Founder gives fellow trouble (4)
I believe the answer is:
fail
'founder' is the definition.
(I know that fail is a is a more specific form of the action of founder)
'fellow trouble' is the wordplay.
'fellow' becomes 'f' (abbreviation - of a society etc.).
'trouble' becomes 'ail' (synonyms).
'f'+'ail'='FAIL'
'gives' is the link.
(Other definitions for fail that I've seen before include "Stop working properly" , "Flunk" , "Be unsuccessful, say in exam" , "Fall short" , "Run out; flop" .)