Bolton Street Synagogue

What Bolton Street Synagogue does

Bolton Street Synagogue is a Reform Jewish congregation founded in 1986 in Baltimore, Maryland, currently located in a repurposed BGE substation in the Roland Park neighborhood where it relocated and dedicated a new building on December 7, 2003. The non-profit organization is a member of the Union for Reform Judaism and operates as an inclusive spiritual home serving Jewish families, interfaith couples, LGBTQ+ individuals, Jews by choice, and Jews of Color in the Mid-Atlantic region, with a stated mission centered on audacious hospitality, social justice, and intergenerational Jewish continuity.

The congregation delivers religious services, education, and lifecycle programming through a clergy-led model under Rabbi Andy Gordon and Executive Director Sarah Jacobs, supported by a lean staff of 6 employees. Core offerings include weekly Shabbat and High Holy Day services, a Sunday-morning K-9 religious school, adult education, a 15-week conversion course, lifecycle ceremonies (B'nai Mitzvah, weddings, baby namings), and demographic-specific affinity programs (BOLT for young professionals, BSS 6T+ for seniors, LGBTQ Chavurah, and Families with Young Children). The facility includes a Sanctuary, Social Hall accommodating up to 320-seat receptions, classrooms, kitchen facilities, and a Bay-Wise and Bird-Friendly certified native garden overlooking a protected meadow, with accessibility features including hearing loops, closed captioning, and Braille prayerbooks.

Revenue is generated through a diversified mix of recurring membership dues, religious school tuition, donations and an annual fund, event fees, facility rentals, commemorative items (memorial plaques, prayerbook bookplates, garden bricks), and planned giving through the Etz Chaim Legacy Society. The organization pursues social action and Tikkun Olam through partnerships with BUILD, JUFJ, Strong Schools Maryland, IC4BL, and other Baltimore interfaith coalitions, and offers hybrid in-person and Zoom-with-transcription worship delivery for remote participation.

Name

Bolton Street Synagogue

Legal name

Bolton Street Synagogue

Website

https://boltonstreet.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Bolton Street Synagogue is a Reform Jewish congregation founded in 1986 in Baltimore, Maryland, serving Jewish families, interfaith couples, LGBTQ+ members, and Jews of Color through worship, religious education, lifecycle events, and social justice programming.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131)

akta.pro primary industry

Local Congregations & Worship Communities (Churches, Mosques, Temples, Synagogues) (BPAGAJAA)

Keywords

• Reform jewish congregation
• Religious education
• Lifecycle ceremonies
• Community worship services
• Social justice programming

Headquarters

HQ city

Baltimore

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. Membership Dues: Annual membership dues from congregants providing core operational funding
2. Religious School Tuition: Tuition fees for religious school programs from kindergarten through 9th grade confirmation class
3. Donations and Annual Fund: Undesignated annual fund contributions and specific fund donations for various purposes including building maintenance, youth education, music, and social action
4. Event Fees: Fees for special events including Second Night Passover Seder, High Holy Days guest registration, and community programs
5. Space Rentals: Rental fees for Sanctuary and Social Hall events accommodating up to 320-seat receptions, including use of tables, chairs, and kitchen facilities
6. Planned Giving / Legacy Gifts: Planned giving through wills, retirement accounts, life insurance, charitable remainder trusts, and endowment funds to secure long-term financial stability
7. Commemorative Items: Sales of memorial plaques, bookplates for prayerbooks, and commemorative bricks for garden patio

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Bolton Street Synagogue is a Reform Jewish congregation that provides weekly Shabbat and holiday worship services, religious school education (kindergarten through 9th grade confirmation), adult education, lifecycle event officiation (weddings, B'nai Mitzvah, baby namings, bris), conversion programs, and community programming for diverse demographics including young professionals, seniors, LGBTQ+ members, and families with young children. The synagogue also rents its Sanctuary and Social Hall for community events and runs social action initiatives through partnerships with Baltimore interfaith and advocacy organizations.

