While our members’ projects address health-related challenges—from vision, to diseases and conditions, to maternal, child, and infant health—they also tackle issues of environment, food security, water, sanitation and hygiene, education, workforce development, economic mobility, gender equality, disability rights, strengthening democracy, criminal justice, and children’s rights. As the Network continues to grow, with more members being added with every competition, the breadth of issues addressed will only widen further.

The Bold Solutions Network also represents a robust, dynamic array of organizations, of all shapes and sizes. While 46% of our members maintain a full-time staff of more than 1,000 people, 25% operate with fewer than 100 full-time employees. Member organizations also report a range of annual operating budgets, with 48% recording an annual operating budget of less than $59 million; for one in six organizations, that number is less than $10 million. While Bold Solutions Network members may differ from one another in organizational structure and area of work, each has presented a project idea that rose to the top of its respective competition, having been recognized for its potential to address a significant social challenge at scale.

Bold Solutions Network Member Update

Highly ranked applicants in the competitions we manage are eligible to become members of the Bold Solutions Network and have access to ongoing learning opportunities. Since August, members have taken advantage of new learning opportunities from our various Social Impact Partners:

• IMAGO Global Grassroots hosted a Feminine Leadership series in August. Twelve organizations attended a webinar and learned how traditionally held feminine leadership traits can be used to successfully navigate crisis and how organizations such as the Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA) in India and Eileen Fisher in the U.S., empower female leadership. IMAGO also hosted a workshop for female Bold Solutions Network leaders to dive deeper into leadership and organizational transformation. IMAGO will continue to host this cohort of female leaders on a monthly basis for the rest of the year.
• VoiceActivated’s Bryn Freedman hosted a public speaking workshop in August. Participants learned about the EAS²E (Expertise, Authenticity, Simplicity, Surprise, and Energy) model and the essential qualities that every engaging speaker must possess. Participants will continue to work on communications skills through small-group coaching with Freedman.
• Nonprofit Utopia kicked off the first of three workshop series in September focused on collaboration. Bold Solutions Network members participating in the three-part Collaborate for Impact series learned about successful collaborative models, crafting memorandums of understanding, and leveraging technology to enhance organizational partnerships. The interactive series included case studies and group presentations. Nonprofit Utopia is currently offering the Effecting Systems Change Through Policy and Advocacy series for the month of October. Click here to learn more and register (the password is “Advocacy”).
• Sattva launched the Accelerate for Impact Initiative in October. Sattva will support 12 organizations and key partners based in India over a period of six months with capacity building in areas such as communications, fundraising, partnerships and organizational strategy. Support will include one-to-one mentorship, workshops, and networking opportunities.

In addition, our members continue to take advantage of pro bono project assistance from Catchafire. Seventeen members have been matched with professionals through the platform on 66 projects, resulting in cost savings of $216,594 and 982 hours donated since April. Bold Solutions Network members have free access to Catchafire and their skilled volunteers through April 2021.

Lever for Change is currently planning capacity building opportunities for members in 2021. Currently, we are partnering with Nonprofit Utopia to develop a workshop series on financial leadership. We are also planning offerings with new Social Impact Partners on organizational leadership support for member organizations and key partners based in Africa, as well as support for members looking to scale their work and improve fundraising capacity.

Stay tuned for more Bold Solutions Network programming!