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Today, on the Lead with Heart podcast, I’m selfishly so excited to have Patton McDowell on the show and to share our conversation with you. We are discussing his path to becoming a leader in the nonprofit sector and the lessons he has learned over his career.
Focusing on why nonprofit leaders often face high turnover, we talk about things like unrealistic expectations, generational shifts, and lack of professional development opportunities.
We chatted about practical tools and resources nonprofit pros can apply to strengthen their skills and experience – such as building a personal board of directors and participating in mastermind groups.
You will walk away after listening to this episode with actionable advice on topics like goal-setting, networking, productivity, and the importance of investing in staff to fulfill organizational missions and retain donors long-term.
In this episode:
RESOURCES
CONNECT WITH PATTON
As the founder of PMA Nonprofit Leadership, Patton has worked with over 275 nonprofit organizations, providing con
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 having a meaningful conversation with leadership and strategy advisor Kristen Harrington. We delve into Kristen's unique journey into nonprofit leadership, the importance of culture and workforce development, and funding strategies for enhancing an organization's impact.
Highlighting the challenges faced by nonprofit professionals in leadership roles, our discussion covered themes of innovation, the significance of fostering a culture of safety and belonging, and the crucial role of having a people focused strategy.
Tune in for practical advice specially crafted for nonprofit leaders aiming to drive meaningful change – starting from within.
In this episode:
RESOURCES
Visit https://leadstar.us/ to learn more about their work and their mission.
CONNECT WITH KRISTIN
Kristin Harrington is a partner at Lead Star and an esteemed leadership and strategy advisor for nonprofits. From frontline roles to establishing a nonprofit with statewide success, Kristin's journey through leadership positions and consulting has equipped her with invaluable insights. Kristin's dedica
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 back to the Lead with Heart podcast. I’m thrilled to have Sabrina Walker Hernandez on the show today. Sabrina is the president and CEO of Supporting World Hope, a nonprofit and mission-driven consulting agency that specializes in providing strategic planning, leadership development, and board education services to other nonprofits and mission-driven organizations.
Sabrina emphasizes that simple steps like building relationships with board members, setting clear expectations, and prioritizing vision and strategy over reactivity can reduce CEO stress and burnout and enhance organizational effectiveness. She believes that nonprofit success depends on supporting leaders both professionally and personally.
In this episode:
RESOURCES
CONNECT WITH SABRINA
Sabrina Walker Hernandez has over 20 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, including 15 years as CEO of the Boys & Girls Club, Sabrina understands the challenges nonprofit leaders face. She was diagnosed with cancer due to stress from her role, which inspired her to launch Supporting World Hope to help other leaders avoid burnout.
Facebook: @supportingworldhope
Instagram: @theleadershiparchitect
YouTube:
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, on the Lead with Heart podcast, we are discussing authentic leadership with my guest Joshua Berry, author of "Dare to Be Naive: How to Find Your True Self in a Noisy World."
In this episode, Joshua shares his journey from international business to entrepreneurship, offering insights gained from working with organizations like the Ritz Carlton Hotel Company and Mercedes Benz.
Discover how Joshua's experiences shaped his understanding of leadership and culture, and learn practical strategies for nurturing a values-driven workplace. Whether you're a seasoned leader or an aspiring entrepreneur, this conversation is packed with actionable tips to unlock your true leadership potential and lead with authenticity.
In this episode:
RESOURCES
CONNECT WITH JOSHUA BERRY
Joshua Berry is an entrepreneur, seasoned leadership expert, and the co-founder of Econic. Joshua is also the author of "Dare to Be Naive: How to Find Your True Self in a Noisy World," a book that empowers readers to discover their authentic leadership potential. Through his innovative work and insightful writings, Joshua inspires individuals and orga
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 back to the Lead with Heart podcast. I'm very honored to have Jake Wood as my guest today. Jake is a Marine Corps veteran and the founder and CEO of Groundswell- a software company that enables companies to help their employees become modern philanthropists by providing tech-enabled donor-advised funds. Prior to launching Groundswell, Jake served as the founder and CEO of Team Rubicon, a disaster response organization that is widely considered one of America’s leading nonprofits.
We discuss scaling an organization, the importance of storytelling in fundraising, developing a strong corporate culture, and the future of philanthropy.
In this episode:
RESOURCES
CONNECT WITH JAKE
Jake is the founder and CEO of Groundswell - a venture backed software company aiming to democratize philanthropy by building a new category at the intersection of fintech, benefits tech, and charity. Prior to launching Groundswell, Wood served as the founder and CEO of Team Rubicon, a disaster response organization that is widely considered one of America’s leading nonprofits. Before this, Wood served four years in a Marine Corps scout-sniper unit, leading Marines in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan. He is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin with a dual degree in Business and Political Science. Jake’s memoir, Once A Warrior, was an Amazon best-seller.
