Quaker Institute for the Future (QIF) envisions a global future in which humanity is in right relationship with the commonwealth of life.QIF seeks to generate insight, knowledge and wisdom that informs public policy and enables us to treat all humans and the whole commonwealth of life as a sacred community. QIF conducts research using practices of collaborative spiritual discernment based on the Quaker tradition of “meeting for worship for business.” The Institute creates the opportunity for scholars and activists to investigate their areas of interest and commitment within the Spirit-led context of Quaker testimonies, other traditions, truth seeking and public service.
Focus Books
Insight and understanding born of careful discernment on social, economic, and ecological concerns.
Research Seminars
Spirit-led research using Quaker methods of reflection and discernment.
The 2023 Summer Research Seminar was held on zoom from July 17-21. For more information see here. QIF Youth Grants in the amount of $500 were available to support presenters age 18-35.
For recordings of the 2021 Summer Research Seminar see the QIF YouTube channel: Videos Playlists
Circles of Discernment
Small study groups that examine particular themes and concerns. Currently active circles have been meeting on “Bridging Polarities”, “The Monetary System”, and “Moving Beyond Colonial Legacies”. Other recent CoDs are “Regenerative Agriculture” and “Smarter Planet or Wiser Earth: Dialogue and Collaboration in the Era of Artificial Intelligence”
News and Events
July 2023: Now available, “Smarter Planet or Wiser Earth? Dialogue and Collaboration in the Era of Artificial Intelligence,”
by Gray Cox, published by Quaker Institute for the Future and Producciones de la Hamaca
June 2023: A full and very engaging set of sessions has been set for the program of the Summer Research Seminar next month. Also, a new Clerk’s Post on Artificial Intelligence and Collaborative Wisdom has been added to the Blog.
December 2022: Dates have been set for the 2023 Summer Research Seminar, July 17-21, to be held on zoom. For more information see here.
November 2022: We are scaling up our Youth Grants for Activist Researchers 2023 and looking for applicants as well as cosponsoring organizations.
September 2022: If you would like to receive occasional updates, please click on “Contact Us”
February 2022: We’ve set the dates for the 2022 Summer Research Seminar. Learn more here.
September 2021: Read the Quaker Institute for the Future Epistle on Responding to the Threat of Overwhelming Climate Change
Read the blog, visit us on Facebook or the QIF YouTube channel.