JLIC-Yavneh CareerForward Jewish Impact Fellowship

**Application for Cohort 1 are now closed. Application for Cohort 2 will open in August 2026.

The JLIC CareerForward Fellowship is designed for college juniors who are passionate about building meaningful careers in the Jewish nonprofit and formal education world. This fellowship aims to identify, inspire, and prepare the next generation of Jewish communal leaders.

Through a carefully curated combination of seminars, impactful internships, individualized senior projects, and guided job placements, fellows will gain the knowledge, skills, and real-world experience needed to thrive professionally. The program’s mission is to empower aspiring changemakers with the tools, mentorship, and network necessary to succeed in the Jewish nonprofit and education sectors—and to make a lasting difference in their communities.

Who We’re Looking For?

Nonprofit Track: We are recruiting highly motivated second-semester college juniors who are passionate about pursuing a career in the Jewish nonprofit sector. This track is designed to provide hands-on experience, professional development, and mentorship to help fellows explore and launch meaningful careers in Jewish communal life.

Formal Educator Track: We are recruiting highly motivated second-semester college juniors who are passionate about pursuing a career formal Jewish education. This track is designed to provide classroom experience, professional development, and mentorship to help fellows explore and launch meaningful careers in Jewish education.

Fellowship Stipend:$2,000

Program Timeline

Junior Year – Second Semester

6 Virtual Seminars exploring core aspects of the nonprofit world.

Spring Shabbaton (End of May)

An immersive in-person weekend to build community, reflect, and network with professionals in the field.

Summer After Junior Year

Internship Placement Support: Fellows will be guided through an internship placement process, including personalized advising and interview prep.
Internship Experience: Fellows will complete a summer internship at a Jewish nonprofit organization. We will work with each fellow to ensure the opportunity aligns with their interests and goals. (Note: Internships may be unpaid or paid depending on the organization.)

Senior Year

Career Coaching: Fellows will meet 2–3 times with a career coach to reflect on their summer experience, clarify their interests, and explore potential career paths.
Capstone Project: Fellows will identify a real need in a community they care about (e.g., campus, hometown, camp, synagogue), develop a proposal to address that need, and implement the project with our support.
Fall Shabbaton: Fellows will attend the Yavneh Fall Shabbaton to reconnect, network, and share progress.
NYC Work Day: A day of learning and exposure to the OU organizational network.