LEAD- Youth Leadership Development Program

What LEAD- Youth Leadership Development Program does

LEAD is an Israeli non-profit organization that identifies and develops leadership potential in adolescents through structured, methodology-based programs. Founded by Morris Kahn and headquartered in Netanya, Israel, the organization targets 10th-grade high school students as its primary cohort, with an extended offering — the Lion's Head (ראש לאריות) sub-brand — for grades 7-9 developed in partnership with The Global Education and Leadership Foundation (TGELF). Programs are delivered exclusively through institutional partnerships with Israeli secondary and middle schools, with no direct-to-consumer channel.

The core product portfolio comprises three tracks: the Core Program (תכנית הליבה) for 10th graders, the Graduates Program (תכנית בוגרים) for continued alumni development, and the Lion's Head Program, which includes 22 pedagogical lessons per grade. The methodology combines classroom-based experiential learning with practical leadership through student-initiated social projects. The curriculum was co-developed with international university experts and adapted for Israeli youth, emphasizing that leadership is an identity and way of life rather than a purely theoretical discipline. Complementary offerings include a social-projects library and a "Guide to Changing the World" resource.

Operating with approximately 9 employees and no traditional marketing function, LEAD relies on community-driven growth: approximately 400 high schools annually submit candidate lists, alumni and ambassadors actively refer peers, and selection occurs through applications (September–April), phone interviews, and assessment centers. Revenue is generated through program participation and an undisclosed supporter network. The organization maintains a 16-year track record of partnerships with 350+ Israeli high schools and is currently recruiting its 2026 cohort while accepting early applications for 2027.

Name

LEAD- Youth Leadership Development Program

Legal name

LEAD

Website

https://lead.org.il

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

LEAD is an Israeli non-profit that develops leadership in youth through methodology-based programs for 10th-grade and middle-school students, delivered via institutional partnerships with 350+ Israeli schools and an alumni-driven referral network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Leadership Development

NAICS

Educational Support Services (61171), Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Mentoring & Positive Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Student Government & Leadership Programs (EDALAHAA)

Keywords

• Youth leadership development
• Civic education programs
• Social entrepreneurship training
• Experiential learning programs
• Community youth engagement

Headquarters

HQ city

Netanya

HQ country

Israel

HQ region

Middle East

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Program Participation: Revenue generated through youth participation in leadership development programs. Operating as a non-profit organization with multiple funding sources including partnerships and supporter networks.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

LEAD is a non-profit youth leadership development organization that runs a structured multi-year training program for Israeli middle and high school students. The core offering combines 22 pedagogical lessons per grade with the launch and management of social projects by participants, designed to transform passive students into active citizens and practicing leaders. Programs are delivered in partnership with approximately 350-400 Israeli high schools and include separate tracks for current students, alumni, and middle schoolers (Lion's Head/Rosh LaAriyot).

Product overview

LEAD is a youth leadership development program operating as a unified platform with multiple program tracks. The organization offers three main products: (1) תכנית הליבה (Core Program) - the flagship high school leadership development track for 10th graders, (2) תכנית בוגרים (Graduates Program) - ongoing development for program alumni, and (3) ראש לאריות (Lion's Head Program) - an educational program for middle school students (grades 7-9). Additional offerings include practical social projects that students initiate and manage, plus a resource guide for changing the world. The programs share a common philosophy that leadership should be an identity and way of life, with curricula developed by international experts and adapted for Israeli youth by the LEAD team.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Lion's Head (Roshl L'ariyot): A specialized training program for middle school students (grades 7-9) developed in partnership with The Global Education and Leadership Foundation (TGELF) to help young adolescents grow into active citizens and leaders in their communities.

Products and services

• Tikhnit HaLiba - Core Program (תכנית הליבה) The primary multi-year leadership development track for 10th-grade Israeli high school students (kita yud) selected through school nominations or self-application. Combines 22 structured pedagogical lessons per grade in a workshop-style format with the launch and management of practical social projects designed to develop leadership identity, communication, critical thinking, conflict management, and ethical leadership.
• Tikhnit Bogrim - Graduates Program (תכנית בוגרים) An extended post-Core-program offering for LEAD alumni, providing ongoing leadership development and structured community engagement opportunities after students complete the high school Core Program. Designed to keep graduates active in the LEAD community, support their continued leadership journey, and turn them into ambassadors who recruit future cohorts.
• Rosh LaAriyot - Lion's Head Program (ראש לאריות) An educational leadership program for Israeli middle school students in grades 7-9 (kita zayin through kita yud-bet), co-developed with The Global Education and Leadership Foundation (TGELF) using expertise from leading international universities. Delivered through partner schools and taught by trained teacher-facilitators (groups of up to 15), focusing on growing young adolescents into active citizens and leaders in their communities through structured civic engagement, critical thinking, and experiential learning.

Named customers3 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• The Global Education and Leadership Foundation (TGELF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership for the Lions Head (ראש לאריות) program. TGELF developed the original program with experts from leading international universities, and LEAD adapted it for Israeli youth characteristics and needs. The partnership aims to expand leadership education to broader segments of Israeli society.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Young Judaea: Zionist youth movement offering leadership development programs for Jewish teens with strong ties to Israel, including summer programs and post-high school gap year programs. Directly comparable in mission scope and Israeli connection.
• City Year: AmeriCorps-affiliated youth service and leadership development organization that recruits young people for community impact roles. Shares LEAD's mission of cultivating leadership identity in young people through practical service and community engagement.
• Bnei Akiva: World's largest religious Zionist youth movement, with programs in Israel and globally focused on developing leadership and ideological commitment among Jewish teens. Operates school-partnered programming and alumni networks similar to LEAD's model.
• JA Worldwide (Junior Achievement): Global non-profit focused on youth leadership, entrepreneurship, and workforce readiness education delivered through school partnerships. Shares LEAD's school-anchored distribution model and youth leadership development mission, though at global scale.
• AIESEC: International non-profit youth leadership organization that develops leadership capabilities in young people through experiential programs and projects. Operates in a similar youth leadership development category with comparable programmatic philosophy.
• Aharai!: Israeli non-profit dedicated to leadership development for youth from Israel's social and geographic periphery, often through pre-military preparatory programs. Directly comparable as a domestic Israeli youth leadership non-profit operating in the same cultural and educational context.
• Kfar Silver: Israeli youth leadership and agricultural training program combining leadership development with practical experience. Comparable in Israeli context, youth leadership development focus, and experiential learning methodology.

Broad incumbents

• BBYO (B'nai B'rith Youth Organization): Large Jewish youth organization with leadership development programs for teens globally. Comparable in target demographic and leadership development mission, though operates as a broader membership-based youth movement rather than a curated cohort program.
• World ORT: Global Jewish education network operating schools and educational programs with leadership and STEM components. Larger and broader than LEAD, but operates in the same Jewish educational leadership development space with relevant programmatic overlap.

Regional players

• LAHAV: The Israeli Leadership Academy: Israeli institutional leadership development program operating within the national service framework. Comparable in targeting Israeli youth for leadership cultivation, though as part of a state-affiliated structure rather than an independent non-profit.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lead-youth-leadership-development-program

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about LEAD- Youth Leadership Development Program