Jewish Community Action

What Jewish Community Action does

Jewish Community Action (JCA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1995 and headquartered at 2324 University Ave W, Suite 105, in Saint Paul, Minnesota. JCA organizes Minnesotan Jews for racial and economic justice through five core issue campaigns — Housing Justice, Decriminalizing Communities, Combating Hate, Multiracial Democracy, and Gender Freedom — alongside an educational initiative (Smokescreen Antisemitism Education) and the Vic Rosenthal Tzedek Institute, a leadership training program for next-generation Jewish social justice leaders. The organization anchors its work in Jewish teachings on justice (tzedek, tikkun olam) and operates within a coalition ecosystem of 30+ partner organizations, including the Decriminalizing Communities Campaign, housing coalitions across the Twin Cities metro, OutFront Minnesota, Minnesota AFL-CIO, the Jewish Social Justice RoundTable, and Bend the Arc.

The organization's go-to-market is community-led: JCA acquires and retains supporters through grassroots organizing, Action Havurah gatherings, one-on-one organizer meetings, and high-visibility events such as the annual Freedom Seder (now in its 24th year), nonviolent direct action trainings, marches, seders, and community briefings. Distribution runs through the website (jewishcommunityaction.org), Instagram, and email action alerts via EveryAction. The revenue model is membership-based and recurring; members contribute flexible amounts (no fixed tiers), with contributions sustaining all organizational work. FY2024-25 total income was $1,014,967 against total expenses of $946,658, supported by a base of over 1,000 individual members. JCA is led by Executive Director Beth Gendler and Board Chair Liz Loeb, with an 11–50 person staff spanning organizing, education, and coalition functions.

Name

Jewish Community Action

Legal name

Jewish Community Action

Website

https://jewishcommunityaction.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Jewish Community Action is a Minnesota-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that organizes Jewish community members for racial and economic justice through campaigns on housing, immigration, hate crimes, democracy, and gender freedom, sustained by over 1,000 individual members and 30+ coalition partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Justice Advocacy and Community Organizing

NAICS

Human Rights Organizations (813311), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Civic and Social Organizations (81341)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Racial & Ethnic Justice Organizations (BPAGAFAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Human Rights & Anti-Discrimination Organizations (BPAGAFAB)

Keywords

• Community organizing
• Social justice advocacy
• Grassroots campaigns
• Coalition building
• Nonprofit member services

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint Paul

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Contributions: Organized people and organized money change the world. All of JCA's work is powered by membership contributions from supporters. Members make financial contributions of any amount to sustain the organization's racial and economic justice campaigns.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Jewish Community Action organizes Minnesotan Jews for racial and economic justice through grassroots community organizing, advocacy campaigns, leadership training, and coalition-based political action. The organization runs campaigns on housing justice, decriminalizing communities, combating hate, multiracial democracy, and gender freedom, and trains leaders through the Vic Rosenthal Tzedek Institute. Its work is sustained by membership contributions from individual supporters.

Product overview

Jewish Community Action (JCA) is a nonprofit community organization, not a technology product company. It operates as a single unified advocacy and organizing service focused on mobilizing Minnesota's Jewish community for social justice. The organization does not offer distinct software products or modules—rather, it provides community organizing services, educational programs, advocacy campaigns, and hosts community events. Its primary offerings include grassroots organizing campaigns, the Vic Rosenthal Tzedek Institute (a leadership training program), community events, and advocacy for racial and economic justice across multiple issue areas.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Vic Rosenthal Tzedek Institute: Training program for the next generation of social justice leaders

Products and services

• Vic Rosenthal Tzedek Institute A leadership training program that trains the next generation of social justice leaders within the Jewish community, providing education on Jewish identity and social justice principles.
• Housing Justice Campaign Organizing to protect tenants, prevent displacement, preserve affordable housing, and produce safe, stable housing affordable for marginalized communities across the Twin Cities metro.
• Decriminalizing Communities Campaign Campaign to transform the criminal-legal and immigration systems through coalition organizing with immigrant and incarcerated-led organizations to end deportations and mass incarceration.
• Combating Hate Campaign Educational and organizing campaign to combat antisemitism and white nationalism through community training and the Combating Hate Coalition working to reform Minnesota's hate crime laws.
• Multiracial Democracy Campaign Coalition organizing to build an inclusive, equitable multiracial democracy where every vote is counted, every voice is heard, and everyone has resources to thrive.
• Gender Freedom Campaign Campaign to protect reproductive and gender-affirming healthcare access and pass an Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) in Minnesota to prevent discrimination.
• Community Events Program Hosts various community events including Freedom Seder (annual, in its 24th year), Nonviolent Direct Action Training, community briefings, rallies, educational workshops, and interfaith services.

Quantifiable outcome

• Helped pass renters protections in Golden Valley, Minneapolis, St. Paul, St. Louis Park, and Edina; helped repeal St. Louis Park's 'Evicted before Convicted' ordinance; historic campaigns for rent stabilization in St. Paul and pathway to rent stabilization in Minneapolis

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.

