Florence Melton School of Adult Jewish Learning

What Florence Melton School of Adult Jewish Learning does

The Florence Melton School of Adult Jewish Learning is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN: 01-0725179) that delivers pluralistic adult Jewish education across more than 50 cities in six countries, including the United States, Canada, Israel, and South Africa. Founded in 1980 by philanthropist Florence Melton in partnership with The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, the school operates from a New York City headquarters and a Jerusalem office co-located with Hebrew University's Melton Centre for Jewish Education. Its primary learners are adults of all backgrounds and prior knowledge levels seeking text-based Jewish learning covering Torah, history, philosophy, ethics, and spirituality. The curriculum, developed and maintained at the Melton Centre, is delivered through local partner sites (synagogues, JCCs, Jewish Federations), the Melton+ online Zoom platform, and peer-led Meetinghouse kits targeting adults in their 30s-50s.

The school's product portfolio spans several lines: the core multi-year adult learning curriculum, Melton+ online courses, Meetinghouse by Melton peer-led conversation kits (launched March 2026), the annual Conference of Learners, educational travel programs to Israel and international destinations, and the What's Mine is Yours (WMIY) curriculum developed with Matan for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Distribution is hybrid: in-person through 50+ local partner organizations, online via self-serve Zoom courses, peer-led small groups via shipped kits, and event-driven through travel and conferences. Technology is not a core differentiator; the offering is fundamentally curriculum-and-faculty driven rather than platform-driven, though the site is WCAG 2.1 Level AA accessible.

Revenue is generated through a mix of per-course registration fees (subscription-style, fully refundable through first class), travel program deposits and balances, Meetinghouse kit sales, and tax-deductible donations including a planned giving program. Marketing is conducted through content (The Thread blog), email newsletters, organic social media, partner referrals, and community events. The organization holds a Charity Navigator 4-star rating and Candid (formerly GuideStar) Platinum Transparency 2025 recognition.

Name

Florence Melton School of Adult Jewish Learning

Legal name

The Florence Melton Adult Mini-School Corporation

Website

https://meltonschool.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Florence Melton School of Adult Jewish Learning is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1980 with Hebrew University, delivering pluralistic adult Jewish education across 50+ cities in six countries via partner synagogues, JCCs, and Federations, supplemented by the Melton+ online platform, Meetinghouse kits, and travel programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Adult Jewish Education

NAICS

All Other Schools and Instruction (61169)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Online/Hybrid Lifelong Learning Platforms & Open Enrollment Programs (EDAAAEAL)

Keywords

• Adult Jewish education
• Religious learning programs
• Text-based Jewish studies
• Jewish adult curriculum
• Jewish community education

Headquarters

HQ city

New York City, New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Course Registration Fees: Fees charged for course enrollment, typically including course materials and access to instruction. Course fees are fully refundable through the first class date if the printed coursebook is returned in new condition.
2. Donations and Charitable Contributions: As a registered 501(c)(3) organization (EIN: 01-0725179), Melton accepts tax-deductible donations. The organization maintains a planned giving program for legacy gifts and encourages donor-advised fund contributions.
3. Travel Programs: Fees for educational travel programs including Israel solidarity trips, travel seminars to various destinations, and the Conference of Learners event. Deposits are non-refundable and final payment is due 100 days prior to departure.
4. Meetinghouse Kits: Sale of thematic kits for peer-led small group discussions based on Jewish wisdom and contemporary topics, targeting adults in their 30s, 40s, and 50s.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Florence Melton School of Adult Jewish Learning delivers pluralistic, text-based adult Jewish education through structured multi-session courses covering Torah, history, philosophy, ethics, and spirituality. Programs are offered in-person through a global network of 50+ partner communities (synagogues, JCCs, Jewish Federations) across six countries, online via the Melton+ Zoom-based platform, and through supplementary offerings including Meetinghouse peer-led discussion kits, educational travel seminars, an annual Conference of Learners, and the adapted What's Mine is Yours curriculum for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Product overview

The Florence Melton School of Adult Jewish Learning operates as a multi-product educational platform offering pluralistic adult Jewish education. The core offering is the in-person adult learning program delivered across 50+ global communities. Supporting products include Melton+ (online Zoom-based courses for worldwide learners), Meetinghouse by Melton (peer-led conversation kits for small groups), the annual Conference of Learners, educational Travel Programs to Israel and international destinations, and the What's Mine is Yours curriculum for adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities. The school also offers specific course modules such as Leviticus (Vayikra) and Numbers (BeMidbar) as part of its Torah study series. All offerings are developed at the Melton Institute at Hebrew University of Jerusalem and emphasize text-based Jewish learning for adults with no prior knowledge required.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Melton+: Online learning platform offering selected courses via Zoom to learners around the world
• Meetinghouse by Melton

