Interfaith Center of New York

Interfaith Center of New York
Name	Interfaith Center of New York
Founded	1997
Location	New York City, New York, United States
Focus	Interreligious dialogue, community relations, education
Headquarters	Manhattan

Interfaith Center of New York is a nonprofit organization based in Manhattan that convenes religious and civic leaders for dialogue, conflict resolution, and collaborative programming. The organization engages Jewish, Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh, Baha'i, Jain, Unitarian Universalist, and Indigenous faith communities alongside civic institutions, cultural organizations, and academic centers. Working across boroughs, it partners with religious congregations, museums, universities, and public agencies to address social issues and promote pluralism.

History

Founded in 1997 amid conversations following high-profile events such as the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center, the creation of the organization responded to pressures similar to those that shaped institutions like the National Conference of Community and Justice, American Jewish Committee, and Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism. Early initiatives connected leaders from Archdiocese of New York, Islamic Cultural Center of New York, Brooklyn Diocese of the Episcopal Church, Rabbi Joseph Soloveitchik-influenced circles, and representatives linked to Hindu American Foundation and Sikh Coalition. The center's formative years paralleled programs associated with the Council on Foreign Relations’s religion studies and echoed methodologies from the United Religions Initiative and Parliament of the World's Religions. In the aftermath of events such as the September 11 attacks and during periods marked by incidents like the Crown Heights riot and debates over the Ground Zero mosque, the center convened multi-faith responses similar to efforts led by Interfaith Youth Core and Religions for Peace. Collaborations with museums and cultural institutions—comparable to projects at the Museum of Jewish Heritage, American Museum of Natural History, and New-York Historical Society—expanded its public programming. The organization also engaged scholars from institutions like Columbia University, New York University, Fordham University, and Union Theological Seminary to inform restorative initiatives.

Mission and Programs

The organization’s mission aligns with initiatives promoted by groups such as Carnegie Corporation of New York and the Ford Foundation to foster pluralism, reduce religiously motivated tension, and strengthen civic life. Programs include convenings, emergency response networks, and civic engagement models comparable to those used by the Fellowship of Reconciliation and the American Civil Liberties Union on matters of religious freedom. The center develops curricula that reflect approaches from Harvard Divinity School and Yale Divinity School and partners with cultural venues like Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall for interfaith arts programming. It offers trainings for clergy and chaplains akin to programs at Maimonides School’s pastoral networks and the Clinical Pastoral Education movement.

Education and Outreach

Educational outreach draws on pedagogical models used by Facing History and Ourselves, Teach For America, and the Anti-Defamation League to work in public schools, libraries, and community centers across neighborhoods such as Harlem, Flushing, Jackson Heights, and Staten Island. Workshops and speaker series have featured scholars and practitioners affiliated with Columbia Teachers College, Princeton Theological Seminary, and Claremont School of Theology, while youth engagement mirrors activities promoted by Big Brothers Big Sisters and Girls Who Code in breadth of community access. Public forums have been hosted at venues connected to Brooklyn Public Library, Queens Library, and cultural festivals coordinated with New York City Department of Cultural Affairs-supported organizations.

Interfaith Dialogue and Partnerships

Dialogue initiatives convene leaders from denominations and traditions represented by United Methodist Church, Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox Church, Presbyterian Church (USA), Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod, and networks such as World Council of Churches and Global Christian Forum. Partnerships extend to Muslim organizations like the Council on American-Islamic Relations, Hindu organizations similar to The Vedanta Society, Buddhist centers akin to Tibetan Buddhist Center, and Jewish institutions including the American Jewish Committee and Rabbinical Assembly. Collaborative projects have been undertaken with municipal entities such as the New York City Mayor's Office and statewide offices comparable to the New York State Senate on interfaith responses to public crises. The center has participated in initiatives aligned with international actors like UNESCO and the United Nations's interreligious engagement efforts.

Leadership and Governance

Governance is overseen by a board reflective of plural leadership models used by nonprofits like The Rockefeller Foundation and Skoll Foundation, with advisory groups composed of clergy, lay leaders, academics, and civic figures associated with institutions such as Columbia University, Barnard College, The City University of New York, Fordham University, and Yeshiva University. Executive leadership historically interfaced with leaders connected to Jewish Theological Seminary, St. John's University, and seminaries across traditions, drawing on governance practices seen at Nonprofit Coordinating Committee of New York and BoardSource.

Funding and Facilities

Financial support has come from a mix of private foundations, philanthropic donors, and institutional grants consistent with funding patterns at Carnegie Corporation of New York, Ford Foundation, Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, Rockefeller Brothers Fund, and regional funders active in New York such as The New York Community Trust. Facility use includes office and program space in Manhattan and partnerships for event venues with cultural sites like The Public Theater, Apollo Theater, and performance spaces at Columbia University and New York University.

Category:Non-profit organizations based in New York City Category:Interfaith organizations