Resolution Systems Institute

What Resolution Systems Institute does

Resolution Systems Institute (RSI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1995 and headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, that designs, administers, and evaluates court alternative dispute resolution (ADR) systems. RSI operates three core service lines: program administration (running eviction mediation in three Illinois counties, child protection mediation in Kane County, and foreclosure mediation), program design (helping courts establish new ADR processes and rules), and research and evaluation (conducting in-depth assessments of court ADR programs). The organization also publishes a substantial resource library, including the Guide to Program Success, Model Mediation Surveys co-developed with the American Bar Association, the OPEN Project for ODR party engagement, and the Mediation Power Imbalance Toolkit. RSI uses text-based Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) platforms and video mediation (via Zoom) to deliver services, with some AI-assisted guidance tools referenced within its ODR stack.

RSI's revenue is generated primarily through grants from foundations such as the American Arbitration Association-International Centre for Dispute Resolution Foundation and the Illinois Equal Justice Foundation, supplemented by charitable donations and fee-for-service program administration. Services to disputing parties (tenants, landlords, families) are free of charge because programs are grant-funded. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors, employs between 1 and 10 staff, and is not backed by venture capital or private equity. Marketing and thought leadership are delivered through the Just Court ADR blog (97+ research posts), a monthly Court ADR Connection newsletter, and active social media presence on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

The organization serves courts and court administrators as its primary B2B segment and disputing parties (particularly self-represented tenants in eviction matters) as its primary end-user constituency. RSI maintains strategic partnerships with the ABA Section of Dispute Resolution, the Illinois Judicial Conference, the Michigan Supreme Court Office of Dispute Resolution, and multiple Illinois county courts. Leadership transitioned in June 2024 when Heather Fogg became CEO, succeeding founding Executive Director Susan M. Yates who served for 27 years. RSI celebrated its 30-year anniversary in 2025.

Name

Resolution Systems Institute

Legal name

Resolution Systems Institute

Website

https://aboutrsi.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Resolution Systems Institute is a Chicago-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that designs, administers, and evaluates court alternative dispute resolution programs for Illinois courts, with a focus on eviction, foreclosure, and child protection mediation, supported by grants and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Court Alternative Dispute Resolution Services

NAICS

Justice, Public Order, and Safety Activities (922)

SIC

Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)

akta.pro primary industry

Alternative Dispute Resolution & Restorative Justice Programs (BPAIAFAL)

Keywords

• Court alternative dispute resolution
• Court mediation services
• Online dispute resolution
• Eviction mediation programs
• ADR program evaluation

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Grant Funding: RSI operates as a non-profit organization funded primarily through grants from foundations and organizations. The organization has received funding from the American Arbitration Association – International Centre for Dispute Resolution Foundation and the Illinois Equal Justice Foundation.
2. Donations and Charitable Contributions: RSI accepts tax-deductible donations as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Donations support the organization's ability to conduct innovative research, provide high-quality mediation services, and offer practical tools for courts.
3. Program Administration Services: RSI administers court ADR programs including eviction mediation programs in multiple Illinois counties, charging no fees to participants as grant-funded services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Resolution Systems Institute is a non-profit organization that designs, administers, and evaluates court Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) programs. It administers mediation programs (eviction, foreclosure, child protection) for courts, designs new ADR systems, and produces research, guides, and toolkits to improve access to justice through court-based conflict resolution.

Product overview

Resolution Systems Institute (RSI) is a non-profit organization that provides court Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) services and resources rather than a unified software product. Its offerings consist of direct mediation services (program administration for eviction mediation and child protection mediation programs), professional services (program design and research/evaluation for courts), and published resources (the Guide to Program Success, Model Mediation Surveys, Mediation Power Imbalance Toolkit, and Court ADR Special Topics). The ODR Party Engagement (OPEN) Project provides tools for courts implementing online dispute resolution. RSI also publishes the Just Court ADR blog and various reports including articles, books, research papers, and annual reports.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Program Administration Services RSI administers court ADR programs for courts, including eviction mediation programs in multiple Illinois counties, child protection mediation in Kane County, and foreclosure mediation in three Illinois counties. Services include direct mediation delivery, mediator coordination, and program operations for court-referred parties.
• Program Design Services RSI designs dispute resolution systems for courts, helping establish new ADR programs with guidance on process selection, program mechanics, court rules, and program launch. Intended for court administrators and judicial circuits implementing new ADR initiatives.
• Research and Evaluation Services

Quantifiable outcome

• 70% of cases referred to mediation were resolved with a settlement agreement in Kane County Eviction Mediation Program
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 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

AI capability3 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Kane County Circuit Court (16th Judicial Circuit, Illinois)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRSI and Illinois' 16th Judicial Circuit co-developed the Kane County Eviction Mediation Program in 2021. RSI administers the program while the court provides judicial support and referrals.
• American Bar Association Section of Dispute ResolutioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partnership to develop the Model Mediation Surveys, enabling courts to obtain high-quality data for evaluating their programs. Surveys were created by a committee of expert mediation researchers and program administrators.
• Illinois Judicial ConferenceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRSI participated in an ADR Task Force created by the Illinois Judicial Conference as part of its 2025 Strategic Agenda Operational Plan, contributing to state-level ADR initiatives.
• Michigan Supreme Court Office of Dispute ResolutionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAuthored the 'Considerations in Implementing Court ODR Systems' guide, providing guidance based on Michigan's experience implementing ODR programs.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• National Center for State Courts: The primary national organization supporting state court operations, policy, and technology. Highly comparable to RSI as both serve courts with research, program design, and ADR-adjacent services, though NCSC's scope is much broader than RSI's ADR specialization.
• American Arbitration Association (AAA): Largest U.S. ADR provider offering arbitration, mediation, and ODR services. AAA is both a substantive peer (mediation program services) and a funder of RSI through its ICDR Foundation, making it a direct comparable in dispute resolution services.
• JAMS: Major private ADR provider with a roster of retired judges and neutrals handling complex civil and commercial ADR. Comparable to RSI on dispute resolution services, though JAMS operates at the high-end commercial end while RSI focuses on court-based access-to-justice mediation.

Emerging players

• Mediate.com: Online mediation information and resource portal serving mediators and the public. Comparable to RSI's content/library mission and ODR-adjacent positioning, with a leaner private-sector delivery model.
• ICRE (International Center for Resolution and Engagement): Consulting organization working on court ADR, restorative justice, and conflict resolution systems design. Comparable to RSI on the program design and evaluation side of court ADR services.
• Institute for the Study of Conflict Resolution: Provides mediation training, certification, and ADR professional development. Comparable to RSI's training and resource development offerings for mediators and court ADR professionals.

Direct peers

• Center for Conflict Resolution: Chicago-based community mediation nonprofit from which RSI originally spun off. Direct peer operating mediation services, training, and court ADR support in the same geography and access-to-justice mission.
• National Association for Community Mediation (NAFCM): Membership organization supporting community mediation centers nationwide. Comparable to RSI in promoting ADR access through courts and community organizations, with overlapping training and resource development missions.
• ABA Section of Dispute Resolution: American Bar Association's professional section for ADR lawyers and neutrals. Collaborates with RSI on Model Mediation Surveys and sets standards for mediation practice — a peer in court ADR policy and resource development.

Regional players

• Michigan Supreme Court Office of Dispute Resolution: State-court ADR office that authored a guide with RSI on implementing court ODR. Comparable as a peer court ADR administrator providing program design, training, and resources within a single state system.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xinstagram.com/rsi_court_adr
• Facebookfacebook.com/aboutrsi
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/resolution-systems-institute

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Resolution Systems Institute