Connecting experienced professionals and emerging talent to learn, grow, and make a greater impact

Deadline to apply: June 11

OLAMentorship leverages the deep and diverse expertise within OLAM's network to foster professional growth and build meaningful relationships and learning among practitioners working in international development, humanitarian aid, and global service.
‍
Mentors and mentees are matched based on shared interests, career goals, and skills. They can discuss topics ranging from interview preparation and addressing challenges with coworkers to navigating the sector as a Jew. Whether you're seeking guidance, looking to give back, hoping to remain engaged when you're in between jobs, or want to deepen your ties to a global Jewish community, OLAMentorship offers a meaningful way to grow.

OLAMentorship Pilot: By the Numbers

Participants in the OLAMentorship pilot program, which ran from September-December 2025, formed meaningful professional connections that are continuing beyond the program.

How can OLAMentorship help you grow?

Gain or Give Personalized Guidance

Develop skills and provide support as you grow professionally:
Mentees: Receive feedback and support on workplace challenges, discuss ethical practices, and explore your career path with a trusted thought partner.
Mentors: Share your hard-earned experience, gain fulfillment by playing an influential role in someone’s professional journey, and learn new perspectives and ideas from your mentee.

Build Professional Connections

Tap into the power of OLAM’s global network to form trusted, lasting relationships with peers:
Mentees: Connect with experienced professionals, expand your network, and strengthen your sense of belonging.
Mentors: Engage with emerging leaders in the Jewish global development and humanitarian field and play a meaningful role in shaping the future of the ecosystem.

Develop Hard and Soft Skills

Mentees: Strengthen skills that help you thrive across roles and organizations. Whether it’s project management, budgeting, fundraising, refining leadership, or interview prep, you’ll gain practical tools from someone who’s been there.

Dive Deeper Into Your Sector

Mentees: Gain insights about your technical area from a mentor with hands-on experience in the issues you care about - such as global health, climate, or WASH. Learn best practices, discover new tools and resources, and stay up to date on the latest trends in your sector.

Be Part of a Jewish Collaborative

Mentees & Mentors: Join an exclusive space where you can delve into issues unique to those working in Jewish or Israeli organizations, or Jews working in secular organizations. Explore topics such as navigating identities during challenging times, understanding the Jewish funding landscape, and connecting Jewish values to your work. This supportive, global community, rooted in Jewish values, offers guidance and shared learning as we inspire one another in pursuit of building a more just and compassionate world - together.

Meet Our 2026 Mentors

Below are some of our 2026 mentors. Check back here to see who else has joined this year's cohort.

Robert Bank

Former President & CEO

American Jewish World Service

Shiri Sandler

Executive Director

Five Together Foundation

Michal Bruck

CEO

NALA Foundation

Jonathan Arogeti

Humanitarian Action Senior Manager

Care USA

Dan Gaylin

President & CEO

NORC at the University of Chicago

Melissa Kushner

Founder & Special Advisor

Yamba Malawi

Program Overview:
Who It's For, What to Expect, How to Apply

Who is OLAMentorship for?

OLAMentorship is open to staff of OLAM partner organizations and OLAM individual members.

Mentors are senior-level professionals with a minimum of 15 years experience, and expertise in international development, humanitarian aid, or global service.

Mentees are junior- or mid-level professionals with under 10 years of experience seeking to grow professionally. Mentees must be actively working in, or seeking employment in the fields of international development, humanitarian aid, and global service.

The program will particularly benefit those in programmatic, communications, or fundraising roles.

Not sure if you're eligible? Email: bari@olamtogether.org. Please note that space is limited and applicants may get denied if there is no relevant match for them.

What is the application process and deadline?

Fill out the OLAMentorship application form by June 11. OLAM will be in touch with all applicants by the end of June to let you know your status. If you are selected, we’ll introduce you to your match and guide you through next steps.

What is the format and general timeline of the program?

OLAMentorship 2026 runs from July-December 2026, with mentorship pairs meeting at least six times. Each meeting lasts 45–60 minutes and is supported by the Together platform, which facilitates scheduling, progress tracking, and resource sharing.

After submitting an application on the Together platform, applicants will be notified if they have been accepted to the program. Shortly after that, they will receive information about their match, and OLAM will host onboarding calls for participants. The first mentorship meeting should take place soon after those calls, with the remaining meetings scheduled by the end of December 2026.

Please note: It is the responsibility of the mentee to coordinate the scheduling of all meetings.

OLAM will offer a suggested agenda for each mentorship meeting, and can offer support throughout the process.

What is your commitment?

