The Jewish nonprofit world offers a wealth of caeer opportunity. But for many college students, that sphere goes largely unexplored. Following the launch of its inaugural cohort last year, CareerForward, the JLIC Yavneh Jewish Impact Fellowship, has expanded to welcome 25 new fellows. The fellowship connects students with opportunities to explore careers in the Jewish nonprofit sector through hands-on professional experience, mentorship, and career development. This year’s expansion includes a new track for students pursuing careers in Jewish education. CareerForward is a program of the OU Leadership Pipeline Initiative, powered by JLIC Yavneh.
Opening Doors to Jewish Nonprofit Careers
Nonprofits offer careers in education, media, advocacy, social services, and community building, and 87% of the people in those jobs report feeling proud to work for their organization, a number well above the U.S. benchmark. Yet, many college students and young professionals may not realize the breadth of opportunities available to them. According to Leading Edge’s 2025 State of Jewish Nonprofit Talent report, more than half of Jewish professionals outside the field say they are unfamiliar with Jewish nonprofits. These careers are hiding in plain sight, and Jewish professionals are missing out. CareerForward, the JLIC Yavneh Jewish Impact Fellowship, helps bridge this gap by giving college juniors a way in through hands-on experience and the opportunity to learn more about careers in the Jewish world.
Fellows in CareerForward’s first cohort interned with organizations including JFNA, Prizmah, Shalom Task Force, and OpenDor Media. For Bailey Spitz (UMD ’26), now a JD candidate at Fordham Law, CareerForward helped turn her interests into a professional opportunity. “I was able to find an internship at the Beit Din of America with CareerForward’s help, which gave me the opportunity to combine my interests in Jewish nonprofits and law on a high level.” The CareerForward fellowship also offers students one-on-one time with a professional career coach and help landing a job after graduation. The program lends students the chance to experience the Jewish nonprofit world and determine what track they want to pursue before the whirlwind of senior year job applications.
For Adam Gould (Brandeis ’27), CareerForward also shaped the way that he thinks about his professional ambition and his values. “I think the program was really transformative and informed my career choices as I look to what I want to do post grad. Additionally, it instilled in me the idea that you should work for-purpose in whatever role that you choose. It’s not a binary choice between Jewish nonprofits and other organizations and that we can use the skills and values and hop between both worlds.”
Building the Next Generation of Jewish Educators
This year, Career Forward is introducing a new Formal Educator Track for students headed into Jewish education. This has opened an additional 10 slots for college students in their Junior year, bringing the total up to 25 slots. This expansion will allow more students to access the benefits of CareerForward while still maintaining a focus on each student. Prizmah, the network for Jewish day schools and yeshivas in North America, reports that as Jewish day school enrollment is trending upward, day school leaders across North America, from schools of, have named the same top challenge: more teachers.
For a college student considering a career in Jewish Education, the decision can be intimidating. However, the Formal Educator Track will allow fellows to explore the track firsthand and make a more educated decision. Through the Formal Educator Track, each fellow will work weekly at a local Jewish day school alongside experienced teachers and participate in six virtual seminars focused on careers in Jewish education.
Joining CareerForward
Fellows receive a $2,000 stipend. Throughout the year, CareerForward’s trained career coach will meet individually with each fellow to clarify their interests, strengthen their resumes, and explore potential career paths. By the end of the program, fellows have practical experience and professional guidance to help them pursue careers in Jewish education and the broader Jewish nonprofit sector.Beyond career development, fellows are given the opportunity to build a community of their own. Two Shabbatons, and two in-person days bring fellows and professionals already working in the Jewish nonprofit world together, helping the fellows develop relationships that can support them as they begin their careers.
Applications close Sunday, October 25, 2026.
College juniors can apply at: oujlic.org/careerforward-application
And learn more at: yavnehoncampus.org/careerforward.
Organizations and schools interested in hosting a CareerForward fellow can contact: Careerforward@yavneh.us.