I am so excited to welcome Dru Wischhover to the Lead with Heart Podcast. Over the past 20 years, Dru has founded three real estate companies — Inspired Title Group, Inspired Development Group, and Winspire LLC —  dedicated not just to business success, but to making an impact.

 With every closing, his companies give back: funding scholarships, supporting mental health awareness, and mentoring the next generation of leaders. Through his mission, the inspired way, Dru has built more than companies. He's built a culture that elevates clients, team members, and entire communities.

In today’s conversation, we explore how leaders can break the stigma of mental health in the workplace and why a healthy culture is the foundation for long-term success. If you’re a nonprofit or business leader ready to build happier, more supported teams and integrate mental wellness into your leadership style, this episode is a must-listen.

In this episode:

• [02:55] Building companies that give back
• [05:55] How early experiences in service shaped Dru’s lifelong commitment to philanthropy
• [09:48] Why culture is everything
• [16:13] Bringing mental health into the leadership conversation
• [20:19] How to create safe spaces for open dialogue at work
• [24:38] Simple ways to support your team’s mental health
• [27:36] The power of trust and flexibility in building resilient teams
• [31:49] Reframing mental health as a leadership responsibility

RESOURCES

The Lead with Heart Summit is not just another conference. It's a powerful, purpose-driven experience created specifically for nonprofit fundraisers who are feeling burned out, stretched thin, and in need of real, meaningful support. April, 2026.

E81:

Send Haley a suggestion or request via text HERE!

My book, Sow, Grow, Lead is live on Amazon! It shares my journey of starting a nonprofit in Malawi and offers practical strategies for nonprofit leaders to create real impact.

Trusted by 80,000+ organizations in 90+ countries, Donorbox offers easy fundraising tools to help you raise more. From fast donation forms to crowdfunding, events, and Donorbox Live™ Kiosk, grow your impact with donorbox.org

Dr. Lola Gershfeld’s EmC Masterclass helps you boost communication skills to raise more revenue. Trusted by top universities and global organizations. Use code LEADWITHHEART for 10% off.

CONNECT WITH HALEY
Haley is a CFRE, Stress Management Coach, and EmC trainer. Founder of The Savvy Fundraiser, she brings experience in human services, homelessness, and youth nonprofits. She specializes in EmC, leadership, board development, and fundraising, empowering nonprofit leaders to build thriving organizations.
Instagram: @thesavvyfundraiser
LinkedIn: Haley Cooper, CFRE
Website: thesavvyfundraiser.com
YouTube: thesavvyfundraiser
Produced by Ideablossoms

I am so excited to welcome Dr. Jennifer Dall, a grief-informed neurodivergent specialist and founder of ADHD Holistically, to the Lead with Heart Podcast. This episode explores how understanding and embracing ADHD can actually help nonprofit professionals, and especially leaders, thrive.

Dr. Jen shares her personal story of being diagnosed with ADHD later in life, how grief reshaped her purpose, and what she’s learned about navigating overwhelm, focus, and emotional regulation. Together, we discuss how nonprofit leaders can use neurodivergent strengths to their advantage and create supportive, inclusive workplace cultures that help everyone shine.

In this episode:

• [03:15] Dr. Jennifer’s late-in-life ADHD diagnosis
• [06:03] How ADHD presents differently in women and why it’s often missed
• [10:10] Recognizing ADHD patterns
• [14:55] How to advocate for neurodivergence in the workplace without fear
• [20:21] The organizational benefits of supporting ADHD and neurodiversity
• [22:16] Why long-term coaching can overwhelm ADHD brains
• [24:44] Actionable tips for tackling everyday ADHD challenges
• [30:36] Lifestyle shifts for better focus and follow-through
• [32:05] One small mindset change that creates immediate impact

The Lead with Heart Summit is not just another conference. It's a powerful, purpose-driven experience created specifically for nonprofit fundraisers who are feeling burned out, stretched thin, and in need of real, meaningful support. April, 2026.

CONNECT WITH DR. JENNIFER

LinkedIn: Dr. Jennifer Dall

Instagram: @adhd.holistically

Website: https://adhdholistically.com/ 

Send Haley a suggestion or request via text HERE!

My book, Sow, Grow, Lead is live on Amazon! It shares my journey of starting a nonprofit in Malawi and offers practical strategies for nonprofit leaders to create real impact.

Trusted by 80,000+ organizations in 90+ countries, Donorbox offers easy fundraising tools to help you raise more. From fast donation forms to crowdfunding, events, and Donorbox Live™ Kiosk, grow your impact with donorbox.org

CONNECT WITH HALEY
Haley is a CFRE, Stress Management Coach, and EmC trainer. Founder of The Savvy Fundraiser, she brings experience in human services, homelessness, and youth nonprofits. She specializes in EmC, leadership, board development, and fundraising, empowering nonprofit leaders to build thriving organizations.
Instagram: @thesavvyfundraiser
LinkedIn: Haley Cooper, CFRE
Website: thesavvyfundraiser.com
YouTube: thesavvyfundraiser
Produced by Ideablossoms

I'm excited to welcome Ben Williamson to the Lead With Heart Podcast. Ben is  the Director of Recruitment at Ambitious Impact, a dynamic organization, reshaping how we identify and support the next generation of nonprofit leaders. He works with their Charity Entrepreneurship program, an incubator for nonprofits, where he helps people move from good intentions to real-world impact.

 Ben brings a refreshingly honest and insightful perspective to the table from hard-earned lessons of starting and shutting down a charity that wasn't delivering results, to focusing on what really matters to create impact, to spotting the unexpected qualities that make founders thrive.

In this episode:

• [02:45] How Ben found his own way to create social impact
• [05:12] Why Ben is focusing on international development
• [07:12] Ben's journey to building a nonprofit in West Africa
• [10:46] Navigating the vast cultural differences around family planning
• [16:03] Ben's brave decision to shut down his nonprofit
• [21:06] What founders must keep in mind when starting a nonprofit
• [24:40] Measuring what really matters in delivering real change
• [33:17] The traits behind excellent nonprofit founders
• [36:53] Advice for aspiring nonprofit founders to take the first step

Learn more about Charity Entrepreneurship, the incubator for nonprofits that Ben is a part of.

Catch up with my interview with Elaine Lankford on Episode 89 of the Lead With Heart Podcast.

Get my book Sow, Grow, Lead, where I share my own journey of starting a nonprofit in Malawi, Africa, and more.

Send Haley a suggestion or request via text HERE!

My book, Sow, Grow, Lead is live on Amazon! It shares my journey of starting a nonprofit in Malawi and offers practical strategies for nonprofit leaders to create real impact.

Trusted by 80,000+ organizations in 90+ countries, Donorbox offers easy fundraising tools to help you raise more. From fast donation forms to crowdfunding, events, and Donorbox Live™ Kiosk, grow your impact with donorbox.org

Dr. Lola Gershfeld’s EmC Masterclass helps you boost communication skills to raise more revenue. Trusted by top universities and global organizations. Use code LEADWITHHEART for 10% off.

CONNECT WITH HALEY
Haley is a CFRE, Stress Management Coach, and EmC trainer. Founder of The Savvy Fundraiser, she brings experience in human services, homelessness, and youth nonprofits. She specializes in EmC, leadership, board development, and fundraising, empowering nonprofit leaders to build thriving organizations.
Instagram: @thesavvyfundraiser
LinkedIn: Haley Cooper, CFRE
Website: thesavvyfundraiser.com
YouTube: thesavvyfundraiser
Produced by Ideablossoms

In this episode of Lead with Heart, I’m having Ami Paradise with me, and we're going to talk about finding balance, and how to prioritize self-care for your well-being. Ami shares her journey of burnout and how she discovered the importance of self-care.

If you're someone who struggles with balancing your own well-being with the things you care about, this episode is for you. So, tune in to this podcast episode and learn how to prioritize your own needs while still being there for others.

Ami Paradise is a professional life coach and working mom who specializes in supporting people to achieve a balance between the many things they care about AND their own well-being. She believes that we show up better not only for ourselves but for the people and things we love when we do.


In this episode, you’ll learn:

• [05:29] Why taking care of yourself first is vital for your well-being and success
• [09:12] Practical ways to take care of ourselves emotionally
• [16:55] The power of accountability buddies in prioritizing emotional well-being
• [20:04] How prioritizing our needs and shifting our focus improves our relationships

NOTEWORTHY QUOTES

“Rest before you need it. Because once you need it again, it's almost too late. But as you said, that's a real privilege. So what are some practical ways that we can do this? When we feel like, one, there's no space for it, perhaps. And two, we don't know how.” - Ami Paradise

“one has discovered that it becomes harder to focus when you're not taking care of your own needs. And suddenly, the spreadsheet in front of you is like gobbledygook, or you're making mistakes. So those are other pieces of how this plays out.” - Ami Paradise

“I like the idea of having accountability buddies. And I was thinking about this in terms of support, that if there's something that you need, but you're having trouble asking for it? Who can you talk it out with? Why do I need this, what's important to me about it, and then once we stand on that are grounded in the truth of this, this is necessary to my well-being that can help fuel us into having the conversation.” - Ami Parad

Send Haley a suggestion or request via text HERE!

My book, Sow, Grow, Lead is live on Amazon! It shares my journey of starting a nonprofit in Malawi and offers practical strategies for nonprofit leaders to create real impact.

Trusted by 80,000+ organizations in 90+ countries, Donorbox offers easy fundraising tools to help you raise more. From fast donation forms to crowdfunding, events, and Donorbox Live™ Kiosk, grow your impact with donorbox.org

CONNECT WITH HALEY
Haley is a CFRE, Stress Management Coach, and EmC trainer. Founder of The Savvy Fundraiser, she brings experience in human services, homelessness, and youth nonprofits. She specializes in EmC, leadership, board development, and fundraising, empowering nonprofit leaders to build thriving organizations.
Instagram: @thesavvyfundraiser
LinkedIn: Haley Cooper, CFRE
Website: thesavvyfundraiser.com
YouTube: thesavvyfundraiser
Produced by Ideablossoms

In this episode, I'm joined by our special guest Rhea Wong, a former executive director turned entrepreneur and the host of the Nonprofit Lowdown Podcast.

Join our discussion today to learn more about Rhea's journey in the nonprofit space, various aspects of successful fundraising, and how to shift your fundraising mindset.


In this episode, you’ll learn:

• [4:39] Fundraising is not about money
• [10:04] The scarcity mindset: What it looks like and how an organization can shift to an abundance mindset
• [14:03] How to utilize the art of storytelling to move beyond desperation and effectively communicate your organization's needs
• [21:54] Why you should develop a strong relationship with your donors
• [28:45] Take your fundraising to the next level by mastering the art of active listening
• [32:13] The importance of involving the CEO in the fundraising process 

RESOURCES

Never Split the Difference: Negotiating as if Your Life Depended on It by Chris Voss.

Get That Money, Honey!: The No-Bullsh*t Guide to Raising More Money For Your Nonprofit by Rhea Wong.

Podcast: Nonprofit Lowdown


NOTEWORTHY QUOTES

“A big piece that I would say is number one, and I made this mistake early on is thinking that fundraising is about the money. It's not about the money. It's about relationships. It's about trying to help people, change the world, and build the legacy that they want to build. And

Send Haley a suggestion or request via text HERE!

My book, Sow, Grow, Lead is live on Amazon! It shares my journey of starting a nonprofit in Malawi and offers practical strategies for nonprofit leaders to create real impact.

Trusted by 80,000+ organizations in 90+ countries, Donorbox offers easy fundraising tools to help you raise more. From fast donation forms to crowdfunding, events, and Donorbox Live™ Kiosk, grow your impact with donorbox.org

Dr. Lola Gershfeld’s EmC Masterclass helps you boost communication skills to raise more revenue. Trusted by top universities and global organizations. Use code LEADWITHHEART for 10% off.

CONNECT WITH HALEY
Haley is a CFRE, Stress Management Coach, and EmC trainer. Founder of The Savvy Fundraiser, she brings experience in human services, homelessness, and youth nonprofits. She specializes in EmC, leadership, board development, and fundraising, empowering nonprofit leaders to build thriving organizations.
Instagram: @thesavvyfundraiser
LinkedIn: Haley Cooper, CFRE
Website: thesavvyfundraiser.com
YouTube: thesavvyfundraiser
Produced by Ideablossoms

In this episode of Lead with Heart, I have Elizabeth Abel as my guest. She is a Senior Vice President at CCS Fundraising, a global fundraising consulting firm to nonprofits.

In this episode, we will get to know Elizabeth's background, what led her to nonprofit work and how she started, what philanthropy is, and how to embrace it in your daily life, leadership, and so much more!

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• [05:06] What philanthropy is and how to embrace it in your daily life.
• [10:16] The power of 1 VS 1000.
• [12:42] How leaders can be better at communicating a clear vision to their staff.
• [18:02] To become a self-aware leader, you should be open to asking questions and seeking feedback.
• [23:01] How Elizabeth executes her leadership styles: The importance of meeting people where they are and putting them first.
• [28:37] Building authentic relationships with direct reports.
• [31:49] Tips for instilling a culture of feedback within your organization. 

NOTEWORTHY QUOTES

“Philanthropy for me as the driver, it's the fuel. It's the energy that drives the direction of nonprofits and allows us to serve the communities we're working so hard to serve.”

“A culture of philanthropy to me is when you have an organization that focuses on philanthropy as the lever to drive the social change that you wish to realize as an institution.”

“what's really important for me is to understand my direct reports Are they someone that primarily thinks logically authentically or empathetically, and I try and elevate those pillars in myself based on how I feel I've received their energies.”

“If I have a 30-minute check-in with one of my directors, I really internally commit to spending five or six minutes not talking about work, and it's little questions like, What did you do over the weekend? It

Send Haley a suggestion or request via text HERE!

My book, Sow, Grow, Lead is live on Amazon! It shares my journey of starting a nonprofit in Malawi and offers practical strategies for nonprofit leaders to create real impact.

Trusted by 80,000+ organizations in 90+ countries, Donorbox offers easy fundraising tools to help you raise more. From fast donation forms to crowdfunding, events, and Donorbox Live™ Kiosk, grow your impact with donorbox.org

Dr. Lola Gershfeld’s EmC Masterclass helps you boost communication skills to raise more revenue. Trusted by top universities and global organizations. Use code LEADWITHHEART for 10% off.

