Sharing Sacred Spaces, Inc.

What Sharing Sacred Spaces, Inc. does

Sharing Sacred Spaces, Inc. is a Connecticut-incorporated nonprofit organization (EIN 83-4350100) founded in 2011 and headquartered at 1044 North Street, Greenwich, CT. It operates the Interreligious Communities Project (ICP), a 9-10 month sustained cohort program in which 7-9 congregations from diverse faith traditions visit one another's sacred spaces, participate in monthly online leadership training on interreligious literacy and depolarization skills, and complete community demonstration projects culminating in a Solidarity Pledge celebration. The ICP model, co-developed with the Council for a Parliament of the World's Religions for the 2011 Chicago inaugural cohort, has been replicated across more than 15 North American cities including New Haven, Stamford, Toronto, Dallas, Phoenix, Northern VA, Newburyport, Birmingham, Sacramento, and Austin, with over 100 participating congregations and a reported 100% participant willingness-to-return rate.

The organization's product surface extends beyond ICP cohorts to a set of supporting educational and cultural assets: fine art prints from the NEA-funded 'Who Are Our Neighbors?' exhibit sold at $150 each, self-guided city guides for eight U.S. cities, a curated database of 3D virtual sacred space tours covering 20 global sites, the Morgan Model Collection of architectural models currently displayed at Chicago Theological Seminary, a Sacred Space Database of site visits, summit recordings (2022 Building Bridges, 2023 Belonging by Design), and Educational Products in development for graduate theological institutions. There is no proprietary technology platform, API, or app; delivery is human-facilitated through local volunteer coordinators and partner organizations.

Revenue is generated through donations and donor-advised funds, government and foundation grants (notably a $50,000 NEA Our Town grant awarded May 15, 2024 for the Dallas 'Who Are Our Neighbors?' initiative), art print sales, and tiered event tickets ($15 student / $45 general admission). The organization holds a Candid Platinum Transparency Seal and a Charity Navigator 4-star rating, is led by Executive Director Dr. Vanessa Avery and Artistic Director/Curator Almas Muscatwalla, and operates a 2025-2027 Strategic Plan that signals continued geographic and product expansion.

Name

Sharing Sacred Spaces, Inc.

Legal name

Sharing Sacred Spaces, Inc.

Website

https://sharingsacredspaces.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Sharing Sacred Spaces is a 2011-founded nonprofit that runs the Interreligious Communities Project, a 9-10 month cohort program bringing diverse faith congregations together through shared sacred space visits, monthly leadership training, and community service projects across 15+ North American cities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Interfaith Community Building and Peacebuilding Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (813110), Religious Organizations (8131), Religious Organizations (81311), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Civic and Social Organizations (8134)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Interfaith & Ecumenical Councils and Dialogue Organizations (BPAGAJAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Faith-Based Social Services & Community Outreach (Food Pantries, Shelters, Counseling) (BPAGAJAG), Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services (BPAGAEAL)

Keywords

• Interfaith dialogue programs
• Religious community engagement
• Interreligious education services
• Peacebuilding and depolarization training
• Sacred space experiential learning

Headquarters

HQ city

Greenwich

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: The organization accepts donations through its website and has a donor-advised fund option. Individuals can invest through checks, gift of stock, bequest, or real estate.
2. Government and Foundation Grants: Received $50,000 NEA Our Town grant in 2024 for the Who Are Our Neighbors? public art initiative in Dallas. Ongoing relationships with foundations including The Thanks-Giving Foundation, Rumi Forum, William and Mary Greve Foundation, and others.
3. Fine Art Prints Sales: Sale of fine art prints featuring artwork from the National Endowment for the Arts Our Town grant exhibit. Products priced at $150 each with free shipping to continental US.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Sharing Sacred Spaces operates the Interreligious Communities Project (ICP), a 9-10 month sustained cohort program that brings together 7-9 congregations from diverse faith traditions per city for shared sacred space visits, monthly online leadership training, and community demonstration projects culminating in a Solidarity Pledge celebration. The nonprofit supplements this flagship with City Guides for eight U.S. cities, 3D Virtual Sacred Spaces tours of global religious sites, the Sacred Space Database, the Morgan Model Collection, fine art prints from the NEA-funded Who Are Our Neighbors? initiative, and Educational Products in development.

Product overview

Sharing Sacred Spaces is a community-building organization offering a single unified product portfolio centered on interfaith dialogue and shared sacred space experiences. The flagship offering is the Interreligious Communities Project (ICP), a 9-10 month sustained program combining sacred space visits with monthly leadership training and community projects. Supporting offerings include Fine Art Prints from the NEA-funded 'Who Are Our Neighbors?' exhibit, City Guides for eight U.S. cities, Virtual Sacred Spaces (3D tours of global religious sites), the Sacred Space Database, the Morgan Model Collection, and Educational Products in development. The organization also hosts annual summits with recordings available online.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Who Are Our Neighbors?: National Endowment for the Arts funded public art and storytelling initiative featuring eight local artists creating artworks to uplift exemplary community members who have crossed lines of difference and served to better the greater Dallas community.
• Interreligious Communities Project (ICP)

