Onboarding Intensive
Jumpstart your career in the Jewish nonprofit sector with the skills, guidance, and network you need to thrive.
Key facts
- Cohort 4 applications are open now
- Application deadline: November 20, 2026
- In-person retreat: January 25–27, 2027 · San Diego, CA
- Program cost: $500, plus travel to/from the retreat (need-based travel subsidies available)
- Spots are limited; applying does not guarantee a spot
Applications are open now for cohort four!
Click here to apply
What is Onboarding Intensive?
Starting out in this sector can feel like stepping into a space where others already share a common language — acronyms, history, organizations, and unspoken norms that take time to learn. Onboarding Intensive helps you build the skills, relationships, and sector context to feel more grounded and effective in your role from the start.
Who this is for
- You're in the first 18 months of your current role and within the first 3 years of your full-time career
- Your supervisor supports your participation
You do not need to be Jewish to participate. We welcome professionals of all backgrounds and identities.
What you'll gain
- Build skills that stick — tools and practices around managing up, giving and receiving feedback, and navigating your workplace with confidence
- Discover your leadership style — understand your strengths, working style, and leadership potential, and how to leverage them
- Connect with peers at a similar career stage — a network of colleagues who stay with you well beyond the program
- Make sense of the sector — a deeper understanding of the Jewish nonprofit sector, an introduction to Israel education, and where your work fits within it
By the end, you'll leave with more clarity, confidence, and connection as you grow in your role.
“[Onboarding Intensive] helped me gain confidence in my strengths (as I'm generally more aware of them), and I've already integrated what I learned in the feedback sessions into how I give and receive feedback with colleagues and my supervisor.”
— Participant, Cohort 1
Full program timeline
Virtual sessions and the retreat include a mix of networking, skill building, and learning opportunities — self-advocacy, managing up, giving and receiving feedback, Jewish nonprofit 101, and Israel education.
Management Training (for supervisors)
Supervisors of Onboarding Intensive participants are invited to a supplemental management training series with practical tools, shared language, and strategies for supporting early-career professionals.
- When: Virtually, January–March 2027
- Cost: $250 (subsidized rate)
Community standards
We are committed to creating an environment where participants feel welcomed, respected, and able to contribute fully. Our Gathering Norms help guide how we learn and engage together, and all participants are asked to review and uphold our Community Agreement to help foster a culture of belonging, curiosity, and mutual respect.
Behind the scenes with Cohort 2
→ Click through for the highlights. What happens at the retreat does not, in fact, stay at the retreat.
Your Questions, Answered
Why Leading Edge and why now?
Jewish nonprofits are the heartbeat of Jewish life. They shape vibrant communities whose impact extends far beyond their walls. Everything they achieve depends on the people behind the work — people like you. Leading Edge exists to power Jewish nonprofit talent because how the field invests in its people today will impact communities for generations to come. As you begin your career in the Jewish nonprofit field, now is the moment for Leading Edge to support your journey and connect you with a peer community to set you up for decades of engagement and success.
Do I need to wait to apply if I just started a new role?
No, you don’t need to wait. As long as you meet the program’s eligibility criteria, you’re welcome to apply.
I’m new in my current role but have more than 3 years of work experience. Am I still a good fit?
The 18-month and three-year guidelines are intended to help identify professionals who are early in their careers and at a similar stage of professional development. Both criteria are important in determining eligibility, and having more than three years of full-time professional experience may mean you do not meet the program’s eligibility requirements. If you’re unsure whether your experience meets the eligibility criteria, we encourage you to reach out to our team before applying.
What topics does the program cover?
Onboarding Intensive helps participants build core professional skills in areas such as:
- Working effectively with your manager
- Proactive problem-solving
- Communicating across teams
- Giving and receiving feedback
- Self-advocacy and networking
- Understanding your strengths through the Clifton Strengths assessment
Participants also explore the Jewish nonprofit sector, Judaism in the workplace, and navigating conversations about Israel at work.
Sessions are interactive and designed to help participants apply what they’re learning to their day-to-day work. Specific topics may vary by cohort.
What are the costs to participate?
The $500 program fee covers your participation, as well as lodging and meals during the in-person retreat.
Travel to and from the retreat is not included. Need-based travel subsidies are available to help offset those costs, and additional details will be provided to accepted participants.
Do I need supervisor approval to apply?
Yes, we will ask for your supervisor’s information in the application, and they will need to approve your participation. If you’re accepted, we will also invite them to participate in a separate management training (strongly encouraged but not required).
Is my supervisor required to participate in the management training?
No. The management training component is optional, but we highly encourage supervisors of accepted participants to participate. The training is designed to give managers practical tools and strategies to reinforce and support the skills participants develop throughout the program.
What makes Onboarding Intensive different from other early-career programs?
Onboarding Intensive is designed specifically for early-career professionals working in the Jewish nonprofit sector. The program combines professional skill-building, personal leadership development, sector-specific learning, and community building in one integrated experience.
Through virtual sessions and an immersive in-person retreat, you'll learn alongside peers from a wide range of organizations, explore real workplace challenges, and build relationships that extend well beyond the program itself.
I still have questions. Who can I talk to?
We’re happy to help! Please reach out to programs@leadingedge.org.
This program is made possible with the generous support of Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies, the Jim Joseph Foundation, JUF, and an anonymous foundation.
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