named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
Alumni Career Coaching Program
Ten-week intensive coaching program for alumni navigating career transitions, led by a certified career coach to help clarify and achieve professional goals.
Alumni Mentorship Program
Six-month program pairing alumni mentors with mentees based on shared life experiences or career paths to support continued leadership development.
Jewish Justice Fellowship
Eight-month program for Jewish professionals that combines justice education, community building, and action projects to deepen participants' engagement with social justice rooted in Jewish values.
Jewish Service Corps
Year-long immersive program placing Jewish young adults in communal housing ("bayit") and nonprofit organizations focused on social justice issues such as immigration, environmental policy, and poverty alleviation.
activities · 10 groups
What they do
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Alumni Community Building 2 activities
- Fund alumni-led community gatheringsProvides funding to support self-organized alumni events such as Shabbat dinners and cohort reunions, fostering ongoing community engagement.
- Host joint retreats for Jewish Service Corps members and alumniOrganizes retreats that bring together current Jewish Service Corps members and alumni to strengthen post-service connections and community bonds, including a jointly hosted event in Washington, D.C.
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Student Career Readiness and Internship Placement 1 activity
- Alumni career and professional development supportOffers a suite of career development resources for alumni, including a 10-week career coaching program, individualized job search support, and mentorship opportunities tailored to career transitions and shared professional paths.
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Financial Aid and Scholarship Access Programs 1 activity
- Alumni education benefits and scholarshipsNegotiates educational benefits for alumni, including a 15% tuition reduction for Hornstein’s online graduate programs and $5,000 annual merit scholarships at Hebrew Union College’s Jewish Institute of Religion.
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Jewish Holiday and Shabbat Community Events 1 activity
- Facilitate Jewish social justice community eventsCo-hosts and organizes gatherings, including events at Central Synagogue in New York, to celebrate and strengthen connections within the Jewish social justice community in partnership with organizations like Elluminate, PACT, and CYD.
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Student Milestone Ceremonies & Events 1 activity
- Host program completion celebrationsOrganizes siyyum events, such as a graduation in Chicago, to mark the completion of the 8-month Justice Fellows program.
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Jewish Leadership Development 1 activity
- Operate a Jewish Service Corps fellowship programRuns a fellowship program that unites individuals from diverse backgrounds around the Jewish value of tikkun olam, fostering community building and social justice engagement.
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Labor Union Representation & Organizing 1 activity
- Ratify collective bargaining agreements for staffEngaged in labor relations by ratifying an inaugural collective bargaining agreement between Avodah management and the Avodah Staff Union.
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Combating Antisemitism and Hate 1 activity
- Support Justice Fellows in project design and implementationProvides support to Jewish Justice Fellows in New York City to design and carry out Justice Learning Opportunity projects.
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Volunteer Mobilization for Community Improvement 1 activity
- Support community partners through placement programsExtends support to community partners in cities like Chicago by placing individuals in service roles, demonstrating solidarity during times of uncertainty.
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Immigrant Rights Education & Legal Preparedness 1 activity
- Support immigration legal services and community outreachProvides direct support to immigration attorneys and leads community outreach initiatives in response to increased ICE enforcement actions.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$4.68M
Contributions & grants$4.18M89%
Program service revenue$485K10%
Investment income$2110%
Other revenue$11K
expenses
Total expenses$4.08M
Program expenses74%
Admin / overhead18%
Fundraising8%
Salaries & benefits$2.94M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$2.96M
Cash$746K
Investments$661K
Liabilities$162K
Net assets$2.80M
Liquid reserves4.1 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue +0.6%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 6
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHERYL COOK | CEO | 40 | $229K |
| SHIRA SARFATI | DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT | 40 | $156K |
| SARRA ALPERT | DIRECTOR OF INSTITUTE | 40 | $127K |
| EMILIA DIAMANT | CHEIF PROGRAM OFFICER | 1 | $126K |
| RACHEL GLICKSMAN | CHIEF PEOPLE AND OPERATION | 40 | $123K |
| BONNIE SCHWARTZ NOLAN | CFO (HIRED SEPT. 2024) | 40 | $40K |
board members · 13
- BECCA FELSENTHAL — DIRECTOR
- BENETTA MANSFIELD — ACTING BOARD CHAIR
- DEBORAH LEVINE — SECRETARY
- EDWARD HAMBURG — DIRECTOR
- ELANA BILDNER — DIRECTOR
- ELLI KRANDEL — DIRECTOR
- HILARY JOHNS FELTON — DIRECTOR
- ILANA ZAFRAN WALDEN — DIRECTOR
- KARYN POLAK — DIRECTOR
- MARTY FRIEDMAN — DIRECTOR
- MAX ROTHSTEIN — TREASURER
- ROSE JAGUST — BOARD CHAIR ELECT
- SHEILA LAMBERT — DIRECTOR
relationships · 23
Who they work with
- CYD Partner — Co-hosted an event with Avodah to celebrate connections within the Jewish social justice community.
