The Temple of Understanding

What The Temple of Understanding does

The Temple of Understanding is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit interfaith education and advocacy organization founded in 1960 by Juliet Hollister, recognized as the first woman to found an interfaith organization. It operates with a small staff (approximately eight leadership roles listed) from its headquarters at 777 UN Plaza in New York City, reflecting its central operating context: the United Nations, where it holds Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and accreditation with the Department of Global Communications. The organization's programmatic portfolio centers on three pillars: the annual FORUM conference series (FORUM2020–FORUM2024), a Summer Internship Program for college-aged students that has run since 2005, and an expanding set of issue-specific advocacy initiatives covering ecological justice, women's rights, food sovereignty, the human right to water, and Indigenous peoples' rights. It also convenes the biennial Juliet Hollister Awards and maintains a media library of documentary content distributed via YouTube and its website.

The organization does not develop proprietary technology; its "products" are programmatic services delivered through convening, education, and advocacy. Its revenue model is donation-based, drawing from individual contributions via a PayPal-enabled website portal, corporate matching gift programs, gifts of appreciated stock, and in-kind contributions of office supplies, equipment, and services. Programmatic revenue flows through internship scholarship funding (notably from Fellowship in Prayer's Sacred Journey grant since 2016) and participant contributions. Geographic footprint extends beyond the US through TOU India Foundation (eight chapters since 1968), a collaboration with the Interfaith Centre of Melbourne, and an International Council with members across India, Australia, Kenya, Fiji, Peru, and Nepal. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors under Chairman Dr. Michael Bos and President Karen L. van de Vrande, with Honorary International Chair Dr. Karan Singh and International Council Chair Dr. Vandana Shiva lending institutional gravitas.

The organization's go-to-market motion is community-led and event-driven, relying on grassroots engagement, volunteer networks, UN advocacy platforms, and experiential youth programs. Distribution occurs through UN NGO consultative status, coalition membership across groups such as the Mining Working Group and Women's Major Group, multi-decade newsletter archives, and an active social media presence on Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Instagram. FORUM events serve as the primary demand-generation vehicle, co-sponsored with partners including Marble Collegiate Church, Greenfaith, Interfaith Power and Light, and others.

Name

The Temple of Understanding

Legal name

Temple of Understanding

Website

https://templeofunderstanding.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1960

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Temple of Understanding is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1960 that educates youth and adults across faiths for global citizenship, advocates for religious pluralism at the United Nations through ECOSOC consultative status, and convenes interfaith dialogue via annual FORUM conferences, a Summer Internship Program, and issue-specific advocacy initiatives.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Interfaith Education and Advocacy

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Civic and Social Organizations (813410)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200), International Affairs (9721)

akta.pro primary industry

Interfaith & Ecumenical Councils and Dialogue Organizations (BPAGAJAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cultural, Identity & Inclusion Programs (EDALAHAF), Intergovernmental Education Cooperation & Bilateral/Multilateral Programs (EDADALAA)

Keywords

• Interfaith education programs
• Nonprofit advocacy services
• Youth leadership development
• Religious pluralism advocacy
• United nations ngo programs

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: The organization raises funds from individual donors through its website donation portal (PayPal). Donations support low or no-fee education programs, advocacy efforts, and event development. The organization is a 501(c)(3) public charity (EIN 13-1935186) and all donations are tax-deductible. Monthly recurring donation options are available.
2. Corporate Matching: Corporate matching gift programs allow donors to multiply their contributions through their employer's matching gift program. The organization actively encourages this pathway to increase donation impact.
3. Gifts of Stock: The organization accepts appreciated securities as donations, allowing donors to avoid capital gains taxes while receiving a charitable deduction for the full appreciated value.
4. Internship Program Fees: The Summer Internship Program hosts students ages 18-23 for a four-and-a-half-week intensive at the UN. The program is supported by scholarship funding (including from Fellowship in Prayer's Sacred Journey grant) and participant contributions. This is a core programmatic revenue stream.
5. In-Kind Donations: The organization receives in-kind contributions including office supplies, equipment, event photography, printing, videography, and catering, which reduce annual operating expenses.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Temple of Understanding is a 501(c)(3) non-profit interfaith education and advocacy organization that runs experiential youth programs (Summer Internship at the UN, IDEA, Youth Council), annual FORUM conferences, and UN-level advocacy initiatives covering ecological justice, food sovereignty, women's rights, and the human right to water. It delivers its mission through educational programming, coalition-based policy advocacy at the United Nations under ECOSOC consultative status, and international chapter operations (including TOU India Foundation).

Product overview

The Temple of Understanding is a non-profit interfaith organization offering a portfolio of educational, advocacy, and youth development services centered on interfaith dialogue and global citizenship. The core programs include the annual FORUM conference series (FORUM2020-2024), the Summer Internship Program for students at the United Nations, and the Interfaith Education Initiative with experiential learning across faith traditions. Additional programs focus on Ecological Justice, Women's Initiatives, Food Sovereignty, and Human Right to Water, all advocacy-oriented initiatives conducted primarily at the United Nations. The organization also manages the biennial Juliet Hollister Awards, maintains a Media and Video Library of documentary content, and operates international chapters in India and Australia. The organization does not offer a software product or SaaS platform; its 'products' are service programs focused on education, advocacy, and youth leadership development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Summer Internship Program

