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Non-profit

Club Z

Website:

www.clubz.org/
Location:

San Carlos, CA
Tax ID:

46-1334084
Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(3)

Budget (2021):

Revenue: $1,721,310
Expenses: $1,534,620
Assets: $614,265
Founded:

2012 1

References

  1. “Club Z.” Cause IQ. Accessed October 20, 2023. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/club-z,461334084/
Budget (2022):

Budget (2022)
Revenue: $3,138,311
Expenses: $2,609,454
Assets: $1,235,223 1

References

  1. “Club Z.” Cause IQ. Accessed October 20, 2023. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/club-z,461334084/

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Club Z is an educational organization for Jewish teens to promote understanding of the role of Israel to Jewish people. 1 The organization runs bi-monthly educational meetings, speaker events, an annual retreat, and an annual conference. The organization teaches teens about history and identity, connection to their heritage, public speaking, leadership, and advocacy skills. 2

The group says it engages students around their Jewish identity to develop leadership skills, and create a network of effective advocates. 3

The organization opposes “Israel Apartheid Week” events at the University of California, Berkeley, and has campaigned against making “ethnic studies” requirements a graduation requirement in California high schools. 4 5

Background

Club Z is an educational organization for Jewish teens to promote understanding of the role of Israel to Jewish people. 6 Club Z says it educates the next Jewish generation about the miracle of the modern State of Israel and the justice of Zionism. 7 The organization says its education curriculum engages teens in conversations to be lifelong Zionist leaders. 8

Club Z programs are open to Jewish teens ages 13 through 18. 9 The organization says it was created in the San Francisco Bay area out of a need to provide honest Jewish education for teens and promoting “modern-day Zionists who are articulate and knowledgeable leaders.” 10 Masha Merkulova, previously a nurse, said she was inspired to found the organization after her son came home from school to report being troubled by an anti-Israel movie shown to his class. She then found it could take up to two years to change the school curriculum. 11

The program’s core principles that it teaches are that “a Zionist is a person who believes that Jews have a national home in the land of Israel,” that “Israel is a sovereign nation and a central part of Jewish identity,” that the modern state of Israel “is a recognized sovereign nation fully capable of defending herself,” and that “Zionism strives for historic justice and genuine peace between the Jewish people and all other indigenous peoples of the Middle East.” 12

Since its founding in California, Club Z has expanded to offices in Los Angeles; New York City; Westchester County, New York; Charlotte, North Carolina; and Boston, Massachusetts. The organization announced it plans to open additional locations in San Diego, California; Houston, Texas; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Long Island, New York; the Raleigh/Durham area of North Carolina; Minneapolis, Minnesota; Chicago, Illinois; Atlanta, Georgia; south Florida, and locations in Northern and Central New Jersey. 13

The Club Z 2021 Impact Report says that the organization reached 200 teens, held more than 80 events, formed 30 partnerships, had 16 media appearances, conducted 45 hours of education per student,  conducted 10-15 hours of leadership skills and professional development per student, has 51 alumni enrolled in 21 universities, and had a 54 percent average rise in memberships in 2021. 14

The Club Z Institute says in 2021 it conducted 90 hours of academic instruction, 16 hours of public speaking training and practice, eight hours of debate training, six full days of Zionism training at the organization’s National Conference, six full days of Israel experiential education at the regional retreats, and 16 to 20 social events rooted in Israel education. 15

Club Z conducted a survey in 2020 that found about half of Jewish teenage students did not want to wear items to make them identifiable as Jews in public, noting the students fear encountering antisemitism on social media and in their schools. 16

The organization says 80 percent of students in the program said they have the confidence to step up to defend the Jewish people and Israel, 75 percent said they would lead a pro-Israel group on campus, 95 percent said they are involved in pro-Israel activism on social media, and 97 percent would recommend their friends join Club Z. 17

Donors

The Schwab Charitable Fund contributed $636,514 to Club Z. 18 The National Philanthropic Trust contributed $133,000 to the organization. 19 The Fooksman Family Foundation contributed $110,000 to the group. 20

