Philly BOLT, Executive Director

ORGANIZATION

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 www.phillybolt.org.

OPPORTUNITY

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.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Key Responsibilities of the Executive Director include:

• Mission & Community-Centered Strategic Leadership: Champion BOLT's mission and ensure community expertise and voice remain central to organizational decisions. Partner with the Board, staff, and stakeholders to establish strategic priorities and measurable goals for sustainable growth. Lead the transition from founder-led leadership while protecting BOLT's community-centered model, relationships, and culture.
• Fundraising & Resource Development: Serve as BOLT's chief fundraiser, developing and executing strategies to grow and diversify revenue from institutional and individual donors, corporate partners, and government sources. Personally cultivate, solicit, and steward funders while expanding individual giving and building a strong donor pipeline. Engage the Board in fundraising and strengthen the systems and team capacity needed for long-term financial sustainability.
• Financial, Organizational & Operational Leadership: Oversee BOLT's financial health, including budgeting, forecasting, cash flow, and resource allocation. Build the systems, structures, and accountability needed for sustainable growth, including clear roles, effective decision-making, and strong operational practices. Use financial and operational data to guide strategy, monitor progress, and manage risk.
• People & Talent Leadership: Build, coach, and retain a strong, mission-aligned team through clear expectations, effective delegation, performance management, and ongoing feedback. Foster a collaborative, accountable culture that celebrates contributions, develops staff leadership, and supports employee well-being and sustainable workloads.
• External Leadership, Board Relations, Partnerships & Program Impact: Serve as a compelling ambassador for BOLT, building authentic relationships with grassroots leaders, schools, funders, and civic partners across Philadelphia. Cultivate a strong, collaborative relationship with the Board, ensuring effective communication, strategic alignment, and meaningful engagement in governance and organizational priorities. Provide strategic oversight of BOLT's youth and grassroots leadership programs, using community feedback and impact data to strengthen programming, demonstrate results, and preserve BOLT's intergenerational leadership model.
• PRIORITIES
• A successful first year in this role for the new Executive Director will include: Navigate a Founding Executive Director transition: Establish trust with staff, Board members, community leaders, youth, funders, and partners while developing a shared vision for BOLT's next chapter.
• Strengthen financial sustainability: Establish a fundraising strategy with clear revenue goals, deepen existing funder relationships, expand the individual donor pipeline, and develop a plan for long-term development capacity.
• Build organizational capacity: Assess staffing and operational needs, clarify roles and accountability, strengthen management practices, and support a healthy, sustainable team culture.
• Establish a strategic growth plan: Partner with the Board and staff to define priorities, measurable goals, and the financial and organizational conditions necessary for responsible expansion.
• Demonstrate and deepen impact: Strengthen approaches to measuring program outcomes, elevate community feedback, and build partnerships that support BOLT's reach and impact.

Requirements

• In order to fulfill these responsibilities, the ideal Executive Director candidate will be:
• Mission & Community-Centered Leadership: Demonstrated experience with grassroots or community-led organizations or initiatives, with a commitment to elevating community voice, building authentic relationships, and ensuring residents help shape decisions that affect their neighborhoods.
• Philadelphia Knowledge & Relationships: Strong knowledge of Philadelphia's neighborhoods and civic and nonprofit ecosystem, with established local connections and the ability to build meaningful partnerships across grassroots organizations, schools, philanthropy, and civic institutions.
• Strategic Leadership & Growth: Ability to set a clear vision, establish priorities, make strategic tradeoffs, and build organizational capacity for sustainable growth. Experience leading an organization or significant function through growth or change is strongly preferred.
• Fundraising & Resource Development: Demonstrated ability to lead fundraising strategy, cultivate philanthropic relationships, and secure resources to advance organizational priorities. Success personally raising significant philanthropic revenue and building or expanding individual donor programs is strongly preferred. Existing relationships with Philadelphia-area funders are highly valued.
• Financial, Organizational & Operational Leadership: Demonstrated experience overseeing organizational budgets and financial performance, using financial information to guide decisions, manage resources, and assess risk. Ability to build effective systems, structures, and operational practices that support accountability and sustainable growth.
• People & Talent Leadership: Demonstrated experience managing, coaching, and developing teams with humility, joy, and a collaborative, mission-first approach. Ability to establish clear expectations, foster accountability, celebrate contributions and collective successes, and prioritize organizational impact over personal recognition.
• Communication, Influence & Relationship Building: Exceptional ability to build trust, communicate across diverse audiences, navigate difficult conversations, and cultivate strong relationships. A humble, collaborative leadership style that values community expertise and elevates others' contributions.
• Technology & Data Proficiency (Required): Proficiency with Google Workspace, including strong to advanced skills in Google Sheets or comparable spreadsheet tools for organizing, analyzing, and using data to inform decisions.
• Fundraising & Financial Systems: Experience using fundraising and donor management platforms such as Bloomerang, Salesforce, or comparable systems. Experience with QuickBooks or similar financial management software is highly preferred.
• Relevant Leadership Experience: Senior leadership experience in a nonprofit, community-based, social-impact, education, or comparable mission-driven setting is preferred. Experience working with youth and/or schools and partnering with a nonprofit Board is also preferred.
• A bachelor's degree and/or 7+ years of non-profit executive experience. BOLT values demonstrated leadership capabilities, relevant experience, community relationships, and commitment to its mission over traditional credentials.
• Additional considerations: Prior experience as an Executive Director or CEO is not required.
• Location requirement: The Executive Director must reside in Philadelphia.