The Boston Foundation hires Naila Bolus to spearhead the Campaign for a Greater Boston
Former CEO of Jumpstart, Bolus will work to strengthen TBF’s annual fundraising and oversee upcoming campaign
January 22, 2024
Boston – The Boston Foundation is pleased to announce that Naila Bolus, an experienced nonprofit leader and former CEO of Jumpstart, is joining TBF in the newly created role of Deputy Vice President and Director of the Campaign for a Greater Boston. In this new role, Bolus will lead an upcoming campaign to strengthen TBF’s endowment, work to expand annual fundraising, and strengthen connections with the region’s robust donor community.
“The Campaign for a Greater Boston will provide critical resources for all the elements of our vital civic leadership work, including grantmaking, advocacy, research and partnerships, and provide a stronger base as we work to reduce inequity and close wealth gaps,” said M. Lee Pelton, President and CEO of the Boston Foundation. “In Naila, we are fortunate to find someone with the experience, skills and talents to design and execute this work.”
“With her experience as a fundraiser, advocate and nonprofit leader, Naila is uniquely qualified to support our launch of this campaign to build the Fund for Boston’s Future and help us reimagine our relationship with our current and future donors,” said Kate Guedj, Senior Vice President and Chief Philanthropy Officer at TBF. “Our success in this campaign will allow TBF to foster transformative community impact and partnerships through priorities aligned with our new, equity-centered vision.”
During Bolus’ tenure, Jumpstart significantly expanded its scale and impact, increasing the number of children served annually by 68%, revising its curriculum to improve academic and social-emotional outcomes for children, and developing new programming and policies to increase the number of high-quality early educators and promote equitable early education opportunities. Bolus focused on diversifying Jumpstart’s funding base and increasing brand visibility while strengthening Jumpstart’s national reputation as a thought leader in the early childhood field.
Before Jumpstart, she served as Executive Director of Ploughshares Fund, the largest grantmaking foundation in the United States dedicated exclusively to security and peace funding. During her tenure, Naila led a successful $25 million endowment campaign and tripled the foundation’s budget and staff. Before joining the Ploughshares Fund, she was co-director of 20/20 Vision, a grassroots organization that sought to promote democracy by connecting members to national decision-makers.
“At a time when we are strengthening our partnerships with donors, nonprofit and civic leaders throughout Greater Boston, Naila brings a demonstrated ability to attract resources that can further our connections with and support of the community leaders at the core of our equity work,” said Linda Mason, Chair of the Boston Foundation Board of Directors. “She also arrives with unique experience as a nonprofit executive and advocate that mesh seamlessly into TBF’s multifaceted work.”
Bolus graduated from Tufts University with a degree in International Relations and lives in Massachusetts with her family after stints in Washington, DC; San Francisco; and Charlottesville, Virginia.
She begins her new role on February 5th.