Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism

What Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism does

The Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism (RAC), founded in 1961 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit social justice advocacy organization operating as a joint instrumentality of the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) and the Central Conference of American Rabbis (CCAR). Its mandate is to educate, train, and mobilize the Reform Jewish Movement — 825 congregations, approximately 2 million Reform Jews, and 2,000+ rabbis across North America — around more than 70 socioeconomic policy issues including antisemitism, gun violence prevention, immigration, LGBTQ+ equality, racial justice, reproductive rights, environmental justice, and criminal justice reform. Core operational assets include a web-based Legislative Action Center for geo-targeted constituent communications, the L'Taken Social Justice Seminars (training roughly 1,300 high school students annually in Washington, D.C.), the year-long Eisendrath Legislative Assistant Fellowship, the biennial Consultation on Conscience conference with Capitol Hill Lobby Day, and the Every Voice, Every Vote nonpartisan civic engagement campaign. The RAC executes its work through nine state-based affiliates (CA, FL, IL, MA, NJ, NY, OH, PA, TX) staffed by dedicated organizers, plus program streams for clergy, teens, and grassroots giving.

The organization is governed by the Commission on Social Action of Reform Judaism (composed of URJ and CCAR representatives) and led by Director Rabbi Jonah Dov Pesner, with Rabbi David Saperstein serving as Director Emeritus. Revenue derives primarily from individual, congregational, and foundation donations supplemented by tiered program fees for L'Taken Seminars (ranging $689–$995 per participant based on room occupancy, plus a $119 ground-transportation add-on). It distributes advocacy services through a hybrid model combining self-serve digital tools (Legislative Action Center, Justice Circles), in-person experiential programs (L'Taken, Consultation on Conscience), and field-based organizing via state affiliates. No private-equity, venture-capital, or public-market ownership is indicated; the RAC is a mission-driven nonprofit dependent on philanthropic support and program revenue.

Name

Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism

Legal name

Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism

Website

https://rac.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1961

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism is a 501(c)(3) social justice advocacy organization that mobilizes the Reform Jewish Movement — 825 congregations, 2 million Jews, and 2,000+ rabbis — through a Legislative Action Center, leadership development programs, and nine state-based affiliates.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Justice Advocacy Services

NAICS

Human Rights Organizations (813311), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Civic and Social Organizations (813410)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Faith-Based Advocacy & Public Policy Organizations (BPAGAJAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Human Rights & Anti-Discrimination Organizations (BPAGAFAB), LGBTQ+ Rights & Advocacy Organizations (BPAGAFAE), Racial & Ethnic Justice Organizations (BPAGAFAC), Civil Liberties & Constitutional Rights Advocacy (BPAGAFAA), Community Health, Prevention & Health Education (BPAGACAC)

Keywords

• Social justice advocacy
• Legislative action center
• Civic engagement programs
• Religious nonprofit organizing
• Leadership development

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Contributions: The RAC operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization funded primarily through donations from individuals, congregations, and foundations. The website features donation campaigns including matching gift challenges.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism (RAC) operates a social justice advocacy and organizing infrastructure for the Reform Jewish Movement in North America. Its core offering is the Legislative Action Center, an online platform that enables geo-targeted constituent communications to elected officials, combined with in-person advocacy programs (L'Taken Social Justice Seminars for teens), fellowship training (Eisendrath Legislative Assistant Fellowship), leadership conferences (Consultation on Conscience), civic engagement campaigns (Every Voice, Every Vote), and nine state-based affiliates that mobilize 825 URJ congregations and approximately 2 million Reform Jews across nine U.S. states.

Product overview

The Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism (RAC) operates as a social justice advocacy organization rather than a traditional software product company. Its core offering consists of advocacy programs, leadership development initiatives, and civic engagement campaigns designed to mobilize the Reform Jewish Movement around pressing socioeconomic issues. The primary technology product is the Legislative Action Center, an online advocacy platform enabling constituent communication with elected officials. Complementary programs include the L'Taken Social Justice Seminars for youth leadership, Eisendrath Legislative Assistant Fellowship, Consultation on Conscience conference, and the Every Voice Every Vote democracy campaign. These offerings function together as an integrated advocacy ecosystem, with the RAC serving as the central coordination hub connecting grassroots activists, clergy, teens, and congregational leaders to federal and state-level policy advocacy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Every Voice, Every Vote: Nonpartisan democracy campaign focused on strengthening voter participation grounded in Jewish values and commitment to racial justice
• Consultation on Conscience
• Bernard and Audre Rapoport L'Taken Social Justice Seminars
• Irving J. Fain Awards
• Eisendrath Legislative Assistant Fellowship
• Justice Circles

Products and services

• Legislative Action Center
• L'Taken Social Justice Seminars
• Eisendrath Legislative Assistant Fellowship
• Consultation on Conscience
• Every Voice, Every Vote Campaign
• Justice Circles
• RAC Teen Justice Fellowship
• Teen Jews of Color Fellowship
• RAC Clergy Cohort (Balfour/Brickner)
• WRJ-RAC Reproductive Health & Rights Campaign

Quantifiable outcome

• 825 URJ congregations mobilized for advocacy
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and regional.