Advocacy

Club Z includes programs taking students on tours through Israel. While there, they have expressed their support in person to Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers. 21

Club Z students organized students in 2023 to speak out against events for “Israel Apartheid Week” at the University of California, Berkeley. 22

In September 2021, Club Z sent a letter signed by 170 students that asked California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) to veto AB 101 that made “ethnic studies” a graduation requirement in state high schools. The petition said the bill “will sanction the hounding of Zionist students in high schools across the state and encourage similar behavior across the nation.” 23

The letter also says the Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum “includes overtly anti-Jewish and anti-Zionist lessons and explicitly promotes student engagement in BDS.” BDS is an acronym for boycott, divest and sanction of Israel. 24 Gov. Newsom signed the bill. 25

Leadership

Masha Merkulova is the founder and executive director of Club Z.  Merkulova was born in the former Soviet Union. She was a Jewish community activist in the San Francisco Bay Area and addressed anti-Semitism on campus. She was awarded the Generation Now Fellowship through The Jewish Education Project. She also completed the Israel Foreign Ministry Diplomatic Seminar for Young Jewish Leaders, and sat on a steering committee of Limmud FSU West Coast. 26Merkulova earned $135,000, according to 2021 tax information. 27

Devora Fine is the deputy director of Club Z. Fine previously worked for technology companies. Devora joined the Club Z team in 2017. 28 Fine was paid $80,242 according to the 2021 tax information. 29

Olga Washington is the chief operating officer. Washington has been an attorney, author, and educator. Washington is also the CEO of DEISI International (Defend Embrace Invest in Support Israel) and is a board member of the Institute for Black Solidarity with Israel. A native of South Africa, Washington was named number one among the 25 Young ViZIONaries by the Jerusalem Post and Jewish National Fund in September 2023. In 2016, Washington received the Jerusalem Award from the World Zionist Organization in recognition of her advocacy on behalf of Israel. 30

Ella Shteingart is the chief partnership officer. She previously held leadership positions at Jewish day schools. She helped launch new initiatives at the Wexner Foundation and the Jewish Foundation for Education of Women. 31

