Golden CEO Sam Fankuchen on Transforming Volunteering Through Technology and Education
Author(s): Scott Douglas Jacobsen
Publication (Outlet/Website): A Further Inquiry
Publication Date (yyyy/mm/dd): 2025/08/28
Sam Fankuchen is the CEO and Founder of Golden. A visionary entrepreneur and strategic leader based in Los Angeles, California. With over a decade of experience in social impact, technology innovation, and venture growth, he is best known for his work founding and scaling mission-driven ventures. Sam has contributed thought leadership through articles like Effective Entrepreneurship Demystified and How to Be the Next Uber, providing actionable insights for startups aiming to secure Series B funding and beyond.
Scott Douglas Jacobsen: What inspired the creation of Golden?
Sam Fankuchen: Golden was born out of a deeply personal moment. In the immediate aftermath of 9/11, I believed, for 36 hours, that I had lost my family, only to learn they had taken a standby flight and hadn’t informed anyone. That experience left me searching for a way to connect, to contribute, to make sense of things. But every attempt to volunteer, whether through schools, faith communities or online directories, fell short. The opportunities often lacked transparency, relevance or accessibility, and nothing seemed to match the urgency I felt or made it easy to help in a meaningful way. It showed me how disconnected the volunteering process was from how people actually want to, the natural desire many people have to understand the world around them better, and discover where each of us fits into improving the quality of life for others. Golden was born out of that gap, with the idea that volunteering should feel natural, immediate and relevant to your life. It should be something people are drawn to, not out of guilt or obligation, but because it feels like the right extension of who they are.
Jacobsen: Did your background influence its development?
Fankuchen: Extensively. I was the first person to major in social entrepreneurship as an undergrad at Stanford, back when it wasn’t even an official program yet. I launched my first social enterprise as a sophomore and later wrote my master’s thesis on volunteer engagement, specifically how to recruit, retain and optimize the lifetime value of volunteers. My time at Stanford shaped my thinking around user-centered design, which gave me the tools to study how service programs work—or don’t—and I applied those principles in evaluating over 1,000 volunteer programs across the country. That combination of academic research and on-the-ground learning deeply informed Golden’s development. The platform is built around what actually works in the real world and to make service feel like something you want to continue doing.
Jacobsen: How do you address the digital divide for students in under-resourced schools?
Fankuchen: By removing every unnecessary barrier. A student shouldn’t need the newest device or fastest internet to participate in their own growth. We designed Golden to be intuitive, flexible and accessible on any device. More importantly, we recognize that not all learning happens in the classroom. Volunteering is education; it’s learning through action, reflection and responsibility. Golden makes it easier for students to explore interests, develop skills and build confidence in ways that extend beyond grades or test scores. AI is making education more personalized and dynamic, and we believe service should evolve with that too.
Jacobsen: What are concrete examples showing impacts on student access to college-preparatory volunteer opportunities?
Fankuchen: Service has always had a place in college preparation, whether through formal requirements or personal development. But it’s most valuable when students engage with it as a way to better understand themselves and the world around them, not just to meet a milestone.
We believe service is a form of learning that sits alongside academics. It helps students build empathy, curiosity and a sense of agency. That kind of growth tends to show up in college applications, yes, but more importantly, it shapes how students show up once they’re on campus. For example, Loyola High School in Los Angeles has its students dedicate the month of January entirely to service. Golden can help students and administrators facilitate and validate those experiences, giving students space to focus on the experience itself, while also helping schools and families trust that the work is meaningful and measurable. For example, we do this across the K-12 system statewide in partnership with the government of Utah.
Jacobsen: How does Golden ensure the authenticity and verify service hours across volunteer organizations?
Fankuchen: Golden’s platform is built to make participation real, seamless, verifiable and trusted. We use mobile and on-site validation tools such as geolocation, organizer check-ins and custom telematics to confirm attendance and activity. Organizers can also add optional layers of verification, including background checks and ID scanning. This gives schools, nonprofits and other institutions confidence that reported service hours are not only accurate and compliant, but also personalized and meaningful.
Jacobsen: What role do educators play in integrating Golden into student support systems?
Fankuchen: Educators are central to making service experiences transformative. Using Golden, they can integrate service directly into curricula, acting as facilitators, mentors and advocates. Many teachers use Golden to set learning intentions before students serve, helping them contextualize their efforts and reflect on the experience afterward. Educators also help students turn those experiences into actionable lessons through journaling, classroom discussions or group projects, which allows service to reinforce academic and social development. Golden’s tools also make it easier to scale those efforts, track outcomes and celebrate successes across each school’s community.
Jacobsen: How do you ensure protection of student data privacy and ethical use of the technology?
Fankuchen: We build trust by being transparent. Golden is fully compliant with COPPA, CCPA and other privacy standards, and we prioritize data protection at every level. All data is encrypted at rest and in transit, and students maintain full ownership and control over how their data is used. We are transparent about what we collect and what benefits the user gets in sharing specific types of information. Beyond legal compliance, we hold ourselves to a higher ethical standard, ensuring our technology supports students without exploiting their information or behaviors.
Jacobsen: What are trends in how Gen Z students engage with community service?
Fankuchen: Gen Z approaches service differently than previous generations. They want their time to matter, and they want to witness the impact. Golden meets those needs by offering clear, tangible opportunities where change is visible and immediate. While Millennials often respond to compelling mission statements and clearly related programs that deliver measurable results, Gen Z gravitates toward bite-sized experiences with concurrent gratification. They are also more likely to explore service through digital-first platforms and want to connect their efforts to larger global conversations, whether that’s climate, mental health or any subject of particular interest to them. Golden’s beautifully designed apps and personalized content recommendation technology are well suited to this generation’s values, helping them serve with intention while discovering more about themselves and their communities.
Jacobsen: Thank you for the opportunity and your time, Sam.
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