Product overview

Bolton Street Synagogue is a Reform Jewish congregation offering a comprehensive portfolio of religious, educational, and community programs. The core offerings include Shabbat and holiday worship services, religious school (Kindergarten through Confirmation), adult education, and lifecycle event ceremonies (weddings, B'nai Mitzvah, baby namings). Community programming spans demographic groups including BOLT (young professionals), BSS 6T+ (seniors), LGBTQ Chavurah, and families with young children. The synagogue provides social action/tikkun olam initiatives, space rental for events up to 320 attendees, and various donation/planned giving options through the Etz Chaim Legacy Society. Programming includes accessibility accommodations such as hearing loops, closed captioning, and Braille prayerbooks.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Shabbat Services Weekly Friday evening Shabbat services at 6:30pm and Saturday morning services at 10:30am held in the sanctuary, featuring song, prayer, and spiritual celebration, including Tot Shabbat for families with young children.
• High Holy Days Services Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Selichot, and related holiday services including Erev Rosh Hashanah in the Meadow, Kol Nidre, and community Tashlich programs. Available to members and non-members with registration.
• Jewish Festivals and Holidays Programming Year-round celebrations including Sukkot with Sukkah building, Simchat Torah, Hanukkah with latke contest, Tu B'Shvat seders, Purim carnival, Passover community seders, and Shavuot study sessions.
• Religious School Sunday morning religious school program (9am-noon) for kindergarten through 9th grade confirmation, featuring Hebrew prayer, Jewish holiday experiences, and Jewish values education, including a gaga pit and post B'nai Mitzvah confirmation class (Shevet Achim). Requires synagogue membership.
• Adult Education Saturday morning Torah study sessions and ongoing adult classes on topics including mysticism, mussar, bible, and Talmud study led by Rabbi Gordon.
• Conversion Program (Becoming Jewish) Introduction to Judaism course (15 weeks) combined with bimonthly meetings with Rabbi Gordon and synagogue participation, culminating in beit din panel and mikveh immersion.
• B'nai Mitzvah Program Individual ceremonies for Bar/Bat/B'nai Mitzvah preparation including meetings with Rabbi Gordon, Hebrew text mastery, d'var Torah preparation, and completion of a mitzvah project.
• Wedding Services Rabbi-led wedding ceremonies with consultation on the wedding process at Bolton Street Synagogue, available to members and non-members.
• Bris and Baby Naming Naming ceremonies for newborns offered to both members and non-members of the synagogue and larger Jewish community.
• Space Rental Rental of Sanctuary and Social Hall for events accommodating up to 320-seat receptions, with on-site tables/chairs, kitchen access, maintenance staff assistance, and optional AV equipment.
• Tot Shabbat Monthly family-friendly Shabbat services for babies through age 7 and their families, held Saturday mornings in summer (meadow) and weekday evenings (sanctuary) during academic year, followed by pizza dinner.
• BOLT Young Professionals Program Monthly gatherings for 20s/30s/40s young professionals including holiday events, Havdalah nights, and holiday-themed activities like baking hamentashen.
• LGBTQ Chavurah LGBTQ-inclusive programming including Pride Shabbat Services, Hanukkah events, annual Queer Passover Seder, and participation in Baltimore Pride Parade.
• BSS 6T+ Senior Program Learning series for members over 60 featuring educational programs on various topics including addiction, Alzheimer's, racial injustice, wine tastings, and history.
• Tikkun Olam and Social Action Programs Social justice initiatives including Casserole Program (monthly delivery to Our Daily Bread), Reading Partners literacy volunteering, BUILD partnership, Strong Schools Maryland advocacy, and various community service projects.
• Pastoral Care Spiritual support for illness and bereavement, including hospital visits, memorial services, Yizkor services (four times annually), and annual Book of Remembrance.
• Etz Chaim Legacy Society Planned giving and legacy gift program offering various donation vehicles including wills, retirement accounts, life insurance, charitable remainder trusts, and outright gifts to secure the synagogue's future.