CONNECT WITH HALEY
Haley is a CFRE, Stress Management Coach, and EmC trainer. Founder of The Savvy Fundraiser, she brings experience in human services, homelessness, and youth nonprofits. She specializes in EmC, leadership, board development, and fundraising, empowering nonprofit leaders to build thriving organizations.
Instagram: @thesavvyfundraiser
LinkedIn: Haley Cooper, CFRE
Website: thesavvyfundraiser.com
YouTube: thesavvyfundraiser
Produced by Ideablossoms

I’m so honored to have Alison Edwards as my guest in this episode of Lead with Heart. She is a local nonprofit leader and the CEO of Orange County Human Relations.

At OC Human Relations, they truly embody their mission not only when it comes to being the changemakers in their community, but when it comes to creating a good workplace for their staff with diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB).

Tune in to discover how Alison and the people in the organization are co-creating this workspace, including their current goal of providing staff with a baseline salary of $75,000, as well as some practical ways you can move the needle on DEIB and make your own organization a better place to work.


In this episode, you’ll learn:

• [03:04] How the OC Human Relations creates change in Orange County
• [07:21] Practical ways they have been supporting their staff and creating more equity and belonging
• [17:56] Ways to develop and foster a culture of psychological safety and trust internally
• [25:33] Navigating fundraising and being authentic to the organization’s values
• [30:15] Creating a good workplace and putting people first 
• [35:41] The value of listening to implement change in your organization

NOTEWORTHY QUOTES

“Folks should be accountable for getting their responsibilities completed. But we need to make sure we're not playing a role in being part of the problem.”

“We have this calling to do important work. But I just want to make sure that folks don't have to survive on that calling alone.”

“I think it does start with leadership. But part of my leadership is getting out of the way so other people can create the spaces that they need and they think that their colleagues need to be successful.”

“Ultimately, if we want to have good workplaces, we got to b

Send Haley a suggestion or request via text HERE!

My book, Sow, Grow, Lead is live on Amazon! It shares my journey of starting a nonprofit in Malawi and offers practical strategies for nonprofit leaders to create real impact.

Trusted by 80,000+ organizations in 90+ countries, Donorbox offers easy fundraising tools to help you raise more. From fast donation forms to crowdfunding, events, and Donorbox Live™ Kiosk, grow your impact with donorbox.org

Dr. Lola Gershfeld’s EmC Masterclass helps you boost communication skills to raise more revenue. Trusted by top universities and global organizations. Use code LEADWITHHEART for 10% off.

CONNECT WITH HALEY
Haley is a CFRE, Stress Management Coach, and EmC trainer. Founder of The Savvy Fundraiser, she brings experience in human services, homelessness, and youth nonprofits. She specializes in EmC, leadership, board development, and fundraising, empowering nonprofit leaders to build thriving organizations.
Instagram: @thesavvyfundraiser
LinkedIn: Haley Cooper, CFRE
Website: thesavvyfundraiser.com
YouTube: thesavvyfundraiser
Produced by Ideablossoms

In this episode, I’m talking to Alana Weinroth. She is the Director of Development and Communications at Covenant House California, a Certified Life & Mindset Coach, and a 200-hour Registered Yoga Instructor.

After experiencing bouts of severe burnout and vicarious trauma, Alana reconnected with herself, established a healthy self-care routine, and started the Give a Damn Community to help others do the same and take care of themselves.

Join us today as we dive deeper into burnout, vicarious trauma, self-care, and life and mindset coaching. Alana shares some practical advice as well as some tools to help you start taking care of yourself first.


In this episode, you’ll learn:

• [06:14] Advice for those who want to get into nonprofit work
• [09:12] Vicarious trauma, its impact on you, and some strategies to deal with its very real symptoms
• [14:52] How the Give a Damn Community was born
• [19:11] The importance of self-care and tips to start filling yourself up first
• [25:17] What Alana’s Give a Damn Coaching work looks like
• [32:00] How to help someone who is experiencing burnout

RESOURCES

If want to start journaling, Alana has a free 30 Day Guided Gratitude Journal for new journalers or busy friends wanting to incorporate more mindfulness and gratitude. It will only take you about 2-5 minutes a day to connect with yourself more.

Gabrielle Bernstein’s May Cause Miracles: A 40-Day Guidebook of Subtle Shifts for Radical Change and Unlimited Happiness.


NOTEWORTHY QUOTES

“We feel like

Send Haley a suggestion or request via text HERE!

My book, Sow, Grow, Lead is live on Amazon! It shares my journey of starting a nonprofit in Malawi and offers practical strategies for nonprofit leaders to create real impact.

Trusted by 80,000+ organizations in 90+ countries, Donorbox offers easy fundraising tools to help you raise more. From fast donation forms to crowdfunding, events, and Donorbox Live™ Kiosk, grow your impact with donorbox.org

Dr. Lola Gershfeld’s EmC Masterclass helps you boost communication skills to raise more revenue. Trusted by top universities and global organizations. Use code LEADWITHHEART for 10% off.

CONNECT WITH HALEY
Haley is a CFRE, Stress Management Coach, and EmC trainer. Founder of The Savvy Fundraiser, she brings experience in human services, homelessness, and youth nonprofits. She specializes in EmC, leadership, board development, and fundraising, empowering nonprofit leaders to build thriving organizations.
Instagram: @thesavvyfundraiser
LinkedIn: Haley Cooper, CFRE
Website: thesavvyfundraiser.com
YouTube: thesavvyfundraiser
Produced by Ideablossoms

I’m so excited to have Mazarine Treyz as my guest in this episode of Lead with Heart. She is an effectiveness coach specializing in Human Design who helps leaders and teams step into their highest potential by knowing their unique designs.

Join us today to discover what Human Design is all about and the ways it can help you become a better leader and fundraiser. Mazarine walks us through very simple and practical examples of how different aspects of Human Design can show up in the context of leadership, the workplace, fundraising, and more, while also providing strategies to best deal with them.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• [04:15] The basics of Human Design and the 5 different types
• [10:07] How leaders can apply Human Design to their team dynamics
• [13:15] Self-work is the name of the game
• [17:22] Building trust and emotional safety with Human Design
• [20:16] Considering your team’s unique designs when setting goals
• [25:45] Ways Human Design can influence fundraising

RESOURCES

If you want to get your own Human Design chart, go to mybodygraph.com.

If you want to learn more about Human Design, check out Karren Curry’s book Understanding Human Design - The New Science of Astrology: Discover Who You Really Are.

To get your own Human Design Chart Reading with Mazarine or discover more ideas on how you can work together, please see: humandesignreadings.net/corporate-government


NOTEWORTHY QUOTES

“There's no such thing as a bad chart.”

“Self-work is the name of the game in entrepreneurship and in leadership. [If] you don't do the self-work, you're going to be a terrible person to work with.”

“What human design really does, is that it allows us to be aware of our flaws and vulnerabilities in a way that's not very personal. It's like, ‘oh, this is just part of my chart. This isn't personal.’”

Send Haley a suggestion or request via text HERE!

My book, Sow, Grow, Lead is live on Amazon! It shares my journey of starting a nonprofit in Malawi and offers practical strategies for nonprofit leaders to create real impact.

Trusted by 80,000+ organizations in 90+ countries, Donorbox offers easy fundraising tools to help you raise more. From fast donation forms to crowdfunding, events, and Donorbox Live™ Kiosk, grow your impact with donorbox.org

CONNECT WITH HALEY
Haley is a CFRE, Stress Management Coach, and EmC trainer. Founder of The Savvy Fundraiser, she brings experience in human services, homelessness, and youth nonprofits. She specializes in EmC, leadership, board development, and fundraising, empowering nonprofit leaders to build thriving organizations.
Instagram: @thesavvyfundraiser
LinkedIn: Haley Cooper, CFRE
Website: thesavvyfundraiser.com
YouTube: thesavvyfundraiser
Produced by Ideablossoms

In this episode of Lead with Heart, I have Dawn Reese, the Chief Executive Officer of The Wooden Floor, as my guest. She is a social innovator who leverages her unique blend of experience in business, technology, education, and the arts to propel young people forward.

Tune in to discover ways to become a better nonprofit leader, as Dawn shares with us all about the power of leading with empathy through servant leadership, how to be proactive when it comes to fundraising, planning the way to achieve your vision for the organization, building an authentic and engaging culture of philanthropy, and so much more.


In this episode, you’ll learn:

• [04:31] Dawn’s transition from the for-profit sector to the nonprofit sector
• [08:34] The Wooden Floor’s successful long-term strategic planning
• [16:19] The Forward Thinking Fundraising Model
• [21:15] The culture of philanthropy at The Wooden Floor and how to build your own
• [26:40] What Servant Leadership looks like in practice
• [39:52] How Dawn stays true to her brand mission

RESOURCES

If you want to learn more about outcomes listen to Lead with Heart’s Episode 9: How Data Can Help Your Nonprofit Organization Thrive with Traci Shirachi.

Dawn is a big believer in Stephen Covey’s Speed of Trust, one of her top reads. To find out more about the book visit speedoftrust.com


NOTEWORTHY QUOTES

“As nonprofit leaders [we] have to cultivate that in a really authentic way, that's really heartfelt, and not about transactions. It's about developing a heart for our mission and making sure that it's authentic. That's what I do, I don't lead with fundraising, I lead with heart [...] and that'

Send Haley a suggestion or request via text HERE!

My book, Sow, Grow, Lead is live on Amazon! It shares my journey of starting a nonprofit in Malawi and offers practical strategies for nonprofit leaders to create real impact.

Trusted by 80,000+ organizations in 90+ countries, Donorbox offers easy fundraising tools to help you raise more. From fast donation forms to crowdfunding, events, and Donorbox Live™ Kiosk, grow your impact with donorbox.org

Dr. Lola Gershfeld’s EmC Masterclass helps you boost communication skills to raise more revenue. Trusted by top universities and global organizations. Use code LEADWITHHEART for 10% off.

CONNECT WITH HALEY
Haley is a CFRE, Stress Management Coach, and EmC trainer. Founder of The Savvy Fundraiser, she brings experience in human services, homelessness, and youth nonprofits. She specializes in EmC, leadership, board development, and fundraising, empowering nonprofit leaders to build thriving organizations.
Instagram: @thesavvyfundraiser
LinkedIn: Haley Cooper, CFRE
Website: thesavvyfundraiser.com
YouTube: thesavvyfundraiser
Produced by Ideablossoms

In this episode of Lead with Heart, I’m talking to Traci Shirachi. She is the CEO and President of The Mark USA, Inc., an applied research and evaluation firm that serves organizations and programs focused on transforming underserved individuals and communities and helps them demonstrate their social impact.

When people hear the word data they tend to run the other way, but please don’t run!

Join us today to discover how data can help nonprofit organizations thrive, protect their people and create more impact, especially at a time when most organizations are under a lot of pressure, as they face rapid and significant changes and resource constraints.


In this episode, you’ll learn:

• [03:05] Traci’s journey from corporate rat to entrepreneur
• [10:06] The basics of how to use data and evaluation effectively and its benefits for nonprofit organizations
• [16:46] The need for a mindset change to create greater and long-lasting impact
• [21:18] How data brings people together, creates connectedness, and strengthens organizations
• [27:33] The ways data, frameworks, and systems can help us navigate change and protect our people
• [32:57] What leaders should focus on and how data can support that

NOTEWORTHY QUOTES

“I think getting in the head of funders, and donors, the data helps to be able to do that for a nonprofit organization. If somebody is granting X number of dollars, they want to know that it's going towards something, and they want to be able to see the change that's been achieved by nature of those resources being devoted.”

“So, there's a change of mindset too that's involved in this process, which is as leaders and as community members, we need to really think hard about that is: ‘yes, we want to help more people, but we also want to prevent these things from happeni

Send Haley a suggestion or request via text HERE!

My book, Sow, Grow, Lead is live on Amazon! It shares my journey of starting a nonprofit in Malawi and offers practical strategies for nonprofit leaders to create real impact.

Trusted by 80,000+ organizations in 90+ countries, Donorbox offers easy fundraising tools to help you raise more. From fast donation forms to crowdfunding, events, and Donorbox Live™ Kiosk, grow your impact with donorbox.org

Dr. Lola Gershfeld’s EmC Masterclass helps you boost communication skills to raise more revenue. Trusted by top universities and global organizations. Use code LEADWITHHEART for 10% off.

CONNECT WITH HALEY
Haley is a CFRE, Stress Management Coach, and EmC trainer. Founder of The Savvy Fundraiser, she brings experience in human services, homelessness, and youth nonprofits. She specializes in EmC, leadership, board development, and fundraising, empowering nonprofit leaders to build thriving organizations.
Instagram: @thesavvyfundraiser
LinkedIn: Haley Cooper, CFRE
Website: thesavvyfundraiser.com
YouTube: thesavvyfundraiser
Produced by Ideablossoms

Today’s episode of Lead With Heart is a super powerful one that is packed full with the wise words of my guest, Stephanie Courtillier. She is the founder and CEO of Integrous Women and is paving the way for the next generation of conscious leaders.

By living through heart-space versus head-space, she continues to inspire and educate audiences wherever she goes, creating and implementing social impact models, and the power of overcoming limiting beliefs in order to turn our dreams into a reality.

Tune into this beautiful and inspiring conversation to discover how to create a life of ease, alignment, playfulness, flow, and, most importantly, heart. Stephanie shares tangible and practical things that you can implement to create the transformation you seek in your life and relationships.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• [04:50] What redefining success looks like
• [10:11] The importance of focusing on being instead of doing and asking yourself powerful and insightful questions
• [18:47] Actionable ways to invite rest and pause into your days
• [27:57] Appreciative Inquiry and its power
• [34:47] Conquering burnout through sustainable change and community healing

RESOURCES

Stephanie talks about using a lot of the framework presented in Dr. Daniel Friedland’s book “Leading Well From Within”. Find out more about it here.


NOTEWORTHY QUOTES

“Alignment is a state of being it's not a state of doing.”

“The to-dos will get done, and they'll get done in playfulness, and fun, and inflow versus in stress, and overwhelm and distraction. So, my to-do list becomes a thriving list, when I've set aside the time to be, to release, to relax, slow down,

Send Haley a suggestion or request via text HERE!

My book, Sow, Grow, Lead is live on Amazon! It shares my journey of starting a nonprofit in Malawi and offers practical strategies for nonprofit leaders to create real impact.

Trusted by 80,000+ organizations in 90+ countries, Donorbox offers easy fundraising tools to help you raise more. From fast donation forms to crowdfunding, events, and Donorbox Live™ Kiosk, grow your impact with donorbox.org

Dr. Lola Gershfeld’s EmC Masterclass helps you boost communication skills to raise more revenue. Trusted by top universities and global organizations. Use code LEADWITHHEART for 10% off.

