Institute of Jainology

What Institute of Jainology does

The Institute of Jainology (IoJ) is a UK-registered charitable trust founded informally in 1984 following the International Jain Conference in London and formally incorporated in England and Wales in 1986. Headquartered in London, it is a non-sectarian nonprofit organisation whose mission is to propagate Jainism and its values — centred on ahimsa (non-violence) and compassion — through art, culture, and education. Its primary constituency is the estimated 65,000-strong UK Jain community, which it represents through the OneJAIN umbrella organisation covering 29 affiliated Jain bodies, with secondary engagement with UK schools, interfaith institutions, and parliamentarians.

The IoJ's core deliverables include JAINpedia, a digital platform digitising Jain manuscripts from UK collections (British Library, Wellcome Collection, Bodleian Libraries, V&A) and presenting them through interactive timelines and image galleries; Learn Jainism, an educational website supporting the inclusion of Jainism in the UK Religious Education curriculum since 2009; formal university courses at Birkbeck College (University of London); Single Sessions educational modules; and a portfolio of publications including 'Discover Jainism' and 'Jain Tales'. The organisation operates the annual Ahimsa Day at the House of Commons, serves as secretariat for the Jain All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG), and conducts sustained interfaith engagement with the Vatican's Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue, the Archbishop of Canterbury, the WWF Network on Conservation and Religion, and the Alliance of Religions and Conservation.

The IoJ is funded primarily through patron contributions and charitable donations from named supporters (e.g., Dr Manu and Aruna Chandaria, Shri Nirmal Sethia), with directors receiving no remuneration and no commercial pricing tiers. Ancillary income comes from modest publication sales and heritage grants such as the Heritage Lottery Fund support for JAINpedia. Geographic reach is concentrated in the United Kingdom but extends internationally via academic delivery (Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, Kenya), interfaith delegations (Vatican, Rome, Turin, Japan, Nepal), and diaspora-facing projects in India and the United States.

Name

Institute of Jainology

Legal name

Institute of Jainology

Website

https://jainology.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Institute of Jainology is a UK-registered charity promoting Jain philosophy of non-violence through art, culture, and education. It serves the UK's estimated 65,000 Jains via the OneJAIN umbrella of 29 organisations, JAINpedia digital manuscripts, RE curriculum, and interfaith engagement with Parliament and the Vatican.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cultural and Religious Education Services

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

akta.pro primary industry

Religious Orders & Monastic Communities (Monasteries, Convents) (BPAGAJAC)

Keywords

• Religious education
• Interfaith dialogue
• Cultural preservation
• Manuscript digitization
• Community advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Stanmore

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Patron Contributions: The IoJ is a publicly funded charity registered in England & Wales and India. It operates with contributions from patrons and well-wishers who provide both financial and other resources. Directors receive no remuneration. The organization publishes annual accounts.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Institute of Jainology is a charitable trust that propagates Jainism and its values through art, culture, and education. It operates JAINpedia (a digital Jain manuscript digitization project), Learn Jainism (an educational website), publications, the OneJAIN umbrella community organization, and the annual Ahimsa Day event. The organization also delivers Single Sessions and Formal Courses on Jainism, and represents the UK Jain community in government and interfaith forums.

