About Us

Who We Are

The Institute for Sustainable Development (ISD) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit focused on community resilience, post-disaster recovery, and developing new solutions to sustainable development challenges.

ISD was founded in 2003 by a consortium of business and academic leaders in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, and this spirit of collaboration across sectors is an essential part of our DNA. Since then, ISD has grown to include a network of development experts from around the globe. Check out our current team here.

What We Do

We have four primary programs:

Creation and development of Community Resilience Networks
Disaster recovery services including our online Offers/Needs matching platform and Help Desk
Innovation, R&D networking events and shark tanks
Research and Public Policy

Our Mission

At ISD, we Crowdsource Solutions for Economic Development.

Drive systems-based sustainability through economic empowerment, financial solvency, cultural and social capital formation, robust critical infrastructure and sound environmental stewardship.

Address threats and vulnerabilities before they become disasters saves lives, livelihoods and living environments.

Promote Innovation, which is vital for addressing seemingly intractable, inexorable and overwhelming threats to humanity.