The Culture of Respect

What The Culture of Respect does

The Culture of Respect, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN 33-2495940) headquartered in the United States that operates a tiered, facilitator-led educational program designed to build dialogue skills for navigating difficult conversations about identity, power, and belonging. Originating as the Peer Education for Human Relations (PEHR) program at Cornell University before 1995 and evolved into a standalone nonprofit, the organization offers three progressive product levels: Foundation of Respect (a 2.5-hour introductory workshop on identity and lived experience), Structure of Respect (a 2.5-hour session on bias, assumptions, and shared language), and The Culture of Respect (a flagship 10-week, 25-hour immersive program covering seven systems of oppression including classism, ableism, sexism, heterosexism, religious oppression, racism, and ageism). The core methodology is experiential, structured, and human-centered, featuring a signature Speak Outs practice where participants share personal stories; programs are delivered in-person and virtually to individuals, companies, schools, universities, and community groups across the United States.

Underlying the delivery model is a proprietary methodology developed over nearly three decades, supported by a content library of 70+ readings, videos, and presentations, and an Alumni Network with a Brand Ambassador program that enables trained participants to extend the work into workplaces and communities. The revenue model is donation-based: the organization relies on charitable contributions, including a GoFundMe campaign to fund its first nonprofit course, with no publicly disclosed program pricing. Distribution channels include direct facilitator-led delivery, partner organizations (universities, nonprofits, companies), and digital channels (website, blog, YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram, newsletter). Leadership consists of founder-CEO Philip Poczik (who carried the PEHR work forward from Cornell to Drexel University and Union College), COO Craig Bruno, and CCO Letitia Crippen, operating under a Board of Directors with no disclosed institutional investors, private equity, or venture capital involvement.

Name

The Culture of Respect

Legal name

Culture of Respect, Inc.

Website

https://thecultureofrespect.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Culture of Respect is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers facilitator-led dialogue programs on identity, power, and belonging to universities, companies, schools, and community groups across the United States through a three-level progressive curriculum and alumni ambassador network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Training

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (81341)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

School Climate, Culture & Belonging Initiatives (DEI-Aligned) (EDAKAMAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Workplace Culture, DEI & Psychological Safety (EDAAAKAJ), Cultural, Identity & Inclusion Programs (EDALAHAF), Inclusive Group Care & Peer Inclusion Facilitation (HSAAAIAN)

Keywords

• Diversity training programs
• Inclusion education services
• Dialogue facilitation programs
• Identity and belonging workshops
• Organizational culture training

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations: The organization operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and relies on donations for funding. They have a GoFundMe campaign for launching their first nonprofit course and accept donations to help reach more people.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The Culture of Respect is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers facilitator-led, dialogue-based programs focused on identity, power, and belonging. Its core offering is a three-level curriculum — Foundation of Respect (Level 1), Structure of Respect (Level 2), and Culture of Respect (Level 3) — delivered in small cohorts (typically 8–14 participants) by trained facilitators for individuals, organizations, schools and universities, and community groups.

Product overview

The Culture of Respect is a nonprofit organization that operates a tiered, multi-level educational program focused on building dialogue and communication skills for navigating difficult conversations about identity, power, and belonging. The core offering consists of three progressive levels: Foundation of Respect (Level 1, a 2.5-hour introductory workshop on identity and lived experience), Structure of Respect (Level 2, a 2.5-hour session on bias, assumptions, and shared language), and The Culture of Respect (Level 3, the flagship 10-week, 25-hour immersive program on systems of oppression). The methodology is facilitator-led, experiential, structured, and human-centered, incorporating co-creation and a signature practice called Speak Outs where participants share personal stories. Supplementary offerings include workshops and tailored sessions, an Alumni Network with Brand Ambassador program, and a Resources library of videos, presentations, and readings. Programs are delivered in-person and virtually to individuals, communities, companies, schools, and universities across the United States.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Foundation of Respect (Level 1)

Quantifiable outcome

• Hundreds of participants and facilitators trained across multiple universities
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

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

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Companies & NonprofitscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCulture of Respect partners with companies and nonprofit organizations to bring their dialogue programs to employees and constituents. These partnerships help expand access to skills for staying in difficult conversations about identity, power, and belonging.
• Schools & UniversitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational institutions are key partners, with programs originally developed in university settings (Cornell, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, Drexel, Union College). Universities continue to be primary venues for delivering dialogue programs to students and staff.
• Community Organizations & NetworkscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity groups and networks partner with Culture of Respect to build local dialogue skills and create safe spaces for difficult conversations within communities.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• LifeLabs Learning: Workplace learning company that delivers facilitator-led manager and team-skills training including DEI and inclusive conversations, to organizations globally. Comparable in facilitator-led methodology and corporate customer base, though LifeLabs operates at significantly larger commercial scale.
• Cook Ross: DEI consultancy that delivers facilitator-led inclusion training, coaching, and culture work to corporations and government agencies. Comparable in facilitating dialogue about identity, power, and belonging inside organizations, though primarily a commercial consultancy.
• The Winters Group: DEI consulting firm specializing in dialogue-based inclusion training, equity audits, and facilitator development for corporate and public-sector clients. Highly comparable in training facilitators and delivering structured identity and power conversations.
• Braver Angels: A nonprofit running structured, facilitator-led dialogue programs to bring Americans across political, racial, and ideological differences into meaningful conversation. Closely comparable methodology (trained facilitators, structured dialogue, alumni/ambassador network) and similar nonprofit funding model.
• National Equity Project: Nonprofit focused on educational equity, working with schools, districts, and communities to build capacity for identity-centered, dialogue-driven change. Comparable in mission, education-rooted methodology, and nonprofit delivery model.
• Essential Partners: Nonprofit that trains facilitators and designs structured dialogue programs for communities, schools, and organizations navigating polarization and identity-based differences. Directly comparable in facilitator-led, reflection-based methodology and nonprofit delivery model.

Broad incumbents

• Paradigm Strategy: DEI strategy and training consultancy serving enterprise clients with inclusion diagnostics, workshops, and facilitator development. Comparable subject matter (identity, belonging, workplace culture) but serves a larger commercial client base with broader portfolio offerings.
• EVERFI: Large-scale digital learning platform (now part of Blackbaud) that delivers DEI, anti-racism, and inclusion courses to employers and universities. Overlaps in DEI training content for the same customer segments, but delivers primarily through digital courses rather than facilitator-led dialogue.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@TheCultureofRespect
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-culture-of-respect
• Instagraminstagram.com/thecultureofrespect

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 The Culture of Respect