Edinburgh Interfaith Association
Edinburgh Interfaith Association (EIFA) is Scotland's oldest interfaith charity, founded in 1989, convening over 30 faith communities through events, school roadshows, care home outreach, podcasts, and exhibitions to promote interfaith dialogue and peace in Edinburgh.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1989
- HeadquartersEdinburgh, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Edinburgh Interfaith Association does
Edinburgh Interfaith Association (EIFA) is a registered Scottish charity and company limited by guarantee (SC 017622 / SC396465), founded in 1989 by Reverend Professor Frank Whaling and headquartered at 18 West Mayfield, Edinburgh. It is the oldest interfaith association in Scotland and operates as a convening body for over 30 faith communities and organisations across Edinburgh, including Bahá'í, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Humanist, Jewish, Muslim, Pagan/Heathen, and Sikh traditions. EIFA delivers a portfolio of community programmes rather than a technology product: signature interfaith events (Annual Peace Walk, AGM & Keynote Lecture, Uniting for Peace & Friendship Service, Interfaith Youth Conference, Pet Blessing Service), educational outreach (Religion and Belief Road Shows in schools), the Fringe Cares Fest programme bringing Edinburgh Festival Fringe performances to care home residents, two podcast series ('Interfaith Insights' and 'Future of Faith'), and the 'Stories of Belief' audio-visual exhibition celebrating 900 years of Edinburgh's faith communities. The organisation runs on a small paid team of approximately 7 staff supplemented by volunteers and a board of trustees drawn from member faith communities.
The underlying technology stack is intentionally minimal and non-proprietary: a Squarespace website, Spotify and SoundCloud for podcast distribution, Google Forms for event registration, and PayPal plus bank transfers for payments. EIFA has no app, no API, no disclosed AI capabilities, and no proprietary software platform. This is consistent with its mission as a community-led, volunteer-supported organisation whose core value lies in trust-based relationships and in-person convening rather than technology differentiation.
The business model is a diversified non-profit revenue mix rather than a commercial sales motion. Income is generated through annual membership subscriptions (Individual £25, Faith Group £100, Organisation £35), PayPal donations, merchandise sales (eco tote bags at £22.50), and project-specific grants from public bodies such as City of Edinburgh Council. Distribution is direct: events are delivered by EIFA's own staff and volunteer network, podcasts are distributed via mainstream streaming platforms, and education programmes are delivered in-person to schools. The go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, with word-of-mouth, events, and owned digital channels (newsletter, podcasts, social media) serving as the primary demand-generation mechanisms.
Edinburgh Interfaith Association firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Edinburgh Interfaith Association
- Legal name
- Edinburgh Interfaith Association
- Website
- https://edinburghinterfaith.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1989
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Edinburgh Interfaith Association (EIFA) is Scotland's oldest interfaith charity, founded in 1989, convening over 30 faith communities through events, school roadshows, care home outreach, podcasts, and exhibitions to promote interfaith dialogue and peace in Edinburgh.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Edinburgh Interfaith Association industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Interfaith Community Services
- NAICS
- Religious Organizations (8131)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Interfaith & Ecumenical Councils and Dialogue Organizations (BPAGAJAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Faith-Based Social Services & Community Outreach (Food Pantries, Shelters, Counseling) (BPAGAJAG)
Keywords
Where Edinburgh Interfaith Association is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Edinburgh
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Edinburgh Interfaith Association business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Membership Fees: EIFA generates revenue through annual membership tiers: Individual (£25), Faith Group (£100), and Organisation (£35). Members receive voting rights at the AGM and support the association's core activities including events, educational programmes, and administrative costs.
- Donations: EIFA accepts donations via PayPal. The organisation states that donations support ongoing projects and events.
- Merchandise Sales: EIFA sells branded merchandise such as eco tote bags at £22.50 through its online shop, with proceeds directed to core funds supporting interfaith programmes.