CONNECT WITH HALEY
Haley is a CFRE, Stress Management Coach, and EmC trainer. Founder of The Savvy Fundraiser, she brings experience in human services, homelessness, and youth nonprofits. She specializes in EmC, leadership, board development, and fundraising, empowering nonprofit leaders to build thriving organizations.
Instagram: @thesavvyfundraiser
LinkedIn: Haley Cooper, CFRE
Website: thesavvyfundraiser.com
YouTube: thesavvyfundraiser
Produced by Ideablossoms

The guest for today's podcast is Lola Gershfeld, an expert in Corporate Emotional Connection. We have discussed the importance of emotional connection and how it can help to create strong relationships within a non-profit or a corporation. Lola explained her EmC process and how it has benefited the organizations she worked with.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• [01:58] How Lola Gershfeld got started with the EmC process
• [05:27] What science of attachment is and why building connection is so important
• [09:00] Ways to use EMC strategy in nonprofits and organizations where leadership is generally lonely
• [17:44] Steps you can take to shift from a negative to a positive cycle
• [25:07] Why slowing things down is vital within a team dynamic – and how a "Slow Motion Camera" strategy works
• [30:34] Tips to build better board engagement and emotional connection across boards

RESOURCES

Order your copy of the book Emotional Connection, By Lola Gershfeld and Ramin Sedehi to develop the language to describe, acknowledge, and address emotions in the workplace using a proven and systemic approach absent in most other EI strategies.


NOTEWORTHY QUOTES

“Emotion is the most powerful thing in the room. It’s also the most powerful agent of change if you want to help people work better together, and lead better boards dynamics and more board cultures. You’ve got to address people's emotions and then learn how to work with them.” - Lola Gershfeld

“It is so important, as a leader, to create that emotional safety within your

Send Haley a suggestion or request via text HERE!

My book, Sow, Grow, Lead is live on Amazon! It shares my journey of starting a nonprofit in Malawi and offers practical strategies for nonprofit leaders to create real impact.

Trusted by 80,000+ organizations in 90+ countries, Donorbox offers easy fundraising tools to help you raise more. From fast donation forms to crowdfunding, events, and Donorbox Live™ Kiosk, grow your impact with donorbox.org

Dr. Lola Gershfeld’s EmC Masterclass helps you boost communication skills to raise more revenue. Trusted by top universities and global organizations. Use code LEADWITHHEART for 10% off.

CONNECT WITH HALEY
Haley is a CFRE, Stress Management Coach, and EmC trainer. Founder of The Savvy Fundraiser, she brings experience in human services, homelessness, and youth nonprofits. She specializes in EmC, leadership, board development, and fundraising, empowering nonprofit leaders to build thriving organizations.
Instagram: @thesavvyfundraiser
LinkedIn: Haley Cooper, CFRE
Website: thesavvyfundraiser.com
YouTube: thesavvyfundraiser
Produced by Ideablossoms

In this episode of the Lead with Heart Podcast, I’m honored to welcome someone I've known my whole career, Sara Garske, the principal and founder of Elwood Advisors. With over 25 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, she works with nonprofits, foundations, and individual philanthropists to create sustainable and impactful giving and fundraising strategies.

We explore trust-based philanthropy, ways to engage and empower different generations in their philanthropic journey, and more. So, whether you're an individual donor, part of a foundation, or part of a nonprofit, you will find practical strategies that will help you create greater impact.

In this episode:

• [02:44] Sara's 25+ year journey of thriving in philanthropy
• [06:27] What philanthropy is really about
• [07:18] What the role of a philanthropic advisor looks like
• [08:10] Help family foundations evolve past checkbook giving
• [11:07] How trust-based philanthropy can lead to greater impact
• [12:42] Ways nonprofits can build trust with family foundations
• [15:21] Strategies to navigate different generations' giving priorities
• [20:45] Transparency is critical for nonprofits
• [23:52] Effective ways to engage the next generation
• [26:54] Serving nonprofits and foundations with Elwood Advisors
• [29:02] Anyone can be a philanthropist

Catch up with my talk with Jenn Klein in episode 24 of Lead With Heart. 

CONNECT WITH SARA

LinkedIn: Sara Garske

Website: elwoodadvising.com

Send Haley a suggestion or request via text HERE!

My book, Sow, Grow, Lead is live on Amazon! It shares my journey of starting a nonprofit in Malawi and offers practical strategies for nonprofit leaders to create real impact.

Trusted by 80,000+ organizations in 90+ countries, Donorbox offers easy fundraising tools to help you raise more. From fast donation forms to crowdfunding, events, and Donorbox Live™ Kiosk, grow your impact with donorbox.org

CONNECT WITH HALEY
Haley is a CFRE, Stress Management Coach, and EmC trainer. Founder of The Savvy Fundraiser, she brings experience in human services, homelessness, and youth nonprofits. She specializes in EmC, leadership, board development, and fundraising, empowering nonprofit leaders to build thriving organizations.
Instagram: @thesavvyfundraiser
LinkedIn: Haley Cooper, CFRE
Website: thesavvyfundraiser.com
YouTube: thesavvyfundraiser
Produced by Ideablossoms

I’m so excited to have Bekah Giacomantonio as my guest in this episode of Lead with Heart. She is a nonprofit dropout and the founder, host, and keeper of the Interdependence Incubator, a community for white women who crave healing and a space for us to practice freedom.

The time is NOW to start healing and making a collective change.

Join us today as we talk about healing and change at the personal, interpersonal, and systemic levels.


In this episode, you’ll learn:

• [02:04] Bekah’s journey of freedom and healing
• [06:30] The pillars of the Interdependence Incubator
• [10:38] The 4-part mindfulness practice Bekah starts every session with
• [18:40] Creating a brave space container with community commitments
• [24:20] Speak from the “I” because your experience is enough
• [27:58] Be careful not to take up all the space just because you can
• [30:06] Why you should care about collective liberation and healing

If you are ready to make up for the lost time and embark on a journey of healing and transformation for collective liberation, you can find out all about the Interdependence Incubator here.

Bekah talked a little about her work at the phenomenal organization Yes World, which gathers groups of people and facilitates dialogue between them. To learn more about Yes World, go to yesworld.org.

CONNECT WITH BEKAH

Bekah Giacomantonio is a consultant, facilitator, and the host and keeper of the Interdependence Incubator. After a decade of working in the community as a Restorative and Transformative Justice facilitator and a

Send Haley a suggestion or request via text HERE!

My book, Sow, Grow, Lead is live on Amazon! It shares my journey of starting a nonprofit in Malawi and offers practical strategies for nonprofit leaders to create real impact.

Trusted by 80,000+ organizations in 90+ countries, Donorbox offers easy fundraising tools to help you raise more. From fast donation forms to crowdfunding, events, and Donorbox Live™ Kiosk, grow your impact with donorbox.org

Dr. Lola Gershfeld’s EmC Masterclass helps you boost communication skills to raise more revenue. Trusted by top universities and global organizations. Use code LEADWITHHEART for 10% off.

CONNECT WITH HALEY
Haley is a CFRE, Stress Management Coach, and EmC trainer. Founder of The Savvy Fundraiser, she brings experience in human services, homelessness, and youth nonprofits. She specializes in EmC, leadership, board development, and fundraising, empowering nonprofit leaders to build thriving organizations.
Instagram: @thesavvyfundraiser
LinkedIn: Haley Cooper, CFRE
Website: thesavvyfundraiser.com
YouTube: thesavvyfundraiser
Produced by Ideablossoms

Today’s episode of Lead with Heart  is the first episode of my Series on Leadership. I believe leadership is fundamental to how we grow and it's both a personal and external process. In this series of interviews, you’ll hear from some amazing leaders and we’ll explore together ways to become a better leader, with the best practices and the best advice out there.

To kick off this inspiring series, my guest today is Monica Horner, who is one of my coaches and has helped me on my own leadership journey. We talk about coaching in the nonprofit field, advice for those in leadership positions, burnout, the importance of self-care, and much more.

Monica Horner is one of the Executive Coaches of Orange County. She has over 13 years of experience as a professional fundraiser and leader in the nonprofit space. She was the Director of Strategic Giving at the Second Harvest Food Bank, where she personally helped raise millions of dollars. 

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• [01:06] Monica’s journey to nonprofit leadership and coaching
• [05:02] The #1 challenge in the nonprofit field
• [07:23] The importance of actively listening to yourself and others
• [15:54] Why coaching is so valuable for professionals in the nonprofit field
• [17:11] How to get the best out of your coaching sessions
• [23:04] Self-care and joy through meditation, movement, and connection

RESOURCES

Do you want to receive FREE executive coaching? You can find experienced coaches from a variety of backgrounds, in both nonprofit and business, for free at Executive Coaches of Orange County.

“My message for leaders is: great managers are people who, I think, recognize the signs of burnout, and recognize when their employees need to take a little bit of time for self-care.” - Monica Horner

“A lot of bosses are actually adopting coaching into their management style themselves. And if not, then they're encouraging their employees to get into coaching, because they're finding that it really, really enhances their employee's performance, and increases longevity w

Send Haley a suggestion or request via text HERE!

My book, Sow, Grow, Lead is live on Amazon! It shares my journey of starting a nonprofit in Malawi and offers practical strategies for nonprofit leaders to create real impact.

Trusted by 80,000+ organizations in 90+ countries, Donorbox offers easy fundraising tools to help you raise more. From fast donation forms to crowdfunding, events, and Donorbox Live™ Kiosk, grow your impact with donorbox.org

CONNECT WITH HALEY
Haley is a CFRE, Stress Management Coach, and EmC trainer. Founder of The Savvy Fundraiser, she brings experience in human services, homelessness, and youth nonprofits. She specializes in EmC, leadership, board development, and fundraising, empowering nonprofit leaders to build thriving organizations.
Instagram: @thesavvyfundraiser
LinkedIn: Haley Cooper, CFRE
Website: thesavvyfundraiser.com
YouTube: thesavvyfundraiser
Produced by Ideablossoms

I am very excited to have Mr. Pete Bowen on this episode of the Lead with Heart Podcast. I really value his leadership style and I am happy to talk to him about that, as well as ways to become our best selves and change the world.

Pete Bowen is a consultant, author, coach, speaker, and the creator of Covenant Leadership, a simple approach to developing good relationships that brings happiness and success in life. He helps companies, government organizations, and individuals to develop high-performance leadership and culture.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• [02:06] The power of writing your own life story
• [07:58] The Rule of Threes and how it can help you achieve happiness, fulfillment, and success
• [14:22] The Covenant Leadership Model: “seek wisdom, practice love, get results”
• [17:16] How to create the greatest positive impact on your relationships
• [24:27] The superpower of Agape love
• [29:20] Actionable tips to implement this model in your life

To learn more about the Covenant Leadership Model and more ways to become the best you can be, check out Pete Bowen’s Real Talk About Life Blog-Podcast.

“Every single day you have a choice and you can embody what you do or who you are by your daily practices.” - Haley Cooper

“Practice seeking wisdom, practicing love, and practice getting results to develop the high-trust, high-performance relationships that will bring you happiness, and they'll bring you success.” - Pete Bowen

“Your staff are the most important people that are a part of your mission, they help it drive, and grow, and raise the money, help your clients. And so that's where we need to invest.” - Haley Cooper

“If we really want to change the world, then the most effective way we can do that is by changing ourselves.” - Pete Bowen

“It's by doing the right thing minute by minute that we become the best people we c

Send Haley a suggestion or request via text HERE!

My book, Sow, Grow, Lead is live on Amazon! It shares my journey of starting a nonprofit in Malawi and offers practical strategies for nonprofit leaders to create real impact.

Trusted by 80,000+ organizations in 90+ countries, Donorbox offers easy fundraising tools to help you raise more. From fast donation forms to crowdfunding, events, and Donorbox Live™ Kiosk, grow your impact with donorbox.org

CONNECT WITH HALEY
Haley is a CFRE, Stress Management Coach, and EmC trainer. Founder of The Savvy Fundraiser, she brings experience in human services, homelessness, and youth nonprofits. She specializes in EmC, leadership, board development, and fundraising, empowering nonprofit leaders to build thriving organizations.
Instagram: @thesavvyfundraiser
LinkedIn: Haley Cooper, CFRE
Website: thesavvyfundraiser.com
YouTube: thesavvyfundraiser
Produced by Ideablossoms

In this episode of Lead with Heart, I’m talking to Shivani Hiralal about burnout, mental health, mindfulness, and self-care in the social impact space. 

Shivani is a social impact leader, marketer, yoga and mindfulness instructor, and wellness coach. Her life's mission is to spread awareness about mental health and reduce the stigma around mental health conversations.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• [03:01] Shivani’s career path and how she got into Social Impact
• [07:58] What burnout was for Shivani
• [13:42] Moving from burnout to mindfulness
• [21:07] The “Decompress Table” Shivani created for professionals experiencing burnout
• [30:20] One step you can take towards better mental health
• [34:00] Implementing a simple self-care plan
• [39:58] Guided breathing meditation

NOTEWORTHY QUOTES

“Burnout means something different to everyone.”

“Burnout is a mental and emotional issue, but it does come out as physical illness.”

“I'm trying to bring that culture [of celebration and self-care] into the social impact world. Because I think that needs to start to become a norm versus something that you can just get at a roundtable discussion like this.”

“That is the first thing, recognizing [burnout]. The next thing is starting to be a little bit more open about it, having conversations.”

“It's how we prioritize our time. We all have 24 hours but it's what we do with those 24 hours in the day that really makes the difference.“

CONNECT WITH SHIVANI

Linkedin: Shivani Hiralal

Send Haley a suggestion or request via text HERE!

My book, Sow, Grow, Lead is live on Amazon! It shares my journey of starting a nonprofit in Malawi and offers practical strategies for nonprofit leaders to create real impact.

Trusted by 80,000+ organizations in 90+ countries, Donorbox offers easy fundraising tools to help you raise more. From fast donation forms to crowdfunding, events, and Donorbox Live™ Kiosk, grow your impact with donorbox.org

Dr. Lola Gershfeld’s EmC Masterclass helps you boost communication skills to raise more revenue. Trusted by top universities and global organizations. Use code LEADWITHHEART for 10% off.

