Detroit SOUP

Co-Founder, Executive Director
February 2010 - August 2017

Crowdfunding microgranting dinner funding Detroit neighborhood-based ideas, $5 at a time.

  • Co-creator and lead developer of civic and entrepreneurship engagement with over 40,000 in attendance and raised over $200,000 for 500+ local ideas, projects, and businesses.

  • Developed and managed monthly dinner series that resulted in growing the dinner in eight neighborhood areas around Detroit

  • Connected Detroit SOUPs dinner results to community and philanthropic partners allowing SOUP to become an integral organization within the Detroit ecosystem

  • Created new pathways for these ideators and entrepreneurs to navigate access to local and regional resources

  • Initiated and executed vision and strategy with the SOUP model allowing the dinner to be replicated in neighborhoods, supporting local leaders and ideas.

  • Created a versatile method of replication that allowed for the model to be customizable in any location that it could adapt to individual community needs

  • Sole media and community spokesperson to educate, fundraise, and share organization

  • Planned, developed and coordinated communications with social media and monthly newsletters of 10,000+ followers and podcast series while always documenting outcomes

  • Developed a storytelling narrative explaining the social impact of the organization leading other cities to take on the model, funding opportunities, and fellowship opportunities.

  • Led 14 member Board of Directors to establish goals, set standards, develop a growth plan and fundraise with zero turnover.

  • Responsible for development of funding and growth strategies of multiple revenue streams, including grant funding, retail, fundraisers, and dinner attendance

  • Managed two staff members and over 50+ volunteers

Some past SOUP winners I have worked with

SOUP Global

Founder
March 2015 - June 2022

Community hub focusing on developing and growing local crowdfunding microgranting dinners celebrating local ideators, entrepreneurs and changemakers that has raised over a million dollars globally for local impact projects in 225 cities globally.

  • Developed a global strategy for grassroots community participation focusing on growing local ideas, projects, businesses and local leadership.

  • Designed and facilitated 50+ workshops throughout the US, England, Europe, and Asia that focused on leadership, community development, event planning, and fundraising.

  • Created an onboarding process to over 300+ communities desiring to implement SOUP

  • Speaker at 100+ events including TedxBucharest, Obama White House and SXSW

  • Directed and developed world wide digital infrastructure which aided in communities connecting globally

  • Writing a book about the organization development and community strategies

Global SOUP growth and impact.