 2011, with ongoing integration of values into citizen meetings and patrol operations.
• Puerto Rico Advertising and Media PartnerscoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2010Advertising agencies, media outlets, and private companies donated media time and advertising space to promote Tus Valores Cuentan. By October 2010, donated advertising coverage exceeded $4 million in value, including newspaper, magazine, TV, radio, mall kiosks, billboards, and banners.
• Puerto Rico Government (Office of the Governor)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2009In July 2009, Governor Fortuño appointed a Tus Valores Cuentan Steering Committee including the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, Director of the Office of Government Ethics, and senior advisors. Josephson Institute conducted workshops for the full cabinet and agency heads, and continues training public agencies.
• CHARACTER COUNTS! Coalition MemberscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSchools, communities, and organizations join the coalition to implement CHARACTER COUNTS! programs. Coalition membership provides logo usage rights, training support, and access to program materials and resources.
• Office of Government Ethics (Puerto Rico)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe nonpartisan Office of Government Ethics, independent of both executive and legislature, adopted and promotes Tus Valores Cuentan for ethics instruction required for over 200,000 executive branch employees (10 hours every two years).

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• LRN: Provider of ethics and compliance training, education, and advisory services to corporations and organizations. Direct comparable to Josephson Institute's business ethics consulting and training practice, though operating at significantly greater enterprise scale.
• Junior Achievement: Nonprofit delivering youth education programs on work readiness, financial literacy, and ethics/character in schools. Comparable K-12 character and ethics education footprint, donor model, and coalition-style program distribution.
• Character.org: National nonprofit that promotes character education in schools and communities, including the legacy 'Character Counts' coalition networks. Direct comparable to Josephson Institute's youth character education mission and coalition model.
• Ethics & Compliance Initiative (ECI): Nonprofit membership organization advancing ethics and compliance practices through research, benchmarking, and member programs. Comparable mission around organizational ethics culture, professional development, and thought leadership.

Broad incumbents

• Aspen Institute: Large nonprofit forum and educational organization operating leadership programs and ethics-focused initiatives. Comparable in nonprofit character/leadership education and convening role, but at much broader scope.
• NAVEX Global: Large incumbent in ethics and compliance software and training, including whistleblower hotlines, policy management, and e-learning. Comparable customer base (corporations and government) with broader technology-enabled delivery than Josephson Institute.
• Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics (SCCE): Professional membership association for compliance and ethics practitioners, offering training, certification, and conferences. Comparable audience of corporate ethics professionals and analogous training and certification offerings.

Emerging players

• Markkula Center for Applied Ethics: University-affiliated ethics center producing ethics curricula, training, and thought leadership for technology, business, and bioethics. Comparable mission in applied ethics training, though academically focused rather than nonprofit-services.

Others

• International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP): Professional association for police leadership providing ethics training, policy resources, and member services. Comparable to Josephson Institute's Exemplary Peace Officer program in serving the law enforcement ethics training market.
• OCEG (Open Compliance & Ethics Group): Global nonprofit community advancing governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) standards and certifications. Comparable in providing ethics and compliance thought leadership, certifications, and member resources.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/EthicsInstitut
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/josephsoninstitute
• Facebookfacebook.com/JIBusinessEthics
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/1914529?trk=tyah&trkInfo=clickedVertical%3Acompany%2CclickedEntityId%3A1914529%2Cidx%3A2-1-9%2CtarId%3A1441155248086%2Ctas%3Ajosephson

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries5 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 Josephson Institute of Ethics