Product overview

The Institute of Jainology offers a portfolio of educational products and services focused on propagating Jainism through art, culture, and education. The core offerings include JAINpedia (a digital manuscript digitization and accessibility platform), Learn Jainism (educational website with teaching materials), and various publications such as Discover Jainism and Jain Tales for children. Additional services include OneJAIN (umbrella community organization), Ahimsa Day (annual non-violence awareness event), Single Sessions (two-hour educational modules on Jain topics), and Formal Courses (university-level Jainism modules). These products work together to fulfill the organization's mission of promoting Jain philosophy through digitised resources, educational programmes, community events, and academic courses.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• JAINpedia A digital project digitizing Jain manuscripts in UK collections, making historical treasures accessible and meaningful to all audiences through interactive functionality including timelines and image galleries.
• Learn Jainism An educational website containing quizzes, pictures, lesson plans, and teaching materials to support primary education about Jainism.
• Discover Jainism A children's book from a series looking at various aspects of Jain life and beliefs.
• Jain Tales A children's book retelling traditional stories used to pass on Jain teachings for centuries.
• OneJAIN An umbrella organisation representing all Jain Communities in the UK, conducting public agendas, community events, and awards through collaborative activities.
• Ahimsa Day An annual event to underline the universality of Jainism and publicly identify it with the concept of non-violence and compassion to all living beings, including an annual award.
• Single Sessions Educational sessions of about two hours' duration developed by the Jain Education Team covering topics such as Mahamantra, Pratikramana, Jain sutras, Dharma, Samayika, and Jainism and Science, offered to groups and organisations.
• Formal Courses University-level modules on Jainism offered at Diploma and Certificate levels in Religion at Birkbeck College, University of London, with over 1,000 attendees awarded certificates in UK, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia and Nairobi.

