When you meet Mike Butler, Executive Director of The Fountain Fund, you can feel the honesty and hope in the way he talks about second chances. His belief in people comes from experience. He knows how hard it is to start over after incarceration, and he knows how far a little support can go when the odds feel stacked against you.

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Starting over was difficult. Many moments felt heavy, and the barriers were real.

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Mike remembers how hard it was when he first came home.

“There were moments when the system felt stacked against me. What made the difference was people who believed in me when I did not have much to show."

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That belief changed the course of his life. It is also what drives him today. As Executive Director of The Fountain Fund, Mike helps people affected by incarceration rebuild their financial lives. The organization provides loans and financial coaching that give people room to restart careers, grow small businesses, or simply get their feet under them again.

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“The people we serve are resilient and creative. I have seen someone take out a small loan to buy equipment and grow a landscaping business. I have seen someone secure transportation to get to a steady job. And I have seen how one person’s progress ripples outward in ways that strengthen whole communities.”

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These moments stay with him. They remind him of what is possible when someone is met with opportunity instead of judgment.

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“What continues to inspire me is watching people transform that initial spark of possibility into real progress. When someone pays off a loan or expands a business or shares how they have regained confidence in themselves, it reminds me why this work matters.”

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For Mike, this work is personal. It comes from knowing first-hand how powerful it is when someone sees your potential instead of your past.

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“My journey brought me here, but my purpose keeps me going. I want people to know that their past does not define their future, and that with the right support, every person has the power to lead, create, and contribute to their community.”

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Mike’s story is a reminder of what becomes possible when someone gets a real chance to rebuild. His leadership shows how community organizations like The Fountain Fund help create stability that extends far beyond one person and strengthens entire families and neighborhoods.

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