Frequently Asked Questions

First launched in July 2006, ROI is an international community of young Jewish leaders, innovators and professionals. Collaborating across the globe on projects that strengthen their local and global Jewish communities, the ROI community is a dynamic network engaged in a wide range of projects and initiatives aimed at changing the Jewish world.

ROI began in 2005 as a partnership between Taglit-Birthright Israel and the Israel Democracy Institute, with funding from the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation and the Bernie Marcus Foundation. In 2006, with the establishment of the Center for Leadership Initiatives (CLI), ROI was developed as a unique partnership between Taglit-Birthright Israel and CLI, a US-based operating foundation with funding from Lynn Schusterman. After five successful annual summits that each gathered 120 innovators, ROI has grown into an international community known for its networking and professional development opportunities.  In 2011, ROI was established as an independent operating foundation in the US and in Israel.  

The Jewish world today boasts a brilliant and diverse spectrum of interests and initiatives. A generation of tomorrow’s leaders has already sprung into action, forging new frontiers for exploring and strengthening Jewish identity within their individual communities. ROI was designed to gather a cross-section of the leading innovators who are the “brains” behind local initiatives and transform them into an active, global community that will work together on the fields that motivate them in their Jewish communal engagement. The ROI Summit creates a hub in time and space (in Jerusalem – THE hub of time and space) for inspiration and engagement, and serves as a springboard for long-term collaboration – both face-to-face and virtual – between ROI community members for the betterment of the Jewish people.

ROI stands for “return on investment”, a common business term which refers to achieving a desirable outcome through wise investment. Furthermore, ro’eh in Hebrew means "shepherd," which in our tradition has always symbolized a position of leadership.

At the 5th Annual Summit, ROI gathered people from previous summits in an effort to strengthen the network, and added an extra layer of meaning to the ROI name - Renewing Our Investment, from the perspective of both the network members and ROI's funders, means recommitting to collaboration and partnership in advancing the work of Jewish innovators worldwide. 

The unique characteristics of ROI that keep that differentiate it from the myriad of other Jewish leadership programs are as follows:
 
The international nature of the community: The fact that the ROI community includes over 350 members from some 30+ countries is one of the most powerful examples of ‘global Jewish peoplehood’ in action today.
 
The diverse profile of members: The common thread that links ROI members is the innovative nature of their Jewish ideas and initiatives – whether they are independent social entrepreneurs focused on the Jewish world, Jewish communal professionals, government and public sector professionals, private sector workers, or social entrepreneurs who apply their Jewish values to non-Jewish settings. Furthermore, the range of fields that members operate within is continuously expanding and includes artists, environmentalists, media, techies, Israel advocates, youth workers, and more.
 
ROI’s definition of innovation: ROI recognizes that in today’s Jewish world innovation is often a function of setting and that innovative ideas can come from every field. What would be considered innovative Jewish programming in El Salvador probably wouldn’t fall under that same category in New York City. Moreover, the act of learning about an innovative initiative and seeking to replicate it another community is inherently innovative. By providing a forum for members to learn about each other’s communities, ROI serves as a platform for idea sharing that encourages the adoption of innovative practices in diverse communities throughout the world.

Taking place in Israel, the five-day ROI conference is an intense series of networking and collaboration sessions in which ROI participants enter into partnership with like-minded individuals – and with people from other disciplines and outlooks – and work together to propel their ideas and projects forward. At the Summit, participants share project ideas, provide real time feedback, refine, and collaborate for ventures that will continue far beyond the conference. The Summit is an exciting social gathering that sows the seeds for longtime friendships and professional collaborations, and after it is over, participants continue to engage with each other through a variety of online and offline methods.

ROI Summit participants are selected through an online application process that takes place 3-4 months before the Summit itself. The opening of applications and related deadlines are announced on this website and others, and are widely distributed via email.

We usually send out responses 2 to 3 months before the Summit.

The ROI Summit happens annually in Israel. The location details will be shared at the beginning of 2012.

ROI is designed as a living community that fosters communication and mutual support at the Summit and beyond. The ROI website serves as a “social portal” linking hundreds of ROI activists, whether or not they attended the conference together, and its membership-driven content (blogs, forum postings, and video uploads) make it a dynamic tool for publicity and collaboration.

Along with the flagship Summit in Jerusalem, ROI sponsors regional gatherings including conferences, seminars and events in Europe, Latin America, North America and Israel. Structured to meet the needs of specific geographical areas, these events will allow participants to experience the uniquely powerful way in which the ROI model promotes friendship and cross-discipline collaboration among young Jewish innovators and activists. Attendees at these regional gatherings pool their knowledge and learn new skills, while gaining access to the combined resources of the international ROI community.

The ROI Speakers Bureau is an initiative that facilitates the booking of ROI alumni as presenters at Jewish conferences. Many past Summit participants have spearheaded innovative projects that are of intense interest to communities throughout the world. It serves as a resource for organizations seeking leading-edge content for their programs, and provides travel subsidies for ROI alumni who have been invited to present their views at conferences far from home. In this way, ROI is helping the Jewish world’s most exciting young voices be heard.

Beginning in 2007, Lynn Schusterman launched a grantmaking program, aimed at supporting innovative projects being led by members of the international ROI community. Click here to view the grants portfolio. 

Applications will only be accepted from those who have not participated in previous ROI Summits. ROI members should stay tuned for information about getting involved in the upcoming ROI Summit.