How we arrived here:

We are at a common place of growth for young organizations. We’ve had extensive discussions with members, our working class and poor caucus, partners, and fundraising experts that led us to see that moving toward a membership model is the next natural step.

• We’ve outgrown start-up seed funding and have increased expenses (we have our biggest staff team yet!) 

• We need to raise more funds to bridge the gap between being seed funded to being community funded. 

• This aligns our finances with our values, fosters a member-driven Lab, and secures long-term stability to support our growing movement ecosystem.

We are shifting to this model in order to: 

• Deepen the support members receive and build financial capacity towards an in-person full network gathering,

• Create more organizational stability with increased digital security,

• Generate more ownership and vibrant participation with the potential of stipends for leaders,

• Increase clarity on membership structure with clearer decision-making, (making it clear that members drive and fund our work!) 

• Grow the network fractally to support more members and provide staff with benefits,

• Grow our budget while continuing to be majority member funded! Being member funded shows our collective power and means we are independent. It also makes clear to prospective funders that we care about our work enough to fund it which inspires them to fund it too! 

• Bring about the end of antisemitism, racism, and white supremacy for good!

We’ve been building the Lab on good will and seed funding for years, and it’s time for us to build infrastructure to keep the Lab moving and support everyone. We suggest approaching this time like a kid growing out of their shoes and needing a new pair – it’s uncomfortable at first, but clearly a real need, and will feel great when we’ve got our new shoes laced up and ready to go!

Yes, you are! The 2024 Membership Week is a recommitment drive to ask all of our members to transition to our new membership dues model or choose if they no longer want to be a member of Tzedek Lab. 

Our goal is that each year Tzedek Lab members who no longer want to be in the network have an option to depart, and that all members who choose to stay in the network make a monthly or one-time financial contribution of their choosing.

This serves the collective by making sure that everyone in the Lab is actively choosing to be here and build the space together.

Yes, we need all members to fill out the Recommitment Form to keep your membership current for the next year.

We know that filling out this form might feel like a hassle after you just filled out a long application. We know that onboarding everyone to our recommitment system this first year may be a little bumpy and we thank you for bearing with this process as we get everyone onto the same annual cycle!

Being a member of Tzedek Lab can look any way that is meaningful for you! 

Besides making your monthly or annual financial contribution, you are also committing to our Community Brit (Agreements) and our Member Benefits & Expectations (listed above). 

We hope you want to participate in network activities, but you can truly be as engaged as you like. For many members that changes over time.

Yes!  In this new membership model, passive participation will continue to be fine. The only requirement is to fill out the Recommitment Form, make a member dues contribution (ideally monthly), and agree to our Member Benefits & Expectations (above). 

We know reading the emails or text threads and taking in everything going on in the Lab is a meaningful source of learning, inspiration and support in many member’s lives, even without attending calls or writing to the list. What being a Tzedek Lab member means for you and how much you come to calls or reply to emails is up to you. If you agree to the Member Expectations (above), any way you choose is a great way to be a member.

No, this is not a time for new members to apply to join the Lab. 

While this system is also called “membership,” this drive is only for existing members to formally transition to our new membership dues and membership recommitment system. This is not a time when new members can join the Lab. 

Our next open application cycle will be Summer 2026, and all new prospective members will go through the application and onboarding process at that time. Tell your people to get on our mailing list and keep an eye out for updates for the next new member cycle!

We understand that things change, and Tzedek Lab may not be the same good fit for you as it was at another time. Until now we haven’t had a formal process for members to exit the network, and this new system allows all members a clear choice in whether or not to remain a Tzedek Lab member. While we will be sad to see you leave the official network, we will continue to champion you and the work you do with encouragement. 

Formally what will occur if you choose not to recommitment is the following:

• You will be taken off the listserv and will lose access to all of our member-focused virtual platforms,calls, and resources. You will lose access to the digital infrastructure of the network, but your relationships you’ve made in TL aren’t going anywhere.

• You will be added to the “Friends of Tzedek Lab” email list where you will get quarterly updates, including information about future  Cross Pollination Awards or public events like the Jewish Left Meeting the Moment Open Calls in the fall and winter of 2023-2024. 

