How BetterUnite is Leveling the Nonprofit Playing Field

Walk me through your childhood—what about it shaped you as the founder you are today?

Leya grew up in Duncanville, Texas, a small town near Dallas, as the eldest of three siblings in what she describes as a “vanilla childhood.” But key moments stand out. “One thing I hadn’t connected until my sister reminded me was that my mom used to take us on Meals on Wheels deliveries when we were kids,” Leya shared. Her mother’s determination also left a lasting impression. “She went back to school when I was in fifth grade and became one of the first physician assistants in the country. Watching her do that showed me what’s possible for women, even in the face of challenges.” These early lessons in giving back and resilience shaped Leya’s worldview and her eventual path as a founder.

What inspired you to start BetterUnite?

BetterUnite began as a solution to frustrations Leya faced while fundraising for nonprofits. “I was working on a peer-to-peer campaign for just $13,000, and we were using a platform that withheld donor data, charged fees, and even penalized us for not reaching our goal. It was insane to me,” she recalled. Complaining to her partner, who had experience in CRM systems and banking, sparked an idea. “He said, ‘I could solve this problem.’ So we started building tools to make donation pages free and easy to use for small nonprofits.” What began as a side hustle in 2017 evolved as Leya and her partner saw even greater opportunities in nonprofit events. “We realized small nonprofits were using tools like Eventbrite because they couldn’t afford specialized software. That’s when we started building event tools to level the playing field.” By 2021, BetterUnite became Leya’s full-time focus, transforming into a comprehensive platform for nonprofit fundraising.

What’s a common misconception about your industry?

“There’s this idea that nonprofits don’t need the same infrastructure as businesses,” Leya said. “People want to see their donations go directly to the mission, which is great, but they don’t realize that nonprofits also need software, office space, and yes, even lots of coffee, to function.” Another misconception is that nonprofits are inherently unsophisticated. “It’s not true. Many nonprofits are doing incredibly innovative work, but they’re often limited by resources.” Leya has also encountered confusion about BetterUnite itself. “People often assume we’re a nonprofit, which shows how ingrained this lack of understanding can be.”

Who were some key mentors or supporters in your journey?

Leya credits her success to a mix of professional mentors and personal support systems. “Julie, the executive director of a nonprofit I worked for, was instrumental. She had this pioneering spirit and let us test BetterUnite within her organization early on,” Leya shared. She also highlighted the importance of her recovery community. “I’m in long-term recovery from addiction, and the women in my support group have been invaluable. Many of them are businesswomen, and their advice has been both personal and professional.” Lastly, Leya emphasized the role of her co-founder. “I don’t think I could be a solo founder. When I’m ready to throw in the towel, he’s there to say, ‘We’ve got this.’ It’s a balance I couldn’t do without.”

What has been one of the most rewarding experiences with BetterUnite?

Leya finds joy in seeing the impact BetterUnite has on its clients. “I get genuinely excited when an organization hits a fundraising milestone,” she said. One standout memory is from Texas Odyssey Project, which doubled its donations two years ago using BetterUnite. “Seeing them succeed and knowing we played even a small role in that—it’s incredibly rewarding,” Leya shared. “These organizations are doing life-changing work, and supporting them feels like we’re contributing to something much bigger than ourselves.”

What keeps you up at night as a founder?

Scaling BetterUnite comes with its own set of challenges, and Leya feels the weight of responsibility. “The fast growth doesn’t scare me—it’s the fear of letting someone down during the process. Our clients rely on us for critical, time-sensitive events, and I hate the idea of failing them, even once,” she said. Leya also admitted to fearing the unknown. “There’s always that next unexpected challenge that might knock us back. I trust we’ll figure it out, but I worry about the journey it takes to get there.”

Have you faced specific challenges as a female founder in the nonprofit space?

“There’s a disconnect in this space,” Leya explained. “Eighty-three percent of nonprofit employees are women, yet nonprofit tech companies are overwhelmingly run by men. That imbalance is frustrating.” As a female founder in tech, Leya has experienced her share of being overlooked. “It often feels like I’m not at the ‘cool kids’ table,’ but that’s fine—I’m over here building something meaningful.”

If you had to start BetterUnite over, what would you do differently?

Leya reflected on the lessons learned through her journey. “I think I’d trust myself more from the start,” she said. “I would have tried harder, sooner, to step back and embrace the role of CEO rather than getting stuck in the day-to-day grind.” She also highlighted the challenges of launching during COVID. “It was tough, but it also taught me how quickly we could adapt. We pivoted to virtual events almost overnight, which turned out to be a blessing in disguise.”

Do you have a favorite source of inspiration?

For Leya, self-care is both a necessity and a source of strength. “Yoga, meditation, and my recovery community keep me grounded,” she shared. She also draws inspiration from the nonprofits she serves. “The work they do is so much harder than what I’m doing. Keeping my focus on their missions reminds me why this work matters.”