IRF Secretariat

What IRF Secretariat does

IRF Secretariat is a Washington, D.C.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2010 that operates as the convening secretariat for the International Religious Freedom (IRF) Roundtable, a multi-faith platform bringing together faith communities, civil society organizations, parliamentarians, and government officials to advance religious freedom worldwide. The organization's core product is the Roundtable model itself — facilitated convenings that have produced 450+ multi-faith actions across 40+ Roundtables in 20+ countries, reaching 1,200+ faith communities and civil society groups. Its intellectual property is built around four interlocking frameworks: the Cooperative Engagement methodology, the Builders Approach (local-leader-led bottom-up change), Cross-Cultural Religious Literacy (CCRL), and Covenantal Pluralism.

The product surface has expanded materially since 2024 to include The Roundtable Community (tiered membership at $99 individual / $997 organization), The Founders Circle ($5,000/year major-donor program), the inaugural IRF Builders Forum (May 2025) with the Roger Williams IRF Awards, the NXT Gen Summer Fellowship Program for students (July 2025), and the 117th Congress IRF Congressional Scorecard advocacy tool. The organization runs five in-person Capitol Hill gatherings per year, an annual Fly-In, plus special regional editions (e.g., Prague 2025) and operates through five Regional Secretariats spanning West Africa, Central Europe, Central Africa, Eurasia, and Latin America.

The revenue model blends a dominant philanthropic anchor — Templeton Religion Trust's largest Covenantal Pluralism Initiative grant to date, under a 12-year funding relationship — with tiered individual donations ($50–$1,500), Founders Circle memberships, individual and organizational Roundtable Community subscriptions, event sponsorships for specific initiatives (including Capitol Hill Roundtables), and partnerships with co-conveners such as Love Your Neighbor Community, the Religious Freedom & Business Foundation, the Sanneh Institute, the Global Peace Foundation, the Church of Scientology for Public Affairs & Human Rights, the Georgian State Agency on Religious Issues, and the Global Academic Council. Free, open participation in Roundtables remains the foundation of the community-led go-to-market motion, with revenue growth coming from converting engaged participants into dues-paying members and major donors.

Name

IRF Secretariat

Legal name

IRF Secretariat

Website

https://irfsecretariat.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

IRF Secretariat is a Washington, D.C.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2010 that convenes the International Religious Freedom Roundtable, applying its Cooperative Engagement and Cross-Cultural Religious Literacy frameworks to advance religious freedom across 20+ countries for faith communities, civil society, and government partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Freedom Advocacy and Convening

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), International Affairs (9721)

akta.pro primary industry

Interfaith & Ecumenical Councils and Dialogue Organizations (BPAGAJAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus & Resilience Programming (BPADAEAK)

Keywords

• Religious freedom advocacy
• Multi-faith dialogue
• Interfaith coalition building
• Civil society convening
• Religious literacy education

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel

Revenue model

1. Major Grants and Philanthropic Support: Primary revenue stream from Templeton Religion Trust, which is the recipient of the largest Covenantal Pluralism Initiative grant to date. Additional support from foundations and individual donors.
2. Donations: Direct donations from individuals supporting the movement, with various giving levels ($50, $250, $500, $1,500, and custom amounts). Donors can give one-time, weekly, monthly, quarterly, or annually.
3. Membership Fees: Individual memberships at $99/year, organizational memberships at $997/year, and sponsorship opportunities for specific opt-in initiatives or events.
4. Founders Circle: Annual $5,000 membership for individuals and couples supporting Roundtable deliveries and strategic initiatives including Regional Secretariats, Multi-Faith Roundtables, and cross-sector engagement.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

IRF Secretariat convenes the International Religious Freedom (IRF) Roundtable, a multi-faith platform established in 2010 that brings together people of all faiths and beliefs, civil society organizations, and government officials to coordinate actions protecting religious freedom worldwide. The organization runs the Roundtable Community membership program, the annual IRF Builders Forum, the NXT Gen Fellowship, and educational frameworks such as Cross-Cultural Religious Literacy (CCRL) and Covenantal Pluralism, supported by a global network of Regional Secretariats in more than 20 countries.

Product overview

IRF Secretariat operates a unified advocacy platform centered on the IRF Roundtable—a collaborative multi-faith convening model that brings together NGOs, faith communities, civil society, and government agencies. The platform is complemented by The Roundtable Community membership program, the annual IRF Builders Forum event with Roger Williams IRF Awards, the NXT Gen Fellowship youth development program, and educational frameworks including Cross-Cultural Religious Literacy (CCRL) and Covenantal Pluralism. These offerings work together to advance cooperative engagement and religious freedom advocacy globally through convening, education, membership benefits, and youth empowerment.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Roundtable Community: A tiered membership program that invites individuals and organizations to formally join the Roundtable movement and help build peace and prosperity from the ground up in communities around the globe.
• NXT Gen Fellowship
• The Founders Circle
• IRF Builders Forum
• Roger Williams IRF Award
• Cross-Cultural Religious Literacy (CCRL)

Products and services

• IRF Roundtable A collaborative, multi-faith platform dedicated to promoting and protecting religious freedom worldwide, established in 2010. It brings together individuals from NGOs, religious communities, civil society, and government agencies for open dialogue and coordinated multi-faith advocacy.
• The Roundtable Community A tiered membership program inviting individuals and organizations to formally join the Roundtable movement. Offers membership credentials, access to virtual roundtables, newsletters, policy briefings, global events, and the ability to start Roundtables in local communities.
• NXT Gen Fellowship Program A 10-week cohort-based summer fellowship in Washington, D.C. for undergraduate and graduate students, providing hands-on experience in advocacy, policy, and coalition-building while contributing to multi-faith initiatives and the Intern Insights Blog.
• IRF Builders Forum An annual centerpiece event in Washington, D.C. that spotlights groundbreaking initiatives, fosters dynamic collaboration across sectors, and celebrates efforts of those building religious freedom from the ground up.
• Cross-Cultural Religious Literacy (CCRL) Educational Framework An engagement framework bringing equal citizens together to build religious freedom and religious responsibility. Focuses on understanding one's own beliefs and how they shape engagement, understanding others as they understand themselves, and taking responsibility to work together for the common good.
• IRF Congressional Scorecard A tool tracking legislative action supporting religious freedom, evaluating how Members of Congress supported legislation related to freedom of religion or belief through sponsoring, cosponsoring, or voting on relevant bills.

