How to Support Boulder Aikikai

You can support Boulder Aikikai in two ways listed on the dojo's site: a monthly membership or a one-time donation, with donations processed through PayPal. Both options are grouped under the "Support" section of the website. This is separate from class enrollment — new students sign up through the "New Students" section instead, so if your goal is to train rather than to give, use that path.

Support options at a glance

Boulder Aikikai describes itself as a federal non-profit educational organization, which is the context for why it accepts donations alongside memberships.

Monthly membership

A monthly membership is the recurring support route. The site notes that current members with a monthly membership can view and update their information through the Zen Planner portal, which is the same system used for member management. If you are already a member, that portal is where you manage your own record rather than a separate support page.

If you are not yet a member and want to support through membership, the practical first step is to contact the dojo by email with your question, since the site directs general questions there.

One-time donation

A one-time donation goes through PayPal. The site lists this under "Support" without stating amounts, tiers, or whether a PayPal account is required versus a card — none of that is specified, so treat the PayPal page itself as the place where those details appear.

Before you give: things the site does not state

• No prices, suggested donation amounts, or membership rates are published in the material available.
• No statement about whether donations are tax-deductible, despite the non-profit status described.
• No indication that donating grants class access, or that membership is required to donate.

If any of these matter to you, email the dojo before committing.

Observing first, if you are undecided

All classes are open for free observation, according to the site. If you want to see the dojo in practice before deciding whether to support it financially, attending an open class as an observer is the lowest-commitment step, and it does not require enrollment.

Quick decision guide

• Want to give once, no ongoing tie → one-time donation via PayPal.
• Want to give continuously and be a member → monthly membership, managed through Zen Planner.
• Want to train, not donate → go to the New Students section; enrollment is open at any time, with a focused Introductory Series offered a few times a year.
• Want to see it first → attend a class for free observation.

For anything not covered on the site — amounts, tax treatment, or how membership and donation interact — email the dojo directly.