CONNECT WITH HALEY
Haley is a CFRE, Stress Management Coach, and EmC trainer. Founder of The Savvy Fundraiser, she brings experience in human services, homelessness, and youth nonprofits. She specializes in EmC, leadership, board development, and fundraising, empowering nonprofit leaders to build thriving organizations.
Instagram: @thesavvyfundraiser
LinkedIn: Haley Cooper, CFRE
Website: thesavvyfundraiser.com
YouTube: thesavvyfundraiser
Produced by Ideablossoms

As a certified fundraising executive, I’m very excited to bring Zoot Velasco to the Lead with Heart Podcast today to talk more about his strategy when it comes to social impact organizations, fundraising, resource gathering, and strategic partnerships.

Zoot is the executive director of the Friends of Fullerton College Foundation, and director of the Gianneschi  Center for Nonprofit Research at California State University Fullerton's College of Business & Economics. He's also a professor of Nonprofit Management and Leadership at Cal State Fullerton at California Polytechnic University Institute Pomona, and the host of the nationally-ranked 501(C)(3)(B)(S) Podcast. 

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• [02:20] Zoot’s career path and how he got to where he is today
• [04:04] Zoot’s approach to fundraising and resource gathering
• [14:00]  How can non-profits collaborate and work together
• [18:46] How non-profits can access resources to power their mission
• [22:33] Moving from non-profit to social impact model
• [25:10] The most effective way to tell the stories so more opportunities come
• [28:55] Why social impact is important right now

Get Zoot’s newest book – small to LARGE: Growing Social Impact Organizations Against All Odds — at Kendall Hunt

“Social enterprise is basically taking a business standpoint in how you run your organization – with the bottom line being not necessarily profit, but the bottom line being purpose and your mission, and doing it in a sustainable way.”

“When I did the research for the research project that ended up becoming the book, I asked people what it was that helped them grow. And the first thing everyone said was strategic partnerships.”

“If you're a social enterprise organization or a social impact organization, your mission is to do something that nobody else is doing, or there's no reason for you to exist. So if

Send Haley a suggestion or request via text HERE!

My book, Sow, Grow, Lead is live on Amazon! It shares my journey of starting a nonprofit in Malawi and offers practical strategies for nonprofit leaders to create real impact.

Trusted by 80,000+ organizations in 90+ countries, Donorbox offers easy fundraising tools to help you raise more. From fast donation forms to crowdfunding, events, and Donorbox Live™ Kiosk, grow your impact with donorbox.org

CONNECT WITH HALEY
Haley is a CFRE, Stress Management Coach, and EmC trainer. Founder of The Savvy Fundraiser, she brings experience in human services, homelessness, and youth nonprofits. She specializes in EmC, leadership, board development, and fundraising, empowering nonprofit leaders to build thriving organizations.
Instagram: @thesavvyfundraiser
LinkedIn: Haley Cooper, CFRE
Website: thesavvyfundraiser.com
YouTube: thesavvyfundraiser
Produced by Ideablossoms

I'm so excited today because I have Victoria Torres as my first guest on the Lead with Heart Podcast. Victoria serves as the Director of Community Impact at The Samueli Foundation overseeing the Foundation's work as it relates to the City of Anaheim, including capacity building community relations, project management, evaluation, and reporting. 

In this episode:

• Victoria’s nonprofit experience and how it all started in High School
• The difference between mentorship and coaching according to Victoria
• Creating a welcoming experience for staff and board members
• Providing opportunities for growth within nonprofits
• The different roles in a nonprofit board
• The reason why you might be struggling to delegate  
• Where to start when it comes to succession 

CONNECT WITH VICTORIA

Born and raised in Orange County, Victoria has been volunteering and working in the nonprofit sector for over 15 years. She is passionate about making connections that are strategic and meaningful with the intent of building strong relationships and partnerships.

Linkedin: Victoria Torres

“Legacy isn't what you built while you're here, legacy is what stays after you've moved on.”

“Committees are where a lot of that delegation and thought happens. And then the board is where that long-term vision and thinking is going on.”

“How you onboard staff and how you onboard your board is crucial to an organization's success around the culture that is built.“

“If you bring on a new staff member or a board member, and they don't know where to start, they don't know where to look, they don't know what to do, you're going to lose them very quickly

Send Haley a suggestion or request via text HERE!

My book, Sow, Grow, Lead is live on Amazon! It shares my journey of starting a nonprofit in Malawi and offers practical strategies for nonprofit leaders to create real impact.

Trusted by 80,000+ organizations in 90+ countries, Donorbox offers easy fundraising tools to help you raise more. From fast donation forms to crowdfunding, events, and Donorbox Live™ Kiosk, grow your impact with donorbox.org

Dr. Lola Gershfeld’s EmC Masterclass helps you boost communication skills to raise more revenue. Trusted by top universities and global organizations. Use code LEADWITHHEART for 10% off.

CONNECT WITH HALEY
Haley is a CFRE, Stress Management Coach, and EmC trainer. Founder of The Savvy Fundraiser, she brings experience in human services, homelessness, and youth nonprofits. She specializes in EmC, leadership, board development, and fundraising, empowering nonprofit leaders to build thriving organizations.
Instagram: @thesavvyfundraiser
LinkedIn: Haley Cooper, CFRE
Website: thesavvyfundraiser.com
YouTube: thesavvyfundraiser
Produced by Ideablossoms

Welcome to the Lead with Heart Podcast, a place for non-profit professionals to share their voice and their mission.

I’m Haley Cooper, a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) who’s raised over two million dollars in the last five years, but most importantly, I’m also a recovering nonprofit burnout survivor. 

Join me and my guests as we share real stories of Leadership, Courage, and Empathy from real leaders about what strategies and practices they have used to heal from burnout, drive their missions forward,  raise more revenue, and make a greater impact. 

Send Haley a suggestion or request via text HERE!

My book, Sow, Grow, Lead is live on Amazon! It shares my journey of starting a nonprofit in Malawi and offers practical strategies for nonprofit leaders to create real impact.

CONNECT WITH HALEY
Haley is a CFRE, Stress Management Coach, and EmC trainer. Founder of The Savvy Fundraiser, she brings experience in human services, homelessness, and youth nonprofits. She specializes in EmC, leadership, board development, and fundraising, empowering nonprofit leaders to build thriving organizations.
Instagram: @thesavvyfundraiser
LinkedIn: Haley Cooper, CFRE
Website: thesavvyfundraiser.com
YouTube: thesavvyfundraiser
Produced by Ideablossoms

In this episode of the Lead with Heart Podcast, I’m joined by the incredible Catherine De Orio, executive director of the Foundation for Culinary Arts, Emmy Award-winning TV host, and culinary changemaker, who is transforming the way youth find their voice and future through food.

From courtroom to kitchen, Catherine’s journey is one of purpose, pivoting, and passionate leadership. Together, we explore how culinary arts can be a powerful vehicle for vocational training, mentorship, and confidence-building, especially for under-resourced youth.

In this episode:

• [02:43] From litigator to culinary leader: Catherine’s career pivot
• [05:21] The Foundation for Culinary Arts and the Yes Chef Culinary Camp
• [08:34] The value of networking
• [10:32] Career opportunities in the culinary world
• [14:12] Nonprofit leadership lessons
• [18:02] The barriers young chefs face
• [22:12] Listening to youth feedback to evolve programming
• [26:53] Personal branding and authenticity in the culinary world
• [29:03] Seizing imperfect opportunities

CONNECT WITH CATHERINE

LinkedIn: Catherine De Orio

Instagram: @catdeorio & @yeschefcamp

Website: https://foundationforculinaryarts.org/ 

Send Haley a suggestion or request via text HERE!

My book, Sow, Grow, Lead is live on Amazon! It shares my journey of starting a nonprofit in Malawi and offers practical strategies for nonprofit leaders to create real impact.

Trusted by 80,000+ organizations in 90+ countries, Donorbox offers easy fundraising tools to help you raise more. From fast donation forms to crowdfunding, events, and Donorbox Live™ Kiosk, grow your impact with donorbox.org

CONNECT WITH HALEY
Haley is a CFRE, Stress Management Coach, and EmC trainer. Founder of The Savvy Fundraiser, she brings experience in human services, homelessness, and youth nonprofits. She specializes in EmC, leadership, board development, and fundraising, empowering nonprofit leaders to build thriving organizations.
Instagram: @thesavvyfundraiser
LinkedIn: Haley Cooper, CFRE
Website: thesavvyfundraiser.com
YouTube: thesavvyfundraiser
Produced by Ideablossoms

In this episode of the Lead with Heart Podcast, I’m honored to welcome Ron Katz - a seasoned fundraising leader with over three decades of impact in healthcare, education, and social services. Ron has raised over $100 million for mission-driven organizations, and today, he shares how his personal journey with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) has deepened his approach to donor relationships and philanthropy.

We explore how personal experiences can shape and enhance fundraising effectiveness, how to build lasting donor trust, and why authentic storytelling matters - especially in healthcare philanthropy. Whether you're a major gifts officer, executive director, or emerging nonprofit leader, Ron’s insight into patient-centered funding and nonprofit resilience will leave you inspired and empowered.

In this episode:

• [03:00] Ron’s path from politics to nonprofit fundraising
• [04:03] Leveraging a political background for nonprofit advocacy
• [05:00] How philanthropy drives medical advancement and enhances patient care
• [08:34] Building lasting donor relationships in today’s fundraising landscape
• [11:47] The power of patient-centered funding initiatives
• [13:44] Ron’s journey with CLL and its impact on his work
• [16:03] How to build strong donor relationships
• [18:07] The role of donor funding in research and treatment innovation
• [20:36] Ethical storytelling in healthcare fundraising
• [24:02] Key takeaways for emerging nonprofit professionals
• [26:06] Universal principles that apply across nonprofit sectors

E62: Turning Personal Loss Into Community Impact with Susan Combs from Pancakes for Roger

CONNECT WITH RON

LinkedIn: Ron Katz

Website: https://cllsociety.org/ 

Send Haley a suggestion or request via text HERE!

My book, Sow, Grow, Lead is live on Amazon! It shares my journey of starting a nonprofit in Malawi and offers practical strategies for nonprofit leaders to create real impact.

Trusted by 80,000+ organizations in 90+ countries, Donorbox offers easy fundraising tools to help you raise more. From fast donation forms to crowdfunding, events, and Donorbox Live™ Kiosk, grow your impact with donorbox.org

CONNECT WITH HALEY
Haley is a CFRE, Stress Management Coach, and EmC trainer. Founder of The Savvy Fundraiser, she brings experience in human services, homelessness, and youth nonprofits. She specializes in EmC, leadership, board development, and fundraising, empowering nonprofit leaders to build thriving organizations.
Instagram: @thesavvyfundraiser
LinkedIn: Haley Cooper, CFRE
Website: thesavvyfundraiser.com
YouTube: thesavvyfundraiser
Produced by Ideablossoms

I am thrilled to welcome Jacqueline Ackerman, interim director of the Women's Philanthropy Institute (WPI), to the podcast. In this episode, we’re unpacking how women give and why understanding those patterns can completely reshape how we approach nonprofit fundraising strategies.

Jacqueline brings a rich perspective, combining data, empathy, and decades of research to challenge traditional donor engagement approaches. From giving circles to intergenerational wealth transfer, we discuss what it means to meet women donors where they are and how fundraisers can adapt to support more values-aligned, inclusive philanthropy.

In this episode:

• [02:40] Jacqueline’s personal journey into women’s philanthropy
• [05:37] The research process behind WPI’s donor data
• [09:25] How women’s giving differs from men’s giving
• [13:10] Why affinity trumps capacity in donor engagement
• [16:29] Collective giving and how giving circles work
• [21:29] The value of engaging a giving circle
• [23:29] The case for affinity-based fundraising groups
• [26:13] Gen Z and cause-driven giving trends
• [31:05] One simple step to engage women donors more effectively
• [35:00] Addressing women correctly in donor communications

Women Give 2021 report on how households make charitable decisions

WPI's research on giving circles

Philanthropy Together

Impact100 global site

The Lilly Family School of Philanthropy's

Send Haley a suggestion or request via text HERE!

My book, Sow, Grow, Lead is live on Amazon! It shares my journey of starting a nonprofit in Malawi and offers practical strategies for nonprofit leaders to create real impact.

Trusted by 80,000+ organizations in 90+ countries, Donorbox offers easy fundraising tools to help you raise more. From fast donation forms to crowdfunding, events, and Donorbox Live™ Kiosk, grow your impact with donorbox.org

Dr. Lola Gershfeld’s EmC Masterclass helps you boost communication skills to raise more revenue. Trusted by top universities and global organizations. Use code LEADWITHHEART for 10% off.

CONNECT WITH HALEY
Haley is a CFRE, Stress Management Coach, and EmC trainer. Founder of The Savvy Fundraiser, she brings experience in human services, homelessness, and youth nonprofits. She specializes in EmC, leadership, board development, and fundraising, empowering nonprofit leaders to build thriving organizations.
Instagram: @thesavvyfundraiser
LinkedIn: Haley Cooper, CFRE
Website: thesavvyfundraiser.com
YouTube: thesavvyfundraiser
Produced by Ideablossoms

I’m honored to welcome Elliot Kallen to the Lead with Heart Podcast. Elliot is the president and co-founder of A Brighter Day, a nonprofit organization that has turned the devastating loss of his teenage son into a powerful mission to prevent teen suicide and offer hope to thousands of families.

In this deeply moving and empowering conversation, Elliot shares how his nonprofit is supporting 3,000–6,000 families each month with free mental health toolkits, a 24/7 teen crisis text line, and Zoom counseling sessions. We explore how emotional intelligence, real communication, and parent-teen connection can create protective factors against the alarming rise in teen suicide.

In this episode:

• [02:47] The loss that sparked a movement
• [05:34] Early warning signs of teen depression and suicidal thoughts
• [08:07] How social media affects teen self-worth
• [11:04] The hidden epidemic of cyberbullying
• [14:53] Practical strategies for emotionally connecting with teens
• [17:57] Programs at A Brighter Day - from text lines to Zoom therapy
• [21:14] The power of nonprofit partnerships
• [22:55] Destigmatizing suicide and mental health struggles
• [28:33] Elliot’s vision for reaching 37 million high schoolers
• [33:51] Leadership lessons from scaling a grief-born mission

Teen Crisis Text Line: Text “BRIGHTER” to 741741

CONNECT WITH ELLIOT

LinkedIn: Elliot Kallen

Instagram: @abrighterdaycharity

Website: https://abrighterday.info/ 

Email: elliot@abrighterday.info 

Phone: 510 206 1103

Send Haley a suggestion or request via text HERE!