- CYD Partner — Collaborated with Avodah to celebrate connections within the Jewish social justice community in New York.
- CYD Partner — Collaborates with Avodah in supporting the Jewish social justice community in New York.
- CYD Partner — Collaborates with Avodah to strengthen the Jewish social justice community in New York.
- CYD Partner — Collaborates with Avodah to support the Jewish social justice community in New York.
- Central Synagogue Partner — Hosted a gathering of Avodah and partner organizations to celebrate connections within the Jewish social justice community.
- Central Synagogue Partner — Hosted a gathering of Avodah, Elluminate, PACT, and CYD to celebrate connections within the Jewish social justice community.
- Central Synagogue Partner — Hosted a partnership event with Avodah and other organizations to celebrate the Jewish social justice community.
- Central Synagogue Partner — Hosted an event co-organized by Avodah and partner organizations to celebrate the Jewish social justice community.
- Central Synagogue Partner — Hosts gatherings for Avodah and partner organizations to celebrate connections within the Jewish social justice community.
- Elluminate Partner — Co-hosted an event with Avodah to celebrate connections within the Jewish social justice community.
- Elluminate Partner — Collaborated with Avodah to celebrate connections within the Jewish social justice community in New York.
- Elluminate Partner — Collaborates with Avodah in supporting the Jewish social justice community in New York.
- Elluminate Partner — Collaborates with Avodah to strengthen the Jewish social justice community in New York.
- Elluminate Partner — Collaborates with Avodah to support the Jewish social justice community in New York.
- Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion Partner — Provides merit scholarships and application fee waivers to Avodah alumni and participants.
- Hornstein Program at Brandeis University Partner — Partnership providing tuition discounts for Avodah alumni in graduate programs.
- PACT Partner — Co-hosted an event with Avodah to celebrate connections within the Jewish social justice community.
- PACT Partner — Collaborated with Avodah to celebrate connections within the Jewish social justice community in New York.
- PACT Partner — Collaborates with Avodah in supporting the Jewish social justice community in New York.
- PACT Partner — Collaborates with Avodah to strengthen the Jewish social justice community in New York.
- PACT Partner — Collaborates with Avodah to support the Jewish social justice community in New York.
- Representative Larvadain III Partner — Engaged in dialogue with Avodah participant Sam regarding proposed legislative conditions in Louisiana.
strategies · 5
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Community Continuity Through Alumni Networksmethodology: community_continuityBy maintaining long-term connections between current members and alumni through shared retreats and virtual platforms, we foster enduring engagement, because continuity across life stages strengthens collective identity and leadership pipelines.
- Identity-Integrated Justice Engagementmethodology: identity-integrated justice engagementBy integrating Jewish identity exploration with social justice work, we increase the depth and sustainability of engagement, because participants are more likely to commit long-term when justice action is personally and spiritually meaningful.
- Peer-Matched Mentorshipmethodology: peer_matched_mentorshipBy matching alumni with peers at similar career stages, we support sustained leadership development and resilience, because shared lived experience increases trust, relevance, and effectiveness in mentorship.
- Ripple Model of Engagementmethodology: ripple_model_of_engagementBy channeling support through a layered network—from organization to placements to individuals—we strengthen community resilience, because impact expands outward in concentric waves when foundational relationships are reinforced.
- Sitting with Discomfortmethodology: sitting_with_discomfortBy creating structured space for participants to engage with discomfort and complexity, we deepen Jewish identity and advance social justice engagement, because confronting nuance fosters authentic commitment and moral growth rooted in Jewish tradition.