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

Apply to join the OLAMentorship pilot program
(You must create an account on the Together platform in order to apply)

OLAMentorship leverages the deep and diverse talent 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.
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Mentors and mentees are matched according to shared interests, career goals, and areas of expertise - ranging from technical skills to broader themes such as 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 is launching as a pilot program from September to December 2025, with space for 25 mentors and 25 mentees. Don't miss this unique chance to connect, learn, and contribute to this supportive Jewish space, while helping shape the collective impact of our global network.

How can OLAMentorship help you grow?

Gain Personalized Career Guidance

Get matched with an experienced professional for one-on-one guidance in the development and aid ecosystem. Receive feedback on workplace challenges, gain fresh perspective on interpersonal dynamics, and explore your career path with a trusted thought partner.

Develop Hard and Soft Skills

Strengthen the skills that help you thrive across roles and organizations. Whether it’s project management, budgeting, fundraising, or staying current with AI - or refining leadership, teamwork, or interview prep, you’ll gain practical tools from someone who’s been there.

Dive Deeper Into Your Sector

Gain insights about your field 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.

Build Professional Connections

Tap into the power of OLAM’s global network to form trusted, lasting relationships with peers working in humanitarian aid, international development, and global service. Feel less alone in your work and more connected to a shared mission.

Be Part of OLAM's Collaborative Community

Join a mentorship rooted in the Jewish values of mutual responsibility and learning. Be part of a supportive, global community where Jews support, guide, and inspire one another in pursuit of creating a more just and compassionate world - together.

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 typically senior-level professionals with a minimum of 10 years experience, and expertise in international development, humanitarian aid, or global service.

Mentees are junior- or mid-level professionals seeking to shift careers within these sectors, build technical skills, or deepen their connection to the global Jewish development community - especially those who are geographically isolated from other Jews working in the field or from Jewish life more broadly.

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

Not sure if you're eligible? Email: bari@olamtogether.org.

What is the format and general timeline of the pilot program?

The OLAMentorship pilot runs from September to December 2025, with mentorship pairs meeting at least four times. Each meeting lasts 45–60 minutes and is supported by the Together platform, which facilitates scheduling, progress tracking, and resource sharing.

OLAM will host an onboarding preparation call in early September for mentors, after matches are announced. Your first mentorship meeting should take place soon after that, with the remaining sessions scheduled by the end of 2025.

What is your commitment?

To get the most out of the program, you are expected to:
> Meet at least four 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 sessions and an end-of-pilot survey to help us improve the program. Mentees will also have a mid-term reflection.

What is the application process and deadline?

Fill out the OLAMentorship application form by August 17, 2025. We'll be in touch with all applicants by the end of August to let you know your status. If you are selected, we’ll introduce you to your match and guide you through next steps.

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

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Name Surname

Position, Company name

I am deeply grateful that OLAM in Motion enabled me to take part in a highly rewarding partnership with Gabriel Project Mumbai, and to work with their team so that together, we could tell impactful, human-centered stories through powerful visual imagery. I hope I get the chance to do the same for other OLAM partners.

Jesse Kornbluth, OLAM Individual Member

The opportunity to explore partnerships with the San Diego Jewish community 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.

Michal Bruck, NALA

The support of OLAM that enabled me to attend the GA, and continually allows JDC Entwine to be a presence at Jewish gatherings, is essential to deepening our organizational impact. Being part of Jewish discussions about global aid and disaster response work allowed me to deepen connections with partners and colleagues, and to learn more about how the Jewish community is working alongside one another to advance common goals.

Andrew Belinfante, JDC Entwine

Through OLAM in Motion, NATAN connected with Jewish audiences throughout the US, introduced our organization’s work to prominent synagogues and a school, and even managed to organize a successful fundraising event while in the US! This not only resulted in donations for NATAN, but helped us strengthen ties to existing supporters, find new ones, and identify potential new volunteers.

Danny Kahn, NATAN

Thanks to the subsidy, Mensch was able to hire a fundraising consultant, which resulted in us raising an extra 50% of our operational budget for the coming year, and set us on a course for professionalizing and systematizing our fundraising. Thank you OLAM for this empowering gift!

Gina Flash, Mensch

Thanks to OLAM in Motion, I was able to come to Focal Point and learn how a project to empower the local community may transform a neglected neighborhood into an attractive one. It was an amazing experience.

Ernest Ngabonzima, Glocal alumnus

Our collaboration with the Arava Institute, subsidized by OLAM in Motion, has already inspired the Department of Politics and Government at Ben-Gurion University to initiate their own partnership with them. The unique and enriching experience offered by the Arava Institute is truly unparalleled, and we are so grateful for this opportunity.

Michal Zvieli, Ben-Gurion University Africa Centre

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.

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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?

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