David Steel Philanthropy | Social Impact & Community Leadership

Social Impact & Philanthropy Leadership

⁠What’s possible when purpose leads the work

Impact, for me, has never been about recognition.

It’s about consistency, responsibility,

And doing the work that improves lives in practical ways.

For more than four decades, service has been a defining thread in my life. I learned early on that meaningful change doesn’t come from intention alone. It comes from showing up, listening, and building solutions that last.

What I Care About

My nonprofit work has focused on cancer support, children’s causes, environmental initiatives, and community development, and it has always been hands-on.

I’ve been deeply involved with organizations such as the American Cancer Society, supporting individuals and families navigating some of the most difficult moments of their lives. That work shaped how I view compassion, resilience, and the importance of community-based support.

For over 40 years, I’ve served on nonprofit boards, supported fundraising efforts, and worked directly in the field. Much of the impact I’m most proud of has been deeply practical:

Building homes for families in Baja
Camp for Children with Cancer
Supporting orphanages and children’s programs
Launching and leading GoFundMe campaigns that deliver huge outcomes

Each project reinforced a core belief: real impact equips people with dignity, skills, and opportunity.

From Immediate Support to Long-Term Empowerment

That belief led directly to one of my most meaningful and current initiatives: the Culinary School at Rancho de los Niños.

Rancho de los Niños serves vulnerable children and teens, many of whom face an uncertain future once they age out of care. While safety and education are essential, I saw a deeper need: preparing young people for independence, employment, and self-sufficiency. The culinary school was created to meet that need. This initiative provides vocational training, life skills, and confidence, giving teens practical experience they can carry into real-world jobs in hospitality, food service, and beyond. Students learn nutrition, teamwork, responsibility, and professionalism in a purpose-built, professional-grade learning environment designed for long-term use, not temporary relief. This project represents a shift from short-term aid to long-term empowerment. It’s about changing trajectories, not just meeting immediate needs.

Going Deeper: Environmental Awareness Through Conversation

I host Going Deeper, a podcast on Paddleboards where conversations explore environmental stewardship, sustainability, and how leadership and everyday decisions shape the future of our planet.

Environmental and Clean Energy Impact

Environmental stewardship has always been part of my work.

I remain actively involved in advancing clean energy and solar adoption, supporting the transition toward more sustainable, decentralized energy solutions. This work reflects a responsibility to future generations and a belief that environmental care and economic opportunity can coexist.

Earlier in my career, my work modernizing municipal technology infrastructure earned national recognition, including a Smithsonian Institution Award for technology innovation. That experience reinforced the power of well-designed systems to serve people, communities, and the planet at scale.

I founded the U.S. Green Chamber of Commerce to challenge a broken narrative. Sustainability was being framed as a sacrifice. I saw it as a competitive advantage. So we built a national platform that helped businesses grow faster, operate smarter, and create long-term value by doing the right thing.

Instead of preaching compliance, we focused on execution. Education, policy access, and real partnerships gave companies a clear, practical path to turn responsible practices into revenue, resilience, and credibility. The result was a shift from sustainability as a checkbox to sustainability as a growth strategy.

Let’s Talk

If you’re looking for a speaker who brings clarity, credibility, and heart to the room, I’d love to explore how we can work together.