Quantifiable outcome

• Hundreds of young people have graduated from the Summer Internship Program since 2005, launching careers in global affairs, diplomacy, and international NGOs.
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 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

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• TOU India FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1968TOU India Foundation consists of eight chapters in cities throughout India, founded in 1968. These chapters are dedicated to interfaith dialogue and education, convening conferences, publishing papers, and acting independently in partnership with the Temple of Understanding. Dr. Karan Singh serves as International Chairman and Chairman of TOU India Foundation.
• Interfaith Centre of MelbournecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Interfaith Centre of Melbourne recognizes and celebrates unity in diversity, focusing on peace, love, non-violence, truth, and respect for the human family. Rev. Helen Summers serves as Founding Director. TOU collaborates with this partner on interfaith harmony initiatives. The Centre won the First Prize of the King Abdullah II World Interfaith Harmony Week Prize in 2018.
• Mining Working GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTOU is a member of the Mining Working Group at the UN, working collaboratively on issues related to mining's environmental and human rights impacts. Through this coalition, TOU contributes to UN advocacy on extractive industries and water rights.
• Women's Major GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTOU participates in the Women's Major Group, a coalition that coordinates women's civil society engagement at UN processes including the Commission on the Status of Women and the SDG High Level Political Forum. TOU represents this constituency in advocacy statements.
• United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTOU collaborates with UNEP as part of its eco-justice advocacy, participating in coalition statements and climate conferences including COP events.
• NGO Committee on Freedom of Religion or BeliefcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTOU participates in this committee of religious NGOs at the UN, contributing to advocacy for religious freedom and tolerance within UN frameworks.
• Committee of Religious NGOs – Climate Working GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTOU actively participates in this working group, contributing religious and interfaith perspectives to climate policy discussions at the UN.
• Marble Collegiate ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMarble Collegiate Church in New York City co-presents the annual FORUM events with TOU. Dr. Michael Bos, Senior Minister, serves as Master of Ceremonies and welcome speaker at FORUM events. This is a key co-development partnership for TOU's flagship annual conference.
• Association For New Global ThoughtminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsor of FORUM2022, contributing to the interfaith dialogue on science, spirituality, and climate crisis.
• GreenfaithminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsor of FORUM2022, mobilizing people of diverse religious backgrounds for environmental leadership.
• Interfaith Center of New YorkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsor of FORUM2022.
• Interfaith Power and LightminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsor of FORUM2022. TOU also refers supporters to this organization for environmental action and policy engagement.
• Islamic Society of North America (ISNA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsor of FORUM2022, contributing Islamic perspective to interfaith dialogue on climate.
• Laudato Si' MovementminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsor of FORUM2022, focused on Catholic environmental teaching and action.
• Parliament of the World's ReligionsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsor of FORUM2022.
• World Interfaith NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsor of FORUM2022.
• Faiths for BiodiversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTOU participates with Faiths for Biodiversity in the Biodiversity COP (Convention on Biological Diversity), working toward protecting biodiversity through interfaith collaboration.
• Blue Planet ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTOU works with the Blue Planet Project through the Mining Working Group to advocate globally for water rights and the human right to water.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Tanenbaum Center for Interreligious Understanding: US-based secular interfaith organization promoting religious literacy and combating prejudice in workplaces and schools — overlaps with TOU's interfaith education initiative and US-based convening focus.
• Arigatou International: Interfaith NGO focused on ethics education for children and interfaith cooperation — narrower scope but comparable interfaith education programs and youth orientation akin to TOU's IDEA and Youth Council.

Direct peers

• Interfaith Center of New York: NYC-based interfaith organization promoting religious literacy and dialogue, co-sponsor of TOU's FORUM events — comparable target audience, geographic base, and educational programming focus.
• GreenFaith: Interfaith environmental coalition mobilizing religious communities for climate action — overlaps with TOU's Ecological Justice Initiative, Food Sovereignty, and Faiths for Biodiversity coalition membership.
• Religions for Peace: The largest international multi-religious coalition, also holding UN ECOSOC consultative status and convening interfaith dialogue on peace, justice, and sustainability — overlapping heavily with TOU's mission and UN advocacy model.
• Interfaith Power and Light: Faith-based climate advocacy network — directly comparable to TOU's climate work and a documented FORUM co-sponsor with shared UN advocacy orientation.
• Parliament of the World's Religions: Long-running interfaith convener (originating the 1893 World Parliament) that hosts large-scale gatherings and FORUM-style events — directly comparable to TOU's annual FORUM conference series and interfaith education remit.
• Baha'i International Community: UN-accredited NGO advocating for global peace, justice, and sustainable development from a spiritual framework — a near-twin of TOU in combining interfaith values with sustained UN engagement and policy statements.
• United Religions Initiative (URI): Global grassroots interfaith network with Cooperation Circles across multiple countries — directly comparable to TOU's distributed chapter model (e.g., TOU India Foundation) and interfaith dialogue mission.

Broad incumbents

• KAICIID Dialogue Centre: Intergovernmental organization promoting interreligious and intercultural dialogue globally — broader institutional footprint and government backing, but comparable mission and convening role.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCwVLkfciRJvIDvRw_NJqXEQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/TheTempleOfUnderstanding
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-temple-of-understanding
• Instagraminstagram.com/templeofunderstanding
• Xx.com/the_tou

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles23 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about The Temple of Understanding