Named customers3 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Union for Reform Judaism (URJ)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBolton Street Synagogue is a member of the Union for Reform Judaism, the central body of the Reform Jewish movement in North America. Provides access to resources, educational materials, and network of reform congregations.
• BUILD (Baltimoreans United in Leadership Development)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity power organization addressing unfair educational, job, and housing practices in Baltimore. Bolton Street joined in June 2019 to stand up together with other community groups for positive change.
• Strong Schools MarylandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdvocacy organization working to ensure educational funding and the Kirwan Commission recommendations. Bolton Street has been a member since August 2017 as part of Group of Ten advocacy effort.
• Jews United for Justice (JUFJ)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal advocacy organization working on tax fairness, youth and economic justice issues in Maryland. Bolton Street members participate in JUFJ-organized events including Social Justice Seders.
• IC4BL (Interfaith Coalition 4 Black Lives)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInterfaith coalition holding monthly rallies to support Black Lives. Recently expanded mission to include Immigrants. Provides interfaith community connections for social justice work.
• Third Space BaltimoreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity organization partnering for Community Tashlich program during High Holy Days. Joint programming at Pier 4 downtown Baltimore.
• Louise D. and Morton J. Macks Center for Jewish EducationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides support for Tot Time program for families with young children through funding and resources.
• Interfaith Partners for the ChesapeakeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental organization working on environmental justice and supporting Maryland Bottle Bill legislation. Native garden partnership.
• Baltimore Interfaith Hospitality NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormer partnership to house homeless families in the synagogue building, demonstrating commitment to social action.
• Faith Communities of Baltimore with PrideminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCoalition of faith communities supporting LGBTQ+ equality, participating in Baltimore Pride Parade and events.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Chizuk Amuno Congregation: A large, historic Conservative-Reform-affiliated congregation in Baltimore. Direct competitor for the same Jewish household pool; BSS's current Executive Director Sarah Jacobs previously worked there as Director of Strategic Operations and Community Fundraising.
• IKAR (Los Angeles): A progressive, socially engaged Jewish community in LA known for inclusive membership and innovative worship. Shares BSS's DNA of audacious hospitality, social justice focus, and redefinition of congregational experience.
• Temple Beth Am (Baltimore): Reform Jewish congregation in Baltimore County, offering religious school, lifecycle, and adult programming. Competes directly for Baltimore-area Reform families.
• Har Sinai Congregation: Reform Jewish synagogue in Owings Mills serving the greater Baltimore Jewish community. Direct competitor with comparable programming, religious school, and lifecycle services.
• Temple Sinai (Baltimore): Reform Jewish congregation in the Baltimore area, offering similar worship, religious school, and lifecycle services. Competes for overlapping member demographics.
• Beth El Congregation (Baltimore): One of Baltimore's largest and most established Conservative/Reform-leaning congregations. Competes for the same upper-tier Jewish household segment with greater programmatic depth and endowments.
• Baltimore Hebrew Congregation: One of the oldest Reform congregations in the United States, located in Baltimore. Competes for the same historic Reform Jewish audience in the Baltimore market.

Broad incumbents

• Sixth & I Historic Synagogue: A DC-based historic synagogue with a similar model of innovative programming, lifecycle services, and cultural relevance beyond traditional prayer services. Compares to BSS through non-traditional programming and an urban progressive identity.
• Congregation Beit Simchat Torah: A landmark LGBTQ-inclusive Jewish congregation in New York City. Comparable to BSS through its pioneering LGBTQ+ inclusion, which is a core differentiator for both synagogues.

Others

• Macks Center for Jewish Education: A Baltimore-area Jewish education support organization that partners with BSS on the Tot Time program. Adjacent ecosystem player rather than a direct competitor, but shapes the educational landscape BSS operates in.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UChUadHeGTIMWe62Kq25Q0ow
• Facebookfacebook.com/BoltonStreetSynagogue
• Instagraminstagram.com/boltonstreetsynagogue
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bolton-street-synagogue

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Bolton Street Synagogue