(Courtesy of the Orthodox Union) The Orthodox Union (OU) has launched the application process for the second cohort of its Impact Accelerator program to rapidly identify and invest in ventures addressing current and future Jewish communal interests.

The program runs over 12 months and is built on mentorship-based growth and early-stage funding for Jewish nonprofit entrepreneurs. Chosen ventures will be awarded up to $25,000 each.

Candidates for the program are Jewish nonprofit entrepreneurs who live in and cater to the North American Jewish Community. Ideally, applicants will have been operating their ventures for one to four years, and service critical needs of America’s Orthodox community through innovative solutions.

The Impact Accelerator will pair members of the selected cohort with experienced professional mentors and supply them with OU resources, network and knowledge base. Winning entrepreneurs will take part in a customized curriculum of business skills, coaching, funding and implementation strategies, during on-site seminars at the OU headquarters, to accelerate their ventures that are solving the community’s most significant needs.

“The mission of our program is to transform the landscape of the Jewish future by building on our history of innovation and leveraging the entrepreneurial nature of this generation,” said OU Impact Accelerator Founding Director Jenna Beltser. “By working with the Orthodox Union, these ventures will have the ability to tap into the OU’s professionals, its network and organizational expertise in program development; nonprofit management; marketing; and more.”

The application process includes completing an online form, an interview with the OU Impact Accelerator selection committee and a pitch to the program’s board. Applications open on July 15, and are due by September 5, 2019. For more information, or to apply, please visit: https://www.ou.org/accelerator/.