My book, Sow, Grow, Lead is live on Amazon! It shares my journey of starting a nonprofit in Malawi and offers practical strategies for nonprofit leaders to create real impact.

Trusted by 80,000+ organizations in 90+ countries, Donorbox offers easy fundraising tools to help you raise more. From fast donation forms to crowdfunding, events, and Donorbox Live™ Kiosk, grow your impact with donorbox.org

CONNECT WITH HALEY
Haley is a CFRE, Stress Management Coach, and EmC trainer. Founder of The Savvy Fundraiser, she brings experience in human services, homelessness, and youth nonprofits. She specializes in EmC, leadership, board development, and fundraising, empowering nonprofit leaders to build thriving organizations.
Instagram: @thesavvyfundraiser
LinkedIn: Haley Cooper, CFRE
Website: thesavvyfundraiser.com
YouTube: thesavvyfundraiser
Produced by Ideablossoms

I can’t think of a more powerful way to celebrate 100 episodes than with Susan Inouye, a transformational executive coach and bestselling author whose work bridges neuroscience, somatics, and leadership.

In this milestone conversation, we explore how nonprofit leaders can shift from head-centric to heart-centered leadership. Susan shares five key leadership shifts for building emotionally intelligent, collaborative cultures—especially across generations.

If you're ready to build a culture where people feel seen, valued, and safe to contribute their gifts, this episode is a must-listen.

In this episode:

• [02:50] Susan’s unexpected journey to transformational coaching
• [07:11] Learning from Tony Robbins, Deepak Chopra, Pema Chödrön, and more
• [08:39] The difference between being and doing in leadership
• [10:14] How somatic and heart intelligence drive nonprofit team performance
• [17:58] Defining heart intelligence
• [20:08] Five leadership shifts to help leaders lead multigenerational teams
• [27:57] Building a culture of belonging in your nonprofit
• [34:52] A simple yet powerful practice to start leading with heart today

Leadership’s Perfect Storm by Susan Inouye

CONNECT WITH SUSAN

LinkedIn: Susan Inouye

Instagram: @susan_inouye

Website: https://susaninouye.com/leadwithheart   

Send Haley a suggestion or request via text HERE!

My book, Sow, Grow, Lead is live on Amazon! It shares my journey of starting a nonprofit in Malawi and offers practical strategies for nonprofit leaders to create real impact.

Trusted by 80,000+ organizations in 90+ countries, Donorbox offers easy fundraising tools to help you raise more. From fast donation forms to crowdfunding, events, and Donorbox Live™ Kiosk, grow your impact with donorbox.org

Dr. Lola Gershfeld’s EmC Masterclass helps you boost communication skills to raise more revenue. Trusted by top universities and global organizations. Use code LEADWITHHEART for 10% off.

CONNECT WITH HALEY
Haley is a CFRE, Stress Management Coach, and EmC trainer. Founder of The Savvy Fundraiser, she brings experience in human services, homelessness, and youth nonprofits. She specializes in EmC, leadership, board development, and fundraising, empowering nonprofit leaders to build thriving organizations.
Instagram: @thesavvyfundraiser
LinkedIn: Haley Cooper, CFRE
Website: thesavvyfundraiser.com
YouTube: thesavvyfundraiser
Produced by Ideablossoms

I’m thrilled to welcome David Rhode. David is a seasoned leader, nonprofit coach, strategic consultant, and author of Passion Isn’t Enough: A Practical Guide for Nonprofit Leaders. His career spans marketing, founding and running a nonprofit, and teaching at the University of Pennsylvania. He offers deep insight into leading sustainable organizations.

In this episode, we explore how to build a resonant brand, shift from passion to strategy, and engage your board in impactful fundraising.

In this episode:

• [02:21] David’s transition from for-profit to nonprofit leadership
• [03:45] The key to brand clarity and consistency in the nonprofit sector
• [07:21] Building a brand without a marketing budget
• [10:57] Why David wrote Passion Isn’t Enough
• [12:53] The three biggest challenges facing nonprofit leaders today
• [15:07] How to move board members from commitment to accountability
• [20:20] Rethinking give/get policies
• [25:00] Using motivation, celebration, and consistency to build a fundraising culture
• [28:45] Why passion alone won’t sustain nonprofit leadership
• [31:10] Leadership skill-building
• [34:48] David’s #1 advice for nonprofit CEOs feeling isolated or burned out

Passion Isn't Enough: A Practical Guide for Nonprofit Leaders by David Rhode

CONNECT WITH DAVID

LinkedIn: David Rhode

Website: https://dotdotorg.com/ 

Send Haley a suggestion or request via text HERE!

My book, Sow, Grow, Lead is live on Amazon! It shares my journey of starting a nonprofit in Malawi and offers practical strategies for nonprofit leaders to create real impact.

Trusted by 80,000+ organizations in 90+ countries, Donorbox offers easy fundraising tools to help you raise more. From fast donation forms to crowdfunding, events, and Donorbox Live™ Kiosk, grow your impact with donorbox.org

Dr. Lola Gershfeld’s EmC Masterclass helps you boost communication skills to raise more revenue. Trusted by top universities and global organizations. Use code LEADWITHHEART for 10% off.

CONNECT WITH HALEY
Haley is a CFRE, Stress Management Coach, and EmC trainer. Founder of The Savvy Fundraiser, she brings experience in human services, homelessness, and youth nonprofits. She specializes in EmC, leadership, board development, and fundraising, empowering nonprofit leaders to build thriving organizations.
Instagram: @thesavvyfundraiser
LinkedIn: Haley Cooper, CFRE
Website: thesavvyfundraiser.com
YouTube: thesavvyfundraiser
Produced by Ideablossoms

What if we told you that hustle isn’t the only way to grow your nonprofit’s impact?

In this episode, I’m joined by Luis Báez, a revenue enablement strategist and sales coach whose mission is to prove that you don’t have to grind to grow.  Luis spent the last decade translating high-growth tech strategies into sustainable success for executive sales leaders and heart-centered business owners. We dive into the power of servant leadership, developing strong organizational culture, and embracing smarter systems to support sustainable growth.

If you’re a nonprofit leader navigating burnout, limited resources, and siloed teams, this conversation is your permission slip to lead differently, with heart, strategy, and intention.

In this episode:

• [02:52] Luis’s transition from sales to purpose-driven coaching
• [04:39] What “revenue enablement” means for nonprofits
• [05:57] Why donor experience matters as much as fundraising
• [07:53] The mindset blocks leaders must shift to scale without burnout
• [11:41] Building authentic workplace cultures from the top down
• [16:02] How to align core values with everyday leadership
• [20:13] Replacing grind culture with smarter systems
• [22:07] Creating succession and leadership development pathways
• [26:44] Moving from scarcity to abundance in nonprofit leadership
• [28:37] Conscious engagement and feedback for team alignment
• [31:50] A simple yet powerful strategy to build stronger teams

Find Luis’s LinkedIn Learning courses here: https://www.linkedin.com/learning/instructors/luis-baez 

“ I like to think of nonprofits as businesses with a different tax privilege.” - Luis Báez

“ We have to honor the things that intrinsically motivate the people that we hire.” - Luis Báez

“ I'm not against working hard when it's needed. I'm just against working hard for the sake of working hard and looking busy for the sake of looking busy.” - Luis Báez

CONNECT WITH LUIS

LinkedIn:

Send Haley a suggestion or request via text HERE!

My book, Sow, Grow, Lead is live on Amazon! It shares my journey of starting a nonprofit in Malawi and offers practical strategies for nonprofit leaders to create real impact.

Trusted by 80,000+ organizations in 90+ countries, Donorbox offers easy fundraising tools to help you raise more. From fast donation forms to crowdfunding, events, and Donorbox Live™ Kiosk, grow your impact with donorbox.org

CONNECT WITH HALEY
Haley is a CFRE, Stress Management Coach, and EmC trainer. Founder of The Savvy Fundraiser, she brings experience in human services, homelessness, and youth nonprofits. She specializes in EmC, leadership, board development, and fundraising, empowering nonprofit leaders to build thriving organizations.
Instagram: @thesavvyfundraiser
LinkedIn: Haley Cooper, CFRE
Website: thesavvyfundraiser.com
YouTube: thesavvyfundraiser
Produced by Ideablossoms

I am so excited to welcome Alejandra Ramirez Wells to the Lead With Heart Podcast. Alejandra is an internal communication strategist and culture-building expert with nearly two decades of experience helping mission-driven organizations transform from the inside out.

In this episode, we dive deep into how internal communication is the key to creating sustainable nonprofit culture, retaining talent, and reducing burnout. Alejandra shares actionable insights for developing values-based communication systems that align your team, build trust, and strengthen your impact, especially in times of change or crisis.

If you're navigating team disengagement or organizational transitions, or just want to build a more connected and resilient staff culture, this episode is for you.

In this episode:

• [02:45] The hidden cost of poor internal communication
• [04:06] Signs your nonprofit culture is misaligned
• [06:02] Why values should shape internal systems
• [08:19] Conditions for a thriving nonprofit workplace
• [10:24] Creating feedback loops that lead to action
• [13:14] Internal comms in hybrid work environments
• [16:33] Crisis communication for nonprofits
• [19:24] Helping staff connect to the organizational vision
• [23:13] How internal communication affects external communication
• [26:40] Measuring the effectiveness of internal comms
• [31:08] Where to start when building a communication plan

CONNECT WITH ALEJANDRA

LinkedIn: Alejandra Ramirez Wells

Instagram: @readycultures

Website: https://www.readycultures.com/ 

Send Haley a suggestion or request via text HERE!

My book, Sow, Grow, Lead is live on Amazon! It shares my journey of starting a nonprofit in Malawi and offers practical strategies for nonprofit leaders to create real impact.

Trusted by 80,000+ organizations in 90+ countries, Donorbox offers easy fundraising tools to help you raise more. From fast donation forms to crowdfunding, events, and Donorbox Live™ Kiosk, grow your impact with donorbox.org

CONNECT WITH HALEY
Haley is a CFRE, Stress Management Coach, and EmC trainer. Founder of The Savvy Fundraiser, she brings experience in human services, homelessness, and youth nonprofits. She specializes in EmC, leadership, board development, and fundraising, empowering nonprofit leaders to build thriving organizations.
Instagram: @thesavvyfundraiser
LinkedIn: Haley Cooper, CFRE
Website: thesavvyfundraiser.com
YouTube: thesavvyfundraiser
Produced by Ideablossoms

I’m so excited to bring you this conversation with Bree Muehlbauer, an accomplished fundraiser, nonprofit leader, and senior director of philanthropy at Digital Health Strategies -  a healthcare-focused digital marketing and fundraising agency. Bree is a CFRE and inclusive philanthropy certificate holder who blends her technical fundraising expertise with a deep commitment to equity and inclusion—all while navigating motherhood and leadership.

In this episode, we explore the intersection of data-informed fundraising, inclusive philanthropy, and nonprofit leadership culture. Bree opens up about how becoming a mother transformed her perspective on leadership and the critical importance of creating supportive, flexible workplaces for parents and caregivers in the sector.

In this episode:

• [02:47] Bree's journey from educator to nonprofit fundraiser
• [04:31] What inclusive philanthropy really means
• [06:48] The risks of bias in data and AI for nonprofits
• [08:48] Becoming a data-informed fundraiser
• [12:23] How motherhood transforms leadership perspectives
• [14:44] Planning for maternity leave and reentry in nonprofits
• [18:27] Building a supportive workplace culture for mothers
• [23:14] Inclusivity and caregiver support in nonprofit work
• [25:41] Work-life balance, perfectionism, and urgency
• [29:03] Trust, flexibility, and building resilient nonprofit teams

E17: Empowering Nonprofits through Data Equity and Communication Strategies with Meenakshi Das

E26: How Employers Can Provide Psychological Safety And Support for Working Parents with Lacey Kempinski, CFRE & Founder of Balanced Good

CONNECT WITH BREE

LinkedIn: Bree Muehlbauer

Instagram: @breeheartskale

Send Haley a suggestion or request via text HERE!

My book, Sow, Grow, Lead is live on Amazon! It shares my journey of starting a nonprofit in Malawi and offers practical strategies for nonprofit leaders to create real impact.

Trusted by 80,000+ organizations in 90+ countries, Donorbox offers easy fundraising tools to help you raise more. From fast donation forms to crowdfunding, events, and Donorbox Live™ Kiosk, grow your impact with donorbox.org

CONNECT WITH HALEY
Haley is a CFRE, Stress Management Coach, and EmC trainer. Founder of The Savvy Fundraiser, she brings experience in human services, homelessness, and youth nonprofits. She specializes in EmC, leadership, board development, and fundraising, empowering nonprofit leaders to build thriving organizations.
Instagram: @thesavvyfundraiser
LinkedIn: Haley Cooper, CFRE
Website: thesavvyfundraiser.com
YouTube: thesavvyfundraiser
Produced by Ideablossoms

This week on Lead with Heart, intuitive coach and former jazz musician Shimrit Nativ shares her journey from off-grid living to leading a thriving coaching practice. We explore how nonprofit leaders can reconnect with their purpose, rebuild trust in their intuition, and take aligned action—whether launching bold initiatives or navigating day-to-day pressures.

In this episode:

• [01:43] Meet Shimrit: From off-grid living to intuitive coaching
• [07:15] Listening to your inner guidance - even when the path defies logic
• [14:37] What intuition actually is and how to access it
• [17:01] How to make your vision a reality
• [21:15] What to do when your big vision is met with doubt or skepticism
• [26:00] Practices for nonprofit leaders to reconnect with their “why”
• [30:35] Blending intuition with achievable goals and outcomes
• [32:31] Reframing goals as tools for growth - not just checkboxes
• [34:38] One daily writing practice to activate purpose, clarity, and direction

RESOURCES

DM Shimrit on Instagram with the word energy to receive her free meditation.

Learn more about Shimrit’s three-day workshop here.

CONNECT WITH SHIMRIT

LinkedIn: Shimrit Nativ

Website: https://www.shimritnativ.com/ 

Send Haley a suggestion or request via text HERE!

My book, Sow, Grow, Lead is live on Amazon! It shares my journey of starting a nonprofit in Malawi and offers practical strategies for nonprofit leaders to create real impact.

