IF is a nonprofit organization that seeks alternatives to a world of violence, greed and destruction. Our mission is to to support ideas and actions that lead to hopeful alternatives. In 1976, a group of friends in the San Francisco Bay area realized they could either give in to helplessness and despair about widespread war, injustice, pollution, hunger – or they could ask the question, “What if…?” It’s a question that leads us away from anger, fear, divisiveness and blame, and starts us on a path of hope, ingenuity, collective action and transformation. This group of friends founded IF to promote active engagement with the struggles taking place at the time – raising consciousness about ecology, about senseless wars, about injustice that leads to hunger and poverty. IF’s quarterly publication, Integrities, started in 1986, offering commentary on world events; stories about courageous people, famous and unknown, who tirelessly work for a better world; and essays focused on the interconnectedness between all of us – how the suffering of others relates to our own lifestyle choices. Integrities emphasizes the importance of making small changes and appreciating simple gifts of nature, creativity and friendship.
Today IF is an independent nonprofit that supports projects offering hopeful alternatives for health, sustainable development, education and other social projects around the world and in the US. In addition, IF fosters meaningful, respectful dialogue on critical issues, encouraging participants to rise to high standards of integrity and ethics in their discussions, as well as in their daily lives and choices. We’ve come to appreciate the deep connection between respect for the Earth…compassion and acceptance for all people…peace and justice… and our personal actions and choices. Our intention is to illuminate those connections, to help us all understand better the world we are witnessing, and to give each of us opportunities to heal and help in the healing of the planet.
