Philly BOLT, Executive Director

Philly BOLT (Build Our Lives Together) is a Philadelphia-based nonprofit organization working to ensure that the people closest to their communities' challenges have the resources, skills, and opportunities to lead meaningful change. Founded in 2021, BOLT operates from a fundamental belief:
Philadelphia's neighborhoods are already home to capable, committed leaders who understand their communities and are working to make them stronger. What these leaders often lack is not vision or dedication, but access to the resources, networks, and institutional support needed to turn their ideas into sustainable solutions.

BOLT works to change that dynamic by investing directly in the leadership capacity of youth and adult residents in Philadelphia's historically under-resourced neighborhoods. Rather than bringing outside solutions into communities, BOLT equips the people already doing the work with practical tools, relationships, and resources to strengthen their impact. Its vision is a Philadelphia where every neighborhood thrives, led by the people who live there.

BOLT advances its mission through two interconnected leadership development programs:

BOLT School for Grassroots Leadership (SGL):
An eight-month leadership development program that equips adults leading community-based initiatives with the skills, resources, coaching, and networks to strengthen their organizations and deepen their impact. Participants receive approximately 100 hours of instruction, individualized coaching, and financial support to advance their community-led work.

BOLT Youth Leaders Fellowship (YLF):
An in-school and summer leadership development program that empowers Philadelphia public high school students to become changemakers in their neighborhoods. Through civic leadership, financial literacy, workforce development, and community action projects, young people develop the skills and confidence to lead change in their communities.

What makes BOLT's model particularly distinctive is the connection between these two programs. Graduates of the School for Grassroots Leadership serve as mentors and guides to youth fellows from their neighborhoods, creating opportunities for intergenerational learning, collaboration, and community action. By investing in both the adults leading change today and the young people preparing to lead tomorrow, BOLT is building a sustainable pipeline of neighborhood leadership across Philadelphia.

As BOLT enters its next chapter, the organization is focused on deepening its impact, expanding its reach into additional Philadelphia high schools, strengthening its organizational infrastructure, and growing the financial resources necessary to sustain its work. Throughout this growth, BOLT remains committed to protecting the authenticity, trust, relationships, and community-centered approach that have defined the organization since its founding.

To learn more about Philly BOLT, please visit (Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)..

Philly BOLT seeks a strategic, community-centered Executive Director to lead the organization through its next phase of growth and impact. Building on the foundation established by its founding Executive Director, the next leader will strengthen BOLT's innovative model of grassroots and youth leadership development while building the financial, organizational, and operational capacity necessary for long-term sustainability.

This is an opportunity for a leader who believes deeply in community-led change and brings the strategic vision, fundraising capabilities, financial acumen, and relationship-building skills to translate that commitment into organizational growth. The Executive Director will serve as BOLT's chief fundraiser, strengthen its team and internal systems, and cultivate partnerships across Philadelphia's neighborhoods, schools, philanthropic institutions, and civic organizations. The leader will also navigate the transition from founder-led leadership, preserving the relationships, culture, and community trust that make BOLT distinctive.

Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director will partner with staff and stakeholders to advance BOLT's ambitions to double its operating budget and expand youth programming into approximately one additional Philadelphia high school each year. Success will require balancing ambitious growth with financial sustainability, organizational readiness, program quality, and fidelity to BOLT's community-centered mission.

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