Mind Your Business

Porter’s Value Chain

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Casey McCully

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What does it take to build a nonprofit that truly serves senior dogs—not just with love, but with lasting impact?

The Frosted Face Foundation is a proposed sanctuary dedicated to giving older dogs the comfort, care, and dignity they deserve in their final chapter. While the organization doesn’t yet exist, I’ve been working to lay the foundation for a sustainable, effective, and mission-driven nonprofit.

One of the strategic tools I’m using is Porter’s Value Chain—a framework that breaks down the core and support activities of an organization to understand how value is created at every level. It’s not just for corporations; it’s incredibly helpful for nonprofits too, especially when our “value” is measured in second chances, stability, and love.

In this video, I walk through each part of the proposed value chain for Frosted Face Foundation—from how we plan to intake dogs, care for them, and place them in loving homes, to the behind-the-scenes systems that will support that mission. Every step is designed to align with one goal: to give senior dogs the best possible final chapter.

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3 responses to “Porter’s Value Chain”

  1. Samantha Ellithorpe Avatar
    Samantha Ellithorpe

    Hi Casey, I really appreciate how thorough you were with your value chain analysis. Your primary activities are extensive and well thought out. Beyond what you mentioned in your video, I think your inbound logistics could also account for things like kennel preparation, your own behavioral assessments to ensure the new dog is a good fit with neighboring kennels and your personnel, and medication and food scheduling for new arrivals.

    Since your operations include volunteers, it might also be helpful to build a vetting, intake, and orientation process for personnel. I would also consider including any basic behavioral training activities the dogs receive while in your care as part of your operational process. In your operations, you mention end-of-life protocols, and in your outbound logistics, you cover what happens when a dog is placed with a foster family. However, it is also important to consider what takes place after a dog’s life has ended and how your organization manages those situations with care and transparency.

    I absolutely love that you’re planning to conduct regular check-ins and ongoing support for foster families after placement. That will go a long way toward boosting foster family retention and positively shaping public perception of your organization.

    You are building a thoughtful framework.

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  2. Bridgett Librado Avatar
    Bridgett Librado

    Hi Casey,

    Your approach to building the Frosted Face Foundation shows remarkable thoughtfulness. Applying Porter’s Value Chain to a nonprofit for senior dogs demonstrates how business frameworks can be adapted to create meaningful social impact.

    I appreciate how you’re focusing not just on compassionate care, but on creating sustainable systems that will support your mission long-term. The comprehensive view—from intake processes to placement in loving homes—suggests you’ve considered the full journey these senior dogs will take.

    Looking forward to seeing how the Frosted Face Foundation develops and the difference it will make for senior dogs in their golden years.

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    1. Casey McCully Avatar
      Casey McCully

      Thank you so much for your kind words and encouragement! It really means a lot to hear that the thoughtfulness behind the Frosted Face Foundation comes through. I truly believe that blending business frameworks like Porter’s Value Chain with a mission-driven approach can help create something both impactful and sustainable — especially for a group as deserving as senior dogs.

      There’s still a lot of work ahead, but I’m excited to keep building systems that not only provide compassionate care but also ensure long-term support for our fosters and adopters. I’m grateful for your support and look forward to sharing more as the foundation grows!

      Thanks again,
      Casey

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