As an expert in social impact and systems change, CEO Dale Pfeifer was recently featured in a series on important people making a social impact by Authority Magazine. Below is an excerpt of the article.
As part of my series about “individuals and organizations making an important social impact”, I had the pleasure of interviewing Dale Nirvani Pfeifer. Dale is the CEO of Giving Compass, an AI-powered donor education platform where donors can learn about issues, get involved, and give to organizations. Giving Compass connects donors to resources and tools to help them give in ways more likely to make a difference. Pfeifer also is the chairperson of Goodworld, an award-winning nonprofit fundraising platform. She has received honors for her creative approach to promoting good causes and change in philanthropy. She has been recognized as a New Zealand Woman of the Year (community category) and one of the “40 Under 40” business executives in the Washington Business Journal.
Thank you so much for doing this with us. Before we begin our readers would like to get to know you a bit more. Can you tell us a bit about your “backstory”?
Giving back was ingrained in daily life in New Zealand, where I grew up. Global diplomacy and leadership studies were the main focuses of my first academic career, which ultimately brought me to the UN’s EastWest Institute in New York. That job made me more aware of the connections between philanthropy, policy, and power. After that, I relocated to Washington, D.C., where I started Goodworld, a business that allowed people to donate to charities using just a hashtag on social media. That work inspired me to continue creating resources that facilitate and improve generosity. I currently serve as the leader of Giving Compass, a website that assists contributors in locating effective ways to assist local nonprofits. My mission is to increase the accessibility, equity, and transformative power of giving.
Can you tell us the story behind why you decided to start or join your non nonprofit?
After starting Goodworld, I loved seeing how people could use technology to give instantly and generously. But over time, something started to bother me. I kept seeing the same big-name organizations get all the attention, while smaller, community-based nonprofits — the ones closest to the work — were often left behind. These were the groups doing some of the most powerful, meaningful work, and yet they were invisible to many donors.
When I came across Giving Compass, it felt like a real opportunity to help change that. I didn’t want to just make giving easier. I also wanted people to see philanthropy as a powerful way to shape the world — not just through generosity, but through thoughtful, strategic, and intentional action. When giving is done with care, it becomes a form of agency. That’s what drew me in, and it’s what still motivates me every day.
Can you describe how you or your organization aims to make a significant social impact?
At Giving Compass, we’re working to rebalance philanthropy. Too often, the organizations closest to the problems and the solutions are overlooked. We help donors discover and support grassroots, community-led nonprofits that are doing powerful, often underfunded work.
We want the experience of giving to feel more enriching and more impactful. Through education, technology, and AI, we guide donors to give in ways that are thoughtful and strategic. At the same time, we’re shifting both dollars and decision-making power to the people and organizations driving real change on the ground.
It’s about creating a richer, more empowering experience for donors and a fairer system for nonprofits.
Without saying any names, can you share a story about an individual who was helped by your idea so far?
One story that really stayed with me came from a woman who found our platform during a tough season in her life. She had always wanted to give in a way that felt real, but she didn’t know how to begin. Through Giving Compass, she discovered a small nonprofit supporting women and families in crisis. She began with a small gift — just wanting to help in some way — but over time, she built a real relationship with the organization. She later told us that giving became something much more than a donation. It gave her a sense of purpose and connection during a difficult time in her life. That’s the kind of impact we hope for — the kind that changes lives on both sides.