Quantifiable outcome

• 450+ multi-faith actions facilitated globally since 2010
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Love Your Neighbor Community (LYNC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-convening partner for IRF Builders Forum, Berlin civil society program, and various regional initiatives. LYNC supports roundtable model expansion and cross-faith engagement. Wade Kusack represents LYNC in leadership activities.
• The Sanneh InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to launch West Africa Regional Secretariat in Accra, Ghana. Conducted Religious Freedom & Business Roundtable and equipped local builders to establish their own roundtables. MOU signed for Dare to Overcome curriculum adaptation for teenagers in Ghana.
• Religious Freedom & Business FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-convening partner for IRF Builders Forum and Dare to Overcome conference alignment. MOU signed for curriculum collaboration with Sanneh Institute. Brian Grim serves as President. Partnership bridges corporate world with global IRF advocacy network.
• Global Peace FoundationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsor of IRF Builders Forum and participant in multi-faith planning sessions. Paul Murray chairs the board. Involved in regional initiatives and builder approach implementation.
• Religious Freedom InstitutemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsor of IRF Builders Forum 2025. Academic partner engaged in policy discussions and strategic planning sessions.
• Church of Scientology for Public Affairs & Human RightsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsor of IRF Builders Forum and Berlin civil society program. European Office also supports regional programming. Contributes to multi-faith coalition efforts.
• Mercury OneminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupporting partner for Berlin civil society program on freedom of religion or belief.
• Bellwether InternationalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupporting partner for Berlin civil society program on freedom of religion or belief.
• Global Christian ReliefminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupporting partner for Berlin civil society program on freedom of religion or belief.
• Global Academic CouncilmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-chaired by Prof. Jocelyne Cesari and Dr. Rev. Mae Cannon. Inaugural meeting held in Berlin October 2024. Identified key research priorities including AI and surveillance technologies, cultural heritage preservation, and inclusive security. Partnership with The Review of Faith & International Affairs for special issue publication.
• Article 18 AlliancemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGreg Mitchell serves as member of Article 18 Alliance Council of Experts. Partnership strengthens advocacy and protection mechanisms for religious freedom.
• Georgian State Agency on Religious IssuesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMOU signed to establish Georgia-based Religious Freedom Secretariat and Roundtable, and develop Cross-Cultural Religious Literacy Educational Module in South Caucasus Region.
• The Review of Faith & International AffairsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic journal partnership with Global Academic Council to produce special 'state of the field' issue on religious freedom studies. Edited by Dennis R. Hoover.
• The Roundtable CommunitycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNew program launched to protect and defend people of all faiths and beliefs globally. Tiered membership (individual $99/year, organization $997/year) provides digital and physical credentials, exclusive virtual roundtables, newsletters, policy briefings, global events access, and support for starting local roundtables.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Human Rights First: A broad-based human rights advocacy organization that includes religious freedom within a wider portfolio of issues; comparable in advocacy posture and DC-based operations but not narrowly focused on FoRB.
• Hudson Institute – Center for Religious Freedom: A Washington-based think tank with a dedicated religious freedom program producing research and policy recommendations; overlaps with IRF Secretariat's policy engagement but as part of a broader think-tank portfolio.
• U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF): An independent US federal government commission that advises on international religious freedom and overlaps significantly with IRF Secretariat's policy-influence work, but operates as a governmental body rather than a civil society convener.

Direct peers

• Article 18 Alliance: A coalition of organizations advancing freedom of religion or belief globally, with overlapping advocacy strategy, parliamentary engagement, and protection mechanisms for persecuted communities.
• Religious Freedom Institute: A direct peer that works on international religious freedom scholarship, advocacy, and policy engagement; co-sponsors the IRF Builders Forum and operates in adjacent academic and policy circles.
• Open Doors: An international NGO focused on persecuted Christians and broader religious freedom advocacy; comparable in mission scope, global footprint, and faith-community mobilization model.
• International Panel of Parliamentarians for Freedom of Religion or Belief (IPPFoRB): A direct peer coalition of legislators working on FoRB issues globally. Fernanda San Martin Carrasco serves as Director and has been honored by IRF Secretariat, evidencing the close alignment of mission and methods.
• Becket Fund: A religious freedom legal advocacy organization operating in the US and internationally; comparable in mission scope but distinguished by a litigation-led approach versus IRF Secretariat's convening-led model.

Emerging players

• Global Peace Foundation: A peace-building organization with a multi-faith orientation and overlapping builder-approach methodology; co-sponsors IRF Builders Forum and shares relational rather than litigation-based tactics.
• Religious Freedom & Business Foundation: A niche organization focused on religious freedom in the corporate sector; co-convenes the IRF Builders Forum and bridges business and faith communities in a complementary subset of IRF Secretariat's broader mandate.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/IrfSecretariat
• Facebookfacebook.com/IRFSecretariat
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/irf-secretariat

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about IRF Secretariat