Trusted by 80,000+ organizations in 90+ countries, Donorbox offers easy fundraising tools to help you raise more. From fast donation forms to crowdfunding, events, and Donorbox Live™ Kiosk, grow your impact with donorbox.org

Dr. Lola Gershfeld’s EmC Masterclass helps you boost communication skills to raise more revenue. Trusted by top universities and global organizations. Use code LEADWITHHEART for 10% off.

CONNECT WITH HALEY
Haley is a CFRE, Stress Management Coach, and EmC trainer. Founder of The Savvy Fundraiser, she brings experience in human services, homelessness, and youth nonprofits. She specializes in EmC, leadership, board development, and fundraising, empowering nonprofit leaders to build thriving organizations.
Instagram: @thesavvyfundraiser
LinkedIn: Haley Cooper, CFRE
Website: thesavvyfundraiser.com
YouTube: thesavvyfundraiser
Produced by Ideablossoms

What does it really mean to tell stories with heart - and without harm?

In this deeply moving and practical episode of the Lead with Heart Podcast, I’m joined by my brilliant friend Diana Farias Heinrich, CEO of Habrá Marketing and the visionary behind the EQUAstory Framework and the Ethical Nonprofit Summit. Together, we explore the complex terrain of ethical storytelling in the nonprofit sector.

Diana shares her journey from a first-time fundraiser to a leader in ethical marketing, including the powerful moment that transformed how she approached storytelling forever. We unpack how stories can unintentionally exploit and what true informed consent really looks like.

In this episode:

• [02:52] Diana’s powerful story of publishing with unintended consequences and what it taught her
• [06:18] Ethical storytelling and common nonprofit marketing and communications pitfalls
• [09:36] The 4-step EQUAstory Framework for ethical nonprofit storytelling
• [22:00] Why informed consent is a process, not a form
• [24:18] How to gather and share stories while protecting the dignity and safety of your clients
• [26:56] The role of stock photos, trauma-informed practices, and board education in nonprofit communications
• [32:24] The Ethical Nonprofit Summit

Join the Ethical Nonprofit Summit (June 4 - 6, 2025) and use the code leadwithheart for $20 off. 

“ How do I make sure that whatever I publish at the end is something that one, isn't going to put somebody in harm's way? And two, is something that they're proud of?” - Diana Farias Heinrich

“ Informed consent is a process, not a form.” - Diana Farias Heinrich

“  From a marketing perspective, you absolutely need to use photos. It is what drives the internet. [...] But, you can be selective about what kind of photos you use.” - Diana Farias Heinrich

CONNECT WITH DIANA

LinkedIn: Diana Farias Heinrich

Website:

Send Haley a suggestion or request via text HERE!

My book, Sow, Grow, Lead is live on Amazon! It shares my journey of starting a nonprofit in Malawi and offers practical strategies for nonprofit leaders to create real impact.

Trusted by 80,000+ organizations in 90+ countries, Donorbox offers easy fundraising tools to help you raise more. From fast donation forms to crowdfunding, events, and Donorbox Live™ Kiosk, grow your impact with donorbox.org

CONNECT WITH HALEY
Haley is a CFRE, Stress Management Coach, and EmC trainer. Founder of The Savvy Fundraiser, she brings experience in human services, homelessness, and youth nonprofits. She specializes in EmC, leadership, board development, and fundraising, empowering nonprofit leaders to build thriving organizations.
Instagram: @thesavvyfundraiser
LinkedIn: Haley Cooper, CFRE
Website: thesavvyfundraiser.com
YouTube: thesavvyfundraiser
Produced by Ideablossoms

Welcome to another powerful episode of the Lead with Heart Podcast, your nonprofit leadership podcast focused on heart-led strategy and sustainable growth. This week, I sit down with Stephanie Sloan, founder of JLC Systems and an expert in streamlining nonprofit operations through effective SOPs.

Stephanie shares her IMPACT Method — a practical framework for evaluating workflows, preventing burnout, increasing donor and volunteer engagement, and preparing your organization for funding success. If you’ve ever felt like you’re building the plane while flying it, this episode is your permission to pause, document, and scale with intention.

In this episode:

• [03:05] Stephanie’s background in processes and systems
• [05:00] Why so many nonprofits struggle with efficiency
• [08:14] How to create an effective SOP
• [13:45] The value of evaluating and documenting processes
• [19:31] Evaluating processes to move from a reactive to a proactive mindset
• [25:19] How small nonprofit teams can benefit from SOPs
• [27:09] Storing SOPs and the people involved in creating them
• [31:09] Stephanie’s IMPACT method for developing organizational efficiency

E42: Empowering Nonprofit Leadership Development and Growth with Kristin Harrington, Partner at Lead Star

“ This is not hard. Just take the one thing that is the most important to your staff and the most important to your mission and make sure it's documented.” - Stephanie Sloan

“If we all ceased to exist tomorrow, would the mission move forward? That’s the power of a well-written SOP.” – Stephanie Sloan

CONNECT WITH STEPHANIE

LinkedIn: Stephanie Sloan

Instagram: @jlcsystems

Website: https://www.jlcsystems.com/ 

Send Haley a suggestion or request via text HERE!

My book, Sow, Grow, Lead is live on Amazon! It shares my journey of starting a nonprofit in Malawi and offers practical strategies for nonprofit leaders to create real impact.

Trusted by 80,000+ organizations in 90+ countries, Donorbox offers easy fundraising tools to help you raise more. From fast donation forms to crowdfunding, events, and Donorbox Live™ Kiosk, grow your impact with donorbox.org

CONNECT WITH HALEY
Haley is a CFRE, Stress Management Coach, and EmC trainer. Founder of The Savvy Fundraiser, she brings experience in human services, homelessness, and youth nonprofits. She specializes in EmC, leadership, board development, and fundraising, empowering nonprofit leaders to build thriving organizations.
Instagram: @thesavvyfundraiser
LinkedIn: Haley Cooper, CFRE
Website: thesavvyfundraiser.com
YouTube: thesavvyfundraiser
Produced by Ideablossoms

I am so excited to have Kel Haney back on the podcast. She is a fundraising expert who knows firsthand how a simple five minute conversation can transform donor relationships and significantly boost engagement. 

In this episode, we're exploring the power of picking up the phone to grow mid-level donors. Discover practical strategies to build meaningful relationships with donors through phone calls, ensure effective follow-ups, and leave impactful voicemails.

If you're ready to learn how to pick up the phone and watch your donor engagement level up, join us in this conversation.

How a 5-Minute Fundraising Call Can Boost Mid-Level Donor Engagement - in this episode:

• [04:10] Identifying and engaging with mid-level donors
• [07:48] Key moments in an effective 5 minute fundraising call
• [12:34] Leading a phone call with curiosity
• [15:14] The value of a follow-up
• [19:17] Leaving impactful voicemails
• [23:17] Text messages versus phone calls
• [26:28] Implementing a successful phone call fundraising strategy
• [30:47] Tracking the success of a 5 minute fundraising call

E51: The Art of Fundraising as a Relationship-Building Opportunity with Kel Haney

Gift Range Chart: https://bloomerang.co/blog/how-a-gift-range-chart-can-help-small-nonprofits-raise-more-money/ 

“ Quite frequently, you've got people in your grassroots level who do have the capacity, the propensity, and the affinity to give at a higher level, and we just may not have asked them and started to develop that rel

Send Haley a suggestion or request via text HERE!

My book, Sow, Grow, Lead is live on Amazon! It shares my journey of starting a nonprofit in Malawi and offers practical strategies for nonprofit leaders to create real impact.

Trusted by 80,000+ organizations in 90+ countries, Donorbox offers easy fundraising tools to help you raise more. From fast donation forms to crowdfunding, events, and Donorbox Live™ Kiosk, grow your impact with donorbox.org

Dr. Lola Gershfeld’s EmC Masterclass helps you boost communication skills to raise more revenue. Trusted by top universities and global organizations. Use code LEADWITHHEART for 10% off.

CONNECT WITH HALEY
Haley is a CFRE, Stress Management Coach, and EmC trainer. Founder of The Savvy Fundraiser, she brings experience in human services, homelessness, and youth nonprofits. She specializes in EmC, leadership, board development, and fundraising, empowering nonprofit leaders to build thriving organizations.
Instagram: @thesavvyfundraiser
LinkedIn: Haley Cooper, CFRE
Website: thesavvyfundraiser.com
YouTube: thesavvyfundraiser
Produced by Ideablossoms

 I'm thrilled to welcome Sean Littman to this episode of Lead with Heart. Sean is a true disruptor in the nonprofit digital space, bringing over a decade of expertise in digital marketing to help organizations grow and scale. He has transformed the way nonprofits leverage Google Grants and email marketing to build stronger communities and increase impact. 

We’re diving deep into the importance of digital marketing for nonprofits, effective strategies for email marketing, how to leverage Google Grants, and how to create impactful campaigns.

In this episode:

• [02:51] Sean’s journey into the nonprofit digital space
• [06:38] Offers that nonprofits can use to get people in the door
• [10:38] Mistakes that nonprofits make when leveraging digital tools
• [13:27] Understanding your audience
• [18:49] Leveraging Google Grants
• [20:45] Retention marketing
• [26:29] Effective nonprofit email marketing strategies
• [32:23] Scaling your digital impact without overwhelming your donors

CONNECT WITH SEAN

LinkedIn: Sean Littman

YouTube: @NonprofitAcademy

Podcast: Profiting With Nonprofits

Email: sean@givesuite.com 

Website: https://givesuite.com/ & https://catch22nonprofit.com/ 

Send Haley a suggestion or request via text HERE!

My book, Sow, Grow, Lead is live on Amazon! It shares my journey of starting a nonprofit in Malawi and offers practical strategies for nonprofit leaders to create real impact.

Trusted by 80,000+ organizations in 90+ countries, Donorbox offers easy fundraising tools to help you raise more. From fast donation forms to crowdfunding, events, and Donorbox Live™ Kiosk, grow your impact with donorbox.org

CONNECT WITH HALEY
Haley is a CFRE, Stress Management Coach, and EmC trainer. Founder of The Savvy Fundraiser, she brings experience in human services, homelessness, and youth nonprofits. She specializes in EmC, leadership, board development, and fundraising, empowering nonprofit leaders to build thriving organizations.
Instagram: @thesavvyfundraiser
LinkedIn: Haley Cooper, CFRE
Website: thesavvyfundraiser.com
YouTube: thesavvyfundraiser
Produced by Ideablossoms

I am excited and honored to welcome Jeff Schreifels to this episode of Lead with Heart. Jeff is the principal and owner of Veritus Group - a global consulting agency specializing in major gifts and mid-level fundraising strategy. He is a pioneer of relationship-centered fundraising, and under his leadership, Veritus has helped increase mid and major gift revenue and decrease donor value attrition for hundreds of nonprofits worldwide.

We’re exploring the Veritus way of mid and major gifts fundraising, creating a culture of philanthropy within nonprofit organizations, integrating donors into your mission, and so much more.

In this episode:

• [02:36] The Veritus Group’s origin and focus on mid and major gifts
• [11:10] The difference between major and mid-level gifts
• [14:45] Key characteristics of a successful major gifts officer
• [19:11] Building a culture of philanthropy within an organization
• [31:51] Integrating donors into the mission beyond asking for money
• [36:19] Indicators that an organization truly values its employees
• [39:32] Building relationships with major gifts officers and major donors as a leader

RESOURCES

Resources from the Veritus Group: https://veritusgroup.com/resources/ 

It's NOT JUST about the Money by Richard Perry and Jeff Schreifels

It’s Not JUST About the Donor by Jeff Schreifels and Richard Perry

Nothing But Major Gifts podcast

CONNECT WITH JEFF

LinkedIn: Jeff Schreifels

Instagram:

Send Haley a suggestion or request via text HERE!

My book, Sow, Grow, Lead is live on Amazon! It shares my journey of starting a nonprofit in Malawi and offers practical strategies for nonprofit leaders to create real impact.

Trusted by 80,000+ organizations in 90+ countries, Donorbox offers easy fundraising tools to help you raise more. From fast donation forms to crowdfunding, events, and Donorbox Live™ Kiosk, grow your impact with donorbox.org

Dr. Lola Gershfeld’s EmC Masterclass helps you boost communication skills to raise more revenue. Trusted by top universities and global organizations. Use code LEADWITHHEART for 10% off.

CONNECT WITH HALEY
Haley is a CFRE, Stress Management Coach, and EmC trainer. Founder of The Savvy Fundraiser, she brings experience in human services, homelessness, and youth nonprofits. She specializes in EmC, leadership, board development, and fundraising, empowering nonprofit leaders to build thriving organizations.
Instagram: @thesavvyfundraiser
LinkedIn: Haley Cooper, CFRE
Website: thesavvyfundraiser.com
YouTube: thesavvyfundraiser
Produced by Ideablossoms

On this episode of Lead with Heart, I am thrilled to introduce the incredible work of Chanda Hinton and the Chanda Center for Health, an organization dedicated to empowering individuals living with long-term physical disabilities through innovative healthcare services. 

In bold advocacy efforts, the Chanda Center ensures that everyone, regardless of their physical challenges, has the right to build their own healthcare path, live independently, and actively engage with their communities. Join us as we explore how the center is breaking barriers and pioneering systemic changes to improve access and equity for people with disabilities.

In this episode:

• [02:36] Chanda’s personal journey navigating the medical system
• [07:51] Challenges as a nonprofit founder and CEO
• [10:15] Advocating for systemic or legislative changes
• [13:43] Addressing challenges and promoting independence for people with long-term disabilities
• [17:18] The value of collaboration
• [20:19] Using the needs of your community to shape your program 
• [23:54] The Chanda Center’s goals for 2025
• [27:20] Strategies for building awareness for your nonprofit
• [29:35] Supporting the Chanda Center

CONNECT WITH CHANDA

LinkedIn: Chanda Hinton

Instagram: @chandacenterforhealth

Website: https://chandacenter.org/ 

Send Haley a suggestion or request via text HERE!

My book, Sow, Grow, Lead is live on Amazon! It shares my journey of starting a nonprofit in Malawi and offers practical strategies for nonprofit leaders to create real impact.

