This session will tell the story of a successful participatory grant-making project conducted by Read by 4th. Through inclusive project design and implementation Read by 4th’s Neighborhood Literacy Fund supported getting money into the hands of local organizations and individuals often excluded from traditional funding streams. We illustrate how the backbone worked to shift power and resources into the hands of grassroots leaders supporting neighborhoods most impacted by Philadelphia’s literacy crisis. Through this project we have added partners to our campaign, strengthening the literacy ecosystem to protect every child in Philadelphia’s right to read.