Founder Mode

For decades, the nonprofit sector has been bound by the constraints of financial dependency. From securing grants to appeasing donors, many mission-driven organizations spend more time fundraising than delivering impact. This system, commonly known as the Nonprofit Industrial Complex (NPIC), prioritizes financial survival over the very change these organizations were created to achieve.

But what if nonprofits didn’t need money to operate? What if they could break free from the traditional funding model and instead leverage resourcefulness, community collaboration, and ethical leadership to create sustainable impact?

This book was conceived from my personal experiences as founder and executive director of For A Safer Space (FASS), the world’s first organization to deliver unlimited free mental health counseling, psychotherapy, emotional support, and coaching sessions to people globally from 2020-2023 during the COVID-19 pandemic without relying on financial transactions. Built when the world was in urgent need of accessible mental health support, FASS operated without funding, grants, or donations. Instead, it utilized an innovative model of service bartering and radical collaboration to provide support to thousands of people worldwide.

Founder Mode is more than just a theory; it is a proven leadership model that redefines nonprofit sustainability. By shifting the focus from financial dependency to mission-first operations, Founder Mode empowers leaders to create impactful, self-sustaining organizations without the burden of fundraising.

This book is the world’s first Founder Mode practical guide to operating a nonprofit without financial reliance, offering step-by-step strategies for launching, leading, and scaling a mission-driven initiative without compromising its core values.

Founder Mode is not for everyone, nor is it a one-size-fits-all solution. But for those willing to challenge conventional wisdom, embrace innovation, and commit to resourcefulness, this book offers a blueprint for redefining success in the nonprofit world. It is my hope these pages will empower a new generation of leaders and founders who are not limited by money but driven by purpose, creativity, and resilience. My success story offers a new perspective that doesn’t replace funding but instead adds to the diversity of models available for those striving to create lasting impact in the nonprofit world.