- Charitable Grants and Funding: EIFA receives funding from public bodies including the City of Edinburgh Council (e.g., for the 900th anniversary Stories of Belief exhibition). As a registered Scottish charity, it submits annual statutory accounts to OSCR and may receive project-specific grant funding.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Individual Membership — £25 per year |
| Subscription | Annual | Faith Group Membership — £100 per year |
| Subscription | Annual | Organisation Membership — £35 per year |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Eco Tote Bag — £22.50 per unit |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
Edinburgh Interfaith Association product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Edinburgh Interfaith Association is a registered Scottish charity that convenes and supports Edinburgh's diverse faith communities through interfaith events, educational programmes, podcasts, exhibitions and advocacy. Its core activities include the annual Peace Walk, Religion and Belief Road Shows for schools, the Fringe Cares Fest care home outreach, the Stories of Belief exhibition, podcasts, and interfaith services such as Uniting for Peace and Pet Blessing. Revenue is generated primarily through annual membership tiers, donations, charitable grants, and merchandise sales.
Product overview
Edinburgh Interfaith Association (EIFA) is a charitable organization offering a portfolio of community-focused programs and services rather than a technology product platform. The organization's offerings include interfaith events (Peace Walks, AGM & Keynote Lectures, Youth Conferences), educational initiatives (Religion and Belief Road Shows for schools), the Fringe Cares Fest program bringing entertainment to care homes, podcasts (Interfaith Insights and Future of Faith), the Stories of Belief exhibition, Uniting for Peace services, Pet Blessing services, membership programs, and merchandise. These programs collectively aim to promote interfaith understanding, peace, and community unity in Edinburgh.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Fringe Cares Fest: A program that brings Edinburgh Festival Fringe performances to local care homes, making the festival experience accessible to elderly residents unable to attend events in person.
- Religion and Belief Road Shows
- Interfaith Insights Podcast
- Future of Faith Podcast
Products and services
- Fringe Cares Fest A care home outreach programme that brings professional live entertainment from the Edinburgh Festival Fringe to elderly residents in care homes across Edinburgh and North Berwick who are unable to attend in person.
- Religion and Belief Road Shows An educational initiative that brings together 6-7 diverse faith representatives to engage Scotland's school students through hands-on experiences, cultural activities, and panel discussions to reduce stereotypes and build interfaith understanding.
- EIFA Podcasts (Interfaith Insights and Future of Faith) Two podcast series featuring dialogues from various faiths ('Interfaith Insights') and explorations of the evolving landscape of faith ('Future of Faith'), available on Spotify and SoundCloud.
- Stories of Belief Exhibition An audio-visual exhibition celebrating 900 years of faith communities in Edinburgh, featuring stories from diverse faith communities displayed at multiple venues across the city.
- Annual Peace Walk Annual interfaith walk uniting people from diverse faiths and communities across Edinburgh, visiting various places of worship to celebrate unity, peace, and interfaith friendship.
- Uniting for Peace and Friendship Service An annual interfaith service bringing together individuals and communities from diverse faiths and backgrounds in solidarity for peace, compassion, and mutual understanding.
- Pet Blessing Service An annual interfaith pet blessing service held in collaboration with Greyfriars Kirk to celebrate the bond between humans and animals, timed with World Animal Day and the Feast of St Francis of Assisi.
- Membership Programme Three-tier annual membership offering Individual (£25), Faith Group (£100) and Organisation (£35) options that provide voting rights at the AGM and support EIFA's events, educational programmes, and core operating costs.
- Interfaith Matters Newsletter Monthly newsletter delivering reviews of previous events, upcoming activities, and staff blog contributions to subscribers across the interfaith community in Edinburgh and beyond.
- EIFA Eco Tote Bag (Merchandise) Online sale of branded merchandise including 100% certified organic cotton eco tote bags featuring EIFA's 'Collaboration for Transformation' motto, with proceeds supporting EIFA's core funds.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 1,500 care home residents experienced Fringe performances through Fringe Cares Fest in August 2025, with the programme targeting nearly 3,000 residents across Edinburgh to North Berwick.
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Edinburgh Interfaith Association
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Edinburgh Interfaith Association technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Edinburgh Interfaith Association partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
38 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Greyfriars KirkcoreEIFA collaborates annually with Greyfriars Kirk to host the Interfaith Pet Blessing Service, timed to coincide with World Animal Day and the Feast of St Francis of Assisi. The service brings together faith and belief communities in a celebration of the human-animal bond, featuring reflections, blessings, and community gathering. This is an annual recurring partnership.
