Mishkan Chicago

What Mishkan Chicago does

Mishkan Chicago is a post-denominational, independent nonprofit Jewish spiritual community founded in September 2011 by Rabbi Lizzi Heydemann in Chicago, Illinois. It operates without a permanent building, instead hosting weekly Shabbat services, daily virtual Morning Minyan, holiday celebrations, lifecycle events, family and youth programming, justice teams, and wellness/support groups across multiple Chicago venues and online. Its 28-person staff and 15-member board deliver an integrated portfolio of in-person programming, professionally produced livestreams, and the Contact Chai podcast distributed on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. The organization serves a diverse base of approximately 4,500 community members annually, including interfaith families, LGBTQ+ households, Jews of Color, and families with children enrolled in Mensch Academy and BMitzvah programs.

Mishkan's core products are organized around Pray (Shabbat, High Holidays, Morning Minyan, Lifecycles), Learn (sermons, podcast, blog, music), Community (small groups, justice teams, Maggie's Place wellness), and Families (Mensch Academy, BMitzvah, Teens, Mah Tovu). Its primary technology stack consists of livestream production capability anchored by Creative Producer Anna Gelman, a dedicated recording studio, YouTube distribution, and the Contact Chai podcast. Auxiliary infrastructure uses ShulCloud for member/event management. Differentiation rests on radical inclusivity across identity, professional-grade virtual production, and a distributed venue model that avoids real estate overhead.

The business model is funded through a sliding-scale 'Buildership' subscription of recurring annual or monthly contributions from individual members, supplemented by one-time and tribute donations (including Venmo), and High Holiday livestream ticket sales with promotional discounts. Go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, leveraging word-of-mouth, social media (Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, podcast), and a deep partnership ecosystem spanning synagogues (Anshe Emet, Second Unitarian), day schools (CJDS), justice coalitions (JCUA, One Northside), and national Jewish organizations (18Doors, Keshet, NIF, Repair the World).

Name

Mishkan Chicago

Legal name

Mishkan Chicago

Website

https://mishkanchicago.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Mishkan Chicago is a nonprofit, post-denominational Jewish spiritual community serving roughly 4,500 Chicago-area members annually through Shabbat services, lifecycle events, family education, social justice programs, and a professional livestream and podcast platform funded by sliding-scale Buildership contributions and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Community Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131)

akta.pro primary industry

Religious & Spiritual Festivals/Observances (Public Events) (MPAGAEAC)

Keywords

• Jewish community services
• Religious education programs
• Spiritual community events
• Lifecycle ceremonies
• Social justice advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Buildership (Membership) Contributions: Annual or monthly sliding-scale contributions from community members ('Builders') who commit regular financial support. This is the primary revenue model in lieu of traditional membership dues.
2. General Donations: One-time and recurring donations from community members and supporters, including tribute gifts and campaign contributions.
3. High Holiday Livestream Tickets: Sale of virtual access passes for High Holiday services, with promotional codes for discounts.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Mishkan Chicago is a post-denominational Jewish spiritual community that delivers weekly Shabbat services, High Holiday services, daily Morning Minyan, lifecycle ceremonies, children's and adult Jewish education, and social justice programming in-person across multiple Chicago venues and via professional livestream. Its offerings are funded through sliding-scale Buildership contributions and donations from community members rather than through a traditional membership-dues or product-sales model.

Product overview

Mishkan Chicago is a post-denominational, independent Jewish spiritual community organization offering a unified portfolio of religious services, educational programs, and community engagement initiatives. The core offerings include weekly Shabbat services and High Holiday celebrations (both in-person and via livestream), daily Morning Minyan, and the Contact Chai Podcast. Educational programs span the Mensch Academy for children, BMitzvah preparation including Adult BMitzvah Cohort, and Youth and Teen programming. Community connection is facilitated through Small Groups (affinity groups, book clubs, yoga), Maggie's Place wellness center (support groups, pastoral counseling), and Justice Teams for social action. All services are designed to be radically inclusive and accessible both in-person at venues across Chicago and virtually.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Shabbat Services Weekly and special Shabbat services combining traditional Jewish prayer with contemporary music, meditation, and community gatherings held at multiple venues across Chicago and via livestream.
• High Holidays Services Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and other High Holiday services featuring fully-produced livestreams with bonus content and promotional pricing for virtual audiences.
• Morning Minyan Virtual daily minyan held every weekday morning at 8 am featuring prayer, meditation, and spiritual check-ins led by rotating clergy.
• Contact Chai Podcast Mishkan Chicago's podcast feed on Spotify and Apple Podcasts featuring Shabbat sermons, Morning Minyans, and other audio content from the community.
• Mensch Academy Jewish education program for K-7 children offering creative learning experiences, student showcases, and engagement with Jewish traditions and texts.
• BMitzvah Program Bar and Bat Mitzvah preparation program, including an Adult BMitzvah Cohort for those celebrating or revisiting this Jewish milestone.
• Youth and Teen Programs Age-appropriate programming including the Trans and Non-Binary Youth Group, MishTeens, and teen leadership opportunities.
• Small Groups Affinity and interest-based community groups including book clubs, yoga, mahjong, support groups, and social gatherings.
• Maggie's Place Mishkan's holistic wellness center providing support groups, resources, pastoral counseling, and clinician-led programs including Disability and Chronic Illness Support Group and Fertility Journey support.
• Justice Teams Volunteer-led social justice initiatives addressing economic justice, public safety, refugee resettlement, affordable housing, reproductive rights, and sustainability.
• Family Programs Programs for families including Rise & Shine for ages 0-4, Mah Tovu for grades K-5, family holiday celebrations, and baby naming or bris ceremonies.
• Livestream Services Fully-produced virtual livestreams of Shabbat and High Holiday services with backstage content and behind-the-scenes footage for remote attendees.

