Your Model is Not Your Mission

Jul 14

Is your organization stuck in its ways, or evolving with purpose?

In this special Season 6 finale of the Purpose & Profit Podcast, co-hosts Dave Raley and Carly Berna return to the mic — just the two of them — for a deep, candid conversation about one of the most important (and misunderstood) dynamics in any mission-driven organization: the difference between your mission and your model.

Whether you're leading a nonprofit, scaling a startup, or rethinking your business strategy, this episode is a must-listen. Dave and Carly unpack why confusing your mission with your model can lead to stagnation, and how the most innovative leaders learn to pivot without losing purpose.

Key Topics They Cover:

Mission vs. Model: Why your mission should be timeless, while your model must evolve. Using examples like Subway, Krispy Kreme, and Apple, the hosts explore how outdated models can undermine even the best intentions.
The S-Curve of Innovation: Dave explains the S-curve lifecycle and how organizations must continually create new curves to avoid decline, and ultimately, irrelevance.
Blockbuster’s Big Miss (and Other Cautionary Tales): What leaders can learn from once-dominant brands that failed to adapt, and why even beloved nonprofit models may be overdue for reinvention.
Barriers to Change: From founders clinging to “what used to work” to sacred cows and organizational blind spots, they reveal the most common reasons leaders resist necessary change.
How to Know When It’s Time to Shift: It’s not just about revenue decline. Learn the key internal and external signals that it's time to rethink your model before it's too late.
Practical Innovation Frameworks: Dave shares a four-step method — Identify, Prototype, Launch, Scale — to help organizations test and implement new models with confidence.

This is a powerful conversation for leaders who want to future-proof their mission and spark new growth. Don’t miss it!

Stay tuned for Season 7, coming soon with something new: video! We’re adding a visual layer to the podcast, so you'll be able to watch conversations with guests on YouTube. We can’t wait to share what’s coming next!

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 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.