Sikh Research Institute

What Sikh Research Institute does

Sikh Research Institute (SikhRI) is a 501c3 charitable nonprofit founded in 2003 with the stated mission of connecting people with the teachings of Sikhi and strengthening bonds of the Sikh community worldwide. The organization operates a multi-format educational content platform consisting of articles and blogs, videos, podcasts (including The Sikh Cast), online courses, workshops, and published books, distributed through sikhri.org and a broad social media footprint (YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, X, and Spotify). Its core program portfolio includes Sidak (an immersive youth leadership program for ages 18-39), Sojhi (a K-12 Sikh education curriculum for children), the State of the Panth Report (research surveys on the global Sikh community), and The Guru Granth Sahib Project (open-source scripture decoding in contemporary language). The organization also produces commemorative conferences tied to Sikh historical milestones.

SikhRI is structured as three separate legal entities to enable tax-deductible donations across geographies: Sikh Research Institute (USA, 501c3 #41-2090424, headquartered in Hackettstown, NJ), Sikh Research Institute Canada (#81902 1692 RR0001, Vancouver), and Sikh Research Institute UK (Charitable Registration No. 1207677, London). It maintains a workforce of 50+ staff and contributors across four countries (USA, Canada, UK, India) and has partnerships with academic institutions including Simon Fraser University and Kwantlen Polytechnic University. The leadership team includes co-founder Harinder Singh (Senior Fellow, Research & Policy), Executive Director Inderjit Singh, Creative Director Inni Kaur, Director of Gurbani Research Dr. Jaswant Singh, and Director of Sikh Musicology Dr. Manjit Singh.

The business model is donations and charitable contributions, with no public pricing for content or programs. Donations are accepted via CanadaHelps, PayPal, Stripe, Shopify, and eCheck. Supplemental revenue derives from merchandise and book sales through a Shopify-powered online store. Customer segments are the global Sikh community at large, with prioritized audiences of young Sikh adults (18-39) and children (K-12). The organization is actively operating with events scheduled through 2026, ongoing job postings, and continuously published content.

Name

Sikh Research Institute

Legal name

Sikh Research Institute

Website

https://sikhri.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Sikh Research Institute is a 501c3 nonprofit founded in 2003 that produces multi-format Sikh educational content including articles, podcasts, videos, courses, and books. It serves the global Sikh community and seekers worldwide, operating from the USA, Canada, and UK through donation-funded programs like Sidak, Sojhi, and The Guru Granth Sahib Project.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Education

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Religious Reference & Study Tools Publishing (Commentaries, Concordances, Lexicons) (MPAJAHAL)

Keywords

• Religious education
• Faith-based learning
• Sikh studies research
• Leadership development programs
• Scripture commentary

Headquarters

HQ city

Hackettstown

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: SikhRI operates as a charitable organization relying on donations from supporters. The organization accepts donations through their website using payment processing partners including CanadaHelps, PayPal, Stripe, Shopify, and eCheck. They hold 501c3 status in the USA (Tax ID: 41-2090424) and charitable registration in Canada (Charity #: 81902 1692 RR0001) and UK (Charitable Registration No.: 1207677).

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Sikh Research Institute (SikhRI) is a charitable educational organization that produces and disseminates Sikh religious and cultural education through a multi-format content ecosystem. Core offerings include the Sojhi K-12 children's curriculum, the Sidak youth leadership program for ages 18-39, the State of the Panth research report series, The Guru Granth Sahib Project for scripture decoding, the Ask SikhRI Q&A series, online courses, live workshops, and published books. All content and programs are delivered digitally via sikhri.org, social media, podcasts, and select in-person events, with operations in the USA, Canada, and UK.

Product overview

Sikh Research Institute (SikhRI) is a charitable educational organization that offers a multi-platform content ecosystem focused on Sikh education. The core offerings include Sojhi (K-12 children's curriculum), Sidak (youth leadership program), State of the Panth Report (research surveys), and The Guru Granth Sahib Project (scripture exploration tool). Content is delivered through Articles & Blogs, Videos, Podcasts (including The Sikh Cast), Courses, Workshops, and Resources. The organization hosts annual conferences such as the Guru Nanak Sahib Revolutionary in Oneness conference and the Guru Teghbahadar Sahib Benevolent Warrior conference. Products include published books and educational merchandise. Ask SikhRI provides a Q&A platform for Sikhs and non-Sikhs. All content is delivered via the sikhri.org website and social media channels, with no technical API product offered.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Sidak: Leadership program for young adults offering connection and transformation through exploration of Sikhi
• Sojhi
• State of the Panth Report
• The Guru Granth Sahib Project

Products and services

• Sojhi

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Simon Fraser University (SFU)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 October 2019SFU served as a key partner for the Guru Nanak Sahib: Revolutionary in Oneness conference celebrating Nanakshahi550. The university hosted the event and provided institutional support for this educational initiative.
• Urban AsianminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 19 October 2019Media partner for the Guru Nanak Sahib conference, covering and promoting SikhRI's educational events to South Asian audiences.
• Times of CanadaminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 19 October 2019Media partner providing coverage of SikhRI's Nanakshahi550 conference and ongoing educational initiatives.
• Drishti MagazineminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 19 October 2019Media partner covering SikhRI events and providing visibility for Sikh education initiatives.
• Surrey Now-LeaderminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 19 October 2019Regional media partner covering SikhRI events in the Surrey, BC area.
• Kwantlen Polytechnic UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 October 2019University venue partner for SikhRI seminars including Akal Takht Sahib: Vision, Model, & Current Challenges event. Provides physical space for educational programming in Surrey, BC.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• National Sikh Campaign: US Sikh awareness nonprofit producing educational content about Sikh identity and history for mainstream audiences. Direct peer in educational media production aimed at diaspora Sikhs.
• Sikh Coalition: US-based Sikh civil rights and educational nonprofit producing policy reports, media resources, and community education. Comparable in donor-driven education and research output around the Sikh community.
• Sikh Dharma International: Nonprofit Sikh educational and humanitarian organization running youth programs, teacher training, and global Khalsa education networks. Highly comparable in mission, donor-funded model, and youth leadership focus.
• Sikh Foundation: US-based nonprofit promoting Sikh heritage, education, and arts globally. Operates similar programming around scholarship and cultural preservation, serving diaspora Sikh audiences in the US and internationally.

Broad incumbents

• Religions for Peace: Global interfaith coalition with research, convening, and educational programming across multiple faiths. Comparable as a global, religiously-focused research and education institution with multinational footprint.
• Hindu American Foundation: Major Hindu education, advocacy, and research organization in the US with multi-format content, annual reports, and youth programs. Comparable as a diaspora faith-based educational nonprofit with policy-facing research.
• Islamic Society of North America: Large US-based Islamic educational nonprofit running K-12 curricula, youth conventions, and scholarly publications. Closely comparable operating model for a faith-based educational organization serving diaspora communities.

Regional players

• Punjabi University Patiala (Department of Sikh Studies): Academic department producing scholarly research and reference works on Sikh theology, history, and the Guru Granth Sahib. Comparable as an authoritative Sikh scholarly research body, primarily serving an Indian rather than diaspora audience.

Emerging players

• Sadh Sangat Education Trust (Khalsa Council): Smaller Sikh educational nonprofit producing theological and historical content for Sikh learners. Partial overlap with SikhRI's scholarly publishing and youth programming orientation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/sikhri
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@sikhri
• Facebookfacebook.com/sikhresearchinstitute
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sikhri
• Instagraminstagram.com/sikh.research.institute
• TikToktiktok.com/@sikhresearchinstitute

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sikh Research Institute