- The Oxford FoundationcoreEIFA partnered with The Oxford Foundation to launch the inaugural 'Uniting for Peace and Friendship' service in 2023, held at St Mary's Episcopal Cathedral. The service brings together faith and civic society members for shared prayers, reflections, and a collective call for peace. The partnership continued in subsequent years.
- St Mary's Episcopal CathedralcoreSt Mary's Episcopal Cathedral serves as a key venue partner for EIFA's annual 'Uniting for Peace and Friendship' service and other interfaith events. The Cathedral's space hosts multi-faith gatherings for peace and solidarity, and its representatives co-sign EIFA's public statements.
- Edinburgh Festival Fringe AssociationcoreEIFA partners with the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Association for the Fringe Cares Fest programme, which brings professional live Fringe performances to care home residents. Fringe performers visit care homes across Edinburgh, offering entertainment including Broadway songs, modern dance, and tributes to musicians. The programme began in 2022 and expanded significantly by 2025.
- Barchester HealthcareminorBarchester Healthcare is a care home operator partner in EIFA's Fringe Cares Fest initiative, hosting Fringe performer visits at their care homes across Edinburgh to North Berwick.
- Scottish CareminorScottish Care is a partner in the Fringe Cares Fest initiative, supporting EIFA's outreach to care homes and elderly residents in the programme.
- STV NewsminorSTV News covered one of the Fringe Cares Fest performances in care homes, providing media coverage for the initiative and amplifying its reach.
- Edinburgh Bahá'í CommunitycoreThe Edinburgh Bahá'í Community is a member community of EIFA and contributes to the 'Stories of Belief' exhibition and other interfaith initiatives. It is also listed on EIFA's community resources page.
- Edinburgh Central MosquecoreEdinburgh Central Mosque is a member community of EIFA, participating in the Peace Walk route, the 'Stories of Belief' exhibition, and interfaith advocacy statements.
- Edinburgh Hindu Mandir and Cultural CentrecoreEdinburgh Hindu Mandir is a member community of EIFA, represented on the board (Shipra Kohli, Hindu board member) and participating in interfaith events including the Peace Walk and education programmes.
- Edinburgh Hebrew CongregationcoreEdinburgh Hebrew Congregation (represented by Rabbi David Rose, Honorary President of EIFA) is a member community participating in interfaith activities, the Peace Walk, and public advocacy statements.
- Guru Nanak Gurdwara EdinburghcoreGuru Nanak Gurdwara Edinburgh is a member community of EIFA, participating in the Peace Walk (as a destination), the 'Stories of Belief' exhibition, and interfaith statements.
- Kagyu Samye Dzong Edinburgh (Tibetan Buddhist)coreKagyu Samye Dzong Edinburgh is a member community of EIFA, represented by Ani Rinchen Khandro on the board and participating in interfaith events and statements.
- Edinburgh Liberal Jewish Community / Sukkat ShalomcoreEdinburgh Liberal Jewish Community (Sukkat Shalom) is a member community of EIFA, represented by Nick Silk on the board and contributing to interfaith initiatives.
- Scottish Ahlul Bayt SocietycoreThe Scottish Ahlul Bayt Society (represented by Ifty Ali, Co-Chair) is a member community and signatory to EIFA's public statements. It co-hosted the International Women's Day 2024 event with EIFA.
- Edinburgh HumanistscoreEdinburgh Humanists are a member community of EIFA, contributing to interfaith events including the 'Uniting for Peace and Friendship' service with a Humanist prayer for peace.
- Sikh SanjogcoreSikh Sanjog (represented by Trishna Singh OBE) is a member community of EIFA and a collaborator on events including International Women's Day.
- St Giles CathedralcoreSt Giles Cathedral partnered with EIFA to host the 2024 'Uniting for Peace and Friendship' service, marking EIFA's 35th anniversary.
- St Mary's Catholic CathedralcoreSt Mary's Catholic Cathedral is a member community of EIFA, participating in the Peace Walk and interfaith events.
- St Mary's Episcopal CathedralcoreSt Mary's Episcopal Cathedral (Rev John Conway, Provost) is a member community of EIFA, a venue partner for interfaith events, and a signatory to EIFA's public statements.
- Pagan Communities (Elder & Gorse Druid Grove)coreElder & Gorse Druid Grove and broader Scottish Pagan Federation are member communities of EIFA, participating in interfaith events including the 'Uniting for Peace and Friendship' service.
