Fellow - BOLT School for Grassroots Leadership

The BOLT School for Grassroots Leadership (SGL) is a 8-month leadership program designed to support grassroots leaders in Philadelphia neighborhoods with demonstrated commitment to community-led change. The program takes place between September - April. Please note this is a fellowship program paid on a stipend basis and you must commit to attending the entirety of the program, not a full-time job.

Participants receive:

• 75 hours of instruction focused on grassroots leadership, strategy, and sustainability.
• Monthly one-on-one executive coaching to help participants develop and scale their initiatives.
• A lifelong network of grassroots leaders for continued collaboration and support.
• Opportunity to recruit youth to join and raise awareness about their work through the BOLT Youth Leaders Fellowship (50 hour commitment)
• $3000 stipend provided for participation and $1000 post-program award to your affiliated organization, after successful program-completion
• No specific issue area required – we trust lived experience and invest in leaders, not just initiatives.
• Not limited to nonprofits – we encourage applications from for-profit social impact enterprises, community initiatives, and grassroots projects.

Also, as a condition of participation in SGL, each leader commits to contributing at least 15 hours during the program year to support BOLT’s Youth Leaders Fellowship (YLF). Leaders may choose one of the following roles, with assignments coordinated by the BOLT team:

• Workshop Facilitator: Lead interactive workshops with YLF youth on community organizing, leadership, or your area of expertise.
• Project Guide: Mentor youth as they develop their own Theory of Change and community action projects.

Eligibility Criteria

• Philadelphia Resident: Must live in Philadelphia and in at least one of the neighborhoods you serve.
• Priority Zip Codes:
• North Philadelphia: 19132, 19133, 19140, 19141, 19121
• West Philadelphia: 19130, 19144
• Deep Community Connection: Must have strong relationships with the community you serve – they should be your friends and neighbors.
• Age Requirement: Must be 18 years or older by September 1 of the current year.
• Project Focus: Work must provide opportunities for Philadelphians to stay and thrive in their neighborhoods. We do not fund initiatives like boarding schools or vacation homes that remove people from their communities.
• Experience: Must have at least 2 years of demonstrated experience serving the community in a leadership capacity. This should be a long-term commitment, not a short-term or hobby-based project.
• Team Leadership: Must have built a team of at least two other community members involved in the work. Team members do not need to be paid staff, but collaboration is essential.
• Non-Partisan & No Lobbying: Your work must be non-partisan and cannot involve lobbying. As a nonprofit, we are legally required to stay neutral and cannot support leaders using their work to advocate for a political party or candidate.
• Organization Role: You must either be a Founder / Executive Director / CEO or a leader (such as Program Manager) within an organization led by a Founder / Executive Director / CEO who also resides in Philadelphia & is deeply connected to the community they serve

Business Structure & Funding

• Not limited to nonprofits – you do not have to have a registered business or nonprofit to participate.
• We highly encourage applications from:
• Small businesses (e.g., businesses that give back to and hire from the community, providing economic opportunity for their neighbors).
• Grassroots initiatives that are not yet formally registered.
• Individuals within organizations who are not the Founder / Executive Director / CEO but serve as organization leaders
• Budget & Funding: Your annual operating budget must not exceed $500,000.

Participation Requirements

To participate in BOLT SGL, you must commit to:

• Attending in-person leadership sessions every Saturday from 9 AM - 12 PM for 25 weeks (we do not meet during holidays).
• Completing 50 hours dedicated to sharing your work with and mentoring youth in the BOLT Youth Leaders Fellowship (we will work around your schedule).
• Fall (Oct - Dec): Lead 1 workshop per month, chaperone one field exploration
• Spring: Lead 2 workshops per month, chaperone one field exploration

Application Process

• Round 1: All eligible applicants and nominees are invited to submit a short application online from April 25 2026 to May 29 2026
• Round 2: A select group of applicants will be invited to share more detailed information about themselves from June 1 2026 to June 26 2026
• Round 3: Up to 20 applicants will be invited to a final round of interviews in the month of July.

Program Stipend

• Participant shall receive a stipend of $3,000 for their participation in the Program. This stipend will be paid on a bi-weekly basis for the duration of the Program.

Program Completion and Post-Program Award

• Participant must successfully complete the Program to be eligible for the $1,000 post-program award ("Post-Program Award"). The post-program award must be disbursed to the organization and/or project the Participant used in their application.
• In addition to completing the Program, participation in the end-of-program event on Saturday, April 24th 2027 is mandatory to receive the Post-Program Award.