APPLY TO
THE COLLECTIVE

Accepting Pre-Applications for Cohort 9 until
October 22nd, 2026

Apply Today

IS THE COLLECTIVE RIGHT FOR YOU?

Thank you for your interest in The Collective, Elluminate’s signature leadership advancement experience for visionary Jewish women nonprofit CEOs. Each year, Elluminate selects ten exceptional leaders for an intensive 18-month cohort experience designed to strengthen their leadership, expand their networks, elevate their visibility, and accelerate their ability to create social change.

Below you’ll find information about eligibility, what we look for, the application process, important dates, and frequently asked questions.

THE COLLECTIVE LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE

The Collective is a cohort-based leadership advancement experience grounded in feminist, Jewish, and moral courage leadership.

Collective members:

      • Deepen their leadership capacity and ability to advance equity and social change.
      • Strengthen their ability to navigate complex challenges and lead with moral courage.
      • Learn with and from an exceptional peer cohort of Jewish women nonprofit CEOs.
      • Build relationships and collaborate across issues, organizations, and geographies.
      • Participate in virtual cohort learning, in-person retreats, coaching, professional learning, and Elluminate events.
      • Engage with Elluminate’s broader network of women leaders, philanthropists, advocates, and experts through select programs and events.
      • Gain opportunities to elevate their leadership and increase the visibility of their work through Elluminate programs, communications, and select speaking and engagement opportunities.
      • Receive $20,000 in general operating support for their organization and $5,000 for individual professional development.
      • Upon completion of the 18-month experience, join Elluminate’s Global Jewish Women’s Leadership Network, expanding opportunities for continued connection, collaboration, and collective impact.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE?

Applicants must:

  • Identify as a Jewish woman.
  • Serve as the CEO or Executive Director of a nonprofit organization advancing social change.
  • Lead an organization based in the United States, Israel, or another country.
  • Have the support of their organization to participate fully in the 18-month Collective experience, including virtual learning sessions and in-person retreats.

Elluminate welcomes leaders from organizations of different sizes, issue areas, geographies, and approaches to social change.

WHAT WE LOOK FOR

We seek visionary Jewish women leaders committed to advancing equity, justice, and systemic social change. Strong candidates lead organizations that look beyond the symptoms of social challenges to address root causes, systemic barriers, policies, practices, behaviors, and beliefs. Their work may create change in many ways—from advocacy and policy change to shifting narratives, mobilizing people, changing practices, or protecting hard-won progress.

We look for leaders who demonstrate:

      • Visionary leadership and moral courage.
      • A clear commitment to equity, justice, and systemic social change.
      • A compelling vision for the change they and their organizations seek to create.
      • A vision for feminist leadership and an interest in strengthening their leadership through a feminist and Jewish lens.
      • Entrepreneurial and strategic thinking.
      • Openness to learning, reflection, and growth.
      • A collaborative spirit and commitment to peer learning.
      • An ability and willingness to learn across difference.
      • A desire to contribute to a broader network of feminist Jewish women leaders and to the potential for greater collective impact.

We are committed to building a cohort that reflects diversity across race, age, sexual orientation, ethnic and cultural identity, geography, leadership experience, organizational size, issue area, and approach to social change.

APPLICATION TIMELINE – COHORT 9

Prospective candidates submit a brief pre-application expressing their interest in The Collective.

Selected candidates will be invited to complete and submit a full application.

Finalists will participate in interviews with Elluminate and members of the Visionary Circle Selection Committee.

Ten exceptional Jewish women nonprofit CEOs will be selected to join Cohort 9.

Click here to complete the pre-application

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is the time commitment?

Cohort 9 runs from July 1, 2027–December 31, 2028. The 18-month experience includes ten virtual cohort sessions and three in-person retreats in New York City.

In-person retreats coincide with key Elluminate gatherings, including the fall Convening and spring Annual Luncheon, where Collective members also participate.

Who selects the members of The Collective?

Members are selected through a thoughtful and equitable process led by Elluminate’s Visionary Circle, a group of Jewish philanthropists, advocates, and experts, in partnership with Elluminate.

What type of organizations are eligible?

The Collective is designed for CEOs and Executive Directors leading nonprofit organizations that advance systemic social change toward a more just and equitable society.
Organizations may work in a wide range of issue areas and may:

  • Advance social change within Jewish communities.
  • Represent or engage Jewish communities in the broader public sphere.
  • Be secular organizations led by Jewish women advancing equity and social change in broader society.

Organizations of varying sizes, budgets, staff structures, issue areas, and social-change strategies are encouraged to apply.

Does my organization receive funding?

Yes. Each Collective member receives a one-time $20,000 general operating grant for the organization she leads, as well as $5,000 for her individual professional development.

What does Elluminate mean by social change?

Elluminate supports leaders whose organizations work to address the root causes of social challenges and create systemic change, rather than addressing only their symptoms.

Social change may include changing policies and practices, shifting narratives or behaviors, mobilizing people around an issue, removing systemic barriers, or protecting hard-won gains in equity and justice.

Social change can take many forms, and organizations do not need to use all of these strategies to be eligible.

Is there a cost to participate?

There is no participation fee. Elluminate covers the cost of the Collective experience, including program participation and required in-person retreats in New York City.

Participating organizations must support their CEO or Executive Director in fully participating in all required aspects of the experience.

How many women are selected?

Ten Jewish women nonprofit CEOs are selected for each cohort. The cohort is intentionally designed to bring together leaders working across different issue areas, organizations, experiences, and geographies.

Can previous applicants reapply?

Yes. Previous applicants are welcome to reapply.

What happens after the cohort experience ends?

Collective members join Elluminate’s Global Jewish Women’s Leadership Network, providing ongoing opportunities for connection and collaboration with feminist Jewish women leaders advancing equity and justice in the United States, Israel, and around the world.

READY TO APPLY?

Could The Collective be the next step in your leadership journey?

Pre-applications for Cohort 9 are due October 22, 2026.

START YOUR PRE-APPLICATION

Know an Exceptional Leader?
Help us identify visionary Jewish women nonprofit CEOs who should know about The Collective.
Nomination Form

Questions?
For more information, contact Rachel Siegel, Director of Jewish Women’s Leadership Programs, at [email protected].