10 Powerful Lessons from Ben Erwin, CEO of Charitybuzz: How to Align Profit with Purpose and Scale Impact
Charity Isn’t Broken—Our Thinking About It Is
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They are making a concerted effort to do good while doing well!
Sunday Series, March 23rd
At his core, Ben Erwin believes that doing good and doing well are not mutually exclusive. His journey—from chasing financial success to realizing that fulfillment comes from aligning work with purpose—has shaped his leadership at Charitybuzz. He champions a for-profit mindset in the non-profit sector, proving that charities can maximize impact by embracing business principles. His mission is to scale generosity, using technology, relationships, and creative strategies to drive exponential growth in charitable giving.
Ben’s story is relatable, inspiring, and deeply relevant to anyone navigating career choices, business strategy, or purpose-driven leadership. He challenges conventional thinking, demonstrating that profit and philanthropy can thrive together—a lesson that applies to entrepreneurs, executives, and changemakers alike.
10 key takeaways from my conversation with Ben, which you can leverage today! This is a guide to scaling charitable impact by ensuring your core fundamental values match the causes you support.
Align Your Career with Purpose – Making money alone won’t fulfill you. Seek work that combines financial success with meaningful impact.
Challenge the Either-Or Mentality – You don’t have to choose between making money and making a difference—find ways to do both.
Leverage Technology for Good – Use digital platforms to scale impact, connect people to causes, and maximize charitable contributions.
Reimagine Fundraising Beyond Events – Charities shouldn’t rely solely on annual galas—create ongoing opportunities for engagement and giving.
Think Like a For-Profit, Give Like a Non-Profit – Sustainable impact comes from running charities with business acumen and efficiency.
Charitable Giving Should Be Everyday, Not Just Occasional – Fundraising isn’t just a moment in time; it should be integrated into daily life and consumer behavior.
Retention is as Important as Acquisition – Charitybuzz found that 41% of winning bidders return within a year. Cultivating long-term donor relationships is key.
Corporate Partnerships Are Untapped Potential – Businesses should integrate charitable giving into their operations, not just as a side initiative.
Non-Profit is a Tax Status, Not a Business Model – Charities must be allowed to invest in talent, innovation, and growth without being criticized for overhead.
Board Members Should Be Active Fundraisers, Not Just Advisors – Their networks and influence can open doors to significant donations and opportunities.
"Success in charity means going out of business—because that means you’ve solved the problem you set out to fix." - Charitybuzz CEO, Ben Erwin
🧠 The Power of a Marketplace for Giving
📖 Anecdote: Charitybuzz was founded on the concept that high-value auction experiences at charity galas were limited to a small, elite room. By bringing those experiences online, they expanded the audience from a few hundred to a few hundred thousand, dramatically increasing funds raised for charities.
💡 Implication: Scaling impact requires rethinking accessibility—are you limiting your reach by sticking to traditional models?
🚀 Application: Whether you’re in business or philanthropy, think about how technology and new platforms can expand access to your product, service, or mission beyond traditional audiences.