Ep. 74 Dr. Kit Evans-Ford: Scaling Social Entrepreneurship With Purpose
10/14/25
Social entrepreneurship requires vision, resilience, and a deep commitment to serving communities. In this episode of DO GOOD X, host Stephen Lewis sits down with Dr. Kit Evans-Ford, founder of two thriving social enterprises: Argrows House of Healing and Hope, and Autistic and Loved. Dr. Kit shares her journey of building mission-driven businesses that provide healing spaces for women survivors of violence and sensory-friendly resources for children with autism. She discusses essential strategies for scaling social entrepreneurship, including customer discovery, navigating nonprofit fundraising, winning pitch competitions, and the power of trust-based philanthropy. This conversation offers practical wisdom on how to start a mission-driven social enterprise while maintaining your values and serving marginalized populations.
In This Episode
- 00:00 Dr. Kit's advice on building mission-driven businesses: listen to your heart and community needs, practice customer discovery, and pivot based on what families actually want
- 08:51 Strategies for scaling social entrepreneurship: winning pitch competitions to raise money, and receiving transformational donor support
- 11:56 Three revenue streams for social enterprise success: business profit, grant writing resources, and private donations that fuel nonprofit fundraising efforts
- 14:19 How DO GOOD X and networking with like-minded social entrepreneurs create a ripple effect of resources and community-based entrepreneurship connections
- 17:35 The realities of social entrepreneurship: serving marginalized populations, maintaining boundaries, practicing self-care, and sustaining entrepreneurial resilience through challenges
Key Takeaways
- Customer discovery is critical for social entrepreneurship success. Listen to your community's actual needs rather than just your initial vision, and be willing to pivot strategies as you learn what truly serves people
- Multiple funding streams strengthen mission-driven businesses, such as combining business profits with nonprofit fundraising, grant writing opportunities, and pitch competitions to raise seed money and sustain your impact-driven ventures
- Building a network through community-based entrepreneurship programs like DO GOOD X creates invaluable connections with like-minded social entrepreneurs who provide resources, referrals, and support throughout your entrepreneurial journey
- Self-care and entrepreneurial resilience are essential when serving marginalized populations. Protecting your mental, physical, and spiritual well-being ensures you can sustain purpose-driven leadership without burning out.
About The Hosts
Kimberly R. Daniel
Kimberly R. Daniel catalyzes entrepreneurs and organizations to do good. She is co-founder and project director of DO GOOD X, a community that provides programs and support for faith-driven social entrepreneurs whose businesses focus on positive change.
Kimberly also helps purpose-driven organizations clarify and design compelling brand and communication strategies. With over 15 years of experience developing and leading communications efforts, she is committed to producing effective processes and creating authentic, “sticky” brands that are community-centered.
In addition, Kimberly has nearly ten years of experience as a certified life coach. She has facilitated workshops, spoken to communities, and written about innovation and entrepreneurship centered on social impact. She co-authored A Way Out of No Way: An Approach to Christian Innovation (2021).
She is deeply passionate about purpose, meaning, and the common good in any aspect of her work.
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Stephen Lewis
Stephen Lewis is the president of the Forum for Theological Exploration (FTE) and the creator and co-founder of DO GOOD X. This community provides programs and support for faith-driven social entrepreneurs whose businesses focus on positive change.
He is an organizational change strategies and leadership development specialist focused on inspiring the next generation of faith-inspired leaders and entrepreneurs to live and work purposefully. Stephen co-authored Another Way: Living and Leading Change on Purpose (2020) and A Way Out of No Way: An Approach to Christian Innovation (2021).
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