Resolution Systems Institute
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.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1995
- HeadquartersChicago, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
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.
Resolution Systems Institute firmographics
Firmographics- 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
Resolution Systems Institute industry classification
Industry- 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
Where Resolution Systems Institute is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chicago
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Resolution Systems Institute business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free Eviction Mediation Program |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Resolution Systems Institute product offering
Product offeringCore 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
Companies that use Resolution Systems Institute
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Resolution Systems Institute technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability3 records
Feature5 records
Resolution Systems Institute partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Kane County Circuit Court (16th Judicial Circuit, Illinois)coreRSI 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 ResolutioncoreCollaborative 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 ConferenceminorRSI 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 ResolutionminorAuthored 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
Resolution Systems Institute competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad 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
Resolution Systems Institute social profiles
Digital presenceResolution Systems Institute financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Resolution Systems Institute leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Resolution Systems Institute funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Resolution Systems Institute M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Resolution Systems Institute
What does Resolution Systems Institute do?
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.
Is Resolution Systems Institute a public or private company?
Resolution Systems Institute is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Resolution Systems Institute founded?
Resolution Systems Institute was founded in 1995. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Resolution Systems Institute based?
Resolution Systems Institute is headquartered in Chicago, United States, in the North America region.
How does Resolution Systems Institute make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Grant Funding is the primary driver. The others are donations and Charitable Contributions and program Administration Services.
Who are Resolution Systems Institute's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are National Center for State Courts, American Arbitration Association (AAA) and JAMS. Emerging players are Mediate.com, ICRE (International Center for Resolution and Engagement) and Institute for the Study of Conflict Resolution. Direct peers are Center for Conflict Resolution, National Association for Community Mediation (NAFCM) and ABA Section of Dispute Resolution. Michigan Supreme Court Office of Dispute Resolution is listed as a regional player.
Does Resolution Systems Institute have an API?
No public API is recorded for Resolution Systems Institute.
What industry is Resolution Systems Institute in?
Resolution Systems Institute's product category is Court Alternative Dispute Resolution Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAIAFAL, Alternative Dispute Resolution & Restorative Justice Programs. Its NAICS code is 922 and its SIC code is 7372.