FJC Fellowship: Applicant Information
THE FJC FELLOWSHIP: GET A REAL JOB — AT CAMP!
The FJC Fellowship connects talented camp staff to careers in Jewish camp, and beyond. Through the FJC Fellowship, you will gain invaluable professional skills and work experience while working at Foundation for Jewish Camp, and still get to spend your summers at your Jewish camp!
The FJC Fellowship is a paid, 21-month fellowship for recent college graduates seeking professional opportunities in the field of Jewish Camp. Fellows spend the summer working in a leadership role at a Jewish overnight or day camp. Fellows spend the academic year working full-time at Foundation for Jewish Camp’s headquarters office in New York. Each Fellow will work on different projects at FJC, providing valuable support for field-wide initiatives, large-scale FJC programs, and organizational operations. Fellows will be supervised by senior FJC professionals, attend key meetings and events, and be exposed to the inner workings of a national non-profit organization. Individually and as a cohort, Fellows will have access to professional development opportunities and mentorship from Jewish camp professionals.
The deadline for Cohort 3 applications was February 28th, and is currently closed. Stay in touch with FJC about the next cohort of FJC Fellows and other professional opportunities in Jewish camp.
Camp Directors, get more information about camps’ role in the Fellowship.
More Information
WHAT IS FJC?
Foundation for Jewish Camp (FJC) fosters excellence and accelerates innovation at Jewish camps across North America by developing adaptive talent, deepening immersive learning experiences, and catalyzing field growth. Founded in 1998, FJC elevates Jewish camp on the cultural and philanthropic agenda, creating opportunities to engage even more young people in Jewish camp through groundbreaking programs such as One Happy Camper® and FJC’s Specialty Camps Incubator. FJC advocates for over 300 day and overnight camps that provide nearly 180,000 campers and young staff each summer with a meaningful, personal, and lifelong connection to Judaism. FJC is a public 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
WHAT DO THE FJC FELLOWS WORK ON?
While each Fellows will have a distinct portfolio of work, based on their unique skills and interest areas, all Fellows have responsibility for supporting a variety of leadership, educational and inclusion programs for day and overnight camp staff and professionals, and the research, marketing and development efforts that enable those initiatives.
WHAT ARE THE PROGRAMMATIC COMPONENTS OF THE FELLOWSHIP?
Fellows spend summer 2024 working at a Jewish day or overnight camp in a leadership role.
Fellows visit 1-2 other Jewish camps in session during summer 2024, to gain exposure to the wider Jewish camp network.
As a cohort, Fellows participate in regular Jewish learning, professional development sessions, and site visits to other Jewish organizations. These programs are designed with the unique interests of the specific Fellow cohort in mind.
Individually, Fellows are provided with structured networking opportunities with Jewish camp and other Jewish professional leaders, as well as coaching and career mentorship.
WHAT IS THE APPLICATION PROCESS?
Ideal applicants are graduating college seniors or recent graduates who have a passion for Jewish camp, and a desire to pursue Jewish camp as a career. Applicants should be ready to spend the summer of 2024 at Jewish day or overnight camp.
For this cohort, we will be hiring 3 outstanding Fellows.
Here is how the process works:
Step 1: – Now is the time to talk with your camp director! The FJC Fellowship is a long-term commitment between the Fellow, FJC, and a Jewish camp. Before moving on to step 2, be sure to speak with your camp director first to see if this is a good fit right now for the camp organization too.
Step 2: FJC Fellowship Application – You will complete an online application consisting of a resume, written and video components. Your camp director must also complete an online reference form on your behalf and sign a Participation Agreement with FJC. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure both parts of the application (yours and the camp director’s) are submitted by the deadline.
Application Deadline: February 28, 2022
Step 3: Interviews – there will be 2-3 rounds of interviews for finalist candidates. Interviews will occur in mid to late March, and applicants and camps will be informed of their selection by early April.
DO I ALREADY NEED TO WORK AT A JEWISH CAMP TO APPLY?
Since Fellows spend summer 2024 working at a Jewish day or overnight camp in a leadership role, a camp needs to agree to hire the Fellow through the Fellowship application process alongside FJC. If you are already affiliated with the Jewish camp that you would like to work at during summer 2024, you and your camp director will apply for the FJC Fellowship together.
If you are not currently affiliated with a Jewish camp, please reach out to Julie (julie@jewishcamp.org) to discuss your application options!
HOW LONG IS THE TIME COMMITMENT?
This is a 21-month fellowship. The following is the timeline for FJC Fellows Cohort 3:
September 6, 2023: Fellowship begins!
September 2023-May 2024: Fellows work at FJC in New York
May/June 2024-August 2024: Fellows work at their home camps
September 2024-May 2025: Fellows work at FJC in New York
May 31, 2025: Fellowship Concludes
*Fellows are encouraged to work at camp in summer 2023 and/or summer 2025 if they desire, and a position is available. This time, however, is optional and outside of the formal framework of the Fellowship.
DO FELLOWS RECEIVE COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS?
Yes! Fellows receive an annual prorated salary of $50,000 plus a comprehensive benefits package. Benefits include a company-paid Group Medical Bridge plan that provides additional out of-pocket coverage for a variety of medical services; commuter benefit; Flexible Spending Account; 401K plan; vacation and sick time (prorated for partial years worked); early closure for Shabbat and major holiday eves; and office closure for all major Jewish and secular holidays.
Fellows are compensated annually by FJC and will not earn additional compensation from their home camp for summer 2024.
Fellows are responsible for their own housing arrangements.
Please contact Julie Finkelstein with any questions.