Quantifiable outcome

• Jainism was successfully added to the UK Religious Education curriculum for primary schools in England and Wales in 2009, with IOJ providing teaching materials.
• +3 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Wellcome CollectioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Wellcome Collection partnered with the Institute of Jainology and the University of Birmingham in a landmark restitution framework agreement to return 2,000 historic Jain manuscripts to the Jain community. The agreement was formalised through an MOU signed by Mark Henderson (Wellcome Collection), Dr Mehool Sanghrajka (Institute of Jainology), and Marie-Hélène Gorisse (University of Birmingham). Professor Nalini Balbir has been involved in assessing the Wellcome Collection's Jain manuscripts and the future of Jain manuscript heritage.
• University of BirminghamcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe University of Birmingham joined the MOU with the Wellcome Collection and the Institute of Jainology for the restitution and academic study of Jain manuscripts. The partnership aims to transform returned manuscripts into educational resources.
• OneJAIN Umbrella OrganisationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOneJAIN is an umbrella organisation representing all Jain communities in the UK under the leadership of the Institute of Jainology. A unanimous vote between 29 Jain organisations entrusted the IoJ with leading the One JAIN vision in the UK. OneJAIN activities range from public agendas to community events and awards. The OneJAIN Presidents' Conference 2026 brought together leaders from Jain organisations across the UK.
• Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe V&A Museum has partnered with the IOJ on multiple major exhibitions including 'Peaceful Liberators: Jain Art from India' (1995) with joint patronage of HM Queen Elizabeth II and the President of India, and the JAINpedia exhibition launch (2010) attended by HRH Prince Charles. The JAINpedia exhibition at the V&A became semi-permanent from September 2013. The Nehru Gallery of Indian Art hosted Jain objects and manuscripts as part of the JAINpedia project.
• British LibrarycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe British Library partnered with the IOJ on the JAINpedia project, hosting a major exhibition displaying 40 striking objects from its Jain collection as part of the rotating 'Sacred Texts' permanent exhibition in the John Ritblatt Treasures Gallery. The 2006 Catalogue of the Jain manuscripts of the British Library was launched in Delhi by the Prime Minister of India and internationally at Buckingham Palace by HRH Prince Philip.
• Bodleian Libraries, University of OxfordcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Bodleian Libraries hosted the third JAINpedia exhibition with a launch event and dinner in Divinity Hall, followed by family activities at the Ashmolean Museum, Pitt Rivers Museum, and Bodleian Libraries. This was part of the JAINpedia project digitising Jain manuscripts from UK collections.
• Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue (PCID), VaticancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe IOJ maintains a longstanding relationship with the Vatican's Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue. The IOJ has led multiple Jain delegations to the Vatican, including audiences with Pope John Paul II, Pope Francis, and Pope Leo XIV. Discussions have covered themes of peace, compassion, environmental stewardship, and the sanctity of life. The IOJ participated in the inauguration of Pope Francis I and Pope Leo XIV, and was invited to contribute to interfaith conferences including 'Renewing Hope' and 'Youth in Dialogue'.
• Animal Interfaith AllianceminorOthersThe IOJ became a member of the Animal Interfaith Alliance, aligning with its mission of promoting non-violence and compassion towards all living beings.
• Alliance of Religions and Conservation (ARC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe IOJ participates in ARC conferences held in Atami, Japan; Windsor, UK (1995); and Kathmandu, Nepal (2000), with HRH Prince Philip presiding. The IOJ presented at the 'Celebration of Creation' at St James's Palace in 2002. Amicable relations have been maintained with ARC ever since.
• Jain All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerThe IOJ was instrumental in forming the Jain All-Party Parliamentary Group in the British Parliament — a grouping of parliamentarians from both houses and all parties interested in the Jain faith. The IOJ acts as secretariat for the APPG. The APPG secured the first-ever Jain debate in the House of Commons and launched the first Jain election manifesto.
• International Centre for SustainabilityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe International Centre for Sustainability, through researcher Ornicha Daorueng, has partnered with the IOJ to research and present findings on perceptions of anti-Hindu hate in Britain, contributing to community safety discussions at the OneJAIN Conference 2026.
• INSIGHT UKminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerINSIGHT UK, represented by Ashish Channawar, presented case studies on challenges faced by Hindu communities at the OneJAIN Conference 2026, focusing on community safety, places of worship protection, and reporting of hate incidents.
• Oshwal Association of the UKcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Oshwal Association of the UK is a key member of the OneJAIN umbrella organisation. The IOJ collaborates with the Oshwal Association on major events, including hosting the Archbishop of Canterbury's first-ever visit to a Jain place of worship at the Oshwal Centre in Potters Bar.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Woolf Institute: Cambridge-based interfaith research and education institute focused on relations between Jewish, Christian, Muslim and other faith communities. Comparable in its academic, educational and interfaith remit, and operates at similar institutional scale.
• Network of Sikh Organisations UK: UK-wide network representing Sikh bodies to government, media and other faiths. Operates with a similar small-staff UK charity model and pursues analogous policy, educational and interfaith goals to IoJ.
• World Congress of Faiths: UK-based interfaith organisation promoting dialogue between religions. Shares IoJ's interfaith dialogue, education and event-convening remit, with a comparable small-charity operating model.
• Inter Faith Network for the UK: The UK-wide interfaith coordinating body linking national and local interfaith organisations. Highly comparable to IoJ in mission (interfaith dialogue, religious literacy, government representation) though broader across faiths rather than Jain-specific.
• Faiths Forum for London: London-focused interfaith organisation convening faith communities to build understanding and cooperate on social issues. Closely comparable mission and operating geography to IoJ.
• Hindu Forum of Britain: UK umbrella body representing Hindu organisations in dialogue with government and interfaith partners. Highly comparable to IoJ in structure, UK footprint and policy advocacy role, but serving the Hindu community.
• The Buddhist Society: UK charity promoting understanding of Buddhism through education, publications and events. Comparable in operating model (UK charity, small staff, patron-funded, education and publications focus) and mission structure.
• National Council of Hindu Temples (UK): Umbrella body for Hindu temples in the UK. Comparable to IoJ as a UK-anchored religious community coordinating body engaged in government representation and education, but serving the Hindu community.

Others

• British Library: Not a peer but a key institutional partner for JAINpedia, hosting Jain manuscripts and a rotating Sacred Texts exhibition. Included for completeness given its central role in IoJ's manuscript heritage work.

Broad incumbents

• Religions for Peace: The largest global multi-religious coalition with national chapters in many countries including the UK. A broader incumbent operating at a larger scale than IoJ, but with an overlapping interfaith and policy advocacy mandate.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/JainologyOrg
• Facebookfacebook.com/InstituteOfJainology

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Institute of Jainology