The Intercommunity Peace and Justice Center (IPJC) is a faith-based advocacy network of religious and community organizations that focus on “systemic change for social justice issues” through collaboration, education, and advocacy. ¹ Its policy priority issues include climate change, human rights, immigration, racism, and diversity. ²

Background

The Intercommunity Peace and Justice Center (IPJC) was established in 1991 as a group of community and religious organizations working to “address issues of peace and justice.” ³ Its founding director was Holy Names Sister Linda Haydock. It started as a center in the northwestern United States and claims to have expanded into 19 countries as of 2025. ⁴

It is affiliated with roughly twenty-four religious communities which collaborate with different interfaith and religious organizations. ⁵ The IPJC is governed by a board of directors and a board of members and is made up of seven sponsoring communities and 17 affiliate communities. ⁶

Sponsoring organizations include the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia, an order of Catholic nuns who engage in left-of-center advocacy associated with climate, immigration, and gun violence; and the Adrian Dominican Sisters who advocate for left-of-center policies through the order’s “Office of Justice, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.” ^{7  6}

Other affiliated organizations include ⁸ the Benedictine Sisters of Lacey, the Dominican Sisters of Racine, the Sinsinawa Dominicans, the Sisters of the Holy Family, the Society of Helpers, the San Francisco chapter of the Sisters of the Presentation, ⁶ and the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. ⁸

Activities

The Northwest Coalition for Responsible Investment (NWCRI) is a collaborative of faith-based organizations that leverage their shareholder rights to “promote social, economic, and environmental justice.” It is a program of the IPJC and a voting member of the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility. ⁹ Focus areas include health equity, human rights and worker rights, climate and the environment, and combating pushback to ESG investing. ¹⁰

As part of its Justice for Women program, the IPJC organizes Women’s Justice Circles to facilitate change in the community and encourage women to take on leadership roles. ¹¹

The Catholic High School Leaders for Social Change is a student-led group of students attending Catholic high schools in Seattle. They meet once a month to identify social issues and organize to challenge them. One initiative was a social initiative to advocate for a permanent ceasefire during the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, in partnership with Pax Christi. ¹²

The Creation Care Network is a group of 16 organizations focused on climate change advocacy. Its priorities are to “address the climate crisis” and “commit to environmental justice and human dignity with preferential option for marginalized groups.” ¹³

The IPJC’s Sacred Salmon Campaign collaborates with wildlife conservation groups such as Save Our Wild Salmon, the Sierra Club, and Washington Conservation Action to “protect Indigenous sovereignty, amplify tribal-led land return and ecosystem restoration.” ^{14 15}

Funding

In 2024, the Intercommunity Peace and Justice Center (IPJC) reported a revenue of $691,704 and expenses of $683,049. At the end of the year, it had over $2 million in net assets. ¹⁶

IPJC donors include the Inatai Foundation, Save Our Wild Salmon, the Washington State Catholic Conference, the National Philanthropic Trust, and the DAFgiving360. ^{17 18} Its annual report for “2023-2024” noted several hundred individuals as donors. ¹⁹

Leadership

William Rutt is the executive director of the Intercommunity Peace and Justice Center (IPJC). Prior to joining the IPJC in 2021 as its executive director, he was a teacher and the director of justice formation and advocacy at Brophy College Preparatory in Phoenix, Arizona. ²⁰ He is also an advisory board member of the Jesuit Restorative Justice Initiative Northwest, ²¹ and a member of the steering committee for IHS Jesuits West. ^{22  23}

1. “Intercommunity Peace & Justice Center Strategic Plan 2021 – 2026.” Intercommunity Peace & Justice Center. Accessed October 6, 2025. https://issuu.com/ipjc/docs/stategic_plan_2021-2026-fl-web?fr=sYTk2NTQ0MjI1ODM
2. “IPJC Priority Issues.” Intercommunity Peace & Justice Center. Accessed October 6, 2025. https://ipjc.org/resources-2/
3. “Our History.” Intercommunity Peace & Justice Center.” Accessed October 6, 2025. https://ipjc.org/vision-mission/
4. “Intercommunity Center engages people in the pursuit of justice” The Fig Tree. Accessed October 6, 2025. https://www.thefigtree.org/jan16/010116intercommunity.html
5. “Who is IPJC?” Intercommunity Peace & Justice Center.” Accessed October 6, 2025. https://ipjc.org/who-is-ipjc/
6. “Governance Structure.” Intercommunity Peace & Justice Center.” Accessed October 6, 2025. https://ipjc.org/governing-council-and-sponsoring-and-affiliate-communities/
7. “Critical Issues.” Adrian Dominican Sisters.” Accessed October 6, 2025. https://www.adriandominicans.org/Critical-Issues
8. “Exploring Intersections.” Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Accessed October 6, 2025. https://www.bvmsisters.org/social-justice/exploring-intersections/
9. “NWCRI.” Intercommunity Peace & Justice Center. Accessed October 6, 2025. https://ipjc.org/nwcri/
10. “Rise Together – Intercommunity Peace & Justice Center. 2023-24.” Page 18. Intercommunity Peace & Justice Center. Accessed October 6, 2025. https://issuu.com/ipjc/docs/2023-24_ipjc-nwcri_annual_reports?fr=sMmMxYzc2NTIwMTE
11. “Women’s Justice Circles.” Intercommunity Peace & Justice Center. Accessed October 6, 2025. https://ipjc.org/justiceforwomen/womensjusticecircles/
12. “Catholic High School Leaders for Social Change.” Intercommunity Peace & Justice Center. Accessed October 6, 2025. https://ipjc.org/catholic-high-school-leaders-for-social-change/
13. “Creation Care Network.” Evangelical Lutherun Church In America, accessed October 23, 2025. https://www.elca.org/our-work/publicly-engaged-church/creationcarenetwork
14. “Collaborations.” Intercommunity Peace & Justice Center. Accessed October 6, 2025. https://ipjc.org/collaborations/
15. “Sacred Salmon Campaign.” Intercommunity Peace & Justice Center. Accessed October 6, 2025. https://ipjc.org/sacred-salmon-campaign/
16. Intercommunity Peace and Justice Center. Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990 – Part I). 2024.
17. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer search. Accessed October 6, 2025. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/full_text_search?sort=best&form%5B%5D=IRS990ScheduleI&q=94-3083964&submit=Apply
18. “Intercommunity Peace and Justice Center.” Cause IQ. Accessed October 6, 2025. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/intercommunity-peace-and-justice-center,943083964/
19. “Rise Together – Intercommunity Peace & Justice Center. 2023-24.” Intercommunity Peace & Justice Center. Accessed October 6, 2025. https://issuu.com/ipjc/docs/2023-24_ipjc-nwcri_annual_reports?fr=sMmMxYzc2NTIwMTE
20. LinkedIn – William Rutt. Accessed October 6, 2025. https://www.linkedin.com/in/william-rutt-b0827522/
21. Jesuit Restorative Justice Initiative homepage. Accessed October 6, 2025. https://jrji.org/
22. “The Jesuits.” IHS Jesuits West. Accessed October 6, 2025. https://www.jesuitswest.org/about-us/the-jesuits/
23. “Steering Committee.” IHS Jesuits West. Accessed October 6, 2025. https://www.jesuitswest.org/profiles/steering-committee/