We know for sure that great organizations don't just build products—they create spaces where people belong.

My community journey

DeMario D. Bell

Community Growth Strategist and Founder

You know what's wild? My whole journey started with being a first-generation college graduate who learned firsthand the power of finding your people. (And trust me, I mean really learned it.) Fast forward through becoming a TEDx organizer and diving headfirst into community building, and I’ve had the incredible chance to lead and grow community programs that turned genuine connections into long-lasting engagement and millions in revenue.

But here's what really lights me up: seeing what happens when people feel truly seen and heard. After years of building communities in tech, non-profit, higher ed, and HR, I noticed something fascinating—so many companies have this amazing potential just waiting to be unleashed, but they’re often not sure where to begin.

That’s exactly why I created Gatherful. I wanted to take everything I’ve learned about turning authentic connections into business growth and help other organizations do the same. Because building community isn’t just about bringing people together—it’s about creating something extraordinary that drives real results.

Proven results

Want to know what gets us excited? Building communities that create real impact. Here's what we've been up to:

  • Built communities that transform organizations - scaling a global HR community to 100,000+ members, growing a career development community to 200,000+ users, and nurturing a customer community to 10,000+ engaged members (and yes, they're all actually active!)

  • Created systems that make it happen - developing operational frameworks, member personas, and scalable processes that turn community dreams into reality

  • Launched programs that bring people together - running 50+ mentorship programs, ambassador initiatives, and advisory boards that create genuine connections

  • Made engagement mean something - hosting 100+ virtual events people actually show up for and boosting digital engagement by 20% (because likes aren't enough)

  • Turned community into business impact - helping drive $2M in revenue by creating authentic experiences that inspire true advocacy

  • Got some pretty exciting recognition - named LinkedIn's Top Community Voice and won multiple CMX awards including Best B2B Community Professional (though we're most proud of the communities we've built)

Why Gatherful?

Here's our thing: Gatherful isn't your typical consulting company where we swoop in with fancy frameworks and call it a day. (Been there? Not fun.) We believe every community has its own unique energy, so we dig deep to understand your world - your dreams, your challenges, and what makes your people tick.

We're your dedicated community team, here to create genuine connections that make both your people and your bottom line flourish. No cookie-cutter solutions here (though we do love cookies!) - just real strategies that keep growing long after we're gone.

Let’s work together.

Ready to build a community that drives growth and connection? Let’s start a conversation about how Gatherful can help you achieve your goals.