CHICAGO – Together, the Chicago Bulls and PepsiCo, with the support of AMPT: Advancing Nonprofits, recently concluded Project Elevate, a six-week capacity-building program that provides local Black and Latiné-led nonprofit leaders with resources intended to expand their leadership skills and encourage professional development. A total of 42 nonprofits from Chicago’s South and West Sides had access to seven workshops, offering education on topics identified by nonprofits as important to growing their impact including branding, promotional video content, data and analytics, finance and more. The workshops were held at the United Center and PepsiCo’s Chicago headquarters in the Old Post Office and were hosted by Chicago Bulls and PepsiCo employees and executives, with resources and guides provided after in-person sessions.
“These capacity building workshops are incredibly impactful because they create access. Black and Brown leaders of small organizations don't often find themselves in spaces with corporate professionals, so to be able to access professionally curated learning spaces for free is a tremendous opportunity,” said ángela munguía, executive director of AMPT: Advancing Nonprofits. “When we think about impact, it's not just the number of organizations who participate, but it’s so much more widespread. We've had organizations bring their staff members to workshops, which creates a whole other level of growth. And that growth is felt in the communities they serve. It's developmental not only for the organization but also for people, and at AMPT, we believe that the people are at the center of everything.”
“It’s been an honor to be a part of the Project Elevate cohort. The Firehouse Dream is creative arts nonprofit, so learning how to more intentionally tell our brand story and how to create a pitch deck has given us the insights we needed to elevate our brand awareness,” said Jasmine Lopez, founder of The Firehouse Dream. “We have been able to learn from top experts in the field and ask questions based on our unique needs. Over the last 6 weeks I’ve also been able to foster deeper relationships with other organizations and with the Chicago Bulls and PepsiCo team.”
The nonprofits, along with AMPT, PepsiCo and the Bulls, celebrated the culmination of Project Elevate with a reception at the United Center, followed by attending the Bulls game against Brooklyn.
“Through this cohort, I’ve not only sharpened our ability to tell our story effectively but also learned that treating everyone with respect is the cornerstone of our leadership,” said Elaine Marthel, founder of Project Impact 180. “It's not just about attracting donors, it's about fostering genuine connections, making our narrative resonate and ensuring our actions reflect the true essence of our organization.”
Project Elevate is one of many touchpoints between the Bulls and PepsiCo, who announced a new partnership this summer. As both companies recognize social injustice in Chicago, they partnered to design a program to advance racial equality with local community organizations. In 2022, the Bulls piloted a similar project, focused on capacity building with local nonprofit organizations. This year, thanks to PepsiCo’s partnership, an expanded program emerged: Project Elevate. To extend the impact of this program, PepsiCo recently awarded AMPT with a $30,000 grant to continue its capacity-building work.
Project Elevate Nonprofit Participants
About AMPT
AMPT: Advancing Nonprofits is committed to strengthening the organizational health and support long-term development of small nonprofits on Chicago’s west and south sides while prioritizing Black- and Latine-led community organizations. Simultaneously, AMPT is working to transform philanthropy by addressing systemic racial inequities and serving as a model for anti-racist systems and processes. Learn more at www.amptchicago.org.
About the Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls are a global sports and entertainment organization that is part of the National Basketball Association. A professional basketball team founded in 1966, the Bulls have won six NBA championships (1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998) and become an iconic brand with a worldwide fan base, including more than 38 million followers across multiple social media platforms.
The Bulls take pride in championing inclusivity within the workplace and have a longstanding history of giving back to underserved communities across Chicago. Through Chicago Bulls Charities – the philanthropic arm of the organization – and the team’s Community Relations department, the Bulls contribute time, materials, resources and financial donations to organizations that align with the four pillars of its community violence prevention strategy: Education, Health and Wellness, Community Investment and Youth Opportunity Access.
About PepsiCo
PepsiCo products are enjoyed by consumers more than one billion times a day in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. PepsiCo generated more than $86 billion in net revenue in 2022, driven by a complementary beverage and convenient foods portfolio that includes Lay's, Doritos, Cheetos, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Mountain Dew, Quaker, and SodaStream. PepsiCo's product portfolio includes a wide range of enjoyable foods and beverages, including many iconic brands that generate more than $1 billion each in estimated annual retail sales.
Guiding PepsiCo is our vision to Be the Global Leader in Beverages and Convenient Foods by Winning with pep+ (PepsiCo Positive). pep+ is our strategic end-to-end transformation that puts sustainability and human capital at the center of how we will create value and growth by operating within planetary boundaries and inspiring positive change for planet and people. For more information, visit www.pepsico.com, and follow on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn @PepsiCo.