What does it take to build a movement that lasts? Is it a perfect business model, a massive endowment, or just a bit of a rebellious spirit? Talking with Amber Melanie Smith, founder of Change Kit, and Danny Rosin, co-founder of Brand Fuel, on the Founder Shares podcast, it is clear the answer is a mix of all three, plus a deep commitment to community. Their journeys, which they describe as a lifelong pursuit of “doing good,” illustrate the resilience required for founders in the nonprofit and social entrepreneurship space.
Amber’s journey began with a bold declaration in a bakery: “I want to change the world.” This eventually led her on a cross-country road trip, volunteering in every state and founding Activate Good. Danny, on the other hand, started as a self-described “prankster” doing community service to work off school demerits, a path that led him to the Philippines at age 16 with Operation Smile. Today, Danny straddles the for-profit and nonprofit worlds, leading a B Corp and co-founding Band Together. His goal, he said, is to figure out how to “grow a business and do it with soul.”
The reality of this work, however, is often shadowed by a “starvation cycle” of fundraising and extreme burnout. Amber noted that a staggering 70% of nonprofit staff are considering leaving their roles next year. The core issue, she explained, is that burnout happens when leaders feel they aren’t making movement on what’s important or using their best talents. Danny added that the “fundraise, give it away” cycle is exhausting, leaving little time for the leadership education that keeps an organization healthy. To fight this, they argue we must stop viewing people as “overhead” and start seeing them as essential mission-driven infrastructure.
The impact of this soul-led leadership is tangible. Danny shared the moving story of a father crying at a Band Together concert while watching his child perform with Kids Notes, an organization providing instruments to underserved students. For Amber, the impact is found in the “one good person” moments—like the homeless woman who called Activate Good not to ask for help, but to ask where she could volunteer. These moments prove that anyone, regardless of their circumstances, can be a change-maker if given the right platform.
Both Amber and Danny were honest about the difficulties of leading these ventures. “Starting a nonprofit is not for everybody,” Amber warned, noting that unlike a business, you don’t “own” a nonprofit—the community does. Danny emphasized that “I’ve never done anything that didn’t have a ‘co’ in front of it,” highlighting that founders cannot—and should not—go it alone. They encouraged leaders to look for collaborations and to ensure their legal structure—whether it’s a B Corp, a nonprofit, or a hybrid—actually matches their ultimate goal.
The advice they offered to new founders is centered on self-discovery and resilience. Amber suggests creating a personal mission statement to act as a North Star during times of transition. Danny’s advice is to “bring people together that are passionate, empathetic, and rebellious like you are.” Ultimately, they believe that if you have the knowledge to make an impact, you have a responsibility to act. The journey in the social sector is volatile and often “decimated” by politics or funding shifts, but with a focus on stakeholder value and a “big tent” philosophy, these founders are proving that leading with soul is the only way to win the long game.
