Empowering Women Through Preventative Health with Allyn Rose of The Previvor Foundation
In this episode of the Creating Good Podcast, Matt sat down with Allyn Rose, the founder and CEO of The Previvor Foundation. Together they explore preventative health, women’s empowerment, and the importance of community support.
The Previvor Foundation is an information hub for mastectomy previvors, survivors, caretakers, and their families as they navigate their breast health decisions; it is nicknamed "The Wikipedia of Breast Health." The Previvor Foundation is a global nonprofit providing information from A to Z on genetic testing, mastectomy, and breast reconstruction options.
The Power of Prevention: Allyn’s Mission to Change the Breast Cancer Narrative
Allyn’s journey was sparked by a family history riddled with breast cancer diagnoses. Witnessing her mother’s battle—who was first diagnosed in her twenties and ultimately lost her life to breast cancer—Allyn was forced to confront the disease head-on, even before it could manifest in her own body. By choosing a prophylactic mastectomy in her twenties, Allyn reduced her risk from 87% to 1%.
Not only did Allyn manage her own health, but she also created The Previvor Foundation, a platform dedicated to helping other high-risk women navigate similar decisions. Her mission extends beyond treatment and survival—she advocates for preventative healthcare, a crucial yet often overlooked aspect of the breast cancer conversation.
The Previvor Foundation envisions a world where women aren’t simply fighting cancer, but preventing it before it even starts. Through her work, Allyn equips women with the knowledge, resources, and community they need to make empowered decisions about their health, proving that prevention is as powerful as treatment.
“Choosing to remove my breasts to prevent a cancer that doesn't exist yet is something that people who aren't in this situation can't possibly wrap their minds around. But once you are in it, it's really helpful to have someone that can kind of hold your hand along the way.”
Breaking the Scarcity Mindset
One of the most significant mental blocks nonprofit founders face is the fear of spending money. This "scarcity mindset" stems from the uncertainty of future donations and the constant pressure to fundraise. Allyn reveals that this mindset initially kept her from using funds she had already raised, believing she should hoard resources in case future donations didn’t materialize.
However, her breakthrough moment came when she realized that to grow and expand her impact, she needed to spend money strategically. “If that requires spending a little bit of money, let’s do it,” she said, a decision that led to incredible opportunities, including partnerships with Major League Baseball and a major apparel company. Investing in your nonprofit is just as crucial as in any business.
Allyn’s advice to other founders is clear: don’t be afraid to spend the funds you’ve raised if it means scaling your impact. By investing in the right areas—whether that’s technology, staffing, or marketing—you open doors for growth and sustainable success.
Scaling a Nonprofit: Letting Go to Grow
Many nonprofit founders find themselves wearing too many hats, and for Allyn, this was especially true. As someone who admits to being a bit of a "control freak," the transition from a small, manageable nonprofit to one that requires scaling was both a personal and professional challenge. According to Allyn, the need to trust others and delegate responsibilities was a difficult but necessary step for growth.
Nonprofits are often born out of a personal mission or passion, which makes it harder for founders to loosen their grip on day-to-day operations. Allyn highlights that this desire for perfection can create a “starting issue,” as founders want everything to be flawless before scaling up. However, it’s clear that real growth only happens when you allow others to contribute to the mission.
“When you start to get bigger and you can't possibly do it all by yourself, you have to find the right people who can help create the vision that you have for this thing.”
Get the Full Scoop!
Listen to this episode of the Creating Good podcast to learn more from Allyn about preventative health and building a successful nonprofit.