Good People: Mackenzie Langley, Founder & CEO of Lighthouse

Mackenzie Langley, Founder & CEO of Lighthouse

We're celebrating Women's History Month by shining a spotlight on some of the inspiring female founders we know who are changing lives with their purpose-driven businesses. This week we’re featuring Mackenzie Langley, Founder & CEO of Lighthouse.

Lighthouse is like a social network for nonprofits. This one-stop hub makes it faster and easier for nonprofits to connect, share, and collaborate, so they can focus more on their mission. They can list themselves in a local directory, exchange resources, ask for advice, post events and workshops, and directly message the right people at other nonprofits. Right now Lighthouse is making waves in the Denver-Metro area, but with impact like this, it won't be long before more communities join in.

For Mackenzie, the Lighthouse mission is deeply personal. A life-altering car accident showed her the power of organizations who not only step in during a moment of crisis, but also provide long-term support on the road to recovery. After working in nonprofits herself, she saw firsthand how many unnecessary hurdles exist, ultimately pulling focus from the mission and stretching limited resources. Now, she's dedicated to removing those barriers so nonprofits can focus on what matters most–helping those in need.

One of the first moments Mackenzie realized Lighthouse was making an impact was in working with a nonprofit in the aftermath of COVID-19. The pandemic forced the organization to shift from a residential program to an outpatient model, leaving them with a mountain of furniture they had no idea what to do with. They didn't want to see it go to waste, but with no other options, they started paying for storage—money that could have been better spent on their mission.

After connecting with Lighthouse, they listed the furniture, where it was immediately picked up by another nonprofit who was struggling to furnish apartments for young adults aging out of the foster care system. Instead of spending months chasing grants and stretching resources, this nonprofit instantly got what they needed. For Mackenzie, it was proof that Lighthouse was more than an idea—it was real-time impact in action. And further proof that when nonprofits support each other, nothing goes to waste, and the entire community thrives.

As a female founder, Mackenzie has some advice for other women on similar journeys.

"Get creative and find your community. The startup space can be tough for women, but that doesn’t mean you have to go it alone. I’ve met so many incredible, badass women building great companies, and surrounding myself with them has been my greatest source of motivation."

She reminds us that while it's easy to get caught up in frustration over the challenges of being a female founder, dwelling on them is exhausting, and quite frankly, a waste of time. Just like Lighthouse eliminates barriers that allow nonprofits to focus on their mission, we too can eliminate noise and invest our energy in the things that push us forward.

"And most importantly, celebrate the little wins. They’re what will make you know you're making progress on the good days and remind you to keep going on the hard ones."

The next step for Lighthouse is to expand the platform, allowing businesses to share in-kind donations, from tech supplies to office furniture, for local nonprofits to claim. Mackenzie wants to make it as easy as possible for companies to give back and invest directly into their communities.

We're so inspired by the work Mackenzie is doing, and by her ability to listen, adapt, and build something that truly serves her community. Her ultimate goal is to create a movement where collaboration and resource-sharing becomes second nature, in which she is well on her way. We can't wait to watch Lighthouse spread beyond Denver and the nonprofit sector!