Trusted by 80,000+ organizations in 90+ countries, Donorbox offers easy fundraising tools to help you raise more. From fast donation forms to crowdfunding, events, and Donorbox Live™ Kiosk, grow your impact with donorbox.org

CONNECT WITH HALEY
Haley is a CFRE, Stress Management Coach, and EmC trainer. Founder of The Savvy Fundraiser, she brings experience in human services, homelessness, and youth nonprofits. She specializes in EmC, leadership, board development, and fundraising, empowering nonprofit leaders to build thriving organizations.
Instagram: @thesavvyfundraiser
LinkedIn: Haley Cooper, CFRE
Website: thesavvyfundraiser.com
YouTube: thesavvyfundraiser
Produced by Ideablossoms

On this episode, I am thrilled to welcome Elaine Lankford, a passionate advocate for Christian female entrepreneurs and a true champion of empowering women to pursue their God-sized dreams.

Elaine is the founder of She Steps Forward Coaching and She Steps Forward International. She has dedicated her life to equipping women to launch and grow successful businesses, ministries, and nonprofits. With her expertise as a certified John Maxwell team member, Elaine blends faith-based entrepreneurial coaching, leadership development, and strategic planning to help women step confidently into their calling.

I can’t wait for you to hear her wisdom on these topics today.

In this episode:

• [02:39] Elaine’s transition from nursing to coaching
• [05:53] The two main challenges female entrepreneurs face
• [07:22] A four-pronged approach to empowering female entrepreneurs
• [13:29] How to serve diverse communities
• [19:00] John Maxwell’s leadership principles
• [22:07] Key leadership traits for running a successful small business, nonprofit, or ministry
• [23:47] Building organizational legacy
• [26:31] Highlights from the She Steps Forward Conference

Find John Maxwell’s books HERE.

CONNECT WITH ELAINE

LinkedIn: Elaine Lankford

Instagram: @shestepsforwardinternational

Email: elaine@shestepsforwardinternational.org 

Website: https://shestepsforwardinternational.org   

Send Haley a suggestion or request via text HERE!

My book, Sow, Grow, Lead is live on Amazon! It shares my journey of starting a nonprofit in Malawi and offers practical strategies for nonprofit leaders to create real impact.

Trusted by 80,000+ organizations in 90+ countries, Donorbox offers easy fundraising tools to help you raise more. From fast donation forms to crowdfunding, events, and Donorbox Live™ Kiosk, grow your impact with donorbox.org

CONNECT WITH HALEY
Haley is a CFRE, Stress Management Coach, and EmC trainer. Founder of The Savvy Fundraiser, she brings experience in human services, homelessness, and youth nonprofits. She specializes in EmC, leadership, board development, and fundraising, empowering nonprofit leaders to build thriving organizations.
Instagram: @thesavvyfundraiser
LinkedIn: Haley Cooper, CFRE
Website: thesavvyfundraiser.com
YouTube: thesavvyfundraiser
Produced by Ideablossoms

Principled leadership is essential to nonprofit success—a belief strongly held by my guest, Andrew Olsen.

Andrew helps nonprofit leaders increase impact through thriving organizational cultures that drive revenue growth. He's assisted over 500 nonprofits in raising half a billion dollars, authored bestselling books, and hosts the Rainmaker Fundraising Podcast.

We discuss leadership's role in fundraising, building strong donor relationships, and what's inhibiting change in nonprofits.

In this episode:

• [02:35] Andrew’s inspirational journey
• [04:19] Core principles for building a successful fundraising program
• [06:10] Challenges in nonprofit leadership relating to fundraising and philanthropy and how to combat them
• [13:35] Hiring an effective fundraiser
• [19:32] The connection between a positive internal culture and fundraising success
• [21:23] The factor that is inhibiting change in nonprofits
• [29:30] Strengthening relationships with major donors
• [34:39] Managing time to prioritize the most effective fundraising strategies

101 Biggest Mistakes Nonprofits Make and How You Can Avoid Them by Andrew Olsen

CONNECT WITH ANDREW

LinkedIn: Andrew Olsen

Instagram: @andrewolsencfre

Website: https://andrewolsen.net/ 

Send Haley a suggestion or request via text HERE!

My book, Sow, Grow, Lead is live on Amazon! It shares my journey of starting a nonprofit in Malawi and offers practical strategies for nonprofit leaders to create real impact.

Trusted by 80,000+ organizations in 90+ countries, Donorbox offers easy fundraising tools to help you raise more. From fast donation forms to crowdfunding, events, and Donorbox Live™ Kiosk, grow your impact with donorbox.org

Dr. Lola Gershfeld’s EmC Masterclass helps you boost communication skills to raise more revenue. Trusted by top universities and global organizations. Use code LEADWITHHEART for 10% off.

CONNECT WITH HALEY
Haley is a CFRE, Stress Management Coach, and EmC trainer. Founder of The Savvy Fundraiser, she brings experience in human services, homelessness, and youth nonprofits. She specializes in EmC, leadership, board development, and fundraising, empowering nonprofit leaders to build thriving organizations.
Instagram: @thesavvyfundraiser
LinkedIn: Haley Cooper, CFRE
Website: thesavvyfundraiser.com
YouTube: thesavvyfundraiser
Produced by Ideablossoms

I am thrilled to welcome Christy Pretzinger as my guest on this episode of Lead with Heart. Christy is the CEO and founder of WG Content - a company that has reshaped the healthcare content landscape through an inspiring approach centered on kindness and people-focused values. 

She's a sought-after speaker and expert on topics like emotional intelligence, trust, and the often overlooked soft skills that create truly connected and effective workplaces. 

These are some of my favorite topics to discuss, so let’s dive into Christy's insights on creating inclusive, trust-filled cultures that prioritize human connection.

In this episode:

• [02:33] Building a business on the foundation of kindness
• [05:19] Co-creating your business's values with your team
• [08:54] Using personality typing to engage your team
• [12:39] Radical empathy and emotional intelligence in leadership
• [20:14] Leading with trust and vulnerability
• [25:12] Holding people accountable with empathy
• [29:10] Building team culture intentionally
• [30:47] Personal development for business growth

CONNECT WITH CHRISTY

LinkedIn: Christy Pretzinger

Website: https://wgcontent.com/ 

Send Haley a suggestion or request via text HERE!

My book, Sow, Grow, Lead is live on Amazon! It shares my journey of starting a nonprofit in Malawi and offers practical strategies for nonprofit leaders to create real impact.

Trusted by 80,000+ organizations in 90+ countries, Donorbox offers easy fundraising tools to help you raise more. From fast donation forms to crowdfunding, events, and Donorbox Live™ Kiosk, grow your impact with donorbox.org

Dr. Lola Gershfeld’s EmC Masterclass helps you boost communication skills to raise more revenue. Trusted by top universities and global organizations. Use code LEADWITHHEART for 10% off.

CONNECT WITH HALEY
Haley is a CFRE, Stress Management Coach, and EmC trainer. Founder of The Savvy Fundraiser, she brings experience in human services, homelessness, and youth nonprofits. She specializes in EmC, leadership, board development, and fundraising, empowering nonprofit leaders to build thriving organizations.
Instagram: @thesavvyfundraiser
LinkedIn: Haley Cooper, CFRE
Website: thesavvyfundraiser.com
YouTube: thesavvyfundraiser
Produced by Ideablossoms

I am thrilled to welcome Neil Ghosh to the Lead with Heart Podcast. Neil is the former CEO of SOS Children’s Village USA, Senior Advisor to the Ousri Family Foundation, and the author of Do More Good - a #1 new release praised by President Bill Clinton and featuring a foreword by the Dalai Lama.

Neil’s life’s work is centered on building bridges across divides with empathy, purpose, and action. In this episode, Neil shares how passion and compassion work together, why nonprofits must commit to listening and effective governance, and how we can all take daily actions—large or small—to create unity in a divided world.

In this episode:

• [03:08] Lessons from the private, public, and nonprofit sectors
• [04:36] The difference between passion and compassion and why you need both
• [10:00] Passion, purpose, and action
• [13:46] Leadership lessons from Malala and the Dalai Lama on courage and compassion
• [17:50] Why nonprofit governance and transparency matter more than ever
• [23:50] How to vet ethical and transparent nonprofits as a donor
• [29:02] Why unity doesn’t mean uniformity and how empathy sustains democracy
• [35:17] Combating loneliness in leadership through action and community

Do More Good: Inspiring Lessons from Extraordinary People by Neil Ghosh

Charity Vetting Tools: Charity Navigator, GuideStar, CharityWatch

CONNECT WITH NEIL

LinkedIn: Neil Ghosh

Instagram: @neilghoshauthor

Website:

Send Haley a suggestion or request via text HERE!

My book, Sow, Grow, Lead is live on Amazon! It shares my journey of starting a nonprofit in Malawi and offers practical strategies for nonprofit leaders to create real impact.

Trusted by 80,000+ organizations in 90+ countries, Donorbox offers easy fundraising tools to help you raise more. From fast donation forms to crowdfunding, events, and Donorbox Live™ Kiosk, grow your impact with donorbox.org

Dr. Lola Gershfeld’s EmC Masterclass helps you boost communication skills to raise more revenue. Trusted by top universities and global organizations. Use code LEADWITHHEART for 10% off.

CONNECT WITH HALEY
Haley is a CFRE, Stress Management Coach, and EmC trainer. Founder of The Savvy Fundraiser, she brings experience in human services, homelessness, and youth nonprofits. She specializes in EmC, leadership, board development, and fundraising, empowering nonprofit leaders to build thriving organizations.
Instagram: @thesavvyfundraiser
LinkedIn: Haley Cooper, CFRE
Website: thesavvyfundraiser.com
YouTube: thesavvyfundraiser
Produced by Ideablossoms

In this episode of Lead with Heart, I am joined by Laura Bonnell, the founder of The Bonnell Foundation and host of the Living with Cystic Fibrosis Podcast. 

Laura's journey into advocacy began when her mother's instincts clashed with initial medical skepticism, ultimately leading to a life-changing diagnosis for her daughter Molly. Fueled by a passion to help her daughter and others with cystic fibrosis (CF), Laura shifted from a journalism career to nonprofit leadership, combining her storytelling skills and commitment to advocacy. Now, she's raising awareness, supporting families, and working with legislators to drive meaningful change for those living with CF.

Our conversation delves into the challenges faced by CF families, the importance of storytelling in fundraising and awareness, and the role of nonprofit advocacy in creating meaningful change.

In this episode:

• [02:46] Turning a challenging experience into a mission-driven career
• [06:11] Understanding cystic fibrosis and The Bonnell Foundation
• [08:38] The challenges cystic fibrosis families face once they receive the diagnosis
• [10:10] The Bonnell Foundation’s funding model
• [11:55] The value of telling your story
• [14:10] The key components of ethical storytelling
• [21:24] Adopting an advocacy mindset to create impactful and sustainable nonprofit growth
• [27:37] Involving children in advocacy
• [29:09] The Bonnell Foundation’s goals for the future

CONNECT WITH LAURA

LinkedIn: Laura Bonnell

Instagram: @laurabonnell

Website: https://thebonnellfoundation.org/ 

Email: thebonnellfoundation@gmail.com

Send Haley a suggestion or request via text HERE!

My book, Sow, Grow, Lead is live on Amazon! It shares my journey of starting a nonprofit in Malawi and offers practical strategies for nonprofit leaders to create real impact.

Trusted by 80,000+ organizations in 90+ countries, Donorbox offers easy fundraising tools to help you raise more. From fast donation forms to crowdfunding, events, and Donorbox Live™ Kiosk, grow your impact with donorbox.org

CONNECT WITH HALEY
Haley is a CFRE, Stress Management Coach, and EmC trainer. Founder of The Savvy Fundraiser, she brings experience in human services, homelessness, and youth nonprofits. She specializes in EmC, leadership, board development, and fundraising, empowering nonprofit leaders to build thriving organizations.
Instagram: @thesavvyfundraiser
LinkedIn: Haley Cooper, CFRE
Website: thesavvyfundraiser.com
YouTube: thesavvyfundraiser
Produced by Ideablossoms

In this episode of Lead with Heart, we’re talking all about connection and collaboration with Britt Hogue - the founder of The Collective Good. 

With over 20 years of experience spanning the social, public, and private sectors, Britt has dedicated her career to fostering collaboration and connection. She knows firsthand that working collectively, whether as families, teams, or nations, can drive impactful solutions to some of our most pressing challenges.

We’re discussing the importance of collectivism in nonprofit work, the impact of connection on human well-being, and practical ways organizations can build relationships to enhance their mission.

In this episode:

• [02:18] Britt’s background
• [04:31] The value of collaboration
• [09:27] The impact of connection and loneliness on individuals and societies
• [14:39] Engaging volunteers and donors through authentic relationships
• [16:51] Finding common ground between diverse groups of people
• [25:06] Practical strategies for collaborating effectively in situations that may appear adverse
• [28:00] How to invest in relationships

CONNECT WITH BRITT

LinkedIn: Britt Hogue

Website: https://www.the-collective-good.com/  

Send Haley a suggestion or request via text HERE!

My book, Sow, Grow, Lead is live on Amazon! It shares my journey of starting a nonprofit in Malawi and offers practical strategies for nonprofit leaders to create real impact.

Trusted by 80,000+ organizations in 90+ countries, Donorbox offers easy fundraising tools to help you raise more. From fast donation forms to crowdfunding, events, and Donorbox Live™ Kiosk, grow your impact with donorbox.org

CONNECT WITH HALEY
Haley is a CFRE, Stress Management Coach, and EmC trainer. Founder of The Savvy Fundraiser, she brings experience in human services, homelessness, and youth nonprofits. She specializes in EmC, leadership, board development, and fundraising, empowering nonprofit leaders to build thriving organizations.
Instagram: @thesavvyfundraiser
LinkedIn: Haley Cooper, CFRE
Website: thesavvyfundraiser.com
YouTube: thesavvyfundraiser
Produced by Ideablossoms

This episode is all about navigating HR in the nonprofit sector. We’re discussing the importance of onboarding, building a supportive work culture, employee retention and more with Dr. Tiffany Slater.

Tiffany is the founder and CEO of HR Tailormade and is here to help nonprofit leaders and small business owners navigate the complex world of HR with heart and expertise.

She is a trailblazing entrepreneur who built her business from the ground up, offering HR solutions that not only ensure compliance, but also foster thriving workplace cultures. Tiffany has so much practical advice to share with us today.

In this episode:

• [04:04] Understanding human resources
• [06:38] Cultivating culture within an organization and prioritising feedback
• [11:44] The critical role of the onboarding process
• [17:15] When to hire HR in-house versus a consultant
• [18:50] Approaching difficult conversations with empathy and professionalism
• [22:36] Building an inclusive work environment in the nonprofit space
• [32:00] The key to employee retention in nonprofits and investing in employee well-being

CONNECT WITH TIFFANY

LinkedIn: Tiffany E. Slater

Instagram: @hrtailormade

Website: https://hrtailormade.com/

Send Haley a suggestion or request via text HERE!