Quantifiable outcome

• Served 4,500 people in one year
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• 18DoorsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership with 18Doors to provide opportunities for people from interfaith households to connect around issues important to them. Mishkan works with this organization to support interfaith families in the Jewish community.
• Anshe Emet SynagoguecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCo-hosting of Simchat Torah and other holiday services. Mishkan holds events at Anshe Emet Synagogue and collaborates on interfaith programming including Sukkah Design Festival.
• Base Logan Square (Silverstein Base Chicago)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerCollaboration for Shabbat dinners and programming for young adults in their 20s and 30s. Part of the Silverstein Base Chicago network of Jewish young adult programming.
• Lawndale Christian Community ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYear-long sukkah project collaboration. Interfaith, interracial partnership for community building across neighborhoods. Featured in Jerusalem Post. Joint Sukkah Design Festival hosting.
• Jewish Council on Urban Affairs (JCUA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition partnership for racial justice work. Mishkan participates in JCUA initiatives including housing justice, migrant response, and advocacy efforts.
• One NorthsideminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition partnership for neighborhood-level advocacy and community development on Chicago's North Side.
• Second UnitariancoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPrimary venue for Friday night Shabbat services. Interfaith partnership hosting Mishkan's weekly services at their facility.
• Chicago Jewish Day School (CJDS)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVenue for Saturday morning Shabbat services and family programming. CJDS (3730 N California Ave) hosts Mishkan's weekly Saturday morning services.
• New Israel Fund (NIF)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership for conversations on Israel and Palestine. Hosting virtual discussions with NIF speakers including Standing Together co-directors.
• Repair the WorldminorGTM or Marketing PartnerJoint programming for social action and volunteer opportunities. Co-hosted events including Rosh Chodesh programming and community service initiatives.
• KeshetminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLGBTQ+ advocacy organization partnership for Queer Sukkah Happy Hour and other LGBTQ+ programming.
• OSRUI (Oshkosh Springs/URJ Camp)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFamily camp partnership for weekend retreats including Family Camp at OSRUI. All-inclusive weekend trips for Mishkan Builder families.
• Hadar's Rising Song InstituteminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDavening Team members attended Hadar's Rising Song Institute for Jewish music and prayer leadership training.
• The Night MinistryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerClothing donation drives for The Night Ministry's homeless services. Mishkan collects clothing donations at events.
• AJC (American Jewish Committee)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-hosted briefings on Israel-related matters. Mishkan participates in AJC-organized community discussions.
• JFNA (Jewish Federations of North America)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-hosted briefings on Israel-related matters. Joint community education initiatives.
• Bat Sarah PressminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on tallitot (prayer shawls) creation for KBM students. Artist Rachel Ellison creates DIY lulav and etrog projects for community.
• Progressive Chevra KadishaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTraining partnership for tahara (ritual purification) education. Free training sessions offered to Mishkan community members.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Temple Sholom of Chicago: Large Chicago Reform congregation with progressive social justice orientation; competes with Mishkan for the same pool of Chicago-area progressive Jewish families.
• IKAR: Los Angeles-based progressive, post-denominational Jewish spiritual community. Most architecturally and philosophically similar to Mishkan: portable model, radical inclusivity, sliding-scale participation, and a mix of services, learning, and justice engagement.
• Romemu: New York progressive Jewish community blending Jewish practice with meditation and embodied spirituality; comparable in its non-denominational, seeker-friendly positioning and multi-channel programs for adults and families.
• Anshe Emet Synagogue: Chicago-based progressive Jewish congregation that is both a direct in-city peer and an active programming partner (e.g., Sukkah Design Festival, holiday co-hosting); competes and collaborates for overlapping Chicago members.
• Congregation Beit Simchat Torah (CBST): NYC's flagship LGBTQ+ affirming Jewish congregation; comparable in its pioneering role in radical inclusivity, professional production of services, and serving the same progressive/Jewish-of-color/interfaith demographic that Mishkan courts.
• Lab/Shul: NYC-based experimental, post-denominational Jewish community emphasizing innovation, arts-driven services, and accessible entry points — comparable to Mishkan in spirit of reimagining Jewish communal experience outside denominational bounds.
• Sha'ar Zahav: San Francisco LGBTQ+ affirming Reform synagogue with progressive practice and social justice mission; overlaps with Mishkan on inclusivity, justice engagement, and Jewish-learning for adults.

Broad incumbents

• B'nai Jeshurun: Large NYC progressive Jewish congregation with national brand, extensive programming, and professional production; broader and older than Mishkan but serves many of the same demographics and uses similar content/community-building tactics.

Regional players

• Sixth & I Historic Synagogue: Washington DC venue that blends progressive Jewish communal programming with cultural and musical events; comparable in operating a hybrid physical-and-virtual experience and appealing to younger unaffiliated Jewish adults, but anchored in DC rather than Chicago.

Others

• JCC Chicago (Bernard Weinger JCC): North Shore Jewish community center offering programming overlap with Mishkan in lifecycle events, adult learning, youth/family programs, and Jewish cultural engagement — adjacent rather than directly competitive because of facility-based programming model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/mishkanchicago
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/mishkanchicago
• Facebookfacebook.com/MishkanChicago
• Instagraminstagram.com/mishkanchicago
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mishkan-chicago

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 Mishkan Chicago