Temple University, Dialogue Institute

What Temple University, Dialogue Institute does

The Dialogue Institute is a non-profit academic center affiliated with Temple University's College of Liberal Arts, headquartered in Mazur Hall on Temple's main campus in Philadelphia. Founded in 1964 by Arlene and Leonard Swidler alongside the Journal of Ecumenical Studies, it trains civic, religious, and educational leaders in pluralism, interreligious dialogue, and democratic engagement, and operates programs for international student leaders, K-12 educators, and the general public.

Its core offerings span five lines: the Journal of Ecumenical Studies (a quarterly, peer-reviewed academic journal and the first in the interreligious-dialogue field, distributed via Penn Press and Project Muse), the Religious Freedom Trails mobile app (a free GPS-guided tour app on iOS and Android covering Philadelphia's religious-freedom history), the SUSI programs (four-to-six-week academic institutes sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs), the PA Story Project (a K-12 curriculum aligned with Pennsylvania's Act 30 of 2025), and in-person/virtual Religion and History Tours (walking tours priced at $289 for up to two people, virtual tours at $180 for up to five). Adjacent activities include K-12 facilitation and dialogue training, the UNESCO Art Camp at Temple University Rome, and the Diablogue blog.

The business model is a non-profit, multi-stream operating budget combining journal subscription revenue (via Penn Press), tour fees, donations, U.S. State Department grants for SUSI, and foundation funding (e.g., The Enlightened World Foundation for the UNESCO Art Camp). Go-to-market is hybrid: digital channels (website, blog, email newsletters, Instagram Reels) for top-of-funnel awareness; the Penn Press/Project Muse channel for academic distribution; direct outreach for K-12 educators; and State Department channels for international cohorts. Revenue is not publicly disclosed, and the organization operates with a small core staff (Executive Director, Program/Administrative Director, social media lead) supplemented by volunteer editorial roles.

Name

Temple University, Dialogue Institute

Legal name

Dialogue Institute

Website

https://dialogueinstitute.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1964

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Dialogue Institute is a non-profit academic center at Temple University that trains civic, religious, and educational leaders in interreligious dialogue and pluralism through its peer-reviewed Journal of Ecumenical Studies, SUSI international programs, K-12 curriculum, GPS-guided historical tours, and UNESCO partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Interreligious and Civic Education Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Interfaith & Ecumenical Councils and Dialogue Organizations (BPAGAJAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Interfaith & Ecumenical Theological Colleges (EDAHAKAL)

Keywords

• Interreligious dialogue training
• Ecumenical studies publishing
• Religious freedom education
• K-12 civic engagement programs
• Public history walking tours

Headquarters

HQ city

Philadelphia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Academic Journal Publishing: The Journal of Ecumenical Studies is published through Penn Press. Subscriptions are handled by Penn Press with digital access provided through Penn Press and Project Muse. This is a primary revenue stream and core organizational activity.
2. Tour Programs: Walking tours and virtual tours of Philadelphia's religious and historical sites are offered at set price points. Walking tours: $289 for up to 2 people, $25/person additional. Virtual tours: $180 for up to 5 people, $25/person additional.
3. Donations: The organization accepts donations to support its mission of training civic, religious, and educational leaders to practice pluralism and democracy. The website includes a prominent 'Click to Donate' feature.
4. U.S. Department of State Sponsorship: The Study of the U.S. Institutes (SUSI) programs are sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, providing four-to-six-week academic experiences for international undergraduate students and scholars.
5. Volunteer and Intern Programs: The organization hosts volunteers and interns for editorial, research, public history, and social media work. Some positions may be paid through university work-study programs; others are volunteer-based.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The Dialogue Institute trains civic, religious, and educational leaders to practice pluralism and interreligious dialogue through in-person and virtual programs. It publishes the peer-reviewed Journal of Ecumenical Studies, delivers K-12 civic education curricula (e.g., PA Story Project), runs U.S. Department of State-sponsored SUSI exchange programs for international students, and offers paid religious and historical walking tours of Philadelphia.

Product overview

The Dialogue Institute operates as a multi-program organization offering educational, research, and public engagement services centered on interreligious dialogue and pluralism. Its core offerings include the Journal of Ecumenical Studies (a peer-reviewed academic journal), the Religious Freedom Trails mobile app (GPS-guided historical tours), K-12 educational programs (including the PA Story Project and facilitation training), SUSI for Global Student Leaders (U.S. Department of State-sponsored academic programs), and in-person/virtual religion and history tours. These programs work together to train civic, religious, and educational leaders to advance understanding, compassion, and dialogue across religious differences.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Journal of Ecumenical Studies (J.E.S.) A quarterly peer-reviewed academic journal featuring scholarly articles on dialogue across lines of religious difference; subscription managed by Penn Press with digital access via Project Muse.
• Religious Freedom Trails Mobile App Free GPS-guided walking-tour app covering the Religious Freedom Walk and forthcoming digital tours on religion and American history.
• SUSI for Global Student Leaders Four-to-six-week academic institute for international undergraduate students and scholars sponsored by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
• PA Story Project for K-12 Educators Curriculum-aligned civic storytelling program for K-12 schools in Pennsylvania supporting Act 30 'What Is Your Pennsylvania Story' requirements.
• K-12 Facilitation and Dialogue Training Training and facilitation services for K-12 students, educators, and administrators in interfaith dialogue and civic engagement skills.
• Religion and History Tours Custom in-person walking tours and 90-minute virtual tours of Philadelphia's religious and historical sites, priced per group with per-person add-ons (walking tour $289 for up to 2 people + $25/person; virtual tour $180 for up to 5 people + $25/person).

