The Israel Religious Action Center (IRAC)

What The Israel Religious Action Center (IRAC) does

The Israel Religious Action Center (IRAC) is a non-profit legal advocacy organization founded in 1987 and headquartered in Jerusalem, Israel, that operates as the public and legal advocacy arm of the Israel Movement for Progressive and Reform Judaism (IMPJ). The organization pursues religious pluralism, gender equality, LGBTQ rights, racial equality, immigrant rights, and democratic governance through Supreme Court litigation, Knesset advocacy, and community organizing. Its core programs include the Legal Aid Center for Olim (LACO, established 1992), the Racism Crisis Center (RCC, established 2017), the International Lawyers Society (Pursuers of Justice), and the Tzedek Tzedek Tirdof Attorneys initiative, supplemented by a weekly newsletter (The Pluralist), a podcast, and annual research publications. IRAC has secured multiple landmark Supreme Court rulings, including elimination of gender-segregated Mehadrin bus lines, recognition of non-Orthodox mikvah access for converts, alternative kashrut certification, equal adoption rights for LGBTQ couples, and disqualification of racist Knesset candidates.

IRAC's business model is donor-funded rather than revenue-generating. Funding flows through region-specific tax-deductible channels: Friends of IMPJ (USA, tax ID 14-1970976), ARZA Canada, UPJ Australia, and local Israeli tax-deductible donations, supplemented by recurring monthly giving (Action Hero Club), legacy/bequest gifts, and merchandise sales via a Threadless storefront. The organization maintains a small staff (1-10 employees), leverages pro bono legal capacity through the International Lawyers Society, and partners with URJ, ARZA, WRJ, Masorti, JOH, Kolech, Mossawa, and the Coalition Against Racism in Israel to extend its operational reach. Distribution of services and content occurs through digital channels (website, email, podcast, social media), regional donation portals, in-person community organizing (including 40 consecutive weeks of mass protest mobilization in 2023), and direct legal hotlines operating in Hebrew, Arabic, Russian, Amharic, and English.

Name

The Israel Religious Action Center (IRAC)

Legal name

The Israel Religious Action Center (IRAC)

Website

https://irac.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Israel Religious Action Center (IRAC) is a Jerusalem-based non-profit legal advocacy organization serving as the public and legal arm of the Reform Movement in Israel, advancing religious pluralism, gender and LGBTQ equality, anti-racism, immigrant rights, and democratic governance through Supreme Court litigation, policy advocacy, and community organizing funded by international donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Civil Rights Advocacy

NAICS

Human Rights Organizations (813311), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Services-Legal Services (8111)

akta.pro primary industry

Civil Liberties & Constitutional Rights Advocacy (BPAGAFAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Human Rights & Anti-Discrimination Organizations (BPAGAFAB)

Keywords

• Civil rights advocacy
• Religious pluralism advocacy
• Nonprofit legal advocacy
• Human rights litigation
• Immigration legal aid

Headquarters

HQ city

Jerusalem

HQ country

Israel

HQ region

Middle East

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: IRAC generates revenue primarily through donations from individuals, organizations, and institutional supporters. The organization accepts donations from USA, Canada, Australia, Israel, and internationally through various channels including one-time donations, recurring monthly donations (Action Hero Club), and legacy/bequest gifts. Tax-deductible donation options are available for US residents through Friends of IMPJ (tax-exempt number 14-1970976) and for Canadian donors through ARZA Canada.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

IRAC is a Jerusalem-based legal advocacy nonprofit serving as the public and legal advocacy arm of the Reform Movement in Israel. It provides free legal representation, Supreme Court petitions, and policy advocacy to advance religious pluralism, gender equality, LGBTQ rights, and racial equality, alongside programs including the Legal Aid Center for Olim (LACO), the Racism Crisis Center (RCC), and the International Lawyers Society.

Product overview

The Israel Religious Action Center (IRAC) is a non-profit advocacy organization that serves as the public and legal advocacy arm of the Reform Movement in Israel. IRAC does not offer a traditional software product but provides advocacy programs and services including: The Pluralist (weekly newsletter), the Legal Aid Center for Olim (LACO) for immigrant legal assistance, the Racism Crisis Center (RCC) for reporting hate crimes, the International Lawyers Society for attorney engagement, a podcast series, and an e-commerce swag shop. These programs work together to advance religious pluralism, equality, and democracy in Israel.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Legal Aid Center for Olim (LACO) Legal aid program providing hotline services, legal advice, and full legal representation to Jewish immigrants (olim) coming to Israel under the Law of Return to help them secure their rights and deal with bureaucracy.
• Racism Crisis Center (RCC) Crisis center serving victims of racism and those wishing to report hate crimes and discrimination, operating a hotline and communications in Hebrew, Arabic, Russian, Amharic, and English.
• International Lawyers Society (Pursuers of Justice) Network of attorneys supporting IRAC's work through periodic webinars, study sessions, and participation in legal discourses on major issues including democracy, equality, and religious freedom in Israel.
• Tzedek Tzedek Tirdof Attorneys Directory of attorneys providing pro bono legal services to support IRAC's civil and human rights advocacy work in Israel.

Quantifiable outcome

• Won Supreme Court petition to eliminate gender-segregated Mehadrin bus lines that operated from 1997 to 2011
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major, moderate and minor.