To get the most out of the program, you are expected to:
‍
> Meet at least six times with your assigned mentor/mentee
> Uphold the values outlined in the OLAMentorship Agreement, which emphasizes confidentiality, professionalism, and accountability
> Communicate with OLAM staff and your assigned mentor/mentee in a timely manner, and show up on time to your scheduled meetings
> Complete a brief survey after each meeting and a final, comprehensive survey at the end of the mentorship to help us learn and improve the program.

What people are saying

“This opportunity would not have been an option without OLAM. NALA’s network increased drastically from the visit, and it completely changed the way I think about engaging with the Jewish community in North America. The encounters really helped ‘fill my battery’ after an intense period that left me somewhat drained.”

Jacob Sztokman, Founding Director, Gabriel Project Mumbai

"Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat."

Name Surname

Position, Company name

Mentoring through this program was a truly rewarding experience. I especially appreciated the chance to support someone as they advanced in their career. By the end of our mentorship, my mentee had secured a new job, and we’re still in regular contact.

Gina Volynsky

Taking part in this program not only allowed me to learn directly from the lived experience of my mentor, but it helped me gain clarity on my professional direction, and feel supported in my growth.

Liza Cemel

I came out of the mentorship with a more structured and strategic approach to building a US donor prospect pipeline. What I didn’t expect, but found most memorable, was [my mentor’s] genuine interest in my own career development and ambitions. She always cheered for my successes, and having someone outside of my organisation care about my work and offer a third perspective has been incredibly motivating.”

Esther Tsz Wing Ng, World Jewish Relief

FAQs

How are mentors and mentees matched? Can I request someone I know or prefer to be matched with?

Matches are made solely by the OLAM team through an intentional, personalized approach based on the information provided in the application. When creating matches, we consider factors such as:

Technical sectors of interest/experience (WASH, livelihoods, education, etc.)
Hard skills (project management, fundraising, budgeting, AI use, etc.)
Soft skills (job interviews and resume reviews, teamwork, etc.)
Interests/issues (learning about the ecosystem, being the only Jew at an organization, etc.)
Geographic location preference
Motivation for participation in the program

Mentors and mentees cannot request to be matched with specific individuals.

What if my mentor or mentee and I are not a good fit?

We match mentorship pairs through a thoughtful and personalized process, taking into account a range of criteria to set you up for success. We expect you to have at least one meeting and encourage you to give the pairing a fair chance. With that, we understand that sometimes it may not be the right fit. If that’s the case, OLAM staff will work with you to find a better match. Please note that we can only accommodate one rematch per participant.

Can I participate as both a mentor and a mentee? If not, which do I choose?

You may join OLAMentorship as either a mentor or a mentee, but not both.

‍

You do not need to be currently employed in the sector to be a mentor. If you have a minimum of 10 years experience in international development, humanitarian aid, or global service, you can offer valuable guidance to someone exploring these fields or facing related challenges. Conversely, even senior professionals can benefit from mentorship when navigating new directions or applying their skills in different contexts. Choose the role that best fits where you are in your professional journey.

What kind of support will I receive as a participant?

While you are responsible for building your mentorship relationship, the OLAM team will provide various forms of support to OLAMentorship mentors and mentees, including:

Hosting a mentor onboarding call and sending a mentee onboarding email to make sure you have all the information you need for successful participation
Sending out prompts or reminders as needed to schedule and hold your mentorship meetings
Suggested agendas and conversation starters for meetings
Reviewing feedback from mentors and mentees throughout the pilot to ensure that the program is running smoothly

If there is a specific question or need, please reach out to Bari Rabin at bari@olamtogether.org.

What should we talk about during our mentorship meetings?

Your first meeting will focus on getting to know each other and reviewing your OLAMentorship Agreement, as well as the mentee’s goals for the program. The remaining three meetings will be shaped by those goals and may include:

Sharing relevant experiences or resources
Brainstorming or problem-solving together
Practicing skills or getting feedback
Reflecting on progress and refining goals

OLAM will provide you with guiding templates and potential topics for your mentorship meetings.

How will the meetings take place? Do we need to use video?

All meetings and program functions can be managed directly through the user-friendly Together mentorship platform, including:

Submitting your application
Scheduling meetings (A Zoom link will be automatically generated for each meeting, and can be accessed from your Together dashboard or your calendar.)
Accessing tailored resources
Sharing feedback on your experience

Because OLAMentorship aims to build meaningful relationships, all sessions should take place via video chat, with the video on. Seeing each other helps foster trust, engagement, and deeper connection.

Can the mentor-mentee relationship continue after the pilot ends?

Yes! While the formal OLAMentorship pilot will conclude in December 2025, you and your mentorship partner are welcome to continue your relationship informally, outside the structure of the program and the Together platform.

Still have questions?

Email: bari@olamtogether.org