Meet Dan Davidson of Pasadena

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dan Davidson.

Hi Dan, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Dan’s journey began not in a boardroom, but on the steps of a church. While pastoring at Rose City Church in Pasadena, he met a group of homeless youth camping outside. He responded first with food and clothing, but quickly realized they needed opportunity, not just charity. So, he created one. Dan began training youth in barista skills and launched a coffee cart named Rosebud, planting the seed for what would become a thriving nonprofit and social enterprise.
That seed grew into Coffee With A Cause and its flagship job training hub, Rosebud Coffee. What began with a cart is now a bustling café on Colorado Blvd in Pasadena, and soon, a second location in Highland Park, developed in response to requests from youth advocates and the Department of Children and Family Services.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
As the Founder and Executive Director of Coffee With A Cause, Dan Davidson has built a groundbreaking and transformative model that offers Transitional Age Youth (TAY), young people aged 16 to 24 who have experienced foster care, homelessness, or justice involvement, a path toward lasting employment and stability. His leadership is both visionary and grounded in compassion, equity, and measurable outcomes.

Under Dan’s leadership, the organization launched the Ready, Set, Hire Internship Program, providing paid job training, industry certifications, and mentorship. Youth gain hands-on experience not only in coffee but also in fitness, dog care, landscaping, and other industries through partnerships with more than 10 local employers. With trauma-informed coaching, resume building, and wraparound support, the program doesn’t just teach job skills, it transforms lives.

New Highland Park Café Launching in 2025
A second Rosebud location is opening to meet the high demand for youth job training in one of LA’s most underserved areas.

The program’s power is best seen through the stories of youth like Trinity and Diane.
Trinity, once living in transitional housing and struggling to get job callbacks, found Coffee With A Cause. She completed the internship, was hired at Rosebud, and later landed a job at Starbucks, hired within two days thanks to her training. Today, she serves on the Board of Directors, using her experience to advocate for youth and guide the organization’s growth.

Diane, a current intern and student at Pasadena City College, is studying nutrition and dietetics and dreams of becoming a wellness coach. Through her internship at AION Training, she assists with training sessions and shadows experienced coaches while preparing for her NASM certification. For Diane, the internship is more than work experience, it’s the launchpad for a career rooted in purpose.

Dan’s leadership has made these transformations possible. He has built a nonprofit model that marries heart with hustle, proving that social enterprise can be both sustainable and profoundly impactful. His work has attracted support from foundations, government agencies, local employers, and advocates, building a community-wide effort to uplift youth

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Dan Davidson is a seasoned social entrepreneur with extensive experience in social enterprises, nonprofits, and civic engagement, particularly in the areas of homelessness and at-risk youth.

Coffee With A Cause originated from Dan’s dedication to helping homeless youth during his tenure as a pastor at Rose City Church. He encountered a group of homeless youth camping outside his church, and in response, he provided them with food and clothing. As the encampment grew, Dan recognized the need for a sustainable solution to make a lasting impact on their lives. This led him to train at-risk youth in the craft of artisanal coffee service, initially through a coffee cart fondly named Rosebud. The success of the Rosebud cart prompted the establishment of Rosebud Coffee, Pasadena’s first social enterprise café, with 100% of its profits supporting Coffee With A Cause.

As a non-profit organization, Coffee With A Cause offers job training, paid internships, and mentorship for Transitional Age Youth who have experienced foster care, homelessness, and justice system involvement. Dan also provides consulting and coaching to faith-based communities and non-profits interested in launching their own social enterprises. His expertise helps these organizations create impactful and sustainable business models. Under Dan’s leadership, Rosebud Coffee not only aids at-risk youth but also serves as an incubator for small businesses like Car Chocolate and Wild Parrot Brewing.
Beyond his work with Coffee With A Cause, Dan manages the Alliance for SoCal Innovation, which supports founders in building innovative businesses. In 2014, he founded the Faith Community Committee under the Pasadena Partnership to End Homelessness, a model of faith-based civic engagement that has been adopted by the Faith Collaborative to End Homelessness in Los Angeles County.

Dan holds a Doctor of Ministry from United Theological Seminary, focusing on church economics and property redevelopment and a Master of Divinity from Duke Divinity School.

Dan resides in Arcadia, CA with his wife and three children. He is passionate about social enterprise, collaborative community, and excellent coffee.

Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?

Life can be challenging for foster youth. Up to 25% of Transitional Age Youth (TAY) struggle to transition into adulthood, finding difficulties with school, employment, and earning stable wages. The Department of Child and Family Services (DCFS) has identified Northeast LA (zip codes 90032, 90042, 90065) as having the highest number of referrals and open cases within the 51-zip code service area. To address this, DCFS has asked Coffee With A Cause (CWAC) to open a second cafe to connect youth, local businesses, and the community in support of TAY who have experienced foster care, homelessness, and justice system involvement.

Our newest coffee shop Rosebud Highland Park will open in November 2025.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://coffeewithacasue.org
• Instagram: @CoffeeWithACause. @RosebudCoffee
• Facebook: @CoffeeWithACause. @RosebudCoffee

Image Credits
All photos are to be credited to Coffee With A Cause. we have a few more great photos that will not upload to your system. Let me know if I can send them to you in an email or drop box.