Products and services

• Florence Melton School of Adult Jewish Learning (Core Program) Pluralistic adult Jewish education delivered in-person across 50+ communities in six countries, including the USA, Canada, South Africa, Australia, and Europe. Multi-session courses cover Jewish texts, philosophy, history, ethics, and spirituality, designed for learners of all backgrounds with no prior Jewish education required.
• Melton+ Online Learning Online learning platform offering selected Melton courses via Zoom to learners worldwide, designed to deepen connections to Judaism, enhance understanding of Jewish texts and ideas, and foster relationships with a global peer community.
• Meetinghouse by Melton Peer-led conversation kit program for small groups of 4-12 adults in their 30s-50s, featuring thematic kits on topics like caregiving, burnout, Gen X movies, food, and travel. Enables hosts to facilitate Jewish wisdom discussions in their own spaces with no expertise required.
• Conference of Learners Annual multi-day conference centered on Jewish learning themes, featuring keynote speakers and educators who bring intensive programming to Melton learners.
• Melton Travel Programs Educational travel experiences to Israel and international destinations, including Israel Solidarity trips. Programs combine immersive learning with travel, featuring professional educators and logistical support. Destinations include Israel, Italy, Prague, Berlin, and other locations with Jewish historical significance.
• What's Mine is Yours (WMIY) Curriculum Adapted curriculum for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), developed in partnership with Matan. Emphasizes 'intentionality' over 'simplicity,' ensuring sophisticated Jewish learning remains accessible to all adults regardless of neurotypical status.

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• The Hebrew University of JerusalemflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1980Founding partner in establishing the Florence Melton Adult Mini-School. The Hebrew University's Melton Centre for Jewish Education develops and maintains the curriculum content. The Florence Melton Institute operates from the Hebrew University campus.
• MatancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Matan to develop the 'What's Mine is Yours' curriculum, an adapted program for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The collaboration ensures accessibility without compromising the depth of Jewish learning.
• Jewish Federations of North AmericacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNetwork of Jewish Federations hosting Melton programs in communities across North America, providing infrastructure and community connections for local programming.
• Synagogues and JCCs (Partner Network)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOver 50 local partner organizations including synagogues and Jewish Community Centers that host Melton courses, providing physical locations and local learner communities.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Hadar Institute: NYC-based adult Jewish learning institute offering high-level text study and community education for adults. Highly comparable to Melton as a non-degree adult Jewish learning provider operating pluralistic, scholar-led programming for engaged adult learners.
• Drisha Institute: NYC-based institute offering adult Jewish textual learning across multiple levels. Comparable niche within adult Jewish education, sharing Melton's text-based, pluralistic approach and reliance on scholarly faculty.
• Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies: Jerusalem-based institute offering co-ed, open, inclusive Jewish text study for adults via year-long and summer programs. Directly comparable to Melton's adult Jewish learning mission and academic rigor, with overlap in target learner demographic.

Emerging players

• Sefaria: Digital, free library and learning platform for Jewish texts. Adjacent rather than direct — overlaps with Melton's text-based learning content but competes for learner attention via a digital-native, non-formal model.
• M2: The Institute for Experiential Jewish Education: Jewish educational training organization focused on experiential education for adult and teen learners. Comparable as a capacity-building partner for Jewish adult education, often collaborating with communal institutions similar to Melton's partner network.
• Lehrhaus: Bay Area adult Jewish learning venture offering classes, podcasts, and adult learning experiences. Comparable as a community-rooted adult Jewish education provider, though operating with a more digital-leaning model.

Broad incumbents

• 92nd Street Y (92Y): Long-established New York Jewish cultural and educational institution offering adult education programming, lectures, and courses. Comparable as a Jewish-rooted adult lifelong learning venue, but broader in scope (arts, culture, performance) than Melton's focused curriculum.
• Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC): Multi-campus Jewish seminary and graduate institution offering rabbinic, cantorial, and graduate education, plus adult learning. Adjacent to Melton through its academic Jewish education mission and Hebrew University ties, though credential-granting rather than open-enrollment.
• JCC Association of North America: Umbrella association for Jewish Community Centers across North America, many of which host Melton courses. Comparable as a Jewish communal adult education delivery network, but operates at far broader scale across fitness, camp, and cultural programming.
• American Jewish University (AJU): Jewish university hosting graduate, undergraduate, and continuing adult education programs (and home to the Brandeis Bardin Campus hosting Melton's Conference of Learners). Comparable as a Jewish adult education provider with overlap in programming and learner audience.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/groups/MeltonDirectors
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/meltonschool

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles21 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 Florence Melton School of Adult Jewish Learning