The Bridge Builder

Say the name “Zakim” to anyone who lives or works in Greater Boston, and the first thing that comes to mind for most is The Zakim Bridge. Formally known as The Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Memorial Bridge, this beautiful cable-stayed bridge has been an iconic feature of the Boston skyline since 2003. But for some, especially those in Massachusetts’ nonprofit and philanthropic communities, “Zakim” is the name of the remarkable man who inspired The Lenny Zakim Fund, a Boston-based nonprofit charitable organization that has supported small local grassroots nonprofit organizations and their leaders since 1995.

Bridging Communities

For many years, I drove over the Zakim Bridge not knowing who Lenny Zakim was. It wasn’t until about ten years ago, when I became involved in Greater Boston’s nonprofit and philanthropic communities, that I began to learn about Lenny and the nonprofit organization that bears his name. Since 2022, I’ve been honored to lead The Lenny Zakim Fund as its executive director, and in this role have gained a deeper appreciation for not only the man, but the incredible impact he has had in Massachusetts for more than a half century.

Raised in New Jersey, Lenny came to Boston for law school and thereafter went to work for the Anti-Defamation League as its New England civil rights director, later becoming the executive director of ADL’s New England region. For 20 years, he fought tirelessly to end racism, anti-Semitism, civil rights violations, and hatred of all. It was through his work and as a member of the community that Lenny became known and beloved for his ability to build bridges between people of different races and religions throughout Greater Boston and beyond. Highlights of Lenny’s many accomplishments include co-founding the A World of Difference Institute, an anti-bias educational project formed in Boston in 1986 and eventually adapted in 29 other cities and six counties, and co-founding an annual Black-Jewish Seder in Boston, which inspired many interfaith Seders with Catholic, Protestant, and Jewish participants in Boston and nationally.

Lenny’s Legacy

As a civil rights leader, Lenny often interacted with small grassroots organizations and their leaders who were doing critical work in underserved, under-resourced communities throughout eastern Massachusetts, but lacked the necessary means to make a difference. In 1995, after Lenny was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, he, with the support of friends, supporters, and admirers, founded The Lenny Fund (later renamed The Lenny Zakim Fund, or LZF for short). LZF’s mission is to listen to grassroots organizations and their leaders who are most impacted by inequity and provide the funding, essential resources, and support they need to create lasting change. Founded as a public, charitable nonprofit organization, LZF’s work is made possible because of the generosity of individual and institutional donors who support 100% of our annual operating budget.

LZF intentionally focuses on nonprofit organizations with annual operating budgets under $350,000, who are “under the radar” of larger funders. In addition to providing five years of grant funding, LZF grantee partners receive an array of capacity-building supports ranging from leadership coaching to essential trainings to pro bono legal services. LZF grantee partner organizations often say that the capacity-building resources they receive from LZF are as valuable as the grant funding itself. Being an LZF grantee partner is also widely seen as a “seal of approval,” a unique social capital that boosts their visibility and ability to attract other funders.

The Lenny Zakim Fund has built its name and reputation among local nonprofit and philanthropic communities as a trust-based, community-centered, capacity-building funder. Since 1995, LZF has awarded more than $14 million in grants and provided capacity-building support to 435 community-based organizations throughout eastern Massachusetts. The breadth of Lenny’s legacy and LZF’s impact can best be appreciated by visiting LZF’s website (thelennyzakimfund.org) to explore LZF’s interactive grantee partner map of Massachusetts and read our monthly “Grantee Partner Spotlight” series highlighting the remarkable work of a particular grantee partner organization.

Today, LZF remains committed to upholding Lenny’s vision, who passed away in 1999, to develop deep relationships and build bridges among people to advance social, economic, and racial justice in our communities. LZF prides itself on and is known by our grantee partners and peers alike for the authentic relationships we’ve built with our grantee partners and fostered among the members of our grantee partner community; these relationships are seen as valuable and enduring, lasting far beyond the grant awards.

The Road Ahead

Last year, on LZF’s 30th anniversary, The Fund commissioned a 30-year longitudinal study to better understand and articulate our impact, not only on the organizations with whom we’ve partnered, but also on Greater Boston’s nonprofit and philanthropic communities. This impact study confirmed that LZF occupies a distinctive position in Greater Boston’s philanthropic ecosystem and compels us to leverage our experience and influence as a trusted funder and thought leader.

On Thursday, Oct. 29, LZF will host a Bridge Builder convening to share the study’s findings with the greater philanthropic community and celebrate 30 years of impact while also looking forward to what lies ahead for us as a capacity-building funder. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, please visit thelennyzakimfund.org/bridgebuilder.

So, the next time you are driving over the Zakim Bridge or see it while on a walk through Boston, I hope you are reminded of the work of The Lenny Zakim Fund and see it as a bridge to a more just and equitable world.