Products and services

• Interreligious Communities Project (ICP) A 9-10 month sustained cohort program that brings 7-9 diverse faith congregations per city together through shared sacred space visits, monthly online leadership training on interreligious literacy and depolarizing skills, and community demonstration projects culminating in a Solidarity Pledge celebration. Operates in 15+ North American cities.
• Who Are Our Neighbors? Public Art and Storytelling Initiative Public art initiative featuring eight local artists who created original artworks to uplift community members who crossed lines of difference. Final works are introduced at Thanks-Giving Square in June 2025 and distributed across Dallas.
• Fine Art Prints High quality fine art prints of original artworks created for the NEA Who Are Our Neighbors? Our Town grant exhibit, featuring eight local artists. Priced at $150 each, available in multiple sizes with free shipping in the continental U.S.
• City Guides Self-guided sacred space tour guides for eight American cities: Chicago, New York City, Atlanta, San Francisco, Boston, Portland, New Orleans, and Santa Fe.
• Virtual Sacred Spaces Curated collection of 3D virtual tours of 20 sacred spaces from various religions around the world, including the Maasai Jumping Dance, Kaaba, Key Monastery, Bodh Gaya, Vatican, and Bahá'í House of Worship. Must be viewed on mobile devices.
• Sacred Space Database A cybervault of site visits to congregations across North America, documenting sacred spaces and their architectural and spiritual significance.
• Morgan Model Collection Collection of architectural models allowing viewers to understand the uniqueness of religious traditions and common themes of human spiritual experience. Currently on display at Chicago Theological Seminary. Includes model collection videos.
• Educational Products Educational products on sacred architecture and interreligious understanding in development for graduate theological institutions and the general public.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% of ICP participants said they would attend again
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Thanks-Giving FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2024Ongoing strategic partner for Dallas ICP program, supporting interreligious community building in Dallas. Co-sponsored the Who Are Our Neighbors? initiative and ICP graduation celebrations.
• Dialogue Institute of DallascoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2024Ongoing strategic partner for Dallas ICP program, bringing interfaith dialogue expertise and community connections to the program.
• Dallas Housing AuthoritycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in ICP and Who is Our Neighbor? initiatives, helping address Dallas's north-south divide and supporting community bridging across housing and neighborhoods.
• The Dallas Office of Arts and CulturecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Who Are Our Neighbors? public art initiative, supporting arts and culture programming for community healing in Dallas.
• GFF Design (GFF Architects)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSponsored 2024-25 Dallas ICP; hosted first steering committee meeting at headquarters; local architecture firm providing design and planning expertise for Dallas programs.
• Rumi ForumsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSponsor for Northern VA ICP, supporting interfaith dialogue and community building in the Washington Metropolitan Area.
• Yale Divinity SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for New Haven ICP 2018-2019; program was accredited as a course at Yale Divinity School allowing graduate students to participate alongside local congregations.
• Council for a Parliament of the World's Religions (CPWR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding partner for inaugural Chicago ICP 2011-2014; co-pioneered the ICP model with Sharing Sacred Spaces founders Suzanne Morgan and Reverend Dirk Ficca.
• Interfaith Council of Southwestern ConnecticutcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partner for Stamford ICP 2020-2021, expanding interreligious dialogue across Fairfield County.
• The Ferguson LibrarysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSponsor for Stamford ICP, supporting educational programming and community engagement.
• The Christian Jewish Dialogue of TorontosupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Toronto ICP, providing interfaith dialogue expertise.
• Arizona Faith NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosting partner for Phoenix ICP, providing statewide interfaith leadership and network connections.
• Arizona Interfaith MovementcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosting partner for Phoenix ICP, supporting interfaith engagement across the Arizona valley.
• Chicago Theological SeminarysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocation for Morgan Model Collection display in the library; provides academic venue for architectural models of sacred spaces.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Council for a Parliament of the World's Religions (CPWR): CPWR is both a strategic partner and direct peer: it co-pioneered ICP with SSS in Chicago in 2011 and convenes global interfaith gatherings — operating an analogous convening/community-building model at larger international scale.
• Interfaith America: Founded by Eboo Patel (formerly IFYC), Interfaith America is a leading U.S. interfaith cooperation organization that convenes campus, congregational, and civic leaders on bridge-building — directly overlapping with SSS's ICP mission, methodology, and faith-community customer base.
• Tanenbaum Center for Interreligious Understanding: A national nonprofit that develops interreligious curricula, trains educators and peacemakers, and works with faith communities on pluralism — closely comparable to SSS in mission, programmatic model, and customer segments.

Broad incumbents

• Religions for Peace: The largest international multi-religious coalition, organizing interreligious councils in 90+ countries — a broader, more established incumbent in the same interfaith convening space where SSS operates.
• The Interfaith Alliance: A national nonprofit advancing progressive interfaith engagement and religious freedom advocacy — comparable in mission to SSS but with broader policy advocacy reach and a Washington, D.C. footprint.
• International Dialogue Centre (KAICIID): An intergovernmental organization promoting interreligious dialogue globally through training programs for religious leaders — a broader incumbent with a more institutional/governmental structure than SSS.

Emerging players

• Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom: A grassroots Muslim-Jewish women's interfaith organization with sustained cohort-style dialogue programming — comparable to ICP in cohort structure and faith-bridge-building methodology, though narrower in demographic scope.
• Auburn Theological Seminary: A progressive seminary focused on religious leadership and interfaith collaboration, including bridge-building and depolarization work — overlapping with SSS on faith-leader training and academic-channel partners.
• The Convo: Operates interfaith dialogue dinners and conversation programs across U.S. cities — an emerging peer with a similar hospitality-based interfaith model, though lighter touch than SSS's 9-10 month ICP format.

Regional players

• Interfaith Center of New York: Provides interfaith programming, training, and community dialogue in New York City — a regional peer operating in one of SSS's active markets (NYC/Manhattan ICP) with overlapping congregation-facing services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/SharingSpaces
• Facebookfacebook.com/SharingSacredSpaces
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sharingsacredspaces
• Instagraminstagram.com/SharingSacredSpaces

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Sharing Sacred Spaces, Inc.