Universal Human Rights Initiative

What Universal Human Rights Initiative does

Universal Human Rights Initiative (UHRI) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 2016 and headquartered in Santa Monica, California. Its mission is to make human rights and social justice information universally accessible through dialogue, research, and education. The organization serves educators, community organizations, businesses, parents/caregivers, higher education institutions, and NGOs globally, offering professional training, facilitation, and curated educational content. UHRI was co-founded by Dr. Noah Bardach (CTO) and Hope Farley, and is led by Executive Director Rebecca Cannara; the organization is governed by a seven-member Board of Directors and supported by roughly 11-50 staff and facilitators.

UHRI operates three core product lines. The UDHR Audio/Video Project is a multilingual audio and video library of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) — built in partnership with the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights — featuring recordings in 500+ translations across 140+ languages, distributed via a mobile/web app (udhr.audio) and a YouTube channel and viewed in 175+ countries. The Human Rights Education (HRE) Portal is a database-driven web portal containing thousands of human rights and social justice curriculum resources, lesson plans, and professional development materials. Facilitated Intergroup Dialogue Programs deliver research-based dialogue services built on the University of Michigan's 30-year, 4-stage intergroup dialogue model, including multi-session Critical Reflection series, Facilitator Training, Parent and Caregiver Dialogues, Democracy Dialogues, and topic-specific dialogue series on houselessness, disability awareness, and AAPI issues. Underlying technology is a Squarespace-hosted web presence with separate web properties for the UDHR App and HRE Portal; the data infrastructure is content library–oriented rather than AI-enabled.

UHRI's business model is donation-anchored and non-commercial. Revenue streams include fully tax-deductible donations (via Venmo, PayPal, and check), suggested-donation program fees (e.g., $40/month for Parent and Caregiver Dialogues; $100–$400 for Advanced Facilitator Training), one-off event tickets such as $65 per person for the Paint and Sip Fundraiser, and paid professional services for human rights education training and evaluation. A "nobody is turned away for inability to pay" policy effectively caps per-participant monetization. Distribution is direct-consultation-led for B2B services and self-serve for digital content, with reach extended through partnerships with National ACE, California State University, the Nobel Peace Center, the Academy of Professional Dialogue, Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce, and the Brookline Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce.

Name

Universal Human Rights Initiative

Legal name

Universal Human Rights Initiative (UHRI)

Website

https://uhri.ngo

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Universal Human Rights Initiative is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that delivers human rights education, intergroup dialogue facilitation, and multilingual UDHR audio/video resources to educators, community organizations, businesses, and NGOs globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Santa Monica

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Contributions: UHRI is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. All donations are fully tax deductible. Donations are accepted via Venmo, PayPal, and check.
2. Professional Services: Professional services including training and evaluation for human rights education, delivered both in-person and remotely.
3. Suggested Donations for Programs: Programs such as Parent and Caregiver Dialogues ($40/month suggested donation) and Advanced Facilitator Training ($100-$400 suggested donation). Nobody is turned away for inability to pay.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

UHRI facilitates intergroup dialogue and delivers human rights education services through trained facilitators and multilingual digital resources. Core offerings include the UDHR Audio/Video Project (recordings in 500+ translations across 140+ languages), the Human Rights Education Portal (database of thousands of curriculum resources), and facilitated intergroup dialogue programs based on the University of Michigan 4-stage model for businesses, educational institutions, and community organizations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• UDHR Audio/Video Project A multilingual audio and video library of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) with recordings in 500+ translations, including a Plain Language version for accessibility. The recordings are integrated into a mobile app and YouTube channel, reaching speakers of 140+ languages in 175+ countries. The project makes the UDHR accessible to illiterate and visually impaired populations.
• Human Rights Education (HRE) Portal A database-driven web portal (hreportal.com) containing the largest online collection of human rights educational curriculum, professional development materials, and service learning opportunities. Free to anyone with a login, with thousands of resources including curriculum, lesson plans, and videos on human rights and social justice.
• Facilitated Intergroup Dialogue Programs Research-based dialogue facilitation services based on the University of Michigan 4-stage intergroup dialogue model, designed to transform differences into stronger relationships, promote social justice, and drive meaningful action. Programs include Critical Reflection (9-session series), Facilitator Training (10-session training), and Special Topics (90-minute sessions). Delivered in-person and remotely.
• Intergroup Dialogue in Higher Education Higher-education-specific intergroup dialogue programs for students, faculty, and staff designed to address social justice issues and facilitate dialogues in local campus communities. Partnered with California State University's CREATE Award program.
• Parent and Caregiver Dialogues Intergroup dialogues for parents and guardians to support them in discussing race, gender, sexuality, and identity with their children and finding inclusive community. Offered as 2 sessions per month, 90 minutes each, with a suggested donation of $40.
• Democracy Dialogues Monthly facilitated dialogues on democracy led by UHRI Facilitators, offered as a 6-session series running from October through March.
• Advanced Facilitator Training A 4-session intergroup dialogue program with facilitator training component, designed to train participants in UHRI's dialogue methodology. Suggested donation of $100-$400. First session January 27th, remaining sessions scheduled with attendees.

