[Media]: William Daroff of Jewish Federation with RespectAbility Apprentices and Staff
respectability
11 January 2022
RespectAbility is looking for 3 talented Jews with disabilities from Los Angeles with a passion for working in the Jewish nonprofit world to join the inaugural cohort of our Jewish Nonprofit Management Apprenticeship in our National Leadership Program. Like all RespectAbility Apprentices, you will help to guide your future employers to access the talents of people with disabilities, including disabilities particularly prominent in the Jewish community, such as mental health, ADHD, and physical disabilities.
This “earn-while-you-learn” opportunity will target the skills needed for working in Jewish nonprofits, such as camps, arts organizations, day schools, and more, to help them grow and expand. We will then proceed to job placement, finding you and our other graduates opportunities in Los Angeles based and other Jewish nonprofits.
While much progress on disability inclusion has been made in the Jewish community, we recognize that there still is work to do to ensure people with disabilities can fully participate in these communities. Our Jewish Nonprofit Management Apprentices will be poised to play multiple critical roles in that progress.
While the Apprenticeship will help you understand the disability community, even if you’ve never thought of yourself as a person with a disability before and will provide you with substantive skills in both nonprofit management and inclusion, that is not the only contribution you will make to your employer. Because of your skill, and the value you will bring to their organization, each Apprentice will serve as a shining example of the benefits of inclusion. You will be of particular value because of the ways you can help strengthen the organization, while also being trained for some of the best paying jobs in the nonprofit sector.
> Apprentices will earn $15 per hour while gaining skills and experience.
> Apprentices will work alongside RespectAbility for the first part of the program, doing a deep dive on fundraising – a career on its own and a key stepping stone for people who want to lead in the future.
> Apprentices will then take their skills to a development placement at another Jewish nonprofit, where they will contribute to the mission while demonstrating their capability. Through their success, the Jewish community at large will see the capability of Jews with disabilities.
> Over a six-month period, participants in the National Leadership Program’s Jewish Nonprofit Management Apprenticeship will work virtually with both RespectAbility and an Los Angeles-based Jewish organization.
> RespectAbility will provide job training, skills development, networking opportunities and assistive technology to facilitate greater synergy. Matan Koch, RespectAbility’s Vice President for Workforce Faith and Leadership Programs will oversee day-to-day management.
> The program is a cohort model, meaning that groups learn and work together, while accumulating skills, contacts and jobs. Every Apprentice will have access to mentors.
Apprentices will also attend weekly meetings with our writing coach, and will learn answers to the following questions:
> What are the pearls and pitfalls of resumes, bios and writing samples?
> What is a nonprofit? What is a foundation? What types of foundations are there? How do you do due diligence on a foundation and a nonprofit before accepting a job or contributing money?
> Who is RespectAbility? What do we do? How do we do it? How do you judge a nonprofit’s level of commitment to its programs?
> How do you evaluate a nonprofit and its programs? What do foundations look for?
> How do you read a 990?
> How do you read an audited financial statement?
> How do you write an LOI?
> How do you roll out a budget for a project or program? What does a budget look like? What’s the difference between a realistic and an aspirational budget? Can the same program send different budgets to different foundations?
> How do foundations and philanthropists evaluate a nonprofit’s program budgets?
> What types of jobs and positions are available at a a nonprofit? What skill sets do you need for such positions?
> How do you prepare for an interview at a nonprofit?
> How do you negotiate your salary if you get an offer?
> How do you write effective grant proposals?
> What are the various cultures at nonprofits – direct services versus advocacy? What is expected from new employees? What are the dangers in working at a foundation?
> What are the ethics of accepting and giving away money? What are the do’s and don’ts of fundraising? How do you ensure a good reputation or bad reputation in grant seeking?
The National Leadership Program is geared directly towards helping young professionals with disabilities. Most Apprentices are recent college graduates or people with disabilities who lost their jobs during COVID-19 and are looking for new employment opportunities. Non-graduates with significant work experience are also eligible. All Apprentices will be persons with disabilities or with a history of strong allyship in the disability community.
