FAQ: Organizational Change Cohort

Project Shamash is accepting applications from any organization in the East Bay committed to advancing racial equity within their organization and the larger Jewish community.

Thanks to the generosity of our funders, the fee for participation is based on a sliding scale reflective of general operating budgets. The sliding scale is $1,000-$3,600.

Each organization is invited to have two members of their executive team participate in the cohort, though it is required that at least one of the two people attend each session.

The total time commitment for this program is approximately 8 hours/ month. This includes monthly cohort gatherings, homework, and occasional 1:1 meetings with someone from the Project Shamash team.

As a result of participation in this 18-month cohort experience, organizations will:

1. Sharpen Their Analysis: Sharpen their analysis of how bias and white supremacy operates in the Bay Area and Jewish institutions.
2. Evaluate Their Organization: Understand how bias and dominant culture informs the operation of their organization's:
   1. Hiring practices, including recruitment, crafting job descriptions and diversity statements
   2. Supervision
   3. Onboarding and training
   4. Budgeting
   5. Grant-writing
   6. Program development
   7. Partnership development
   8. Board recruitment and management
   9. Business contracts
   10. Marketing and communications
   11. Professional development
   12. HR and staff management
   13. Organizational culture and community norms
3. Build a Customized Roadmap: Develop policies and practices for undoing racism in the aforementioned structures and systems, including a customized roadmap or work plan for operationalizing racial equity work across departments and within the process of organizational development and organizational growth. This roadmap reflects individual organizations’ mission and vision for advancing racial equity in the communities they engage and serve.
4. Center JOC Power, Needs and Desires: Develop greater connection to local JOC leaders via the JOC Professionals Network, and gain an understanding of their needs, desires and visions for Jewish communal life in the Bay Area. Develop key relationships that will serve as a guiding force in developing partnerships, power-building, and centering of JOC and POC communities and experiences.
5. Practice in Community: Engage in a community of practice with other organizational leaders committed to advancing racial equity and racial justice in the Bay Area Jewish community. This community of practice also serves as a professional network to develop creative partnerships, programming, and share resources and ideas as each organization implements their roadmap.