Insights on Purpose & Profit in 2024
We are in the final stretch of Season 5 of the Purpose & Profit Podcast, so I thought I’d take this Wave Report to share some of the highlights from the podcast this past year.
If you are new to The Wave Report, you may not know that I co-founded and co-host the Purpose & Profit Podcast. The show explores the surprising ideas at the intersection of nonprofit causes and for-profit brands.
In each episode, my co-host Carly Berna and I interview a guest or discuss a topic that impacts both nonprofit causes and for-profit brands. We ask the question, “What can we learn?”
Over the past four years, we’ve had the privilege of learning from leaders at brands like Disney, Chick-fil-A, American Idol, Oreo Cookies, Blockbuster, the NFL, and the NBA, as well as from charities like Charity: Water, Compassion International, The Navigators, and International Justice Mission.
As we get into 2025, we have exciting plans for the show.
In fact, we have a special announcement for Season 6 I’ve been eager to make… Purpose & Profit is going on the road!
Announcing: Purpose & Profit Connect Events
We’re thrilled to announce that we’ll be hosting reception events throughout 2025 at five major nonprofit conferences.
In partnership with Season 6 sponsors, we will be co-hosting memorable receptions to celebrate the launch of my new book, The Rise of Sustainable Giving. 🙌
Above: Purpose & Profit Connect is a series of events designed to create connections with nonprofit industry leaders at the sector’s most prominent conferences.
In 2025, we’ll be hosting Purpose & Profit Connect at the following events:
ACF Faith & Fundraising in Myrtle Beach (February 10-13)
NRB Convention in Dallas (February 24-27)
AFP Icon in Seattle (April 27-29)
CLA Outcomes Conference in Dallas (April 29-May 1)
DMAW Bridge Conference in Washington D.C. (July 30-August 1)
I would love you to join us for a reception if you attend any of these conferences.
Thanks to our generous co-hosts, these events will be FREE—you just need to RSVP. We are passionate about creating connections, so if you attend any of these conferences, you won’t want to miss it.
Okay, with that out of the way, let’s highlight the top 7 episodes of 2024 as we look ahead to 2025.
Top Episodes of 2024
The #1 most listened-to episode of 2024 was about one of my favorite topics: the subscription economy.
#1: SEASON 4, EPISODE 1:
We welcomed guest Robbie Kellman Baxter, author of two books, including The Forever Transaction and The Membership Economy. Robbie has consulted on subscription programs with renowned organizations such as Netflix, the NBA, Microsoft, and the Wall Street Journal.
Fun fact: I interviewed Robbie for my book. We discussed how the subscription economy has transformed the way people consume and give and how nonprofits can take advantage of it. The book will be released on February 4, and you can pre-order it today.
Our second most popular episode of the year was our interview with Tom Beck, one of the leaders at Blockbuster Video in its early days of innovation and growth.
#2: SEASON 4, EPISODE 5:
Leadership Lessons from Blockbuster, Boston Market, and Compassion International
We interviewed Tom Beck, a senior executive with more than 30 years of leadership experience, ranging from innovating in the video rental business to opening one of the first three Blockbuster Stores in the Midwest to building the Boston Market and Einstein Bagels franchises.
Tom now serves as Compassion International's Chief People and Culture Officer, helping to guide the international charity as it empowers local churches to provide individualized and holistic care to children in poverty so they are free to learn, grow, play, and dream.
One of the things I love about Compassion International is that it is one of the world’s most successful charities in raising sustainable monthly giving through child sponsorship.
Tom generously agreed to review The Rise of Sustainable Giving and had this to say:
“Dave Raley takes years of expertise and breaks subscription giving down into practical, applicable chunks. On these pages, not-for-profit leaders will find wisdom that can help transform their fundraising efforts, and it’s wisdom you can apply today.”
- Tom Beck, Chief People & Culture Officer at Compassion International on The Rise of Sustainable Giving
The next most popular episode of 2024 was a conversation Carly and I had about the importance of content before connection.
