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

Today’s guest, Michael Randel, has a passion for creating the conditions necessary to grow effective organizations that make a sustained impact. As the founder of Randel Consulting Associates which was established in 2010, Michael has supported over 150 organizations with this goal.
We’re having an insightful conversation today covering topics like building effective teams, the challenges that arise with culture change, and insights from teams that received the MacKenzie Scott grant.

In this episode:

• [04:11] How to build an effective and aligned team
• [10:29] The role of diverse voices and upward feedback in organizational change
• [15:12] The challenges of culture change
• [23:36] The impact of high nonprofit turnover and how to reduce this  
• [31:26] Productive and effective hybrid work practices
• [35:01] Insights from teams that received the MacKenzie Scott grant

CONNECT WITH MICHAEL
LinkedIn: Michael Randel
Website: rcachangeadvisors.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 guest, Lisa Greer, is someone that I have admired throughout my fundraising career.
As a successful businesswoman who experienced a financial windfall, she set out to make six and seven-figure charitable donations. Lisa was shocked by the inefficiency and dysfunction she encountered within many nonprofits which leaves billions of dollars on the table and threatens the sector's viability.
Today we’re talking about outdated fundraising strategies and the importance of empathy and authenticity in building long-term, meaningful relationships with donors.

In this episode:

• [05:33] The impact of the nonprofit sector ignoring women and people of color
• [12:17] Building authentic donor relationships and fundraising with compassion and empathy
• [20:39] Ensuring your board is representative and effective
• [25:49] Incorporating donor inclusive experiences into your daily work
• [29:06] Creating a more honest and effective fundraising strategy with data
• [30:41] The future of the nonprofit sector

RESOURCES
Philanthropy Revolution: How to Inspire Donors, Build Relationships and Make a Difference by Lisa Greer and Larissa Kostoff
The Fundraiser's Handbook: A Guide to Maximizing Donations, Retaining Donors, and Saving the Giving Sector for Good by Lisa Greer

CONNECT WITH LISA
LinkedIn: Lisa Z G.
Website: lisagreer.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

My guest on this episode of Lead with Heart is Bea Boccalandro - a world-renowned advisor on corporate purpose, corporate social responsibility, and environmental, social, and governance initiatives.
She is also the author of Do Good At Work: How Simple Acts of Social Purpose Drive Success and Wellbeing.
Bea shares her journey into the world of social impact, her insights on the evolution of corporate social responsibility, and how employees at all levels can make a meaningful impact through their work.

In this episode:

• [03:13] What led Bea to corporate social responsibility (CSR)
• [08:32] What CSR means and looks like in action
• [13:26] Common misconceptions around CSR
• [20:10] The inspiration behind “Do Good At Work”
• [26:44] Job purposing - making a meaningful contribution from your work week to others
• [32:38] Fostering a culture that supports social purpose among employees
• [35:25] The future of CSR

RESOURCES
Do Good At Work: How Simple Acts of Social Purpose Drive Success and Wellbeing by Bea Boccalandro

CONNECT WITH BEA
LinkedIn: Bea Boccalandro
Instagram: @beaboccalandro
Website: beaboccalandro.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

On today’s episode, I’m talking to Ruthe Farmer - the visionary founder and CEO of the Last Mile Education Fund.
Last Mile is a nonprofit that is committed to addressing social mobility and tech diversity by investing in overlooked and under-resourced talent. They take a disruptive approach to bridging critical gaps in financial support for low income and underrepresented students, ensuring they can complete their degrees and enter the tech workforce.
Ruthe is sharing the innovative approaches employed by Last Mile, the importance of increasing diversity in technology, their abundance-based philosophy, and more.

In this episode:

• [02:38] The Last Mile Education Fund - increasing diversity in the tech and engineering fields through financial support
• [09:53] Last Mile’s disruptive approach to getting students into the workforce
• [12:49] Last Mile’s funding model and its abundance based philosophy
• [20:25] Identifying and accessing partnerships
• [26:23] Last Mile’s policy advocacy and advice for grassroots organizations to start influencing policy

RESOURCES
CONNECT WITH RUTHE
LinkedIn: Ruthe Farmer
Instagram: @lastmilefund
Website: lastmile-ed.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 today’s episode, I have the incredible honor of speaking with Christa Stelzmuller, the chief technology officer of Charity: Water.
Since its inception in 2006, Charity: Water has been on a relentless mission to end the global water crisis. Christa brings a wealth of experience to her role, consistently implying a multidisciplinary approach that leverages data and technology to drive better decisions, products, and delivery.
Her strong focus on innovation and mission-driven work makes her a standout leader in the nonprofit sector and she is sharing some of her wisdom with us today.

In this episode:

• [05:36] The role of a chief technology officer in nonprofits
• [07:37] Leveraging technology to create a donor experience
• [12:53] Long term donor engagement and retention 
• [19:56] Ensuring your team remains aligned and motivated towards your mission
• [23:39] Developing leaders and empowering women in tech
• [30:53] Looking ahead for Charity: Water

RESOURCES
CONNECT WITH CHRISTA
LinkedIn: Christa Stelzmuller
Website: charitywater.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 today’s episode, we’re talking all about philanthropy and financing with guest Alix Lebec - an entrepreneur, investor, and advisor who has spent the past two decades working across the finance and philanthropy ecosystem.
Alix is the founder and CEO of Lebec - a woman-owned and led firm that specializes in innovative finance and philanthropy. They help visionary founders, funders, and investors maximize value creation and scale solutions that solve the world’s greatest challenges.
Alix has so much insight into philanthropy and financing and our conversations unlocked a whole new perspective on this topic for me.