Quantifiable outcome

• UDHR App viewed in over 175 countries
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

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

• United Nations Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights (UNOHCHR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorking in partnership with the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights, UHRI records native speakers reading the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in all available translations for the UDHR App and YouTube distribution.
• University of MichigancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUHRI's intergroup dialogue methodology is based on the University of Michigan's 4-stage model of intergroup dialogue, developed over 30 years ago. UHRI facilitators are trained in this model.
• California State UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with California State University to train students, faculty, and staff to address social justice issues and facilitate dialogues in their local communities. Worked with CSU's CREATE Award program.
• National ACE (AAPISTRONG Programming)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerIn partnership with National ACE's AAPISTRONG programming, UHRI has delivered multiple dialogue series addressing AAPI community issues, workplace cultural sensitivity, and mental health for AAPI small business owners.
• Nobel Peace CentermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInstitutional partnership to work on dialogue facilitation and social justice education initiatives.
• Academy of Professional DialoguemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMonthly collaboration on International Dialogues on Homelessness series. Joint webinars and interview events featuring UHRI facilitators.
• Civic Well Being PartnersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsored Dialogues on Houselessness series alongside UHRI and Santa Monica Human Relations Council.
• Santa Monica Human Relations CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsored Dialogues on Houselessness series alongside UHRI and Civic Well Being Partners.
• Santa Monica Chamber of CommerceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-hosted AAPI/APIDA/AANHPI dialogue series with National ACE and Brookline Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce.
• Brookline Taiwanese Chamber of CommerceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-hosted AAPI/APIDA/AANHPI dialogue series with National ACE and Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• PFLAG: Non-profit providing family dialogue and support programs, particularly for parents and caregivers of LGBTQ+ youth. Comparable to UHRI's Parent and Caregiver Dialogues in combining family engagement with structured dialogue methodology.
• Living Literature / Colors United: Arts-based human rights education organization where a UHRI facilitator holds a board role. Comparable as a niche dialogue and human rights education provider with overlapping facilitator networks.
• Humanity in Action: International non-profit producing human rights education programs and fellowships with academic and international partners. Comparable in scope (curriculum, partnerships, dialogue-style programming) but with a stronger fellowship focus.
• Global Dialogue Collective: International network of dialogue practitioners and organizations. UHRI's Executive Director sits on its board, making it a tight methodological and ecosystem peer for intergroup dialogue work.

Direct peers

• Search for Common Ground: International non-profit using dialogue and mediation to transform conflict across divided communities. Highly comparable in combining dialogue facilitation methodology with global human rights content distribution.
• Anti-Defamation League (ADL): Long-standing non-profit delivering anti-bias education, Holocaust and human rights programming, and facilitator training in schools and workplaces. Closely comparable to UHRI's intergroup dialogue and educator-focused services, with a much larger national footprint.
• Facing History & Ourselves: Non-profit providing educator curriculum and professional development on identity, history, and human rights. Directly comparable to UHRI in combining human rights content libraries with facilitator training and school/district delivery.
• National Coalition Building Institute (NCBI): Non-profit specializing in intergroup dialogue, prejudice reduction, and diversity training led by trained local facilitators. Direct methodological peer to UHRI's University of Michigan 4-stage dialogue model.

Broad incumbents

• Human Rights Watch: Large international human rights organization with education and outreach arms. Adjacent to UHRI's human rights content work but focused more on research and advocacy than dialogue facilitation.
• Amnesty International: Global human rights organization with extensive human rights education and outreach programs across 140+ countries. Overlaps with UHRI on UDHR content distribution and human rights education at a much larger institutional scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/universalhumanrightsinitiative

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Universal Human Rights Initiative