Executive Leadership Institute

Through the program, participants will:

• Develop a stronger identity as visionary Jewish leaders.
• Sharpen their executive leadership skills in strategic planning, financial stewardship, governance, fundraising, organizational direction, and crisis management.
• Learn to lead effectively through change, innovation, and emerging challenges.
• Engage deeply with contemporary Jewish thought and explore how Jewish ideas inform executive camp leadership.
• Apply their learning through executive coaching and a capstone project that creates meaningful organizational and field-wide impact.
• Build lasting relationships with a trusted cohort of senior camp leaders.
• Join a lifelong alumni network of leaders committed to strengthening Jewish camp and the broader Jewish community, with ongoing support from Foundation for Jewish Camp.

Seminar Learning and Executive Certification

The fellowship includes five immersive seminars focused on executive education, visionary leadership, Jewish thought, and peer learning. Led by the Fellowship Director, faculty, executive advisors, and guest experts, the seminars combine leadership theory with practical application while providing dedicated time for reflection, collaboration, and strategic thinking.

For the first time, ELI Fellows will complete 30–40 hours of asynchronous learning and earn an executive leadership certificate from Cornell University.

Executive Coaching

Each Fellow is paired with an executive coach who provides individualized guidance throughout the fellowship. Coaches help Fellows interpret leadership assessments, navigate complex professional challenges, refine leadership goals, and develop their capstone projects.

Capstone Project

Each Fellow develops and implements a capstone project focused on a significant strategic opportunity within their camp. Designed with support from an executive coach and a $10,000 implementation grant, the project allows Fellows to apply their learning while creating meaningful organizational impact.

Lifelong Cohort and Alumni Network

The fellowship extends well beyond graduation. Fellows become part of a lifelong community of Jewish camp executives who continue supporting one another and advancing the field through ongoing networking, professional development, and collaborative leadership opportunities.

Between 2026 and 2030, alumni of the Executive Leadership Institute will be eligible for grants of up to $100,000 to advance the business of camp.

Leadership Assessment and 360-Degree Feedback

Each Fellow will complete a customized 360-degree leadership assessment aligned with the ELI leadership competencies. The assessment establishes a baseline for growth, informs individual leadership goals, and creates opportunities for reflection throughout the fellowship.

Participants are expected to attend and actively participate in all required fellowship activities, including:

• Five in-person seminars in North America.
• Small-group summer site visits to exemplary camps in the FJC network during summer 2028.
• Regular work with an assigned executive coach.
• Completion of a customized 360-degree leadership assessment.
• Development and implementation of a capstone project.
• Active participation in cohort learning and peer consultation, including 30–40 hours of asynchronous Cornell coursework.

Selected ELI Cohort V Fellows will also be required to attend Leaders Assembly, FJC’s biennial conference for the Jewish camp field.

Required Dates

• Leaders Assembly: January 11–13, 2027
• Seminar 1: March 15–18, 2027
• Seminar 2: October 26–28, 2027
• Seminar 3: January 11–13, 2028
• Seminar 4: April 4–6, 2028
• Seminar 5 and Graduation: October 25–26, 2028

Seminar locations will be announced with the cohort.

Camp Commitments

Participating camps must:

• Sponsor each Fellow’s participation in the Executive Leadership Institute with a $2,000 program fee. FJC will cover additional program expenses, including seminar travel.
• Support the Fellow’s attendance at all required fellowship activities and the implementation of the Fellow’s capstone project.
• Identify a lay leadership partner who will support the Fellow’s leadership development throughout the fellowship and attend Seminar 3.
• Purchase and administer the Camper Satisfaction Insight (CSI) and Staff Satisfaction Insight (SSI) surveys at camp during summers 2027 and 2028.

Eligible Candidates

At Foundation for Jewish Camp, we value diversity and equal opportunity. We are committed to building a cohort that represents a variety of backgrounds, experiences, perspectives, and leadership styles because our field is stronger when it reflects the richness of our community.

Applicants should:

• Serve in a senior executive leadership role, such as Executive Director or Camp Director, within an FJC-affiliated Jewish camp.
• Have at least 10 years of professional experience and a minimum of two summers in their current executive leadership position.
• Hold significant responsibility for organizational strategy, culture, operations, and performance.
• Work closely with a governing board or other lay leadership.
• Demonstrate strategic thinking, curiosity, and openness to continued personal and professional growth.
• Be committed to active participation in a cohort-based learning experience.
• Have the support of both their professional and lay leadership to participate fully and apply their learning.

Application Process

Executive Leadership Institute Cohort V will include up to 25 Fellows selected through a competitive application process that includes written applications and interviews with selected finalists.

Applications open September 22, 2026, and must be submitted by October 23, 2026.

Important Dates

• Optional Virtual Information Session: September 17, 2026, at 2 p.m. ET — Register here
• Applications Open: September 22, 2026
• Optional Virtual Information Session: September 29, 2026, at 1 p.m. ET — Register here
• Applications Close: October 23, 2026
• Interviews with Selected Applicants: November 2026
• Cohort Announced: December 2026

Cohorts V and VI of the Executive Leadership Institute are generously funded by the Marcus Foundation.