Quantifiable outcome

• The Journal of Ecumenical Studies has been published continuously since 1964, spanning over 60 years
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• Temple University College of Liberal ArtscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Dialogue Institute is an affiliated center of Temple University College of Liberal Arts. The office is located in Mazur Hall on Temple's main campus. The Department of Religion approves certifications for select DI programs through the Office of Noncredit and Continuing Education.
• North American Academy of Ecumenists (N.A.A.E.)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Journal of Ecumenical Studies is affiliated with the North American Academy of Ecumenists (N.A.A.E.). NAAE subscribers receive digital access credentials via email from Project Muse.
• U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural AffairscoreOthersThe SUSI (Study of the U.S. Institutes) programs are sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, providing four-to-six-week academic experiences for international undergraduate students and scholars.
• Penn PresscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSubscriptions to the Journal of Ecumenical Studies are handled by Penn Press. Subscribers can access archived digital articles through the Penn Press website by logging into their accounts.
• UNESCOflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNESCO Art Camp and Dialogue program conducted at Temple University Rome in 2024. Collaboration with UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Hedva Ser, Andorran National Commission for UNESCO, and Italian National Commission for UNESCO. Funded by The Enlightened World Foundation.
• United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNHCR in Rome partnered with Dialogue Institute for the 2024 UNESCO Art Camp and Dialogue program, providing programming support for refugee and immigrant artists in Italy.
• Hedva Ser (UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Cultural Diplomacy)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Cultural Diplomacy, served as artistic director and facilitator for UNESCO Art Camp and Dialogue programs. Created the 'Tree of Peace' sculpture at Temple's Kornberg School of Dentistry.
• University of Sulaimani (Iraqi Kurdistan)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeonard Swidler taught at the American Corner of the University of Sulaimani until 2025, training future diplomats and leaders of Kurdistan in dialogue and interfaith understanding.
• Temple University Schools of Medicine and DentistrycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAmid Ismail, Dean of Temple's Kornberg School of Dentistry, serves as liaison between Dialogue Institute Board of Directors and Temple University. Dental school has hosted international visitors in DI programs.
• Temple University RomecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTemple University's Rome campus hosted the UNESCO Art Camp and Dialogue program in 2024, providing facilities and partnership for cross-cultural dialogue training.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Hartford Seminary: Hartford Seminary's Hartford Institute for Religion Research and its Islamic and interfaith programs train religious leaders and conduct interreligious research — a comparable academic-affiliated interfaith training operation, though broader in theological education.

Direct peers

• Institute for Jewish-Christian Understanding (Muhlenberg College): Housed at Muhlenberg College, IJCU focuses on Jewish-Christian dialogue and interfaith education — a very close peer in mission, university-affiliated structure, and academic journal/dialogue programming.
• Center for Christian-Jewish Learning at Boston College: Boston College's Center for Christian-Jewish Learning advances interreligious understanding through academic research and dialogue programming. A close peer to the Dialogue Institute's scholarly and interfaith mission, and a co-editor affiliation point.
• International Center for Religion & Diplomacy: ICRD is a nonprofit working at the intersection of religion and international peace/conflict resolution. Directly comparable mission-wise to the Dialogue Institute's pluralism training and is a similar-size private nonprofit.
• Interfaith America (formerly IFYC): Interfaith America (formerly the Interfaith Youth Core) is one of the largest U.S. interfaith dialogue and cooperation organizations, training leaders and building campus/community programs — directly comparable to the Dialogue Institute's leadership-training mission.
• Interfaith Alliance: Interfaith Alliance is a U.S. nonprofit advocating for religious freedom and pluralism, with comparable civic- and education-oriented interfaith programming. A close mission-aligned peer, though more advocacy-oriented.
• Tanenbaum Center for Interreligious Understanding: Tanenbaum is a New York-based nonprofit that develops interreligious educational resources, training, and peacemaking programs for educators, workplaces, and armed services — directly comparable in mission to the Dialogue Institute.
• Institute for Islamic, Christian, Jewish Studies (ICJS): ICJS is a Baltimore-based interfaith institute explicitly referenced in the Dialogue Institute's own contact data (Benjamin E. Sax affiliation). It runs leadership training, dialogue programs, and scholar convening — a near-direct peer.

Broad incumbents

• Religions for Peace: Religions for Peace is a global, multi-religious coalition of religious leaders with a much broader international scope. Comparable as a flagship interfaith organization, but operates at significantly larger scale and global remit.
• KAICIID (King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Centre for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue): KAICIID is an intergovernmental organization promoting interreligious dialogue globally, with comparable training and convening programs — but at an intergovernmental scale and funding level well above the Dialogue Institute.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/dialogueinstitute

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Temple University, Dialogue Institute