Our program is fully accessible for people with disabilities and offers full-time in-house job coaching, skills development, and networking opportunities. Assistive technology and personal care support are available as needed.
Who We Want
> The National Leadership Program is ideal for people who want to gain skills and contacts while making a positive difference for people with disabilities. We are looking for thoughtful and results-driven individuals who want to achieve breakthrough results while getting hands-on experience.
> The Apprenticeship is for college and graduate students, as well as for people transitioning into the workforce for the first time, or back into the workforce after a break.
> While this apprenticeship assumes a passion for development in the Jewish sector, past development experience is not necessary.
Apprenticeship Duties
> In addition to their supervisor, Apprentices will work closely with our National Leadership Program Director and Director of Inclusive Philanthropy and Development.
> Individual projects will be assigned based on an individual’s unique skill set and their own ability to “bring something to the table.”
> Apprentices will join supervisors at workshops, webinars and events that pertain to development.
> Apprentices will learn about all of RespectAbility’s other issue areas and departments as well.
> Tasks might include grant and proposal writing, prospect research, donor relations, and attending donor and prospect meetings.
Apprenticeship Benefits
> Each Apprentice will receive many opportunities to learn new skills, network and gain direct experiences.
> In addition to hands-on work experiences, all Apprentices will participate in special presentations by guest speakers and intensive strategic communications workshops.
> A career plan will be developed by each Apprentice that will enable them to gain appropriate workplace experience while contributing directly and measurably to RespectAbility’s impact.
> Upon the completion of the program, applicants can expect to come away with excellent experience in the fields of policy, strategic communications and fundraising; fair knowledge of issues for people with disabilities; and leadership skills to help them grow into confident advocates.
Important Details for Applicants
> Excellent communication and organizational skills are strongly required, and Apprentices should exhibit leadership skills to complete their own projects.
> Strong preference for college seniors and above.
> Commitment for six months.
> Hours are 9-5. Apprentices are required to work a minimum of 20 hours per week though more is appreciated and more hours per week is preferred.
> There is no tuition cost to do the Apprenticeship, and Apprentices will be paid $15 an hour.
> Your cover letter must explain why this Apprenticeship in particular is of interest to you and why you believe you have the skills, focus and independent drive to make a positive difference in your time with us at RespectAbility.
EXPECTATIONS
> A minimum commitment of 20 hours per week.
> Participation in staff meetings and team meetings.
> Attendance in weekly speaker series.
> Attending weekly team meetings.
> Work with the National Leadership Program Director on advancing your career goals. This will include strengthening your resume, cover letter and building your professional network.
HOW TO APPLY
> Fill out form at www.respectability.org/about-us/apprenticeship/jewish-development/
> Email your resume and cover letter to Ben Spangenberg at [email protected] to apply for any of their National Leadership Program opportunities.
Choice of departments:
> Public Policy / Employment
> Communications
> Entertainment and News Media
> Nonprofit Management
> Philanthropy
> Civic Engagement/Coalition Building
> Faith Inclusion
> Jewish Nonprofit Management
RespectAbility provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, veteran status or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, RespectAbility complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.
ALL APPRENTICESHIP OPPORTUNITIES
> PUBLIC POLICY/EMPLOYMENT
> ENTERTAINMENT AND NEWS MEDIA
> COMMUNICATIONS
> NONPROFIT MANAGEMENT
> CIVIC ENGAGEMENT/COALITION BUILDING
> JEWISH INCLUSION
> JEWISH NONPROFIT MANAGEMENT
> PHILANTHROPY
> APPRENTICESHIP FOR BLIND AND LOW-VISION LEADERS
FULL DETAILS ON THE NATIONAL LEADERSHIP PROGRAM – www.respectability.org/about-us/apprenticeship/
MEET CURRENT AND PAST APPRENTICES – www.respectability.org/about-us/apprentices/
APPRENTICES BLOG SERIES: LEARN ABOUT GUEST SPEAKER OPPORTUNITIES – www.respectability.org/category/apprentice-blog-series/
Source: www.respectability.org/about-us/apprenticeship/jewish-development/
