Today we’d like to introduce you to Lindsay Bowen.
Hi Lindsay, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Lindsay is the founder and soul of ROAM Humanitarian which she brought to life in the heart of COVID 2020. At a time when most people were still scared to go outside, Lindsay was thinking of those around the world who were deeply affected by the pandemic and other socioeconomic difficulties. With a Master’s of Science in Leadership and extensive travel planning experience, she had the skill set to create the mission and vision of ROAM Humanitarian. She has a deep love and passion for humanity that is woven into every aspect of ROAM. Lindsay has always felt her purpose is to be a connector between people – those who want to serve and those across the world in need of help. She is the force of change and connection between the two, creating waves of goodness everywhere she goes and to every person she meets. Through ROAM, she bridges cultures to create sustainable, meaningful change. Whether building women’s centers, giving the gift of clean water, or teaching skills that spark independence, every ROAM project empowers communities to thrive long after ROAM leaves. Lindsay lives with her husband Justin, and their four incredible children in the mountains of Heber, Utah. She loves the sun on her skin, old and new friends, sunsets, being a mother, laughing until it hurts, and authentic human connection. Lindsay is a light in every sense of the word!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Running a small non-profit is a labor of love that doesn’t come without challenges. Fundraising is a constant hurdle as we compete for donor attention while stretching every dollar to maximize impact. Building relationships with high-net-worth donors or corporate sponsors is a slow process, often requiring personal connections or years of persistence to gain trust. Meanwhile, the needs of those we serve don’t pause, forcing us to make tough choices about where to allocate funds, all while keeping ROAM Humanitarian’s mission front and center. Meeting many needs across diverse countries adds another layer of complexity as each community has unique culture and priorities. This requires us to adapt our approach thoughtfully to ensure relevance and respect. Through careful research and with a listening ear, ROAM has successfully created beautiful relationships with so many around the world. The heart of our mission lies in striving to create sustainable solutions that uplift entire communities, but never forgetting about the one. Balancing ROAM’s broad impact while serving the one demands prioritization dependent on funding and must be continually re-evaluated. Through all of these challenges, ROAM Humanitarian keeps it’s mission in the forefront and has helped over 33,000 people since conception.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
At ROAM Humanitarian, we believe in the power of service and cultural connection to change lives. Whether rescuing women from trafficking and FGM, funding small businesses for single mothers, building classrooms, assisting orphans, or teaching skills that spark independence, every project empowers communities to thrive long after we leave. We currently serve in 8 countries worldwide; Tanzania, Nepal, Peru, Brazil, Dominican Republic, Fiji, Bali and Cambodia.
Our 9-day humanitarian journeys combine service, cultural immersion, and adventure. We work alongside locals on impactful projects and foster connections that inspire growth and purpose. Every moment is designed to make a lasting difference. Since 2020, ROAM has impacted over 33,000 lives globally. Currently our focus is to complete our Tanzania Women’s Center that will be a refuge for women and children of abuse, the second of it’s kind that ROAM has built.
The mission of ROAM Humanitarian is to execute impactful and sustainable change for communities in need at home and around the world, create meaningful cultural and service experiences for humanitarian participants, and grant service scholarships for deserving families to ROAM with purpose.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
The early days of ROAM Humanitarian were shaped by a blend of relentless hard work and luck. Countless hours of pitching ROAM’s vision paid off when Lindsay connected with a key donor who believed in her and ROAM’s cause. The donor’s generous contributions providing the boost needed to launch ROAM. Similarly, the work of researching and networking led to finding just the right partners in each country, local leaders who shared ROAM’s vision and brought deep insight into their communities’ needs. Those partnerships, born from diligent outreach and luck, ensured Lindsay, through ROAM, could deliver solutions driven by what people truly needed, not what we assumed they did, setting a strong foundation for meaningful impact.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://roamhumanitarian.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/roam.humanitarian/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/ROAM-Humanitarian-100077835011315/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@roamhumanitarian6760
