Today’s focus is social impact entrepreneurship as hosts Kimberly Daniel and Stephen Lewis of the DO GOOD X podcast revisit their conversation with William McNeely, founder of Do Greater Charlotte. This powerful episode explores how a life-threatening diagnosis led to a purpose-driven business serving underserved communities. McNeely shares his journey from Apple executive to nonprofit leader, revealing how his lung transplant experience clarified his mission to create lasting change through educational technology and youth empowerment. Learn how Do Greater built an innovation lab using an earned revenue model, partnered with corporate sponsors, and created sustainable community development programs that serve over 400 youth annually while generating revenue through memberships and event rentals.

What You Will Learn in this Episode:

✅ How to develop a mission-driven leadership approach that combines venture capital strategies with social enterprise principles to attract individual investors and build brand reputation in your community.

✅ Practical strategies for creating an earned revenue model that generates sustainable funding while keeping programs free for underserved communities.

✅ The importance of listening to your target audience by involving youth in designing spaces and programs, ensuring your nonprofit organization truly meets community needs while building authentic stakeholder engagement.

Join the DO GOOD X Community to access resources, connect with purpose-driven entrepreneurs, and grow your impactful business with intention.

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 Exploring entrepreneurial journey challenges for purpose-driven business leaders

04:40 William McNeely shares his story of a lung transplant diagnosis, and a perspective shift led him to found Do Greater Charlotte

09:20 Evolution from an innovation lab truck to a permanent 8,000-square-foot creative technologies space

13:27 Nonprofit branding strategies, building corporate partnerships, and venture capital

17:37 Essential advice for starting a nonprofit organization

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

💎 Perspective shifts during crisis can reveal your true calling. McNeely's two-week prognosis became the catalyst for creating Do Greater Charlotte, demonstrating that setbacks can be invitations to discover purpose-driven work that leaves lasting community impact.

💎 Treating your nonprofit like an educational technology startup attracts different funders by developing professional pitch decks and targeting high-net-worth individual investors before pursuing corporate grants. Do Greater Charlotte secured 70% of the initial funding from venture-minded donors.

💎 Earned revenue sustainability protects mission-building adult memberships, coffee shop sales, and event rentals at the innovation lab, which generates consistent funding that keeps all youth empowerment programs completely free for students.

ABOUT THE GUEST:

William McNeely is a distinguished entrepreneur and non-profit executive with a storied career, including a pivotal role as a Market Development Executive at Apple. He is the visionary founder of Do Greater, Inc., where he has fostered a dynamic community dedicated to nurturing the next generation of creative leaders through cutting-edge technology, inspiring creative spaces, and a robust community network.

At the heart of his initiatives is the Creative Lab platform, which equips youth and young adults with critical skills in design thinking, digital creativity, and entrepreneurship. William's entrepreneurial drive is further evidenced by his successful launch of multiple businesses. His personal story is one of extraordinary resilience, highlighted by his recovery from a double lung transplant, reinforcing his...