In this episode:

• [02:31] The vision behind founding a woman-owned and led firm in the finance and philanthropy sectors
• [06:22] Understanding catalytic philanthropy
• [11:45] Making philanthropy more accessible to grassroots organizations
• [16:25] The Lebec Blueprint
• [22:31] How to form strategic partnerships
• [26:31] Changing the narrative around funding
• [30:48] A fear of failure in philanthropy
• [35:11] How to be more creative with the way we access philanthropy

RESOURCES

CONNECT WITH ALIX
LinkedIn: Alix Lebec
Instagram: @alixineslebec
Website: lebec.co

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

We have an exciting guest on today’s episode - Michael Burns, the co-founder of StratSimple. StratSimple is a groundbreaking tech startup that leverages artificial intelligence to automate best practices for strategic planning and beyond.
I am so excited for Mike to share his insights on how your organization can utilize AI to enhance your work, the importance of annual strategic planning, and why OKRs (objectives and key results) are the ideal solution for tracking goals in the nonprofit sector.

In this episode:

• [02:21] Using AI to transform strategic planning, run surveys, and gather data
• [09:42] The benefits of regular strategic planning and how this relates to budgeting
• [15:21] Key pillars to include in a strategic plan
• [17:54] Challenges nonprofits might face when implementing OKRs
• [20:50] The future of AI in strategic planning and how to use AI ethically in your nonprofit
• [26:56] Creating a psychologically safe environment for strategic planning

RESOURCES
Template AI Policy - http://www.stratsimple.com/resources/example-ai-usage-policy

CONNECT WITH MICHAEL
LinkedIn: Mike Burns
Website: stratsimple.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 have the distinct pleasure of speaking with Dr. Reggie Thomas - a relationship guru, who passionately helps leaders cultivate healthy relationships in both their professional and personal lives.
With a doctorate in organization development, Reggie has leveraged his research on emotional intelligence to enhance leadership skills and workplace culture across the globe and in numerous organizations.
I love talking about all of these topics so I can’t wait for you to hear our conversation.

In this episode:

• [03:15] Strategies to build and maintain healthy relationships in the workplace
• [06:12] Psychological safety in the workplace
• [09:23] The difference between a manager and a leader
• [13:28] How emotional intelligence can transform leadership styles and workplace cultures
• [19:21] Cultivating self-awareness and managing your triggers as a leader
• [26:08] Reggie's new book on burnout
• [30:20] Life and leadership lessons from running

RESOURCES

Burnout Pains: A Guide to Prevent Burnout, Rediscover Your Purpose, and Renew Your Energy by Reggie Thomas 

CONNECT WITH REGGIE
LinkedIn: Dr. Reggie Thomas
Instagram: @regman308
Website: peakepotential.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 Lead with Heart, I have the honor of speaking with CJ Stewart, a former Chicago Cubs outfielder and the visionary co-founder of the L.E.A.D. Center for Youth in Atlanta.

Through the transformative power of baseball and tennis, the L.E.A.D. Center for Youth is empowering at-risk youth, addressing trauma, and creating lasting change. 

CJ’s dedication to empowering youth through sports and the L.E.A.D. Center’s innovative approaches to breaking the cycle of poverty and racism are truly inspirational. With over 17 years of impact, there is so much for us to learn from their remarkable journey.

In this episode:

• [02:22] Using sports as a tool to address trauma in children
• [10:33] The unique challenges that at-risk children face and how the L.E.A.D. Center addresses those issues
• [14:13] How the L.E.A.D. Center engages youth to become radical philanthropists who give back to the program
• [20:48] Developing the mental component needed for sports and leadership
• [25:23] How to make a difference in your own community
• [34:09] Instilling the value of teamwork into your nonprofit

RESOURCES

CONNECT WITH CJ
Instagram: @iamcjstewart and @lead2legacy_atl
LinkedIn: Corteney Stewart
Website: iamcjstewart.com and leadcenterforyouth.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

I have a special episode lined up for you today with guest, Julia Devine, who co-founded Relatable Nonprofit with her business partner Catalina Parker. 
These two trailblazers left their six figure nonprofit jobs in their mid-twenties to start their own consulting agency. And over the past two years, they've not only built a successful business but they’ve also launched Relatable Nonprofit to empower other growth-driven women with nonprofit hearts to succeed in consulting.
If you have ever wondered about going into nonprofit consulting, then you are not going to want to miss this episode. Julia is sharing some great tips to help you get started.

In this episode:

• [06:48] The high turnover challenge in nonprofits
• [12:57] The skillsets that nonprofits should be looking for when filling development and marketing roles
• [18:15] How consulting can provide a viable alternative for those experiencing dissatisfaction in traditional nonprofit roles
• [22:50] Finding your niche and promoting your consulting business
• [33:28] Setting clear boundaries as a consultant
• [39:31] The future of nonprofit consulting

RESOURCES

CONNECT WITH JULIA
LinkedIn: Julia Devine
Instagram: @relatable_nonprofit
Website: relatablenonprofit.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