Grantee Spotlight – BOLT

In March of 2024 we turn the spotlight on BOLT (Build Our Lives Together), a first-year grantee based in Philadelphia, PA

BOLT:

• Cultivates, supports, and empowers grassroots leaders to drive positive change for their communities, with a special focus on underserved BIPOC neighborhoods.
• Builds leadership capabilities across generations, recognizing the importance of simultaneously supporting current leaders while also while also training teens who represent a pipeline for the future.

The $20,000 Project Redwood grant funds BOLT’s School for Grassroots Leadership, an 8-month leadership program.  Monies will be used to review the curriculum, recruit participants and then measure program results to plan next steps. Success can lead to program expansion to other U.S. cities.

BOLT is based in Philadelphia, Pa., the poorest large city in the U.S. Founder Hillary Do launched the nonprofit based on the principle that the most effective way to improve the quality of life in underserved neighborhoods is to enable community-led change. Few foundation dollars are typically directed to such efforts in BIPOC communities because these programs are often deemed risky or low impact; BOLT comes from a diametrically opposed position that uplifting grassroots leaders represents an untapped solution with potential for huge impact. It believes such leaders bring unmatched commitment to succeed because their efforts will directly, and positively, affect them, family and friends.  BOLT refers to them as ‘proximate leaders’.

To build the capabilities and capacity of these ‘proximate leaders’, BOLT has developed 3 curriculums for skill development:

• Community Organizing: How to build a movement and mobilize people to make change
• Strategic Management: How to problem solve and build strong, effective social impact organizations at the local level.
• Navigating the Local Ecosystem: How to work with the local (Philadelphia Ward system) government structure and positively influence decision and policy making

Another innovative feature of BOLT’s community-led improvement efforts is its intergenerational approach.  In addition to providing programs to build skills among current proximate leaders, a program called BOLT Youth Leaders Fellowship is in place for high school students who represent a pipeline of future community leaders.

This unconventional approach to community development is just what motivated sponsor Connie Liu to advocate for BOLT.  As she describes it:

I was motivated to sponsor BOLT because I’ve never met an entrepreneur as passionate and devoted to impact as Hillary Do. She sees impact in places that are often ignored by the philanthropic world and shines a light on the important work grassroots leaders are doing in their own backyard.

On top of that, Hillary has a multiplier effect on everyone she meets. I was lucky enough to be a guest speaker for her School for Grassroots Leadership and work as they built out their impact models. It was so powerful to see them…identify new opportunities for amplifying their work.

I’m proud to be even a small part of the work and am most proud of all the students and grassroots leaders who are bravely and resiliently building impact every day, and who are committed to magnifying their impact through their work with BOLT.

I am absolutely happy to sing BOLT’s praises from every rooftop. Seeing the impact already made in Philadelphia is an inspiration, and I have no doubt the model will be able to transform cities across America and beyond.