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

In this episode of Lead with Heart, I have Yulia Zhernovaya as my guest. She is the Head of Operations and Strategy at Giveffect, the leading all-in-one nonprofit software. She aims to translate her passion for technology into the nonprofit sector and demonstrate how technology can make our work more human.
In this conversation, we are diving into the ways technology can help break down silos and get everyone on the same page, make more informed decisions, and significantly reduce the time spent on administrative tasks so you can do what you do best: human-to-human work. In other words, how technology can allow you to accomplish your mission.
In this episode, you’ll learn:

• [06:55] Tracking data in a way that doesn’t take away from the mission
• [10:48] The power of technology to break down silos and move the needle
• [13:10] Overcoming the barriers to nonprofits adopting new technologies
• [19:15] Tips to successfully implement new technologies in your organization
• [23:10] Technology implementation across generations
• [27:33] The importance of data protection and data privacy
• [31:29] How technology can support a healthy nonprofit culture

RESOURCES
Learn more about Giveffect the 10-in-One Nonprofit Software that connects and automates your organization. Reduces manual work and seamlessly connects your fundraising, volunteering, and program data on one CRM platform.
Catch up with my first podcast episode Nonprofit Management with Victoria Torres, where we talk about succession planning and planning for the future.

NOTEWORTHY QUOTES
“Technology can make us more efficient, so we can focus on human-to-human work.”
“Technology can help overall institutional collaboration, but also institutional knowledge, as turnover is one of the biggest challenges in the nonprofit world. A lot of time when someone leaves their organization, they take all of the knowledge with them and you don't have that data.”

CONNECT WITH YULIA
Yulia Zhernovaya serves as the He

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 have Brian Ford, the host of the Self Improvement Daily Podcast – with 17+ million downloads to date. He is on a mission to help convert human intention into action and has been actively working on personal development for over a decade.
There’s so much content out there about self-improvement. We talk about it, we think about it, but when it comes down to it we don’t actually do it. 
Today, Brian is sharing with us some really tangible and tactical tips and processes that will help you finally implement self-improvement practices in your life and foster them within your organization. This way you’ll get to create the life you want, living as intentionally as possible, making choices in the moment that serve you and your mission, and making sure that you’re showing up as the very best version of yourself in whatever moment you find yourself in.
In this episode, you’ll learn:

• [05:02] Using introspection as a tool to create the life you want
• [11:01] Combating feelings of unworthiness and asking for help
• [16:26] How you can build better habits
• [23:13] Subconscious transformation: how to rewire your brain
• [30:33] Environments are everything and everything is an environment
• [34:38] Establishing a culture of self-improvement in your organization
• [40:38] Brian’s daily self-improvement practices

RESOURCES
Grab your copy of Brian’s 7 Fundamentals to Self-Improvement and discover the 7 things you must know to accelerate your personal development.

CONNECT WITH BRIAN
Brian is on a mission to help convert human intention into action. He does this by helping people change their own lives, through his podcast, and coaching programs, and by helping people serve others through

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 Amy Varga, the founder of The Varga Group, as my guest. She is a fundraising expert and leadership coach who is dedicated to raising the standards of her profession, and I'm so excited to explore all things leadership, philanthropy, and fundraising together.
Amy shares some incredible fundraising tips and tricks. She provides many good insights into what it means to be a fundraiser and much more, as well as some actionable ways to engage with our board, our donors, and our organizations and build a culture of philanthropy that will make things less stressful and more joyful for you as the fundraiser.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• [07:39] Reframing what fundraising is
• [10:53] Why listening is the key ingredient to great fundraising
• [14:26] Strategies for first-time donors versus established donors
• [19:15] Ways to help you work smarter, not harder as a fundraiser
• [27:29] How to get everyone, including the board, engaged in fundraising
• [36:40] Why do we want donors in the first place?
• [40:10] Some practical ways to get your board to fundraise more

RESOURCES
To find more reflections and thinking like what Amy shared in this rich episode, check out The Varga Group’s blog here.
To access free resources The Varga Group created for organizations and leaders like you, go to The Varga Group's resources page here.