• Union for Reform Judaism (URJ)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe RAC serves as a joint instrumentality of URJ and CCAR. The RAC's work is mandated by URJ, whose 825 congregations across North America include approximately 2 million Reform Jews. URJ provides governance and organizational infrastructure.
• Central Conference of American Rabbis (CCAR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe RAC represents the values of CCAR, whose membership includes more than 2,000 Reform rabbis. Representatives of both URJ and CCAR comprise the Commission on Social Action which governs RAC policy positions.
• Commission on Social Action of Reform JudaismcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe CSA provides governance for the RAC and is a deliberative, policy-development and leadership body bringing the vision of Reform Judaism to issues of social justice.
• Anti-Defamation League (ADL)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization working on antisemitism and hate crimes issues. ADL provides resources for responding to antisemitic incidents and antisemitism education.
• American Jewish Committee (AJC)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization addressing antisemitism and international Jewish concerns.
• Jewish Council for Public AffairsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization in coalition addressing antisemitism and hate crimes.
• Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounded in 1881, HIAS is the oldest international migration and refugee resettlement organization in the US. Partner on immigration justice work supporting refugees and immigrants.
• KeshetmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization for LGBTQ+ equality in Jewish life. RAC and Keshet mobilize Jewish clergy for transgender rights campaigns.
• Faiths United to Prevent Gun ViolencemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition partner for gun violence prevention advocacy.
• Brady CampaignmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGun violence prevention advocacy partner.
• Dayenu: A Jewish Call to Climate ActionmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJewish climate action organization. RAC partnered with Dayenu to create FAQ on ESG investments and fossil fuel divestment for congregations.
• CeaseFirePAregionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerRAC-PA partners with CeaseFirePA on campaign to end gun violence in Pennsylvania.
• Illinois Coalition for Fair HousingregionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerRAC-IL worked with the Illinois Coalition for Fair Housing to secure passage of HB 2775 prohibiting source of income discrimination in housing.
• Women of Reform Judaism (WRJ)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRAC partners with WRJ on the WRJ-RAC Reproductive Health & Rights Campaign for collective action at local, state, provincial, and federal levels.
• National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsor of Repro Shabbat and partner on reproductive rights advocacy.
• NAACPmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRAC partners with NAACP through the We Are Done Dying campaign on racial justice issues.
• The Leadership Conference on Civil & Human RightsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRAC references the Leadership Conference's guidebook and toolkit for community-centered policing policy solutions.

Scale indicators7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Anti-Defamation League (ADL): The largest U.S. Jewish civil rights and antisemitism-focused advocacy organization. Comparable to RAC because it mobilizes the Jewish community on hate crimes, antisemitism, and policy advocacy, and is explicitly listed as a RAC partner organization.
• American Jewish Committee (AJC): Global Jewish advocacy organization focused on antisemitism, Israel, and international Jewish concerns. Listed as a RAC partner and competes for the same donor and policy-influence space as the RAC.

Direct peers

• Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA): Jewish community-relations umbrella that convenes Jewish organizations on domestic policy and civil rights coalitions. RAC lists JCPA as a partner, and the two share the model of mobilizing Jewish constituencies for federal/state advocacy.
• Bend the Arc: Jewish Action: Progressive Jewish advocacy organization mobilizing Jews around racial justice, economic justice, and democracy. Directly comparable to RAC's progressive social-justice agenda and multi-issue lobbying model.
• T'ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights: Network of rabbis advocating for human rights in U.S. and Israeli policy. Closely comparable to RAC's rabbinic constituency (CCAR) and its human-rights issue portfolio.
• HIAS (Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society): Jewish refugee and immigrant resettlement and advocacy organization. RAC lists HIAS as a partner, and the two co-mobilize on immigration justice.
• National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW): Jewish women's advocacy organization that co-sponsors Repro Shabbat and reproductive rights work with RAC. Comparable mission, constituency overlap, and federal/state advocacy model.
• Interfaith Alliance: Multi-faith coalition advocating for religious freedom, democracy, and civic engagement. Comparable to RAC on faith-based advocacy, state-level organizing, and protection of pluralistic democratic norms.
• NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice: Faith-based policy and lobbying organization rooted in Catholic social teaching. Comparable to RAC in operating as a faith-driven 501(c)(3) advocacy hub with grassroots mobilization, federal legislative work, and a multi-issue progressive agenda.

Emerging players

• J Street: Pro-Israel, pro-peace advocacy and lobbying organization. Comparable to RAC as a Jewish-community-driven policy advocacy group, but with stronger emphasis on direct electoral lobbying (PAC) that the 501(c)(3)-only RAC cannot match.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/therac
• Facebookfacebook.com/TheRAC

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries9 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 Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism