MaTovu

What MaTovu does

MaTovu is an inclusive Jewish cooperative community center founded in October 2018 and based at 4200 Blaine Avenue in St. Louis City's Botanical Heights neighborhood, operating from the historic South Side Hebrew Congregation building (1929-1944). The organization offers a portfolio of Jewish spiritual, cultural, and social programming — including Shabbat services, Ecstatic Dance, Torah on Tap, Reading Circles, Tot Shabbat, and adult education — alongside private event space rentals at $50-$150 per hour. Programming is produced and governed by approximately 35 cooperative members ('Builders') through committees, a structure formalized in 2024.

The organization is a 501c3 nonprofit supported primarily by donations, with a $750,000 capital campaign launched in April 2026 to purchase its building and expand staff capacity (90% pledged by early supporters). MaTovu employs 3-4 staff including a Managing Director (Jeremy Brok, hired October 2025) and Program Coordinator (Charlie Meyers), governed by a 4-person volunteer board. In 2025, the organization engaged 1,400+ participants across 61 programs. Technology infrastructure is minimal: the website runs on Squarespace, there are no proprietary systems, and distribution is concentrated in a single 2,600 sq ft physical venue (110-person capacity) with select off-site programming at partner locations.

MaTovu's go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, relying on word-of-mouth, an email list of 500+ subscribers, 1,700+ social media followers, partnerships with the Jewish Federation of St. Louis, PJ Library, JCRC, and NCJWSTL, and coverage in St. Louis Jewish Light. Its strategy is to position itself as the only inclusive, progressive Jewish community space in St. Louis City, serving Jews disaffiliated from traditional institutions alongside non-Jewish neighbors seeking community gathering space. The organization targets the regional Jewish population of approximately 10,000 in the St. Louis area (22% within the city itself).

Name

MaTovu

Legal name

MaTovu

Website

https://matovustl.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

MaTovu is a 501c3 inclusive Jewish cooperative community center in St. Louis City offering spiritual, cultural, and social programming, private event space rentals, and community-building activities for Jews and non-Jewish neighbors, governed by 35 cooperative member-'Builders' and supported primarily through donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Community Center Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Civic and Social Organizations (813410)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Cultural Centers & Community Cultural Organizations (BPAGAHAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Community Center Education Programs (EDAAAFAB)

Keywords

• Community space rentals
• Jewish cultural programming
• Cooperative community center
• Event venue rentals
• Religious education programs

Headquarters

HQ city

St Louis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: MaTovu is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that relies on generous donor support. The organization runs a $750,000 capital campaign to purchase its building and expand operations.
2. Space Rentals: MaTovu rents out its 2,600 square foot facility for private events, conferences, and community gatherings. Rental rates are tiered by organization type (full rate, nonprofit rate, conference room rate).
3. Program Fees: Various programs charge sliding scale fees or set prices (e.g., Ecstatic Dance $10-$40, Shavuot event $0-$36, Torah on Tap first round of drinks complimentary).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

MaTovu operates an inclusive Jewish cooperative community center in St. Louis City that delivers spiritual, cultural, and social programming—including Shabbat services, Ecstatic Dance, Torah on Tap, reading circles, youth and adult education, and holiday celebrations—created and led by cooperative members ("Builders"). It also rents out its 2,600-square-foot historic facility (multi-purpose room for up to 110 people, kitchen, children's space) for private events, conferences, and community gatherings. Revenue is generated primarily through donations and charitable contributions, supplemented by tiered hourly rental fees and sliding-scale program fees.

Product overview

MaTovu is an inclusive Jewish cooperative community center offering a unified portfolio of community space and programming. The core offering consists of rental access to their 2,600 sq ft facility (multi-purpose room for up to 110 people) and diverse programming including Shabbat services, Ecstatic Dance events, Torah on Tap discussions, reading circles, youth programming, and cooperative membership (Builders). The organization operates as a 501c3 nonprofit community center, not a technology platform or SaaS product.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Community Space Rentals

Quantifiable outcome

• 1,400+ participants engaged in 61 programs in 2025
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

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

• PJ LibrarycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPJ Library partners with MaTovu for family programming including drag queen story time events. Both organizations share missions aligned around inclusive Jewish programming for children and families. The partnership creates programming that wouldn't exist otherwise in St. Louis.
• Jewish Federation of St. LouiscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJewish Federation of St. Louis supported MaTovu's founding and continues to be a key partner. Federation discussions helped founders develop the organization concept and Federation provides funding for programs such as Shavuot events.
• NCJWSTLmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational Council of Jewish Women St. Louis section partners with MaTovu for advocacy events including reproductive rights programming like the 'Why No On Amendment 3 Matters' event.
• JCRC St. LouismajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJewish Community Relations Council partners with MaTovu for advocacy and community programming on issues affecting the Jewish community.
• Left Bank BooksminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal independent bookstore provides books for author events and reading circles. Left Bank Books stocks titles discussed at MaTovu reading circles and appears at author events.
• Kol RinahminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal Jewish congregation partners with MaTovu for joint programming such as Tisha B'Av mourning and memory events.
• Jewish LightminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSt. Louis Jewish Light newspaper provides media coverage and promotional support for MaTovu's capital campaign and events.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Romemu: A progressive Jewish spiritual community in New York blending Jewish mysticism, meditation, and inclusive practice. Comparable as an urban, inclusive, spiritually progressive Jewish alternative with a strong emphasis on community gathering and programming.
• Kol Rinah: A progressive, inclusive Jewish congregation in St. Louis that has partnered with MaTovu on programming. Directly comparable in mission (welcoming/progressive Jewish community in St. Louis) and target audience, while operating a synagogue-style model rather than a cooperative community center.
• Congregation Temple Israel: A historic Reform Jewish congregation in St. Louis offering religious, educational, and cultural programming. Comparable as a Jewish institution providing spiritual and community services to St. Louis Jews, though more traditional in orientation than MaTovu's inclusive model.
• Mishkan Chicago: A non-denominational Jewish spiritual community in Chicago emphasizing inclusivity, creativity, and contemporary Jewish practice. Direct peer in the progressive/inclusive Jewish niche serving urban younger adults with innovative programming outside the congregational model.
• IKAR: A progressive, inclusive Jewish community in Los Angeles known for innovative spiritual and cultural programming. Comparable as a non-orthodox, progressive alternative to mainstream synagogues targeting younger, engaged Jewish adults — a strong directional peer for MaTovu's audience and values.
• Sixth & I Historic Synagogue: An inclusive Jewish cultural center and historic synagogue in Washington, DC, hosting secular and religious programming, author events, and community gatherings. Highly comparable mission and programming mix (cultural + Jewish + inclusive), serving as a leading model for the hybrid MaTovu embodies.

Broad incumbents

• JCC St. Louis (Jewish Community Center): The regional Jewish Community Center serving the St. Louis metro with broad programming (fitness, education, cultural events). Direct geographic peer with overlapping community-center services but a much larger, traditional footprint, making it the most operationally comparable anchor in the same city.
• 92nd Street Y (92Y): A premier New York Jewish cultural and community center offering programming across Jewish life, arts, and education. Comparable to MaTovu as a Jewish cultural/community programming venue, but at vastly larger scale and broader scope.

Others

• Jewish Federation of St. Louis: The central Jewish communal funding and convening organization in St. Louis, an existing MaTovu partner. Comparable as a Jewish community anchor but operates as a federated grantmaker and umbrella body rather than a programming venue.
• PJ Library: A Jewish Family Service organization that sends Jewish children's books to families worldwide and partners with MaTovu on family programming. Comparable as a Jewish family-engagement programming provider but operates as a national nonprofit content/distribution model rather than a local venue.

Market position

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/matovustl
• Facebookfacebook.com/matovustl
• Instagraminstagram.com/matovustl

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 MaTovu