My book, Sow, Grow, Lead is live on Amazon! It shares my journey of starting a nonprofit in Malawi and offers practical strategies for nonprofit leaders to create real impact.

Trusted by 80,000+ organizations in 90+ countries, Donorbox offers easy fundraising tools to help you raise more. From fast donation forms to crowdfunding, events, and Donorbox Live™ Kiosk, grow your impact with donorbox.org

Dr. Lola Gershfeld’s EmC Masterclass helps you boost communication skills to raise more revenue. Trusted by top universities and global organizations. Use code LEADWITHHEART for 10% off.

CONNECT WITH HALEY
Haley is a CFRE, Stress Management Coach, and EmC trainer. Founder of The Savvy Fundraiser, she brings experience in human services, homelessness, and youth nonprofits. She specializes in EmC, leadership, board development, and fundraising, empowering nonprofit leaders to build thriving organizations.
Instagram: @thesavvyfundraiser
LinkedIn: Haley Cooper, CFRE
Website: thesavvyfundraiser.com
YouTube: thesavvyfundraiser
Produced by Ideablossoms

In this episode, we're diving into the transformative power of philanthropy in global healthcare with Scott Marcello, president and board member of African Mission Healthcare (AMH). AMH is dedicated to strengthening health systems in underserved regions across Africa, particularly through support for faith-based missionary hospitals.

We are going to explore how AMH is bridging gaps in healthcare access, their efforts to tackle global health disparities, and the personal motivations driving Scott's impactful philanthropic work.

In this episode:

• [02:44] Scott’s journey and role in African Mission Healthcare
• [07:07] Building relationships with mission hospitals across Africa
• [11:13] The motivation behind partnering with mission hospitals
• [15:09] The impact of private philanthropy in addressing the needs of global healthcare
• [21:03] Ethical storytelling for an internationally based nonprofit
• [26:34] Engaging donors to understand your mission
• [29:13] The vision for AMH for 2025 and beyond

CONNECT WITH SCOTT

LinkedIn: Scott Marcello

Email: scott.marcello@africanmissionhealthcare.org 

Instagram: @africanmissionhealthcare_

Website: https://africanmissionhealthcare.org/ 

Send Haley a suggestion or request via text HERE!

My book, Sow, Grow, Lead is live on Amazon! It shares my journey of starting a nonprofit in Malawi and offers practical strategies for nonprofit leaders to create real impact.

Trusted by 80,000+ organizations in 90+ countries, Donorbox offers easy fundraising tools to help you raise more. From fast donation forms to crowdfunding, events, and Donorbox Live™ Kiosk, grow your impact with donorbox.org

Dr. Lola Gershfeld’s EmC Masterclass helps you boost communication skills to raise more revenue. Trusted by top universities and global organizations. Use code LEADWITHHEART for 10% off.

CONNECT WITH HALEY
Haley is a CFRE, Stress Management Coach, and EmC trainer. Founder of The Savvy Fundraiser, she brings experience in human services, homelessness, and youth nonprofits. She specializes in EmC, leadership, board development, and fundraising, empowering nonprofit leaders to build thriving organizations.
Instagram: @thesavvyfundraiser
LinkedIn: Haley Cooper, CFRE
Website: thesavvyfundraiser.com
YouTube: thesavvyfundraiser
Produced by Ideablossoms

On today’s episode of Lead with Heart, we are exploring all things project management and the Project Management Professional (PMP) Certification with Tamara McLemore.

Tamara is the powerhouse founder of Tamara McLemore Enterprises, an executive consultant, a PMP instructor, and an award winning speaker who's revolutionizing the way mid-career professional women approach project management. Through her innovative PMP exam two-week intensive, Tamra has condensed months of preparation into a streamlined 30 day path to certification.

Tamara is sharing her insights on risk management, people management, the significance of feedback, and more.

In this episode:

• [02:40] Understanding the Project Management Professional (PMP) Certification
• [08:18] Project management for nonprofits
• [11:22] Leadership lessons from project management
• [13:23] The importance of risk management
• [15:38] Empowering mid-career women in project management
• [17:33] Bridging the gap between project management and people management
• [23:11] How project managers can provide constructive feedback
• [27:08] Empowering women to ask for raises
• [32:41] Busting PMP Certification myths

CONNECT WITH TAMARA 

LinkedIn: Tamara McLemore

Instagram: @tamarajoyful

Website: https://iwantmypmp.com/ 

Send Haley a suggestion or request via text HERE!

My book, Sow, Grow, Lead is live on Amazon! It shares my journey of starting a nonprofit in Malawi and offers practical strategies for nonprofit leaders to create real impact.

Trusted by 80,000+ organizations in 90+ countries, Donorbox offers easy fundraising tools to help you raise more. From fast donation forms to crowdfunding, events, and Donorbox Live™ Kiosk, grow your impact with donorbox.org

CONNECT WITH HALEY
Haley is a CFRE, Stress Management Coach, and EmC trainer. Founder of The Savvy Fundraiser, she brings experience in human services, homelessness, and youth nonprofits. She specializes in EmC, leadership, board development, and fundraising, empowering nonprofit leaders to build thriving organizations.
Instagram: @thesavvyfundraiser
LinkedIn: Haley Cooper, CFRE
Website: thesavvyfundraiser.com
YouTube: thesavvyfundraiser
Produced by Ideablossoms

On today’s episode of the Lead with Heart podcast, we’re covering many of my favorite leadership topics with Christian Muntean - a consultant who has empowered business owners and executives to boost revenues by over $500 million while also helping them reclaim valuable time for their families.

Christian is the author of Train to Lead: The Unstoppable Leader's Plan for Peak Performance which provides leaders with a structured pathway to achieving success while maintaining balance in their personal and professional lives. We’ll be exploring this concept more in this episode.

Christian also offers a unique perspective on ethical leadership, employee care, and community service.

In this episode:

• [02:59] The impact of good leadership and equipping people to lead
• [07:06] The concept and core pillars of a structured approach to leadership
• [15:31] The importance of self-management and tools leaders can use to self-manage
• [19:51] Strategies for maximizing productivity during times of high energy
• [22:48] Addressing the root cause of conflict
• [31:42] Ethical leadership: How leaders can prioritize employee care without sacrificing business growth
• [38:44] Advice for emerging leaders

RESOURCES

Train to Lead: The Unstoppable Leader's Plan for Peak Performance by Christian Muntean

CONNECT WITH CHRISTIAN

LinkedIn: Christian Muntean

Website: https://www.christianmuntean.com/ 

Send Haley a suggestion or request via text HERE!

My book, Sow, Grow, Lead is live on Amazon! It shares my journey of starting a nonprofit in Malawi and offers practical strategies for nonprofit leaders to create real impact.

Trusted by 80,000+ organizations in 90+ countries, Donorbox offers easy fundraising tools to help you raise more. From fast donation forms to crowdfunding, events, and Donorbox Live™ Kiosk, grow your impact with donorbox.org

Dr. Lola Gershfeld’s EmC Masterclass helps you boost communication skills to raise more revenue. Trusted by top universities and global organizations. Use code LEADWITHHEART for 10% off.

CONNECT WITH HALEY
Haley is a CFRE, Stress Management Coach, and EmC trainer. Founder of The Savvy Fundraiser, she brings experience in human services, homelessness, and youth nonprofits. She specializes in EmC, leadership, board development, and fundraising, empowering nonprofit leaders to build thriving organizations.
Instagram: @thesavvyfundraiser
LinkedIn: Haley Cooper, CFRE
Website: thesavvyfundraiser.com
YouTube: thesavvyfundraiser
Produced by Ideablossoms

 If you find navigating the world as an empath exhausting, I’m thrilled to introduce this podcast’s guest, David Waldas.

David is an inspiring leader and the visionary behind the aligned living system. His mission is to empower individuals to find purpose, clarity, and fulfillment in their lives through a holistic integrative approach.

Whether you're a corporate executive, an entrepreneur, a nonprofit professional, or someone looking for some personal healing and growth, tune into this episode because David has insights that have transformed lives across the globe.

In this episode:

• [02:40] David’s background and transformative journey
• [06:52] Exploring empathy, emotional connection, and aligned living
• [13:20] Healing deep-seated emotional wounds
• [19:07] Creating healthy emotional boundaries as an empath
• [22:24] The Aligned Living Foundation
• [31:03] The importance of safety and security

“ Energy is the deepest form of communication, but we pretend it doesn't exist.” - David Waldas

“ When we're already comfortable inside of ourselves, cause we're tapping into our energy first, we stopped needing the world to be different.” - David Waldas

“ We have all these experiences in life that we don't even touch because we don't feel safe enough to open them up.” - David Waldas

CONNECT WITH DAVID 

Instagram: @david_waldas

LinkedIn: David Waldas

Website: https://www.davidwaldas.com/ 

Send Haley a suggestion or request via text HERE!

My book, Sow, Grow, Lead is live on Amazon! It shares my journey of starting a nonprofit in Malawi and offers practical strategies for nonprofit leaders to create real impact.

Trusted by 80,000+ organizations in 90+ countries, Donorbox offers easy fundraising tools to help you raise more. From fast donation forms to crowdfunding, events, and Donorbox Live™ Kiosk, grow your impact with donorbox.org

Dr. Lola Gershfeld’s EmC Masterclass helps you boost communication skills to raise more revenue. Trusted by top universities and global organizations. Use code LEADWITHHEART for 10% off.

CONNECT WITH HALEY
Haley is a CFRE, Stress Management Coach, and EmC trainer. Founder of The Savvy Fundraiser, she brings experience in human services, homelessness, and youth nonprofits. She specializes in EmC, leadership, board development, and fundraising, empowering nonprofit leaders to build thriving organizations.
Instagram: @thesavvyfundraiser
LinkedIn: Haley Cooper, CFRE
Website: thesavvyfundraiser.com
YouTube: thesavvyfundraiser
Produced by Ideablossoms

Today’s episode is about all things nonprofit finance and accounting with LaMichelle Hecht. These are such important topics that a lot of people do not understand, which is why I wanted to bring this conversation to the podcast.

LaMichelle is the owner and CEO of Overhead Solutions Group, a CPA firm specializing in accounting assurance and tax services for nonprofit organizations. She has over nine years of experience and is a trusted advisor dedicated to excellence and passionate about helping clients achieve their financial goals.

In this episode:

• [02:36] LaMichelle’s background and business
• [05:22] A common financial pitfall among nonprofit organizations
• [07:18] A board's role in an organization’s financial responsibility
• [08:58] Audited financial statements
• [12:12] Restricted vs. unrestricted funds
• [13:52] Strategic financial planning
• [17:14] Misconceptions in nonprofit accounting and tax compliance
• [19:16] In-house accountant vs. consultant
• [21:06] Effective budget planning and how to build a strong financial foundation in your organization
• [26:03] Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program insights
• [28:14] Advice for professionals looking to build their network

Website: overheadsolutionsgroup.com

Send Haley a suggestion or request via text HERE!

My book, Sow, Grow, Lead is live on Amazon! It shares my journey of starting a nonprofit in Malawi and offers practical strategies for nonprofit leaders to create real impact.

Trusted by 80,000+ organizations in 90+ countries, Donorbox offers easy fundraising tools to help you raise more. From fast donation forms to crowdfunding, events, and Donorbox Live™ Kiosk, grow your impact with donorbox.org

CONNECT WITH HALEY
Haley is a CFRE, Stress Management Coach, and EmC trainer. Founder of The Savvy Fundraiser, she brings experience in human services, homelessness, and youth nonprofits. She specializes in EmC, leadership, board development, and fundraising, empowering nonprofit leaders to build thriving organizations.
Instagram: @thesavvyfundraiser
LinkedIn: Haley Cooper, CFRE
Website: thesavvyfundraiser.com
YouTube: thesavvyfundraiser
Produced by Ideablossoms

On this episode of the Lead with Heart podcast, I’m chatting to someone truly inspiring - Brandon Peacock.

Brandon is the founder of Hit The Ground Running - a charity that provides invaluable support to trauma survivors. After surviving a life-altering drive-by shooting in 2020, Brandon embarked on an extraordinary journey of resilience and recovery. His experience has fueled his mission to help others rebuild their lives. 

He's here to share his insights on building resilience, the power of community support, and innovative approaches to philanthropy and fundraising through social channels.

In this episode:

• [02:35] Turning a traumatic experience into a force for positive change
• [10:45] About Hit The Ground Running
• [13:08] Strategies for cultivating resilience
• [15:51] How to foster a sense of community
• [18:35] Utilizing social media to raise both awareness and funds
• [27:44] Creating brand consistency across all platforms
• [35:03] The role of social media influencers in nonprofit fundraising
• [40:41] Emerging social media trends for nonprofits to be aware of

NOTEWORTHY QUOTES

“ If I don't make it through tonight, am I proud of the legacy that I've left behind?” - Brandon Peacock

“ I was able to become so resilient and remain so resilient because I found a way to find purpose in my individual struggle. And I found a way to be accountable to myself and not be a victim of circumstance, but a champion of the circumstance.” - Brandon Peacock

“  We have the greatest gift of all in the not-for-profit world and its stories.” - Brandon Peacock

CONNECT WITH BRANDON 

LinkedIn: Brandon Peacock

Instagram: @peacock_brandon

Send Haley a suggestion or request via text HERE!

My book, Sow, Grow, Lead is live on Amazon! It shares my journey of starting a nonprofit in Malawi and offers practical strategies for nonprofit leaders to create real impact.

Trusted by 80,000+ organizations in 90+ countries, Donorbox offers easy fundraising tools to help you raise more. From fast donation forms to crowdfunding, events, and Donorbox Live™ Kiosk, grow your impact with donorbox.org

Dr. Lola Gershfeld’s EmC Masterclass helps you boost communication skills to raise more revenue. Trusted by top universities and global organizations. Use code LEADWITHHEART for 10% off.

CONNECT WITH HALEY
Haley is a CFRE, Stress Management Coach, and EmC trainer. Founder of The Savvy Fundraiser, she brings experience in human services, homelessness, and youth nonprofits. She specializes in EmC, leadership, board development, and fundraising, empowering nonprofit leaders to build thriving organizations.
Instagram: @thesavvyfundraiser
LinkedIn: Haley Cooper, CFRE
Website: thesavvyfundraiser.com
YouTube: thesavvyfundraiser
Produced by Ideablossoms