- City of Edinburgh CouncilcoreThe City of Edinburgh Council funded EIFA's 'Stories of Belief' exhibition as part of Edinburgh's 900th anniversary celebrations. The Lord Provost of Edinburgh serves as a trustee of EIFA.
- University of Edinburgh (School of Divinity, Chaplaincy)coreNew College, University of Edinburgh (Professor Jeremy Carrette, Head of School of Divinity) and the University Chaplaincy are venue partners for EIFA's 'Stories of Belief' exhibition and the 2025 'Uniting for Peace and Friendship' service. Professor Jeremy Carrette is a board member of EIFA.
- South East Scotland Area Quaker MeetingminorSouth East Scotland Area Quakers are a member community of EIFA, participating in interfaith events and listed on EIFA's community resources page.
- St James Quarter EdinburghminorSt James Quarter Edinburgh provided exhibition space for EIFA's 'Stories of Belief' 900th anniversary exhibition from 16th-23rd July.
- The Scottish Jewish Archives CentreminorThe Scottish Jewish Archives Centre is listed as a contributing community to EIFA's 'Stories of Belief' exhibition.
- Methodist Church in ScotlandcoreThe Methodist Church in Scotland (represented by Rev Gareth Jones, Chair of EIFA) is a member community of EIFA. Rev Jones also serves as Interfaith Officer for the church.
- Colourful HeritageminorColourful Heritage partnered with EIFA and the Sikh community to host the 'Remembering the Forgotten Army of South Asia' event for the 80th anniversary of VJ Day in July 2025.
- Mountain of Fire & Miracles MinistryminorMountain of Fire & Miracles Ministry (represented by Dr Festus Ogunmola, board member) is a member community of EIFA, participating in the 'Uniting for Peace and Friendship' service with a choir performance.
- Dr Roderick Howlett (Story Curator)minorDr Roderick Howlett curated the 'Stories of Belief' exhibition, working with EIFA and over 30 faith communities to produce the audio-visual exhibition celebrating 900 years of faith communities in Edinburgh.
- Ritchie Elder PhotographyminorRitchie Elder photographed all the portraits of storytellers for the 'Stories of Belief' exhibition. Additional photography was also provided.
- Hope Not HateminorMisbah Malik from Hope Not Hate delivered an inspiring keynote at EIFA's Interfaith Youth Conference (April 2025) on how the far right spreads division and how to counter it with hope and conversation.
- MEND (Monitored Engagement Network Database / Muslim Engagement & Development)minorMEND (represented by Daniel Gilius, Scotland Regional Manager) is listed as a signatory to EIFA's public statements and delivered the 'Islamophobia Cures & Causes' interactive session for EIFA's Interfaith Walk of Peace and Friendship event.
- Dublin City Interfaith ForumminorEIFA's Keynote Lecture speaker Adrian Cristea was instrumental in establishing the Dublin City Interfaith Forum and developing the Dublin City Interfaith Charter. He currently serves as Executive Officer of the Forum. EIFA co-founded the Cities Faith & Community Forum, a European Interfaith Network, with Dublin City Interfaith Forum.
- Brahma Kumaris (Inner Space Edinburgh)minorThe Brahma Kumaris (Inner Space Edinburgh, represented by Usha & Parul) are listed as a member community of EIFA. A member gave a blessing during the 2025 'Uniting for Peace and Friendship' service's Peace Candle lighting.
- Springburn AcademyminorEIFA supported an educational visit to Springburn Academy for Holocaust Memorial Day 2026, with EIFA Ambassador Joe Goldblatt delivering a session on Judaism and the importance of Holocaust remembrance.
- St Catharine's ConventminorSt Catharine's Convent (Sister Aelred Timmins) is listed as a contributing community to EIFA's 'Stories of Belief' exhibition.
- St Mark's Unitarian ChurchminorSt Mark's Unitarian Church (Joan Cook et al.) is a contributing community to EIFA's 'Stories of Belief' exhibition.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Edinburgh Interfaith Association competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Interfaith America: A US-based interfaith organisation that runs higher education, leadership, and community programmes across multiple faiths. EIFA is comparable in mission and educational programming but Interfaith America operates at national scale with larger resources.
