Meet the People Behind GoodGesture
GoodGesture is made up of people who believe showing up for each other should be easier.
We're a growing team of designers, developers, researchers, and community advocates building GoodGesture from the ground up. Every decision is guided by the idea that support should be accessible, dignified, and driven by real needs. We're working to create a better way for neighbors, organizations, and communities to help one another when it matters most.
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The Story Behind GoodGesture
GoodGesture began as a passion project while I was pursuing my Master's degree in User Experience.
At the time, I was searching for a meaningful problem to explore for my graduate project. During that process, I happened to attend a screening of No Place to Grow Old, a documentary by Humans for Housing that shares the experiences of people living without stable housing in Portland. The film left a lasting impression on me. Not only was it exceptionally touching, but it also highlighted the challenges many of our houseless neighbors face in accessing everyday resources. This was truly such a unique way to display how behind every unmet need is a real person with a story.
That experience led me to think to myself...
What if asking for help from your community were easier?
From there, I put an early (and very scrappy) prototype together and began having conversations with local nonprofits, community organizations, and service providers throughout Portland. Rather than designing a solution based on assumptions, I wanted to learn directly from the people already supporting our communities and understand where technology could genuinely help.
What started as an idea focused on supporting neighbors experiencing homelessness and financial hardship gradually evolved into something broader.
Through research, I realized that needing help isn't limited to one group of people. A family may need baby supplies. A student might be looking for kitchenware. Someone moving may need boxes. A neighbor may simply need a warm coat. I found that community organizations and nonprofits often struggled with getting their needs met in a way that was efficient too. They often had trouble gathering resources for food & clothing drives, sourcing volunteers, etc.
I learned that existing platforms were noisy, filled with a wide range of various kinds of posts (lost dogs, neighbors who were selling things, talk about the weather). And when needs were posted, not only were they scattered everywhere and often just falling between the cracks, but worst of all? People seeking resources often faced judgement.
And from there, the core concept was born. GoodGesture became a platform built for everyone, because everyone needs support sometimes, and everyone has something they can offer.
While the idea began as a university project, it has since grown into an organization dedicated to making local support more accessible through neighbors, community organizations, and technology.
Our team is driven by a simple belief: communities are strongest when helping one another is easier.
We're excited to see just how far that idea can go.
Parker Reneau
Founder, GoodGesture