Ziklag (organization)

Ziklag
USATransform
Named afterZiklag
Formation2018; 7 years ago (2018)
FounderKen Eldred
Type501(c)3 organization
82-4819179
HeadquartersSouthlake, Texas

Ziklag is a Christian dominionist organization named after the biblical city of Ziklag. Its membership is exclusively for individuals with a net worth over $25 million as well as faith-based interests. The organization's goal is to "take dominion over the Seven Mountains" of society.[1]

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History

Silicon Valley entrepreneur Ken Eldred created Ziklag after the 2016 election of Donald Trump to the presidency. It was registered in 2018 as a 501(c)(3) organization named USATransform.[1][2] Until December 2022 its CEO was Rebecca Hagelin; she was replaced by interim CEO Julie Nimmons.[3][1]

Ziklag's revenue in 2022 was $12 million.[1]

Members

The organization's membership is exclusively for individuals with a net worth of over $25 million as well as faith-based interests. It appears to have over 125 members.[1][4][5][6]

Lance Wallnau, a self-described Christian nationalist, is an advisor to and a force behind Ziklag.[1] Wallnau is a prominent figure of the New Apostolic Reformation, of which he says he is an apostle.[7]

Activities

In 2021, Ziklag began working with the Alliance Defending Freedom "to take down the education system as we know it today". Ziklag's educational project is headed by Peter Bohlinger.[4][8]

In an internal newsletter, Ziklag claimed that it had played a "hugely significant role" in getting Amy Coney Barrett onto the Supreme Court in 2020.[1] It believes in the Seven Mountain Mandate and its actions in 2024 are divided into three projects: to scrutinize the electoral process, promote voting at churches, and engage in the parental rights movement.[1][4]

Ziklag has supported Cleta Mitchell and the Conservative Partnership Institute led by Mark Meadows, who work on what they call "election integrity projects", and planned to support Mitchell's EagleAI election software project in the 2024 presidential election.[1] Turning Point USA leader Charlie Kirk spoke to a gathering of Ziklag members in late 2023 and encouraged them to donate more.[1]

In 2024, ProPublica reported on Ziklag's efforts to support Donald Trump's reelection as president and interviewed multiple legal experts who said the efforts could violate the law regarding nonprofit organizations.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Kroll, Andy; Surgey, Nick (July 13, 2024). "Inside Ziklag, the Secret Organization of Wealthy Christians Trying to Sway the Election and Change the Country". ProPublica. Archived from the original on July 13, 2024. Retrieved July 14, 2024. EagleAI
  2. ^ "Usatransform - Nonprofit Explorer - ProPublica". ProPublica. May 9, 2013. Archived from the original on July 13, 2024. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  3. ^ "Usatransform, 2022 Full Filing". ProPublica. May 10, 2023. Archived from the original on July 14, 2024. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  4. ^ a b c "Inside the Secret Right-Wing Plan to 'Take Down the Education System as We Know It'". Documented. October 17, 2023. Archived from the original on July 13, 2024. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  5. ^ "The Ziklag Group: Membership Criteria". Archived from the original on May 16, 2023. potential members must meet the following criteria: Committed to Christ; Concern for culture evidenced by donations to faith-based and/or political efforts to renew our nation; Demonstrated success in business with significant financial means, defined as a net worth of at least $25 million; Humble in spirit
  6. ^ Fang, Lee (May 23, 2020). "Inside the Influential Evangelical Group Mobilizing to Reelect Trump". The Intercept. Archived from the original on July 14, 2024. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  7. ^ Hardy, Elle (August 23, 2022). "The Right-Wing Christian Sect Plotting a Political Takeover". The New Republic. Archived from the original on March 31, 2024. Retrieved July 21, 2024.
  8. ^ Emma Brown; Peter Jamison (August 29, 2023). "The Christian home-schooler who made 'parental rights' a GOP rallying cry". Washington Post. Archived from the original on July 15, 2024. Retrieved July 14, 2024.