Gurdwaras should be more than places of worship — they should be centers of education, service, and strategic influence that amplify the Panth’s voice in every community where Sikhs live.
The Vision
Imagine a Gurdwara where youth compete in national robotics tournaments and prepare for college with SAT classes. Where langar goes beyond the sangat to feed the hungry in the wider community — so Sikhs are known for their generosity, not just their turbans. Where engagement with city councils, mayors, and even federal lawsuits makes the Panth a political force at every level. Where Khalsa Schools teach not just Panjabi and Kirtan, but rigorous history and theology that produce ambassadors for the Panth.
The Bridge
Some Gurdwaras are already doing this work — joining lawsuits to protect immigrant rights, engaging local government, building community power. We provide the research and frameworks to help more institutions follow their lead.
What We Do
Constitutional reform
Many Gurdwaras are beset by internal conflicts, with committees fighting for control and elections rigged by non-members voting. Elections themselves are antithetical to Sikhi, which requires Sarbat Khalsa-style consensus, not majority rule. We develop model constitutions based on successful examples like the New England Sikh Study Circle, where a Nomination Committee selects leaders through consensus — and where there has never been a fight for power.
Civic engagement frameworks
Strategies for Gurdwaras to engage city councils, mayors, and state and federal government, amplifying the Panth's political voice in their communities
Youth empowerment programming
Models for robotics teams, academic preparation, leadership development, and youth ambassador programs that build the next generation
Community service beyond the sangat
Strategies for langar programs that address local hunger and build the Panth's reputation for generosity
Khalsa School curriculum
Developing rigorous, age-appropriate materials in Sikh history and theology (a strategic priority through our Khalsa Education Fellowship)
Why This Matters
Gurdwaras are the Panth’s most visible presence in communities around the world. When they’re consumed by internal power struggles, they fail the sangat.
When they focus inward, they miss the opportunity to shape how the world sees Sikhs. But when they govern by consensus, engage their communities, and raise a generation of young ambassadors — they transform the Panth’s influence everywhere Sikhs live.
We train institutional leaders who understand that managing a Gurdwara is not enough — the goal is building community power.
Related Fellowships
Senior Fellow Program
for policy experts and scholars
Undergraduate Research Fellowship
for policy experts and scholars
Join Our Research Community
Join us in building the intellectual foundations for the Panth's global engagement.
