The Intersection of Funding, Purpose, and Leadership
What does it look like to build a company—and a life—rooted in both purpose and profit?
In this episode of Purpose & Profit, we sit down with William Norvell, a top 1% podcaster, investor, and trusted advisor to faith-driven entrepreneurs. William brings a wealth of experience, from co-founding Faith Driven Entrepreneur and Faith Driven Investor, to his current work with Forte, a company on a mission to democratize mental health in the workplace.
With an MBA from Stanford and a unique journey that spans investment banking, private equity, and startup leadership, William offers a candid, wisdom-filled conversation about faith, business, and the complex human decisions leaders must make. Whether you're a mission-minded entrepreneur or nonprofit leader looking to create sustainable impact, this episode is full of practical insights and vision for a better future.
You’ll Learn:
How William’s journey—from Alabama to Stanford—shaped his views on leadership, purpose, and wealth.
Why values-based investing is more than a trend, and how to align your portfolio with your convictions.
The origin story of Faith Driven Entrepreneur and the gap it sought to fill in the faith and business world.
Why William believes nonprofit CEOs have one of the toughest jobs, and how financial sustainability can shift the paradigm.
What it means to run a Public Benefit Corporation and how that changes decisions from the boardroom to the break room.
A raw take on early team dynamics and how to handle tough leadership decisions with both grace and clarity.
A bold vision for the future, where businesses are inherently purposeful and nonprofits are free from constant fundraising.
Take Action:
Get to know William Norvell.
Learn more about Forte.
Discover more episodes of Purpose & Profit Podcast.
SEASON 6 IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY:
Virtuous
Virtuous believes in increasing generosity through personal donor engagement, no matter the gift size. The Virtuous platform streamlines nonprofit workflows, eliminates back-office tasks, and focuses on the relationships that matter. With their CRM, fundraising, volunteer, and marketing tools, nonprofits can create responsive experiences that build trust and grow impact.
FaithSearch Partners
FaithSearch Partners is an executive search firm for faith-based organizations, dedicated to providing lasting solutions and championing faith-driven leaders. Their mission is to serve their clients and empower them with the right people at the right time to help drive their unique mission of ministry forward.
Imago Consulting
Imago Consulting is an advisory firm that helps nonprofits and businesses grow through innovation. Innovation is the lifeblood of any growing organization. Imago publishes a weekly trends report called The Wave Report – learn more about it and subscribe here.
DickersonBakker
DickersonBakker is a trusted leader in nonprofit fundraising, serving organizations for over 40 years. With thousands of clients nationwide, we’ve helped raise billions of dollars to fuel missions and make meaningful impact. Their expertise spans fundraising, leadership development, and strategic growth, empowering nonprofits to advance their vision.
Avid
Avid is the first-ever fundraising agency in the cloud—giving nonprofits on-demand access to data-driven strategies, personalized donor engagement, and scalable growth. Avid unifies your donor data, delivers ready-to-use playbooks, and helps you drive impact—faster, smarter, and without complexity. Fundraising just got easier.
Share
Share helps Christian nonprofits shine with innovative marketing, digital fundraising, and cutting-edge tools. One of their newest tools, Personify, feels like magic—capturing email addresses from website visitors who didn’t donate so you don’t lose the chance to connect. For listeners of the Purpose and Profit podcast, Share is giving away 400 free credits for Personify! That’s 400 new email addresses from your potential donors for free! Click here to claim your free credits and grow your mission today.
Synergy
At Synergy, they boost your nonprofit's donor engagement through innovative phone-based solutions. Whether it's P2P texting, voice broadcasting, inbound call handling, or mid-level donor engagement, they seamlessly integrate with your existing mail and digital strategies. Their goal is to create a personal connection with your donors, enhancing their commitment to your cause. Let Synergy be your donor engagement team and watch your donor retention and revenue grow.
Special thanks to editor and sound engineer Barry R. Hill and producer Abigail Morse.