The Taco Bell Foundation partners with CoLabL to design and facilitate the Nonprofit Bootcamp, a six-session virtual micro-internship experience built for Live Más Scholars and Alumni. The program gives emerging social impact leaders a hands-on nonprofit career development program that goes beyond theory by connecting skill building with real deliverables, expert mentorship, and paid work experience.
Over six weeks, 23 Scholars engage in group coaching sessions covering the core competencies of running a mission-driven organization. Sessions explore strategic planning, fundraising and development, marketing and communications, board and volunteer engagement, and nonprofit leadership. Expert mentors with decades of nonprofit and philanthropy experience join sessions to coach Scholars directly. Each week builds toward four tangible deliverables: a logic model, a pitch deck, a marketing and communications plan, and a board service matrix.
What sets the Bootcamp apart is who’s in the room. Scholars come at every stage. Some launching nonprofits from scratch, others already managing organizations or working in the sector. That mix creates a learning environment where peers teach each other just as much as the curriculum does. And the outcomes are real. One Scholar used her pitch deck from the program to anchor a fundraising gala, raising $6,788 in a single night. Another was invited onto local news to share her nonprofit’s pilot launch. The experience reflects the Taco Bell Foundation’s commitment to investing in young leaders “beyond the money” and CoLabL’s belief that relationships drive change.
“I first applied thinking I was just going to get a few pointers, but it turned out to be a whole experience with step-by-step strategies on how to elevate and strengthen a nonprofit. We went from starting at zero to raising $6,788 during our fundraising campaign — all within weeks of completing the program.”
— Leslie Nava, Live Más Scholar and Co-Founder, Southeast Analog
“One of my favorite things we did was the pitching, because I learned so much from everyone. Come and represent your organization. It was such a hands-on experience.”
— Tryphene Bulape, Live Más Scholar
“This became a nonprofit from a passion project. Through Daniel’s support and everything I got from this program, I now have a real organization with a mission I believe in.”
— Sevya Agarwal, Live Más Scholar
2026 Impact Highlights
- 23 Live Más Scholars and Alumni selected through a competitive application process.
- 20 hours of paid micro-internship experience at $20/hour with a $400 stipend upon completion.
- Six virtual group coaching sessions covering strategic planning, fundraising, marketing, board engagement, and nonprofit leadership.
- Four real-world deliverables produced per Scholar including a logic model, fundraising pitch deck, marketing and communications plan, and a board service matrix.
- Scholars practiced live fundraising pitches with expert coaching and peer feedback.
- Leslie Nava raised $6,788 in a single fundraising gala using her Bootcamp pitch deck, developed dozens of sponsorships, and secured mission supplies, all within weeks of completing the program.