• Israel Movement for Progressive and Reform Judaism (IMPJ)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIMPJ is IRAC's parent organization - IRAC serves as the official public and legal advocacy arm of the Reform Movement in Israel. IMPJ supports a network of around 30 progressive congregations around the country and is the umbrella organization for all Reform organizations in Israel.
• Union for Reform Judaism (URJ)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerURJ represents and works to strengthen the largest Jewish movement in North America. Current President Rabbi Rick Jacobs supports IRAC's work and travels to Israel to support Reform organizations. URJ provides international backing and resources.
• Association of Reform Zionists of America (ARZA)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerARZA is an affiliate of URJ that strengthens the connection between Reform Jews in the United States and the land and State of Israel. ARZA Canada handles Canadian donations for IRAC.
• Women of Reform Judaism (WRJ)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerWRJ is a global network of women's groups throughout America, Israel, and the world affiliated with URJ. Awarded Anat Hoffman the Dr. Jane Evans: Pursuit of Justice Award.
• Coalition Against Racism in IsraelmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIRAC co-established the Racism Crisis Center (RCC) with this coalition in 2017. The RCC serves victims of racism and those who wish to report hate crimes and discrimination.
• Jerusalem Open House for Pride and Tolerance (JOH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIRAC represents JOH in its struggle to receive municipal funding and represents JOH against the Municipality of Jerusalem while planning the annual Pride march. JOH provides services for LGBTQ community in Jerusalem.
• Mossawa Advocacy Center for Arab Citizens in IsraelmoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerIRAC has partnered with Mossawa on several occasions. Mossawa promotes the equal rights of Arabs in Israel. Both organizations work together on issues of shared concern.
• Masorti MovementcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIRAC often represents the Masorti Movement (Israeli Conservative Movement) in the struggle for equal rights and government resources. The Masorti Movement works towards democratic vision of Jewish life in Israel.
• Panim - Israeli-Judaism NetworkmoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerPanim is the umbrella organization for progressive Jewish organizations in Israel, servicing around 60 NGOs and communities all aiming for a more pluralistic Israeli society.
• World Zionist Organization (WZO)moderateGTM or Marketing PartnerWZO promotes Zionism and encourages Aliyah from the Diaspora. ARZENU represents the Reform Movement in the World Zionist Congress under WZO.
• Kolech - Orthodox Feminist OrganizationmoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerKolech was the plaintiff in IRAC's class action lawsuit against Kol Barama radio station on behalf of women whose voices were excluded from the station.
• International Lawyers Society (Pursuers of Justice)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIRAC established this initiative to create a group of committed attorneys to support IRAC's work. Members receive periodic webinars, study critical issues, and provide expertise and comparative views on issues at hand.
• Ministry of Labor and Standards Institution of IsraelminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Ministry of Labor provided monetary support for the Voluntary Code for Equality and Diversity in the Workplace created by IRAC. The Standards Institution of Israel was a partner in creating this code.
• Friends of IMPJ (USA)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUS-based organization handling tax-deductible donations for IRAC. Donations can be sent to: P.O. Box 103350, Pasadena, CA 91189-3350 with tax-exempt number 14-1970976.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Israel Hofsheet: Israeli judicial watchdog monitoring prosecutorial and police misconduct through litigation and public reports. A peer organization within the Israeli civil-rights NGO ecosystem and a potential collaboration partner for IRAC's rule-of-law and democracy-strengthening mandate.
• HIAS (Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society): Jewish-founded global refugee and immigrant aid organization providing legal services, resettlement support, and advocacy. Directly comparable to IRAC's LACO program, which provides legal aid to immigrants under the Law of Return.
• Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI): Israel's preeminent civil liberties and human rights NGO, engaged in litigation, policy advocacy, and public education across many of the same rights domains as IRAC (religious freedom, minority rights, democratic norms). ACRI is the most direct functional peer given shared Supreme Court litigation strategy and overlapping beneficiary communities.
• Rabbis for Human Rights: Israeli rabbinical organization engaging in human rights advocacy, legal aid, and grassroots organizing grounded in Jewish values. Comparable to IRAC's blending of religious legitimacy with civil rights litigation and parallel work on immigration, housing, and agricultural rights.
• Jerusalem Open House for Pride and Tolerance (JOH): LGBTQ community center in Jerusalem that IRAC represents legally in municipal funding disputes and Pride march planning. Functions as both a beneficiary and a strategic partner, sharing IRAC's litigation-driven approach to LGBTQ rights in a conservative municipal environment.
• New Israel Fund (NIF): Funder and capacity-builder for Israeli civil society, supporting many of the same grantees and causes as IRAC (religious pluralism, Arab-Jewish equality, LGBTQ rights, democratic governance). Comparable as a strategic partner/funder and as an advocacy peer operating in the same donor and beneficiary ecosystems.
• B'Tselem: Israeli human rights organization focused on documenting rights violations in the occupied territories and advocating for accountability. Comparable to IRAC in mission (civil and human rights advocacy, research-driven public campaigns) but with a stronger focus on occupation-related issues rather than religious pluralism within Israel proper.
• Adalah - The Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel: Legal advocacy organization representing Palestinian citizens of Israel through litigation, policy advocacy, and international advocacy. Directly comparable to IRAC's RCC and Supreme Court petition work, and an explicit partner in overlapping cases (e.g., Jewish Nation-State Law challenges).
• Mossawa Center: Advocacy center for Arab citizens of Israel focused on equal rights, policy advocacy, and coalition-building. Explicitly named IRAC partner, with overlapping beneficiary communities and shared focus on combating discrimination against Arab Israelis.

Emerging players

• Jewish Funds for Justice (or Tzedek Foundation successor entities): Progressive Jewish philanthropic organizations funding domestic and Israeli social-justice work. Comparable as a funder and ideological ally in the progressive Jewish ecosystem that sustains IRAC's donor pipeline, though primarily grantmaking rather than litigation-focused.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=BLD6JOJ6R1s
• Facebookfacebook.com/IsraelRAC
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-israel-religious-action-center-irac

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries2 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 The Israel Religious Action Center (IRAC)