Membership

Become part of a truly communal undertaking.

Please consider joining our community. Members’ dues support Jewish life in Lawrence, including our congregation's religious services, education, events, outreach, and so much more.

To learn more about LJCC membership, contact LJCC Director, Lara Giordano by email or by phone (785.553.9861).

2025 Guidelines for Annual Dues Contributions

• Degree-seeking students are invited to join at a $72 annual contribution.

• Friends of the LJCC (formerly Associate Membership) recommended contribution: $360

Why do we offer this guideline and what do these categories mean?

The mission of the LJCC is to be the home to all the Jews of Douglas County – as well as their Jewish-adjacent loved ones – regardless of ability to pay. Yet, like any other organization, we have financial needs that must be met in order to provide the services that we do. 

We understand both that you need guidance about what constitutes an appropriate dues contribution and that LJCC members hail from a variety of economic circumstances. The guideline for annual dues contribution is, accordingly, set up so that you can determine what amount is possible and appropriate for your household. 

These categories aren’t labels. Other than our “Benefactors,” we don’t publicize anyone’s membership status according to these categories. These categories aren’t associated with different levels of access or privilege. Membership at the LJCC is non-hierarchical. The guideline is just that: a way of providing guidance about our financial needs and how you can help us meet those needs in a way that works for you.

What is a sustaining amount?

The “Sustaining Amount” is how much it costs to run the LJCC per adult member. If you pay the sustaining amount, you effectively cover all the costs associated with your membership. If everyone paid the sustaining amount each year, we would always meet our budgetary needs.

How is the sustaining amount calculated?

The sustaining amount is calculated by taking the total operating expenses for the LJCC (minus revenue from our endowment) and dividing that by the number of adult members in our congregation. If we grow as a congregation, this figure goes down. 

Sliding scale

We want you to be a part of the LJCC regardless of any current (or future) financial limitations.  Know that you are welcome and valued. 

What is meant by “Base”  amount?

The expectation is that everyone who can afford a membership will pay no less than the base amount. At $600 a year/$50 a month, the LJCC provides weekly services; holiday observances and celebrations; a wide-variety of programming in adult education; opportunities for socializing and strengthening friendships and community relationships; dedicated staff to oversee administrative needs, programming, development, communications, engagement, strategic planning, etc.; and free religious school. Where it is typical for other congregations to charge separate fees for religious school, security, and building maintenance, the LJCC has no such extra charge.

Your financial contribution and volunteerism matters and helps make Jewish life happen in Lawrence, KS.

Supporting Membership

This goes beyond the minimum financial expectation and helps to sustain the LJCC not just in our overarching mission, but in our daily operations. Because some members choose to pay at this level, we can have confidence about covering a healthy chunk of our annual budget. Because not all of our costs are covered by “supporting” and “base” memberships, we seek out additional revenue through our annual campaign and other fundraisers. 

We are so appreciative that you have chosen to invest in Jewish community and make this community possible for others.

Benefactor

The LJCC’s mission is to be home to all the Jews of Douglas County as well as their Jewish-adjacent loved ones regardless of their ability to pay. Be an LJCC member at the “Benefactor” level and ensure that other community members are also able to enjoy the benefits of affiliating with our community. This level of giving is for those who believe that Jewish observance and community should be available for all and who can also afford to make this deeply held value into a reality.