The NIF/Shatil Social Justice Fellowship is a 10-month immersive experience in Israel, where fellows work on cutting-edge social justice issues alongside veteran activists. Fellows spend four days per week working on the front lines of social change in Israel at a premiere Israeli social change organization. In addition to monthly seminars, fellows will learn about coalition and movement building from experts from Shatil, NIF’s capacity building center and action arm in Israel. The program includes periodic site visits designed to develop fellows’ understanding of a diverse set of issues at the center of Israeli social justice activism and of fellows’ own role as activists and allies both in Israel and at home.

Upon acceptance to the program, fellows will identify the issue they would like to spend the year working on. The fellowship program coordinator in Israel will work with each fellow to find an appropriate placement.

Living expenses are covered by a $21,500 stipend.

The 2023-2024 Fellowship year runs from September 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024.

The Experience
The NIF/SHATIL Social Justice Fellowship is an 10 month experience where fellows spend 32 hours per week interning in an approved, individually-selected Israeli non-governmental organization (NGO), active in one of the following areas:

• Safeguarding civil and human rights
• Pursuing environmental justice
• Promoting Jewish-Arab equality
• Advancing the status of women
• Fostering tolerance and religious pluralism
• Bridging social and economic gaps

Goals & Expectations

The goals of the NIF/Shatil Social Justice Fellowship are to:

• provide a meaningful Fellowship experience for highly qualified Fellows;
• enhance the capacity of Israeli civil society organizations on the frontline of the fight for democracy; and
• grow the New Israel Fund network of support in the US.

Fellows are expected to participate in program activities for the full 10 months duration of the fellowship program to remain in good standing. When fellows return from Israel, NIF may request fellows to make presentations on behalf of NIF/Shatil. For more information please refer to this website

Because the internships require that Fellows are fully integrated in Israeli NGOs, successful applicants must have either excellent Hebrew language skills or good Hebrew with excellent Arabic skills. If you are unsure if your Hebrew skills are adequate, please contact fellowships@nif.org to set up a Hebrew screening before applying for the fellowship.

Applicants should be college graduates by the start of the Fellowship year. Only U.S. residents are eligible for the SJF; Israeli permanent residents are not eligible to receive an NIF/Shatil Social Justice Fellowship.

NIF strongly encourages individuals from all backgrounds, including LGBTQ people, Jews of color and women applicants to apply.

• senior
• graduate

• US Citizen
• Permanent Resident

A completed online application must include:

• • Application form
  • Resume
  • Two Essays
  • A letter of recommendation (academic or professional)

The fellowship application requires a resume and a written letter of recommendation, submitted via the online application.

If you have any questions, please contact us at fellowships@nif.org.

Fellows on the NIF/Shatil Social Justice Fellowship will be fully integrated in Israeli NGOs so successful applicants should have strong Hebrew language skills or proficiency in Arabic. If you are unsure if your language skills are adequate, please contact fellowships@nif.org.

Applicants should be college graduates by the start of the fellowship year.

NIF strongly encourages individuals from all backgrounds, including LGBTQ people, Jews of color, Palestinians and people of Arab heritage, as well as women to apply.

The New Israel Fund (NIF) was established in 1979 to strengthen democracy and promote social justice in Israel, and is today Israel's foremost social-change institution.  Specifically, it works to advance the following objectives: Fighting for civil and human rights; Promoting religious tolerance and pluralism; Closing the social and economic gaps in Israeli society; and Protecting Israel's environment.

Since its founding, NIF has granted more than $200 million to more than 800 Israeli non-profit organizations.  But NIF is far more than a grant maker; NIF is a unique working and philanthropic partnership of North Americans, Israelis, and Europeans, providing more than 1,300 Israeli non-profit organizations with financial and technical support each year.

In 1982, NIF established SHATIL, the New Israel Fund's Empowerment and Training Center for Social Change Organizations in Israel. SHATIL builds organizational capacity of NIF grantees and similar organizations by providing training, consultation, coalition-building assistance, and other services.

During the summer prior to the fellowship year, we ask Fellows to fundraise for NIF, setting their personal goal at a minimum of $1,000. We ask Fellows to fundraise because we believe that social change doesn’t happen without fundraising, and thus building one’s fundraising capacity — letting people know about your work and knowing how to get them excited about it — is invaluable for people who want to create change. Engaging in pre-trip fundraising also offers a chance to for you to raise awareness about NIF and our issues among friends and family. The money raised helps us to sustain this important fellowship. If you’ve never fundraised before, don’t worry, we did not intend for you to go this alone. NIF will provide training and support for each fellow in developing a fundraising page and reaching out to one’s network. While we expect everyone will make every effort to achieve one’s goal, and many will exceed it, not reaching it will not preclude participation. During the fellowship year, Fellows are also expected to participate in Fellowship activities and remain in good standing for the full 10 months of the program. Additionally, when Fellows return from Israel, NIF will request that you make presentations on behalf of NIF and SHATIL in the US.

Upon commencement of the fellowship year, Fellows will sign a 3-way memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the Fellow, the Social Justice Fellowship coordinator in Israel, and the supervisor at each Fellow’s respective place of internship. The MOU will detail each party’s responsibilities and expectations.

For questions, contact Jessica Simon: fellowships@nif.org | (202) 513-7870