# Ziklag Ziklag is a secretive, invitation-only charity of ultra-wealthy conservative Christian families that works to advance [[Christian Nationalism]] through politics while operating under the legal cover of a tax-exempt charity. Exposed in a July 2024 ProPublica/Documented investigation built on leaked internal records (the "Ziklag files"), the group is organized explicitly around the [[Seven Mountain Mandate]] — the [[Dominionism]] doctrine that Christians are called to take control of seven "mountains" of society: business, government, education, media, arts/entertainment, family, and religion. Ziklag matters for the KB as a rare documented look inside the donor-coordination layer of the Christian-nationalist movement: a body that pools the giving of some of the country's richest evangelical families and directs it at concrete electoral mechanics, all while claiming the same nonpartisan charitable status as the United Way. ## Donor families Ziklag's membership is drawn from some of the wealthiest conservative Christian families in the United States, reportedly including: - The Uihlein family, the Uline office-supplies billionaires and among the largest Republican donors in the country (see [[Uihlein Family Foundation]], [[Uline]]). - The Green family, owners of [[Hobby Lobby]] (see [[Green Family]]). - The Waller family, owners of the Jockey apparel company (see [[Waller Family]]). ## 2024 election operations According to the leaked files, Ziklag planned to spend roughly $12 million on the 2024 cycle and set a goal of helping purge more than a million people from voter rolls in swing states. Its activities were organized into three named operations: - **Checkmate** — funding so-called "election integrity" groups, including mass voter-roll challenges. - **Steeplechase** — using churches and pastors to mobilize and turn out voters. - **Watchtower** — galvanizing voters around "parental rights" and opposition to transgender rights and trans health care. ## The 501(c)(3) problem Ziklag is organized as a [[501(c)(3)]] tax-exempt charity — the same designation as a food bank or youth club — which means its donors are undisclosed and their contributions are tax-deductible. But 501(c)(3) organizations are flatly prohibited from intervening in political campaigns for or against candidates. Legal experts quoted in the reporting said Ziklag's election operations appeared to test or cross that line, making it a case study in how the [[Dark Money]] system and charitable-status rules can be bent toward partisan electioneering. ## Connection to the KB Ecosystem - **[[Seven Mountain Mandate]]** / **[[Dominionism]]**: the theological program Ziklag is built to advance. - **[[Christian Nationalism]]**: Ziklag is an organizing node of the movement's donor class. - **[[Uihlein Family Foundation]]** / **[[Uline]]** / **[[Green Family]]** / **[[Waller Family]]**: the megadonor families behind it. - **[[501(c)(3)]]** / **[[Dark Money]]**: the legal and financial machinery that keeps its funders hidden and its spending tax-advantaged. ## See Also - [[Seven Mountain Mandate]] - [[Dominionism]] - [[Christian Nationalism]] - [[Green Family]] - [[Waller Family]] - [[Uihlein Family Foundation]] - [[Dark Money]]