named programs · 3 · from sources
What they call their work
Compassion in Medicine Initiative
Develops and disseminates tools and research to cultivate compassion and self-kindness among medical students and clinicians
Dignity for Deeply Forgetful People
Research and outreach program focused on improving care for people with Alzheimer’s and related dementias, emphasizing dignity and communication
Youth Essay Contest
Annual essay competition for young people on themes of love, tolerance, and religious freedom, with past events held at the United Nations
activities · 7 groups
What they do
-
Interfaith and Spiritual Dialogue Programs 1 activity
- Advocates for love and compassion as antidotes to extremism and cultural challengesEngages in public advocacy by promoting messages of love and compassion as alternatives to extremism, including authoring an open letter to young members of ISIS and publishing analyses of religious arrogance and humility in spiritual practice.
-
-
Nonprofit Investigative & Community Journalism 1 activity
- Disseminates research through media, public outreach, and digital contentShares findings via a collection of videos on its website and has received extensive media coverage across over 800 radio shows, television programs such as 20/20 and The Daily Show, and over 3,000 print articles in major publications including The New York Times and USA Today.
-
-
Charitable Grantmaking to Specific Causes 1 activity
- Funds research projects and collaborative grants on love, kindness, and altruismAwards grants to support research on altruism, love, and compassion, including funding for 60 research projects totaling approximately $4 million and a co-developed grant with the Fetzer Institute focused on raising kind children valued at around $1 million.
-
-
Youth Writing Contests & Recognition Programs 1 activity
- Hosts youth essay contests to engage young people in reflection on love and valuesOrganizes and hosts youth essay contests, including events at the United Nations in 2016 and a subsequent national contest in 2019, to encourage young people to reflect on themes of love, compassion, and moral values.
-
-
Academic Research Dissemination 1 activity
- Publishes books, reports, and academic writings on love and altruismProduces and disseminates scholarly and popular publications, including the books _Why Good Things Happen to Good People_, _Pure Unlimited Love_, and _Altruism and Altruistic Love_, as well as the 2017 report "Rx It’s Good to be Good," reaching academic and general audiences.
-
-
Human Rights & Peace Education Curriculum 1 activity
- Supports academic integration of love-related research through course developmentFacilitates the creation and teaching of 20 academic courses on love-related topics at universities and high schools through a course proposal initiative, promoting educational integration of research on compassion and altruism.
-
-
Uncategorized 1 activity
- Conducts and supports scientific research on altruism, compassion, and unlimited loveConducts and funds rigorous scientific research on other-regarding love, including altruism, compassion, kindness, and volunteerism, using methods from neuroscience and psychology. Research explores connections between moral integrity, inner peace, spiritual practices, and the role of love in professional and personal fulfillment.
-
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$56K
Contributions & grants$32K57%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$24K43%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$25K
Program expenses12%
Admin / overhead55%
Fundraising32%
Salaries & benefits$0
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineProfessional Fees
balance sheet
Total assets$738K
Cash$42K
Investments$696K
Liabilities$2K
Net assets$737K
Liquid reserves358.3 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -83.2%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
board members · 8
- ENSIGN J COWELL — TRUSTEE
- JO-ANN TRINER — SECRETARY/TRUSTEE
- JONI MARRA JD — CO-SECRETARY/TRUSTEE
- KATHY PENDER MA — TRUSTEE
- MATTHEW T LEE PHD — VICE PRESIDENT/TRUSTEE
- STEPHEN G POST PHD — PRESIDENT/TREASURER/TRUSTEE
- SUSAN WENTZ MD — TRUSTEE
- THOMAS JAY OORD PHD — TRUSTEE
relationships · 28
Who they work with
- Ancient China Partner — Cites wisdom from Ancient China regarding the lasting impact of generous acts.
- Dalai Lama Coalition — Quotes and aligns with the Dalai Lama’s view on the universal spiritual message of love, compassion, and justice across religions.
