Executive Leadership Program

The Executive Leadership Program has focused on preparing rising Jewish communal executives for C-suite and CEO positions, and it continues to serve leaders on that path. At the same time, the redesigned program reflects our understanding that new ideas and impact are driven by leaders in a wide range of roles and professional trajectories. We seek applicants who lead substantive work and are well‑positioned to drive change in their organizations and communities. We also aim to recruit leaders from small and mid‑sized organizations and communities, where cross-sector collaboration and the ability to test new ideas often make innovation possible. 

The curriculum has been refreshed to help leaders navigate change with greater skill and clarity, drawing on the authentic leadership framework, futures-thinking methodologies, and entrepreneurial skills. The program will offer more robust learning in Jewish history, text and thought and strengthen fellows’ capacity to draw on these sources in their leadership and work. Finally, we have introduced a project component for fellows to sharpen provisional ideas for change and lay the groundwork to bring their visions for impact to life. 

And we continue to cultivate what is uniquely Mandel: direct encounters with diverse communities and compelling sites of inquiry within and beyond Jewish life; an emphasis on vision-guided leadership; and deep investment in a multi-valent cohort and learning community.   

The Mandel Executive Leadership Program aims to: 

• Develop a network of leaders who think deeply about the future of Jewish life and guide evolution in their organizations and communities. 

• Cultivate an ecosystem mindset in the field, where more leaders are guided by a broad understanding of the ideas and practices that animate diverse Jewish communities and an openness to collaboration across organizational and communal contexts. 

• Support leaders in fostering organizational cultures of trust, ethical decision-making, and collective responsibility. 

Applications are due on May 15, 2026. A committee drawn from the Mandel Institute’s faculty, staff, advisors, and graduates reviews all applications and selects a group of finalists to move forward in the admissions process. Finalists are asked to secure a reference from their supervisor (including time release for full participation) and are invited to interview in person. Each finalist will spend one day during the week of July 28–30, 2026 at our Brookline, MA office. We aim to notify finalists and those not advancing by June 19, 2026, and to share final admissions decisions the week of August 3.

The committee is looking for outstanding leaders who are eager to expand their impact. Successful candidates will demonstrate a record of leading substantive work in their organizations, clear purpose and thoughtful analysis in their project description, and an ecosystem orientation through their interest in the wider field and the communities they engage. 

Leadership Sensibilities 

The committee also thinks deeply about the dispositions that shape how fellows learn, collaborate, and lead. We seek fellows who: 

• Bring intellectual curiosity, openness, and a desire to interrogate and expand their assumptions.
• Engage across lines of difference with humility, curiosity, and respect.
• Value collaboration and are invested in learning alongside peers to envision and enact change.
• Demonstrate an ethos of care and responsibility in their work with colleagues and communities.
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Cohort Composition 

We aim to build a cohort that reflects the breadth and diversity of the Jewish communal field—across organizational types, roles, geographies, identities, and lived experiences. By bringing together leaders from communities and organizations of all sizes across the U.S. and Canada, we create a community of practice where fellows learn from multiple perspectives and deepen their understanding of the ecosystem. We believe a cohort with a range of vantage points enriches dialogue, sharpens inquiry, and strengthens the program’s impact. 

The Mandel Institute for Nonprofit Leadership recognizes the growing role of artificial intelligence (AI) tools in professional work. As part of our commitment to cultivating ethical, mission-driven leaders, we expect applicants to engage with these tools thoughtfully and responsibly.  

We understand that some applicants may use generative AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Grammarly, AI-enhanced writing software) to assist in preparing their applications. While use of these tools is permitted, the following guidelines apply:  

• All submitted materials should represent your own experiences, ideas, and voice. While you may use AI tools for limited support (such as brainstorming), they should not serve as the primary means of drafting your responses. Our goal is to gain a clear sense of the depth and clarity of your thinking, writing, and personal reflection.  

• Submitting AI-generated content without review or modification is prohibited.   

The Mandel Institute values integrity, intentionality, and authentic leadership. This policy reflects our belief that AI, when used mindfully, can enhance but never replace the human dimension of leadership.  

No, you do not need to identify as Jewish to apply for the program.

Yes. Applicants may hold executive positions, senior roles, or other positions of significant influence within their organizations. 

If you applied in the past, you are welcome to apply again. Each admissions committee deliberates independently on every application, so repeat applicants are neither advantaged nor disadvantaged. Please review our updated criteria for competitive candidates in the question, “What is the admissions committee looking for in a fellow?”

The curriculum is organized around three connected areas of learning that expand how fellows understand themselves as leaders, their communities, and the broader Jewish landscape:  

Leadership, Vision & Action 

Fellows cultivate self-awareness, clarify their values and purposes, and build futures-thinking and entrepreneurial capacities. Fellows bridge theory and practice through the development of a project in their organizations or communities. 

Communities & Culture 

Fellows expand their understanding of diverse Jewish communities in the U.S. and Canada, and Jewish and Arab/Palestinian communities in Israel. 

Jewish Grounding 

Fellows deepen their knowledge of Jewish texts, histories, and philosophy and bring these sources to bear on their leadership and work. 

Across these areas, fellows learn through in-person seminars, virtual sessions, advising, peer practice groups, and project‑based work that helps them integrate insights into their leadership practice. 

As part of the Executive Leadership Program, each fellow will develop a project over the course of the fellowship. This project will serve as a laboratory for fellows to test new ideas, apply learning, and strengthen their capacity to lead change. Projects may be large or small in scope, new or already underway, within fellows’ organizations or beyond, and should offer meaningful opportunities for experimentation and leadership growth.  

Examples of projects include but are not limited to: piloting a new program or service, designing an initiative for professional or volunteer development, initiating a convening, building a partnership or coalition with external organizations, and developing resources or research for the field. 

The Mandel Institute covers travel and program expenses, except for meals during travel.  

If selected, fellows must be prepared to participate in all program components, including in-person seminars, virtual learning, advising sessions, and practice group or full-cohort meetings. The average time commitment between seminars is 6 hours per month for practice group meetings, advising sessions, and virtual learning.  

Sponsoring organizations are expected to approve and uphold release time, enabling fellows to step back from day-to–day responsibilities and be fully present in the learning and cohort experience.  

• Seminar One: Boston – October 18-22, 2026
• Seminar Two: Israel – March 3-11, 2027 (travel day March 2)
• Seminar Three: Toronto – September 12-16, 2027
• Seminar Four: Boston – March 19-23, 2028

We recognize that caregiving responsibilities can create barriers to participating in programs that require travel to in-person seminars. The Institute offers the following support to fellows who are nursing or caring for infants: 

• Nursing fellows have access to Milk Stork to ship pumped milk home for seminars held in the U.S. 

• Private pumping space will be available whenever needed. 

• Fellows with a newborn under one year old may bring their baby to any seminar, regardless of location. We encourage fellows to bring a family member or other caregiver to support them during the seminar. The Institute will cover the caregiver’s flight and hotel, and both the caregiver and infant are welcome at all meals. If a fellow does not have a caregiver who can travel, they may arrange for local childcare. Fellows are responsible for coordinating with the childcare provider, and the Institute will reimburse costs up to $200 per day. 

Finalists who cannot travel due to pregnancy or care of an infant may opt for a virtual admissions interview. Those who choose to travel to Boston will have access to Milk Stork and a private pumping space.