If you decide at a later point that you would like to re-join, former members can re-apply through the membership application cycle every 2 years along with the Network Gathering. Your re-application will not give you preference over other applicants and you are not guaranteed renewed membership. If you think you might rejoin in the future, we recommend just staying in the Lab and choosing a financial contribution that feels right for you. 

If you want to opt out of membership, please still fill out the Recommitment Form to let us know and answer a few offboarding questions. We welcome you to share about why you are ending your membership so that we can learn from your experience. You can also choose to set up an exit conversation with Helen, our Director of Spiritual Care & Network Weaving.

The main reason you might choose to not become a dues-paying member and opt out of being in Tzedek Lab would be because your work (paid or unpaid) and life are no longer connected to the Lab’s focus on the intersections of antisemitism, racism, and white supremacy and you don’t see that becoming a focus again any time soon. 

Even if your role or job has changed dramatically since you joined the Lab, if you still feel oriented to this work as your life-long work, we encourage you to stick around! 

If you are considering not renewing your membership because a financial contribution feels like a barrier, please don’t let that keep you away. Know that truly any amount will count as your membership even if that means that $3 is what you have to give. 

Former members can re-apply through the membership application cycle every 2 years along with the Network Gathering. However, your re-application will not give you preference over other applicants and you are not guaranteed renewed membership. If you think you might rejoin in the future, we recommend just staying in the Lab and choosing a financial contribution that feels right for you.

If you are considering not renewing because making a financial contribution feels like a barrier, please don’t let that keep you away. Know that truly any amount will count as your membership even if that means that $3 is what you have to give. 

If you want to stay in the Lab and anticipate having a low-capacity or low-participation period, we recommend staying a member rather than leaving and then coming back. Going and coming back is way more hassle, and any amount of participation is welcome. If you want to pause on the listserv or learn how to make a filter for your Tzedek Lab emails we can help you with that.

Yes! We encourage members to give in accordance with their financial capacity and give a number that feels meaningful to them. If monthly dues are not possible for you, you can make a one time gift of any amount. 

If you are considering not renewing your membership because making a financial contribution feels like a barrier, please don’t let that keep you away. Know that truly any amount will count as your membership even if that means that $3 is what you have to give.

Each year all members will fill out the Recommitment Form and set up their dues contribution for the next year, so at this time you only need to think about this coming year. 

There are a few reasons monthly dues are encouraged here are a few:

1. Monthly dues are more sustainable because they are more predictable and reliable. Research shows that 90% of monthly gifts will repeat the next year where only about 30% of one-times gifts repeat.

2. Monthly dues are in our movement's legacy as a financial model of collective cost sharing to support the organizations our movements need like co-op dues and union dues. Your contribution – regardless of size – makes you a member with decision making power and ownership of Tzedek Lab that strengthens and sustains this vital movement space.

3. Monthly gifts make it clear to other prospective funders that Tzedek Lab is so meaningful to movement practitioners that we give monthly building it into our budgets. This inspires them to give as powerfully and committed as our members do.  

Tzedek Lab members are encouraged to set up monthly dues contributions in accordance with their capacity. Not sure what that might look like? Please see the chart below for suggested giving ranges by income - we know that class is more complex than this chart but wanted to give you something to reference as a starting point. You are encouraged to take these suggestions and consider your inherited wealth, current financial needs, debt and costs of living, and make the right choice for you. 

Consider giving powerfully to help us meet our budgetary needs. We could cover our 2025 budget of $250,000 if every member gave $55/month (that’s $660/per year.) 

Please note: a contribution of any size or frequency will count as your membership contribution.

If your annual take home pay is…

• $30,000 and your monthly gift is $6 (or an annual gift of $72), that is less than 1% of your income.

• $60,000 and your monthly gift is $9 (or an annual gift of $108), that is less than 1% of your income.

• $80,000 and your monthly gift is $18 (or an annual gift of $216), that is less than 2% of your income.

• $100,000 and your monthly gift is $30 (or an annual gift of $360), that is less than 2% of your income.

• $250,000+ and your monthly gift is $90 (or an annual gift of $1080), that is less than 2% of your income.