- David Lorimer Partner — Collaborates with David Lorimer through the publication and dissemination of his scholarly review on the humble approach to understanding ultimate reality.
- Dr. Post Partner — Features Dr. Post speaking on ethics, empathy, and compassionate care.
- Emory University Partner — Partnered on the "Best Love of the Child" project and hosted collaborative conferences and research initiatives
- Fetzer Institute Partner — Collaborated on the Compassionate Love Research Conference and co-developed a grant for research on raising kind kids
- Ford Foundation Partner — Co-hosted the National Conference "The Love that Does Justice: Spiritual Activism" in Cleveland
- Harvard University Press Partner — Published books by Institute-funded researchers
- IRS Government — Recognizes the Institute as a non-profit public charity
- Jo-Ann Triner Partner — Collaborates on writings about the teaching and learning of love.
- Jo-Ann Triner Partner — Collaborates with Jo-Ann Triner on research and writings about love and spirituality in work.
- John Templeton Foundation Funder — Primary funder from 2001 to 2005 and collaborator on multiple research initiatives
- Johns Hopkins University Press Partner — Published books by Institute-funded researchers
- L’Arche of Long Island Partner — IRUL served as founding co-sponsor of L’Arche of Long Island, Riverhead Village in 2011
- Metanexus Institute Partner — Co-sponsored the Works of Love Conference in 2003 and an Altruistic Love Conference at the University of Pennsylvania
- National Institutes of Health (NIH) Partner — Co-sponsored the Compassionate Love Research Conference in Washington, D.C. in 2004
- Oxford University Press Partner — Co-published scholarly work on altruism and altruistic love.
- Oxford University Press Partner — Published books by Institute-funded researchers
- Pew Charitable Trust Partner — Collaborated with IRUL, Templeton Foundation, and Emory University on the 3-year project "The Best Love of the Child"
- Princeton University Press Partner — Published books by Institute-funded researchers
- Rabbi Adam Stein Partner — Collaborates on writings related to spiritual practices for living in the moment and reducing anxiety.
- Radhanath Swami Coalition — Quotes and endorses Radhanath Swami’s interpretation of Hinduism’s essence as pure love for God and compassion for all beings.
- Random House Partner — Published books by Institute-funded researchers
- Sir John Templeton Funder — Initial benefactor who named the Institute for Research on Unlimited Love
- Stephen G. Post Partner — Collaborates with the Institute as a contact and likely contributor to research on unlimited love.
- Stephen G. Post, Ph.D. Partner — President and primary contact for the Institute for Research on Pure Unlimited Love.
- Templeton Foundation Press Partner — Reprinted foundational work on the power of love with a foreword by Stephen G. Post.
- United Nations Partner — Hosted the Institute's 2016 Youth Essay Contest
strategies · 4
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Family and Community Values Formationmethodology: family-centered-values-formationBy positioning kindness as a core family value and engaging families in spiritual communities and volunteering, the Institute extends compassionate behavior beyond the individual to shape humanitarian concern, because early relational and communal experiences are foundational to moral development.
- Healing Through Kindness and Dignitymethodology: healing-through-kindness-and-dignityBy cultivating kindness, empathy, and compassion in caregiving professionals, the Institute fosters healing cultures that restore dignity and address mental illness and social problems, because relational dignity is a causal factor in psychological and social well-being.
- Research on Positive Human Capacitiesmethodology: positive-human-capacities-researchBy applying rigorous scientific methods to study positive human capacities like love and altruism—parallel to how negative behaviors are studied—the Institute generates evidence that advances moral transformation and public understanding of prosocial behavior.
- Science-Spirituality Integrationmethodology: science_spirituality_integrationBy integrating scientific research with spiritual and philosophical insights, the Institute advances understanding of unlimited love and promotes a shared moral vision of humanity, because interdisciplinary convergence produces a more comprehensive understanding than either domain alone.