The name of the Institute is drawn from the name Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, a leader who dedicated his life to fostering the philosophy of nonviolent action and spreading this concept throughout the world. Since its establishment in 1991, the M.K. Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence has worked to promote peace and reconciliation and to develop programs that apply the principles of nonviolence locally, nationally and globally to prevent and resolve conflict. Christian Brothers University, Memphis, U.S.A., hosts the institution.

The Institute conducts conferences, workshops, seminars, lectures and essay competitions to provide meaningful explanations of the theory and practice of nonviolence, emphasizing the importance of building group and personal relationships. It explores how to create new paradigms for peace through peaceful means.

The M.K. Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence hosts an online library with research materials on nonviolence and conflict prevention. The library is available for students, researchers or concerned peacemakers to access reading material, videos and audiotapes.