NOTEWORTHY QUOTES
“People don't give to you because of your mission they give to you because of theirs. So, in order to understand what someone's mission is, what impact they're trying to make in the world, and how they can partner with your organization (...) you have to listen to them.”
“There's a disconnect between

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 dive deep into the world of executive coaching and leadership development with Janet Ioli, a former leader in Fortune 200 Companies. Janet has earned a reputation as an extraordinarily talented, results-oriented, and sought-after executive coach, leadership coach, change strategist, speaker, and organizational advisor.
In this conversation, we talk about developing self-awareness, self-reflection, and self-leadership to show up as a better leader in your organization and build stronger relationships with your team, donors, and collaborators.
In this episode, you’ll learn:

• [07:26] The number one challenge people face when they reach the  leadership level in their business or organization
• [16:04] How self-leadership can move you out of survival mode and help you thrive as a leader and as a human 
• [21:37] Managing relationships through curiosity to uncover and nurture your team's strengths 
• [30:31] The role of executive coaching in developing self-awareness and self-leadership 
• [39:27]  The importance of self-reflection in the routine of a leader

RESOURCES
Tools mentioned: Clifton StrengthsFinder, Myers Briggs, FIRO-B
Janet’s podcast: Power Presence Academy
Check Janet’s books & resources at https://www.janetioli.com/booksresources/

NOTEWORTHY QUOTES
“If you're focuse

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 dive into the world of marketing and donor engagement strategies with Katelyn Baughan, a nonprofit marketing consultant with a passion for making a difference.

Katelyn will share the significance of data analysis and testing to refine strategies, drawing inspiration from successful organizations. Additionally, she opens up about the challenges of vulnerability and the power of showing personality to foster deeper connections.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• [08:51] Donor engagement strategies and marketing
• [13:01] Data analysis reveals key metrics and areas needing attention
• [22:28] How to build a community on LinkedIn
• [29:29] Embracing both personal and professional aspects of life as a mompreneur

NOTEWORTHY QUOTES

"Getting people to open the email in the first place is hard. So the simpler, the better. You don't want it to be too stuffy or too corporate."

"Little tweaks of testing certain things. And always being able to go back and prove that it had worked previously, whether that's within your organization, or whether that's looking to other organizations who are ahead of you or that that you all look up to"

"It's hard to open up and be vulnerable. But people feel more connected to me, and not just my marketing tips. It's important to show your personality so that people feel like they know you before they know you."


CONNECT WITH Katelyn
Katelyn Baughan is a marketing consultant who is passionate about helping good causes develop marketing strategies that make an impact. After spending time working in the tech industry, Katelyn was called to use her marketing skills to create change and enter the nonprofit arena.

Instagram: @kb_digital
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

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 this episode of the Lead with Heart podcast. We have Christine Barone with me today and we will explore the transformative power of creativity. Christine will discuss various aspects of creativity and its impact on personal and professional growth.

Learn how to reflect on childhood interests and activities as potential sources of inspiration. Discover how tapping into our inner child and exploring our creative roots can unlock hidden potential and bring a sense of joy and fulfillment.

Christine Barone is the founder of Paint Your Own Heart, who specializes in facilitating creative expression workshops for transformative healing through color and art.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• [09:11] Creativity as an adult vs creativity as a child
• [18:24] Building cohesion and creating a safe environment where employees feel comfortable sharing their fears and needs can facilitate emotional sharing in corporate environments
• [27:29] Visualizing your day and how it affects your mindset
• [32:00] Creating a safe and neutral environment for employees to share their thoughts and emotions openly fosters creativity

NOTEWORTHY QUOTES

"your thoughts are just running and there might be some sort of negative thing going on. Shift that to I can, I will, I am as opposed to that negative thoughts. So I'm very conscious of my language. And that is huge because that impacts everyone else"

"I feel like every morning, every leader and every person could do this, even if it's for 10 minutes that they would get to this place of, okay, I'm owning my day now. I visualized it. I know how I want to show up”

"The reason why I want to focus on corporate is the challenges now the what's going to best create a harmonious life for all the people and the leaders"

CONNECT WITH Christi

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 Meenakshi Das, a data equity speaker, consultant and trainer for nonprofits and agencies. She will share valuable insights on how nonprofits can effectively use data to make better-informed decisions and build trust with their community. We will discuss important topics such as communication strategies, intentional commitment, unconscious biases in data collection, and the importance of ongoing conversations on data in nonprofits.

Meenakshi emphasizes the role of data equity in informing decision-making and creating a more inclusive and equitable organization. Her experience and expertise make this a must-listen for anyone looking to learn more about data-driven decision-making in nonprofits.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• [08:07] Effective strategies for communicating data within your organization
• [15:27] The importance of making an intentional commitment
• [22:24] How unconscious biases impact the collection and interpretation of data – and what we can do about it
• [26:06] Navigating nonprofit donor data – an exploration of data collection assessments and donor engagement strategies
• [36:53]The importance of ongoing conversations on data in nonprofits

NOTEWORTHY QUOTES

"The foundational work of data is leading up to trust and transparency [...] Once we get all the data, it doesn't mean we lock doors and close it and do not do anything with it for the next two or three years. That's the actual place where the magic starts, using that data to connect with the community."

"A nonprofit can use the lens of data equity to inform decisions on the leadership level and throughout the organization by doing the internal systems work to make a change, rather than just doing it to get funding. It's about accountability and making better-info

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