References

  1. “Club Z.” Cause IQ. Accessed October 20, 2023. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/club-z,461334084/
  2. “Club Z.” Cause IQ. Accessed October 20, 2023. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/club-z,461334084/
  3. “Club Z.” Idealist. Accessed October 20, 2023. https://www.idealist.org/es/ong/23d210649ce64fd092d2388e7db20821-club-z-redwood-city
  4.  Merkulova, Masha. “UC Berkeley’s ‘Israel Apartheid Week’ tries and fails to silence Zionist students.” Jerusalem Post. April 5, 2023. Accessed October 20, 2023. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-736234
  5. Press Release. “One Hundred and Seventy CA High School Students and Parents Urge Newsom to Veto Ethnic Studies Graduation Requirement.” Club Z. Accessed October 20, 2023. https://clubz.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Club-Z-press-release-9.20.21.pdf
  6. “Club Z.” Cause IQ. Accessed October 20, 2023. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/club-z,461334084/
  7. “Club Z.” Idealist. Accessed October 20, 2023. https://www.idealist.org/es/ong/23d210649ce64fd092d2388e7db20821-club-z-redwood-city
  8.  [1] “Club Z.” LinkedIn. Accessed October 20, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/company/club-z/
  9. “Club Z.” Jewish News of Southern California. Accessed October 20, 2023. https://jweekly.com/resource/club-z/
  10.  “Mission.” Club Z. Accessed October 20, 2023 https://clubz.org/our-mission/
  11. Farr, Harvey. “Club Z Is Taking the Pro-Israel Cause to Campus.” Jewish Journal. November 17, 2021. Accessed October 20, 2023. https://jewishjournal.com/community/342468/club-z-is-taking-the-pro-israel-cause-to-campus/
  12.  “Mission.” Club Z. Accessed October 20, 2023 https://clubz.org/our-mission/
  13. “2021 Impact Report.” Club Z. Accessed October 20, 2023. https://clubz.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/ClubZ_V2021-Impact-Report-NEW-1-1.pdf
  14. “2021 Impact Report.” Club Z. Accessed October 20, 2023. https://clubz.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/ClubZ_V2021-Impact-Report-NEW-1-1.pdf
  15. “2021 Impact Report.” Club Z. Accessed October 20, 2023. https://clubz.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/ClubZ_V2021-Impact-Report-NEW-1-1.pdf
  16. Sheva, Arutz. “Club Z teens call on government leaders to adopt Jewish Students Bill of Rights.” Israel National News. June 10, 2020. Accessed October 20, 2023. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/281635https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/281635
  17. “2021 Impact Report.” Club Z. Accessed October 20, 2023. https://clubz.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/ClubZ_V2021-Impact-Report-NEW-1-1.pdf
  18. “Club Z.” Cause IQ. Accessed October 20, 2023. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/club-z,461334084/
  19. “Club Z.” Cause IQ. Accessed October 20, 2023. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/club-z,461334084/
  20. Club Z.” Cause IQ. Accessed October 20, 2023. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/club-z,461334084/
  21. Kemp, Richard. “Special forces of Zionist youth.” Jerusalem Post. July 18, 2022. Accessed October 20, 2023. https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/article-712443
  22. Merkulova, Masha. “UC Berkeley’s ‘Israel Apartheid Week’ tries and fails to silence Zionist students.” Jerusalem Post. April 5, 2023. Accessed October 20, 2023. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-736234
  23. Press Release. “One Hundred and Seventy CA High School Students and Parents Urge Newsom to Veto Ethnic Studies Graduation Requirement.” Club Z. Accessed October 20, 2023. https://clubz.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Club-Z-press-release-9.20.21.pdf
  24. Press Release. “One Hundred and Seventy CA High School Students and Parents Urge Newsom to Veto Ethnic Studies Graduation Requirement.” Club Z. Accessed October 20, 2023. https://clubz.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Club-Z-press-release-9.20.21.pdf
  25.  Farr, Harvey. “Club Z Is Taking the Pro-Israel Cause to Campus.” Jewish Journal. November 17, 2021. Accessed October 20, 2023. https://jewishjournal.com/community/342468/club-z-is-taking-the-pro-israel-cause-to-campus/
  26. “Our Team.” Club Z. Accessed October 20, 2023.https://clubz.org/our-team/
  27. “Club Z.” Cause IQ. Accessed October 20, 2023. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/club-z,461334084/
  28. “Our Team.” Club Z. Accessed October 20, 2023.https://clubz.org/our-team/
  29. “Club Z.” Cause IQ. Accessed October 20, 2023. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/club-z,461334084/
  30. “Our Team.” Club Z. Accessed October 20, 2023.https://clubz.org/our-team/
  31. “Our Team.” Club Z. Accessed October 20, 2023.https://clubz.org/our-team/
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Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: June - May
  • Tax Exemption Received: September 1, 2014

    • Available Filings

    Period Form Type Total revenue Total functional expenses Total assets (EOY) Total liabilities (EOY) Unrelated business income? Total contributions Program service revenue Investment income Comp. of current officers, directors, etc. Form 990
    2021 Jun Form 990 $1,721,310 $1,534,620 $614,265 $37,141 N $1,629,062 $92,248 $0 $210,242
    2020 Jun Form 990 $616,375 $1,196,407 $411,106 $20,672 N $542,475 $73,900 $0 $202,709 PDF
    2019 Jun Form 990 $1,566,855 $770,041 $972,130 $1,664 N $1,541,384 $25,471 $0 $173,334 PDF
    2018 Jun Form 990 $507,348 $377,825 $186,328 $12,676 N $480,667 $26,671 $0 $157,804 PDF
    2017 Jun Form 990EZ $0 $0 $46,044 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 PDF
    2016 Jun Form 990EZ $174,863 $126,626 $54,343 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 PDF

    Club Z

    1055 Riverton Dr.
    San Carlos, CA 94070