#3: SEASON 4, EPISODE 7:
Content without Connection is Worth Less
Carly and I decided to do an episode discussing how, after years of giving talks, training, and teaching, we’ve learned the value of helping people feel connected before teaching content.
Safety and belonging are key to the learning process. In other words, delivering content without connection is less valuable. Creating a culture where people feel safe and connected is important if you want learning and growth to occur.
The next episode that resonated with people in 2024 was our interview with my former CEO and mentor, Steve Woodworth, about the importance of healthy leadership transitions.
#4: SEASON 4, EPISODE 11:
Lessons in Leadership Transition with Steve Woodworth
Steve Woodworth, CEO of Masterworks, joined the show to discuss how leadership transitions can ultimately benefit or harm your organization’s strategy.
Steve shared insights from his new book, Lost in Transition: Lessons from the Most Disastrous and Successful Ministry Successions, and shared some stories from his 40-year career as a for-profit and non-profit leader.
Together with Carly and Dave, Steve offered insights into creating healthy cultures and gave advice to business leaders about effective communication that can lead to positive workplace cultures and successful transitions within organizations.
The next most popular episode of the year was another interview, this time with CEO and author Gabe Cooper, on the intersection of innovation and impact.
#5: SEASON 4, EPISODE 9:
8 Practices at the Intersection of Innovation and Impact with Gabe Cooper
We dive into Gabe Cooper’s new book, The Responsive Nonprofit, and break down the strategies for being more responsive. In the book, Gabe identifies eight key principles for accomplishing this, including change management, revenue operations, and breaking down silos.
We also talk about how setting up mutually agreed upon and trusted goals in your organization can ultimately help you grow as a nonprofit.
Continuing the theme from our earlier featured episode on connection before content, we interviewed the co-founder and speaker who introduced us to the concept, Chad Littlefield.
#6: SEASON 5, EPISODE 6:
How to Ask Powerful Questions with Chad Littlefield
Chad Littlefield, co-founder of We and Me, joined us for a conversation about connection and the benefits of asking powerful questions.
In this episode, we dived into what it means to create impactful conversations and the idea of “connection over content” to foster transparency and trust. Chad offers strategies for for-profit and nonprofit leaders to build a culture of openness and effective communication.
Rounding out our top 7 episodes of 2024 is a fascinating and wide-ranging conversation with Jeff Henderson, head of Leadership Innovation and Strategy at Chick-fil-A.
#7: SEASON 5, EPISODE 6:
A Recipe for Success: How to Pair Vision Casting and Vision Carrying
We had the privilege of interviewing Jeff Henderson, a business and nonprofit leader and author of Know What You're FOR: A Growth Strategy for Work, An Even Better Strategy for Life. We discussed how to grow your vision and be ready for whatever comes next on your organization's path to success.
Jeff shared his experiences working with well-known organizations such as the Atlanta Braves, Callaway Gardens, Chick-fil-A, and North Point Ministries—one of the largest churches in America. He highlighted some of his challenges and successes and revealed some insightful tips and strategies on how nonprofits can achieve their ultimate vision.
💡 Takeaway: 2024 was a year of learning and growth at the intersection of nonprofit causes and for-profit brands. 2025 is going to be an exciting year, and we’re excited to connect with the podcast community on the road at our Purpose & Profit Connect events.
Until next week… Surfs Up! 🌊
- Dave
About the Author | Dave Raley
Consultant, speaker, and author Dave Raley is the founder of Imago Consulting, a firm that helps nonprofits and businesses who serve nonprofits create profitable growth through sustainable innovation. He’s the author of the book The Rise of Sustainable Giving: How the Subscription Economy is Transforming Recurring Giving, and What Nonprofits Can Do to Benefit. Dave also writes a weekly innovation and leadership column called The Wave Report, and the co-founder of the Purpose & Profit Podcast — a show about the ideas at the intersection of nonprofit causes and for-profit brands. Connect with Dave on LinkedIn.
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