• Jewish Social Justice RoundTable (JSJR)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational partner organization connecting Jewish social justice organizations. JCA is listed as a member of the Jewish Social Justice RoundTable network.
• Bend the Arc: Jewish PartnershipmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational Jewish partnership organization. Listed as a partner supporting JCA's national organizing work.
• Decriminalizing Communities Campaign (30+ coalition partners)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA broad coalition of over 30 organizations working to transform the criminal-legal and immigration system into one of true public safety. JCA organizes with immigrant and incarcerated-led organizations to keep families together and end deportations and mass incarceration.
• Housing Justice Link (HJL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition partner in housing justice organizing across the Twin Cities metro.
• Make Homes Happen MinneapoliscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition partner focused on housing production and affordability in Minneapolis.
• Our Future Starts at HomecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition campaign working to ensure housing is affordable for all Minnesotans.
• Equity in PlacecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition focused on equity in housing and development across the region.
• Bring It Home MinnesotacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition working on housing issues and tenant protections in Minnesota.
• Suburban Hennepin Housing CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJCA is a founding member of this coalition, which links social service agencies to organizing and housing advocacy organizations to preserve affordable housing in suburban Hennepin County communities.
• We Choose Us MNmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition partner in multiracial democracy organizing. JCA works with We Choose Us MN to stand up for the promise of a true multiracial democracy against white Christian nationalism.
• Minnesotans for Equal Rights Coalition (MN4ER)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition working to pass an Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) to the Minnesota Constitution. JCA participates in MN4ER events and rallies.
• Combating Hate Coalition (via stophatemn.org)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLegislative coalition convened by JCA to reform Minnesota's hate crime laws, allowing targeted communities to have a greater role in reporting and education.
• OutFront MinnesotacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLGBTQ+ advocacy organization partnering with JCA on events such as the Trans Solidarity Service and Pride activities.
• Minnesota AFL-CIOcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLabor federation partnering with JCA on nonviolent direct action trainings and pro-labor, pro-democracy organizing.
• J-Pride and JFCScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJewish LGBTQ+ organization (J-Pride) and Jewish Family & Community Services partnering with JCA on Pride events including the Twin Cities Pride Parade.
• MuusjaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization referenced in Trans Host Home Info Sessions events.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Bend the Arc: Jewish Partnership: National Jewish social justice organization focused on progressive mobilization, racial and economic justice, and anti-antisemitism organizing. Highly comparable to JCA as a Jewish-values-anchored advocacy group, but operating at national scale rather than regionally.
• T'ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights: Jewish rabbinic human rights organization mobilizing Jewish communities around immigrant rights, criminal justice, and democracy. Comparable to JCA on Jewish-anchored human rights advocacy and coalition-based organizing, with broader national reach.
• Jewish Voice for Peace: National Jewish anti-occupation and progressive advocacy organization with significant grassroots membership infrastructure. Comparable to JCA on Jewish-identity-led social justice organizing and member-funded model, though focused more on Israel/Palestine and with different political alignment on some issues.

Emerging players

• AVODAH: The Jewish Service Corps: Jewish organization combining service, education, and community organizing on anti-poverty work. Comparable to JCA on Jewish-values-driven social justice engagement and leadership development, with overlap via the Tzedek Institute concept.

Regional players

• ISAIAH: Minnesota-based multiracial, multifaith community organizing coalition that does faith-rooted organizing on housing, racial justice, and democracy — direct regional peer to JCA, operating in the same Twin Cities geography with overlapping campaigns.
• TakeAction Minnesota: Minnesota-based progressive advocacy organization running multi-racial, multi-issue organizing campaigns on democracy, economic justice, and immigrant rights. Directly comparable regional peer to JCA, operating in overlapping coalitions (e.g., We Choose Us MN).
• Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) of Minnesota and the Dakotas: Regional Jewish community relations and advocacy organization in the same Minnesota market as JCA, working on antisemitism, civic engagement, and coalition-building. Directly comparable regional peer competing for the same Jewish donor and member pool.

Broad incumbents

• HIAS (Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society): Global Jewish refugee and immigrant assistance organization. Comparable to JCA on Jewish-immigrant advocacy alignment, with substantially greater resources and national infrastructure for the Decriminalizing Communities work JCA pursues.
• Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism (RAC): Social justice advocacy arm of the Reform Jewish movement, mobilizing Jewish communities on issues including housing, immigration, and voting rights. Comparable to JCA on Jewish advocacy campaigns and policy wins, with movement-scale resources.
• New Israel Fund: Progressive Jewish philanthropic and advocacy organization funding Israeli and diaspora social justice work. Comparable to JCA on Jewish-anchored progressive values and member-supported model, with broader international scope.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/jewishcommunityaction
• Xx.com/jca_mn
• Facebookfacebook.com/jewishcommunityaction
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/jewish-community-action

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Jewish Community Action