- Religions for Peace: A global interfaith coalition that convenes religious communities for peacebuilding and conflict resolution. EIFA is comparable in convening multiple faith traditions for peace, but operates locally while Religions for Peace operates internationally.
Direct peers
- Council of Christians and Jews (CCJ): A UK interfaith organisation focused on Christian-Jewish dialogue, education, and advocacy. It overlaps with EIFA in faith dialogue, educational programmes, and Holocaust-related commemoration work.
- Dublin City Interfaith Forum: A Dublin-based interfaith council that EIFA explicitly partnered with to co-found the Cities Faith & Community Forum (European Interfaith Network). It is directly comparable as a city-level interfaith council with similar event formats, faith community engagement, and policy statements.
- Interfaith Network for the UK: The UK's national interfaith umbrella body, linking local interfaith organisations and faith communities. It is directly comparable to EIFA in mission (linking faith communities through dialogue and cooperation) but operates nationally rather than locally.
- Interfaith Scotland: A national interfaith organisation in Scotland operating across faith communities and the public sector. Like EIFA, it runs interfaith dialogue, education, and events across Scotland, making it the closest peer in the same geography.
- Three Faiths Forum (3FF / Faith Matters): A UK-based interfaith organisation that brings Jewish, Christian, Muslim and other communities into dialogue through forums, education, and policy programmes. EIFA is comparable in mission and educational programming, though 3FF operates at multi-city UK scale.
Others
- Hope Not Hate: A UK anti-extremism organisation; EIFA has collaborated with Hope Not Hate directly (e.g., keynote at the Interfaith Youth Conference on far-right threats). It is comparable as an adjacent civil society player addressing religious and ethnic hate rather than as a direct interfaith counterpart.
Regional players
- Faith in Community Scotland: A Scottish interfaith organisation supporting faith-based community development and social action. It overlaps with EIFA in faith-driven community work in Scotland but focuses more on social action delivery than interfaith dialogue.
- Glasgow Multifaith Forum: A Glasgow-based interfaith council running dialogue, education and events similar to EIFA. It is a regional peer in Scotland with broadly equivalent mission and programme types but serving a different city.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Edinburgh Interfaith Association social profiles
Digital presenceEdinburgh Interfaith Association compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Edinburgh Interfaith Association financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Edinburgh Interfaith Association leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles18 records
Edinburgh Interfaith Association funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Edinburgh Interfaith Association 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 Edinburgh Interfaith Association
What does Edinburgh Interfaith Association do?
Edinburgh Interfaith Association is a registered Scottish charity that convenes and supports Edinburgh's diverse faith communities through interfaith events, educational programmes, podcasts, exhibitions and advocacy. Its core activities include the annual Peace Walk, Religion and Belief Road Shows for schools, the Fringe Cares Fest care home outreach, the Stories of Belief exhibition, podcasts, and interfaith services such as Uniting for Peace and Pet Blessing. Revenue is generated primarily through annual membership tiers, donations, charitable grants, and merchandise sales.
Is Edinburgh Interfaith Association a public or private company?
Edinburgh Interfaith Association is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Edinburgh Interfaith Association founded?
Edinburgh Interfaith Association was founded in 1989. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Edinburgh Interfaith Association based?
Edinburgh Interfaith Association is headquartered in Edinburgh, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Edinburgh Interfaith Association make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Membership Fees are the primary driver. The others are donations, merchandise Sales and charitable Grants and Funding.
Who are Edinburgh Interfaith Association's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Interfaith America and Religions for Peace. Direct peers are Council of Christians and Jews (CCJ), Dublin City Interfaith Forum, Interfaith Network for the UK, Interfaith Scotland and Three Faiths Forum (3FF / Faith Matters). Hope Not Hate is listed as an others. Regional players are Faith in Community Scotland and Glasgow Multifaith Forum.
Does Edinburgh Interfaith Association have an API?
No public API is recorded for Edinburgh Interfaith Association.
What industry is Edinburgh Interfaith Association in?
Edinburgh Interfaith Association's product category is Interfaith Community Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAJAJ, Interfaith & Ecumenical Councils and Dialogue Organizations, with a secondary code of BPAGAJAG, Faith-Based Social Services & Community Outreach (Food Pantries, Shelters, Counseling). Its NAICS code is 8131 and its SIC code is 8600.