269: Making Money While Making a Difference: Scaling and Sustainability for Social Justice Organizations w/ Jasmine Crowe-Houston
You want to build something that actually changes lives, and you also need it to pay the bills. You have felt the pressure to choose one or the other, purpose or profit, when what you really want is both. This episode is for you if you are wrestling with questions like how do I fund my mission, how do I prove my impact, and how do I scale without losing the heart of why I started.
In this conversation, you will learn from Jasmine Crowe-Houston, award winning social entrepreneur and founder and CEO of Goodr. Jasmine has built a technology powered company that has redirected more than 25 million pounds of food and delivered nearly 40 million meals by connecting surplus to need, and she has opened dozens of free Goodr Grocery Stores that bring dignified, affordable access to healthy food. She breaks down the real story behind making money while making a difference, from pricing and partnerships to data and mindset, and she is refreshingly honest about what it takes for Black founders to build and sustain social impact at scale.
DURING THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
- How to choose a problem worth solving and translate it into a clear, fundable business model
- Ways to price a social enterprise by mapping your customer’s current spend and proving cost savings
- What metrics to track so you can show both social outcomes and business results
- How to approach investors versus foundations and what to emphasize with each audience
- Practical strategies to scale impact while staying rooted in community and mission
- Mindset habits that help you push through rejection, protect your energy, and lead for the long term
RESOURCES MENTIONED:
ABOUT JASMINE CROWE HOUSTON:
Jasmine Crowe Houston is an award winning social entrepreneur, author, and visionary committed to ending hunger and reducing waste through innovation. After years of personally serving meals to people experiencing homelessness, she launched Goodr in 2017, a sustainable waste management and hunger solutions company that uses technology to connect surplus food with communities that need it. Under her leadership, Goodr has redirected millions of pounds of food, delivered tens of millions of meals, and opened Goodr Grocery Stores that provide dignified access to fresh, affordable food in schools, senior centers, and neighborhoods across the country. Her work has been featured by leading outlets, and Goodr has been recognized as a world changing company. Jasmine serves on multiple boards at the intersection of health, climate, equity, and inclusive economic development. Her forthcoming book, Feeding Hope, shares a blueprint for turning bright ideas into meaningful change. She is a devoted wife and mother who believes business can be a force for good and that our communities deserve solutions that last.
Thank you so much for listening! If you liked this episode, please subscribe to “The Black to Business Podcast” and rate and review on Apple Podcasts:
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