THE COLLECTIVE FAQs

What are Elluminate’s funding priorities?

Elluminate identifies and invests in Jewish Women Social Entrepreneurs CEOs. Elluminate’s decision-making committees use the criteria below as a basis for reviewing and advancing applications. We consider how our investment in the leader and her organization will make an impact now and into the future.

DECISION-MAKING CRITERIA

  1. How is her leadership influenced by Jewish values?
  2. How does she bring a gender lens to her leadership?
  3. How is she entrepreneurial both in the issues she tackles and in her style work?
  4. How is she courageous and bold in pursuit of systemic social change?
  5. How does her organization work for equity, equality and justice*?
  6. How significant will her contribution be to the cohort?
What are Elluminate's core definitions?

Gender Lens

At Elluminate, the use of a gender lens helps ensure that an organization’s program, impact and outcomes will benefit women and other marginalized communities (or those that identify as women/female).  A leader who uses a gender lens analyzes and addresses the implications of their actions and their work. Specifically, the leader:

  • Acknowledges differences in how people experience situations by gender 
  • Articulates an explicit focus on gender equity
  • Strives to reduce visible and known gender gaps
  • Aims to transform gender power relations

For more information, see Funding Centre’s “Applying a ‘gender lens’ to your work.”  

 

FEMINIST LEADERSHIP

At Elluminate, the embodiment of Feminist Leadership is when a person displays feminist leadership characteristics in their internal policies and when working with others (such as colleagues, stakeholders, lay leaders, etc.).  These leaders promote an organizational culture/workplace designed to:

  • Prevent, identify and penalize gender-based discrimination
  • Develop the strengths and leadership of others
  • Foster collaboration and mutual respect
  • Dismantle bias and abuses of power
  • Exhibit transparency in decision making
  • End sexual harassment
  • Opens herself to feedback from and ideas of others

Feminist leaders often express their entrepreneurship through the following attributes: authenticity and integrity, courage and tolerance for risk, a sense of passion and purpose; adaptability or resilience; and challenging the status quo.

Our understanding of feminist leadership comes from the Global Center for Gender EqualityKouzes and Posner Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership Model and Ten Principles of Feminist Leadership (by ActionAid).

 

Social Change

At Elluminate, we are supporting Jewish women leaders and organizations that work toward systemic Social Change, equity, and justice. Social Change is the process of people interacting and building relationships over time that work to mitigate a gap or need in the field. It leads to transforming their institutions, communities, and the world. 

At Elluminate, we look for leaders who are: 

  • Changing policies
  • Reframing an issue
  • Maintaining past gains 

 Leaders may do this through changing peoples’ behaviors and/or increasing engagement in service of systemic and lasting change.

For a deeper dive into these criteria, see our inspiration, Stephanie Clohesy ‘s Social Change model, here.   

 

Social Entrepreneurship

At Elluminate, we believe that Social entrepreneurs drive social innovation and transformation in a wide range of fields. They pursue their goals with entrepreneurial zeal and courageous innovation. A social entrepreneur builds strong and sustainable organizations that are set up as not-for-profit organizations (501c(3) or equivalent).  A social entrepreneur is a leader or pragmatic visionary who:

 

  • Achieves systemic and sustainable social change 
  • Employs a rigorous application of known technologies or strategies
  • Focuses first and foremost on social value creation
  • Innovates by finding a new approach to a social problem 
  • Continuously refines and adapts her approach in response to feedback. 
What is a Social Entrepreneur?

Social entrepreneurs drive social innovation and transformation in a wide range of fields. They pursue their goals with entrepreneurial zeal and courageous innovation. A social entrepreneur builds strong and sustainable organizations that are set up as not-for-profit organizations (501c(3) or equivalent). A social entrepreneur is a leader or pragmatic visionary who:

    • Achieves systemic and sustainable social change through a different approach, a more rigorous application of known technologies or strategies, or a combination of these.
    • Focuses first and foremost on the social value creation.
    • Innovates by finding a new approach to a social problem. 
    • Continuously refines and adapts her approach in response to feedback. 
What is Social Entrepreneurship?

Social entrepreneurship is about applying practical, innovative, and sustainable approaches to benefit society. It is a term that captures a unique approach to social problems — one that cuts across sectors and disciplines. It is this approach that sets the social entrepreneur apart from the rest of the crowd of well-meaning people and organizations who dedicate their lives to social improvement.

What are the benefits of being a member of The Collective?

Collective members receive:

  • Two years of capacity building/general operating funding for your organization ($20,000 each year);
  • An invitation as our guest to The Convening – Elluminate’s annual gathering of The Network;
  • Intermittent networking and cohort-based learning via webinar (nine sessions in first year, five in second year);
  • Growing online network of Jewish women social entrepreneurs;
  • Up to $5,000 to use for executive coaching over the course of the first year; and
  • Membership in The Collective for as long as you choose.
Who chooses the members of The Collective?

Elluminate is a communal grantmaking organization. That is, donors who give at a certain level are eligible to participate in researching, vetting, interviewing, and choosing The Collective members each year. If you are interested in participating in this exciting, hands-on way, please contact us at [email protected].

How do I become a member of The Collective?

There is no application process. Elluminate curates an ever-growing list of prospective members of The Collective. Each year, a small group of entrepreneurs or leaders will be added to The Collective.

If you identify as a Jewish woman social entrepreneur who uses a Jewish and gender lens in your leadership AND your organization is registered as a nonprofit organization in your home country/has a fiscal sponsor, please share your work with us by filling out our online form.

Please note that you will be contacted only if you are being considered for The Collective in a given year.

What if I’m not chosen?

If you qualify, your name and organization will be kept in the pool for consideration. While you won’t be a member of The Collective until you are chosen by Elluminate, you are welcome to attend The Convening and participate in the activities of The Network.

Do members of The Collective ever get to meet each other?

Yes! Elluminate will hold one large convening each year where Collective members and the broader Elluminate community will gather to meet each other and learn together. The Convening will promote advocacy for social entrepreneurship by providing women leaders, inside our network and beyond, educational, networking, technical, and financial assistance. In addition, as resources permit, we will provide virtual opportunities for collective members to meet together and with us to deepen our knowledge and strengthen our relationships.

How else can I receive funding from Elluminate?

At this time, only members of The Collective receive funding from Elluminate. This is our only funding vehicle. While many individuals and organizations do extraordinary work, our focus is on women who use their Jewish values and a gender lens to lead their social change-making organizations.

Am I eligible to apply for The Collective?
  • To be eligible for The Collective, you must be a self-identified Jewish woman (including cisgender, transgender, and non-binary women, and well as Jews at any level of observance.)
  • You must be the lead professional at a registered non-profit organization, with either a valid 501(c)(3) (or the equivalent in your country) or a fiscal sponsor.
  • You must use a gender lens and entrepreneurial spirit in your leadership.
  • You can work anywhere in the world.
  • You can work inside or outside of the Jewish community.
  • You can be any age, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability status, family status, and any other identity.

If you meet this criteria, please fill out this information form so we can consider you for membership in The Collective!

Tell us about your work!

If you and your organization meet all of our eligibility requirements, please tell us about yourself and your work using our online form