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Lead with Heart | Philanthropy, Nonprofit Leadership, Nonprofit Management & Fundraising

Lead with Heart | Philanthropy, Nonprofit Leadership, Nonprofit Management & Fundraising

By: Haley Cooper | Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) Certified Stress Management Coach Certified EmC Trainer
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About this listen

Welcome to the Lead with Heart Podcast, where the heartbeat of philanthropy, nonprofit leadership, and fundraising resonates in every episode. I'm Haley, your host—a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE), Certified Stress Management Coach, Certified EmC trainer, and, most importantly, a recovering nonprofit burnout survivor.

In this empowering space, we invite nonprofit professionals to amplify their voices and unveil the heart behind their missions.

Our mission is clear: to empower, elevate, and engage nonprofit leaders, fostering the growth of healthy, thriving organizations.

Join me and a lineup of inspiring guests as we delve into real stories of Philanthropy, Leadership, Courage, and Empathy. Together, we explore the strategies and practices employed by these remarkable leaders to heal from burnout, propel their missions forward, raise crucial funds, and ultimately, make a lasting impact in the nonprofit world.

Discover the unwavering commitment to making a difference, the resilience required to navigate the challenges of philanthropy, and the innovative approaches to leadership that drive positive change.

Whether you're a seasoned nonprofit professional or just starting your journey, the Lead with Heart Podcast is your go-to resource for insights, inspiration, and actionable strategies to enhance your leadership, elevate your organization, and amplify your impact on the world of philanthropy. Tune in and let the heartbeat of leadership guide your nonprofit journey.

© 2025 Lead with Heart | Philanthropy, Nonprofit Leadership, Nonprofit Management & Fundraising Career Success Economics Management Management & Leadership
Episodes
  • E123: Choosing Clarity Over Burnout: Why I’m Pausing the Podcast

    E123: Choosing Clarity Over Burnout: Why I’m Pausing the Podcast
    Dec 23 2025

    Friends, this episode is a vulnerable one.

    For the first time since launching Lead with Heart, I’m pressing pause on the podcast for Q1 of 2026. Not because I’m quitting. Not because the mission has dimmed. But because clarity asked me to make a courageous decision — one that aligns with the emotional sustainability I teach every day

    In this episode, I’m sharing the real story behind this pause: what 2025 revealed, what I’m witnessing across the nonprofit sector, the hard truth about capacity, the emotional health crisis facing nonprofit leaders, and why building the Lead with Heart Summit requires my full presence. It’s about choosing purpose over productivity, depth over doing, and alignment over proving.


    In this episode:

    • 00:00:00 Embracing Leadership Clarity
    • 00:03:48 Prioritizing Emotional Sustainability
    • 00:08:08 The Lead with Heart Summit


    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.


    NOTEWORTHY QUOTES

    “ When you become crystal clear on your one thing, the hard decisions stop looking like sacrifices and start looking like alignments.” - Haley Cooper

    “ Clarity does not make decisions painless. It makes them purposeful.” - Haley Cooper

    “Just because we are capable of doing something does not mean we have the capacity to do it all at the same time.” - Haley Cooper

    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

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    12 mins
  • E122: Leading Through Trauma, Burnout & Transformational Philanthropy with Laura Bode

    E122: Leading Through Trauma, Burnout & Transformational Philanthropy with Laura Bode
    Dec 16 2025

    I am so honored to share today’s conversation with Laura Bode, the newly appointed Chief Philanthropy Officer at A New Leaf. A survivor of childhood trauma, Laura rebuilt her confidence as an adult with the support of key mentors who saw her potential before she could see it herself. Today, she leads a powerhouse nonprofit serving more than 30,000 people each year and has helped grow philanthropy revenue from $300,000 to over $10 million.

    In this episode, we dig into her remarkable journey, the emotional realities nonprofit leaders face, the burnout she’s experienced firsthand, and how she rebuilt a healthier, more grounded approach to leadership.


    In this episode:

    • 00:00:00 Value of Mentorship After Trauma
    • 00:05:59 Strategic Shifts for Nonprofit Growth
    • 00:09:55 Optimizing Your Board
    • 00:14:02 Navigating Burnout
    • 00:23:39 Expanding Community Engagement


    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.


    CONNECT WITH LAURA

    LinkedIn: Laura Bode

    Website: https://turnanewleaf.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.

    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

    Show More Show Less
    34 mins
  • E121: Breaking the Cycle of “I’m Too Busy” – Intentional Leadership & Sustainable Energy with Jen Recla

    E121: Breaking the Cycle of “I’m Too Busy” – Intentional Leadership & Sustainable Energy with Jen Recla
    Dec 9 2025

    I am so excited to welcome leadership coach Jen Recla to the Lead with Heart Podcast. Jen helps senior nonprofit leaders break free from burnout, reclaim their clarity and energy, and build teams that thrive even in seasons of complexity and change.

    In this episode, we dig into one of the most common and corrosive habits in the nonprofit sector: saying “I’m too busy.” Jen shares why this phrase keeps leaders stuck in survival mode, how urgency culture erodes team confidence, and how you can shift from reactive leadership to intentional leadership without adding more to your plate.

    If you’re ready to lead with more calm, clarity, and confidence, this conversation is for you.


    In this episode:

    • 00:00:00 The Power of Supportive Leadership
    • 00:09:07 Intentional Feedback Skills
    • 00:15:56 Overcoming Overwhelm Patterns
    • 00:26:34 Strategy Building in Leadership
    • 00:29:11 Leadership in Action


    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.

    E8: Create The Transformation You Seek in Your Life & Relationships with Stephanie Courtillier

    The Illustrated Happiness Trap by Russ Harris


    CONNECT WITH JEN

    LinkedIn: Jennifer Recla

    Website: https://www.jenrecla.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

    Show More Show Less
    37 mins
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