Institute in Basic Life Principles

The Institute in Basic Life Principles (IBLP) is a nondenominational Christian fundamentalist organization established by American Christian minister Bill Gothard in 1961.

The organization's stated purpose is to provide instruction on how to find success in life by following biblical principles, via programs that include seminars for ministry, community outreach, troubled youth mentoring, and an international ministry. IBLP is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt, nonprofit organization. However, it does not publicly release financial information; such information (such as IRS Form 990s) must be obtained from other groups which routinely obtain and publish said data.

From its inception through the early 1980s, the organization grew rapidly, both in the United States and internationally. However, reports of sexual impropriety involving Gothard and his brother, Steve, would result in a decline in popularity. Another growth spurt beginning in the mid 2000s through the mid 2010s, spurred in part by the popularity of the Duggar family (IBLP alumni who were prominently featured on the TLC network), would end when Gothard was once again accused of sexual impropriety, resulting in his eventual permanent removal from the organization.

IBLP was headquartered on a 223-acre compound in Hinsdale, Gothard's hometown (though it prominently featured its Box One, Oak Brook, Illinois mailing address on its promotional materials during its heyday and can still be found on some materials). However, according to Chicago Magazine, sometime around 2015 it moved its headquarters and nearly all of its remaining operations to a facility east of the small East Texas town of Big Sandy. The facility was originally obtained by IBLP from Hobby Lobby President David Green in 2000, when he purchased the former Texas campus of Ambassador College and leased it to IBLP (it was later sold or donated to them according to public property records). As of 2026, the only facilities shown on the ministry's website are:

• the organization's headquarters in Texas, which houses most of its operations,
• the Northwoods Conference Center (a retreat center on 3,000 acres near Watersmeet, Michigan),
• a post office box in Conway, Arkansas for its prison ministry, and
• several locations (some of which are mailing facilities only) in other countries.