Jewish Teen Foundation Officer Application

JTF Meeting Dates (Attendance Required)
All meetings are mandatory for participation. If you have repeated conflicts, please understand that you will not be able to participate in the program.

Session 1 – Sunday, October 11, 2026 (all-day retreat)
Session 2 – Sunday, November 8, 2026 (4:00 – 7:00 pm)
Session 3 – Sunday, December 13, 2026 (4:00 – 7:00 pm)
Session 4 – Sunday, January 10, 2027 (mid-year retreat)
Session 5 – Sunday, February 7, 2027 (4:00 – 7:00 pm)
Session 6 – Sunday, March 14, 2027 (4:00 – 7:00 pm)
Session 7 – Sunday, April 4, 2027 (4:00 – 7:00 pm)
Closing – Sunday, April 18, 2027 (4:00 – 7:00 pm)

Personal Information

Name(Required)

First Last

Pronouns(Required)

She/Her

He/Him

They/Them

Other

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Are you a returning or new JTF student?(Required)

Returning

New

Date of Birth(Required)

Month

Day

Year

Address(Required)

Street Address Address Line 2 City State / Province / Region ZIP / Postal Code Country

Teen Cell Phone(Required)

Teen Email(Required)

Home Phone

High School(Required)

Location of High School (City)(Required)

What grade will you be entering this Fall?(Required)

10th

11th

12th

Parent/Guardian 1 Name(Required)

Parent/Guardian 1 Email(Required)

Parent/Guardian 1 Phone(Required)

Parent/Guardian 2 Name

Parent/Guardian 2 Email

Parent/Guardian 2 Phone

Emergency Contact Name (if different)

Emergency Phone (if different)

Parent/Guardian Signature:(Required)

Please type in their full name.

Date(Required)

Month

Day

Year

Jewish Identity and Involvement

How do you describe your religious affiliation?(Required)

Reform

Conservative

Orthodox

Reconstructionist

Renewal

Secular / Just Jewish / Cultural

Nondenominational / Postdenominational

Other

Do you currently belong to a synagogue?(Required)

Yes

If yes, please list synagogue name.

Do you currently or have you formerly belonged to a Jewish youth group or camp?(Required)

Yes

If yes, please list group(s) or camp(s) and any leadership roles held.

Are you involved with other Jewish activities, organizations, or educational programs (including Israel trips)?(Required)

Yes

If yes, please describe.

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Group Work and Personality

Please answer these questions to the best of your abilities.

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What strengths do you bring to a group?(Required)

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What challenges or weaknesses have you experienced when working in groups?(Required)

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Would you describe yourself as an introvert, extrovert, or somewhere in between? Please briefly explain.(Required)

Extracurricular Activities and Time Commitments

List your extracurricular activities, leadership roles, jobs, and your anticipated commitments for the upcoming school year.(Required)

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Philanthropy and Program Motivation

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Have you participated in any other philanthropy, volunteer, or community service programs?(Required)

Yes

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If yes, please describe your involvement.

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If you had $5,000 to donate to charitable organizations, which organization(s) would you choose and why?(Required)

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Why do you want to participate in the Jewish Teen Foundation? What part of the program is most appealing to you? (If returning, what was your favorite part of JTF last year and what do you hope to gain from rejoining?)(Required)

Short Essay Questions

Tell us about a time being Jewish shaped a choice you made, or how you treated someone. What happened, and what did it mean to you?(Required)

(up to 150 words)

If you had $5,000 to give away, name a specific organization — local or national — and explain why you selected this particular organization and how you would designate the funds.(Required)

(up to 200 words)

References

Reference Policy(Required)

I agree to all below and to have one reference contact Rachael Cunningham.

As part of your application, please arrange for one reference to email Rachael at rachael@jcfsandiego.org by September 18, 2026. This should be someone who knows you outside your family or friend group — a teacher, rabbi, youth group leader, coach, employer, or volunteer supervisor.

Reach out to your reference first to ask if they’re willing, then share this with them:

The Jewish Teen Foundation is a yearlong, teen-led philanthropy program in which high school students learn to make strategic grants to nonprofits grounded in Jewish values. It requires real commitment, collaboration, and thoughtful decision-making. If you’re willing to serve as a reference, please email Rachael Cunningham at rachael@jcfsandiego.org by September 18, 2026 with the applicant’s name, how you know them, and why you believe they’d be a strong addition to the program. A few sentences are all we need.

New to asking for a reference?
These tips can help - How to Ask for a Letter of Recommendation. Keep in mind we’re just asking for a short email, not a formal letter. If you have any questions, you can also reach out to Rachael directly.

Social Connections

Do you know any past or current JTF participants? If yes, please list their name(s).(Required)

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Do you have any friends who might also be interested in applying this year? If yes, please list their name(s).(Required)

Commitment and Acknowledgement

Attendance Policy(Required)

I agree to the mandatory attendance policy for the Jewish Teen Foundation program.

I have reviewed the program dates (listed below) and understand that full participation is required. By signing below, I confirm that I understand the time commitment and responsibilities involved in the Jewish Teen Foundation program, and I commit to full participation if accepted.

Participation Fee(Required)

I acknowledge that there is a $360 participation fee due upon acceptance into the program.

Half of this fee supports program costs, and the other half contributes to the teen philanthropic granting pool. If this fee presents a barrier to participation, financial assistance is available. Please contact Rachael Cunningham at rachael@jcfsandiego.org for more information.

2026-2027 Program Dates

Please review carefully before committing to the program. All meetings are mandatory for participation. If you have repeated conflicts, please understand that you will not be able to participate in the program.

• Session 1 - Sunday, October 11, 2026 (all-day retreat)
• Session 2 - Sunday, November 8, 2026 (4:00 - 7:00 pm)
• Session 3 - Sunday, December 13, 2026 (4:00 - 7:00 pm)
• Session 4 - Sunday, January 10, 2027 (mid-year retreat)
• Session 5 - Sunday, February 7, 2027 (4:00 - 7:00 pm)
• Session 6 - Sunday, March 14, 2027 (4:00 - 7:00 pm)
• Session 7 - Sunday, April 4, 2027 (4:00 - 7:00 pm)
• Closing - Sunday, April 18, 2027 (4:00 - 7:00 pm)

Your Electronic Signature(Required)

Please type in your full name.

Date(Required)

Month

Day

Year

Additional Comments or Questions (optional)

For more information, please contact Rachael Cunningham at rachael@jcfsandiego.org or (858) 279-2740.

Officer Application Now Open (new members) Deadline to Apply: September 7, 2026 (5:00 pm PST)

Personal Information

Jewish Identity and Involvement

Group Work and Personality

Extracurricular Activities and Time Commitments

Philanthropy and Program Motivation

Short Essay Questions

References

Social Connections

Commitment and Acknowledgement

Officer Application Now Open (new members)
Deadline to Apply: September 7, 2026 (5:00 pm PST)