The Institute was founded in 1998 by Robert A. Baruch Bush, Joseph P. Folger, Dorothy J. Della Noce and Sally Ganong Pope, and is graciously hosted by the Hofstra University School of Law. 

We, the founders of the Institute, have worked in various capacities in the conflict resolution field for many years. Our work coalesced with the 1994 publication of The Promise of Mediation by Robert A. Baruch Bush and Joseph P. Folger, which articulated a Relational vision of society and a transformative approach to conflict. This approach to conflict and mediation has come to be known commonly as transformative mediation.  There followed various projects designed to move the transformative framework from theory to practice, including the Training Design Consultation Project and the ongoing Practice Enrichment Initiative, both funded by generous grants from the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation and the Surdna Foundation. In addition, we have worked with the United States Postal Service to develop a nationwide mediation program for its EEO complaints.

Throughout each of these initiatives, we have worked to support research, education, and training based on Relational premises and a transformative approach to conflict. We saw a growing need to create a central location for networking, education, and research. Out of that need, this Institute was born.

The Institute is a not-for-profit organization. Income generated by the Institute from trainings, sales of materials and other activities is used to support the continued work of the Institute.