LinkedIn: Jake Wood
Instagram: @jakewoodtr
Website: jakewood.co, groundswell.io, and teamrubiconusa.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
Welcome back to the Lead with Heart podcast. I am so honored to have Dr. Robyn Graham on the podcast today to talk about anxiety and leadership. Robyn is a marketing and lead generation strategist, host of a globally acclaimed podcast, and best-selling author.
Many of you will know that anxiety is something I have been dealing with personally eight months postpartum. So selfishly, I'm really excited to have this conversation to pick Dr. Robyn’s brain but also to provide some insight into navigating anxiety as a nonprofit leader.
In this episode:
RESOURCES
You, Me, and Anxiety: Take Action Over Anxiety to Enjoy Being You by Dr. Robyn Graham
CONNECT WITH ROBYN
Robyn is the founder and owner of Robyn Graham, LLC, and the creator of the Purpose to Results™ Method. With an emphasis on mindset, strategy, and action, she helps entrepreneurs leverage their God-given gifts to grow businesses for a lifetime of limitless earning potential and have a meaningful impact without being chained to social media. Robyn is a marketing and lead generation strategist, host of the globally acclaimed podcast – The Robyn Graham Show, and best-selling author.
Instagram: @therobyngraham
Email:
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 back to the Lead with Heart podcast. I am so honored to have Dimple Dhabalia on the podcast today. She has an amazing background in human-centered leadership and I’m truly excited to dive deep into this needed conversation.
Dimple is the founder of Roots in the Clouds, a boutique consulting firm specializing in normalizing workplace mental health care and using the power of story to heal individual and organizational trauma and moral injury.
Today we are talking about trauma-informed leadership, redefining self-care, creating a psychologically safe work environment, and more.
In this episode:
RESOURCES
Tell Me My Story: Challenging the Narrative of Service Before Self by Dimple Dhabalia
Together: The Healing Power of Human Connection in a Sometimes Lonely World by Vivek Murthy
CONNECT WITH DIMPLE
Dimple Dhabalia is the founder of Roots in the Clouds, coach, facilitator, storyteller, and leader of leaders. Dimple’s cutting-edge work at the intersection of leadership, mindful awareness, storytelling, and advocacy serves to unpack and heal old narratives, mitigate trauma and burnout, and create meaningful connections between people working in mission-driven spaces.
Facebook: @DimpleDhabalia
Instagram: @dimpstory
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
Welcome back to the Lead with Heart podcast. Today, I have Carmita Semaan, founder and CEO of the Surge Institute, on the podcast. The Surge Institute focuses on educating and developing leaders of color – who can then create transformative change for young people, their families, and our broader communities.
We talk about empowering leaders of color, creating a safe space for people to share their stories, uncovering inclusivity gaps in your organization, and more.
In this episode:
RESOURCES
Episode 17: Empowering Nonprofits through Data Equity and Communication Strategies with Meenakshi Das
CONNECT WITH CARMITA
Carmita is a builder, creator, seer, and problem solver. Her expertise lies in supporting and elevating the genius of emerging and seasoned leaders - particularly women and people of color - and shining a light on the brilliance and ingenuity that is too often overlooked and untapped in solving systemic issues. She has spent nearly 20 years in executive leadership in nonprofit and socially-responsible organizations following engineering, global strategy, and marketing success in the private sector early in her career.
Twitter:
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 back to the Lead with Heart podcast. I’m so excited to have Cindy Wagman as my guest today. Cindy serves nonprofits and nonprofit consultants and she's the founder of the Fractional Fundraising Movement that connects small nonprofits to the fractional fundraisers that serve them. And that's what we're going to be talking about today.
We cover what a fractional fundraiser is, how they can contribute to organizational growth and transformation, the challenges they may face, and more.
In this episode:
RESOURCES
Take Cindy’s consultant personality quiz here
Learn how to become a fractional fundraiser or how to find a fractional fundraiser at fractionalfundraising.co
CONNECT WITH CINDY
Cindy Wagman is a coach, consultant, and speaker who helps nonprofit consultants shake off the “shoulds”, drop the scarcity hangover from the nonprofit sector, and find abundance in entrepreneurship. She is the founder of the Fractional Fundraising Movement.
LinkedIn: Cindy Wagman
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
Welcome back to the Lead with Heart podcast. My guest today is Julie Ordoñez, the founder of Courage Lab. Julie is a major gifts strategist and expert advisor who helps nonprofit leaders learn the strategies and practice the habits to overcome their fear of asking for more and raise major gifts.
We talk about major gift fundraising leadership, the essential qualities needed for nonprofit leaders to succeed, how to form 'mission-rooted friendships' with donors, and so much more.
In this episode:
RESOURCES
The next round of Courage Lab is launching in February, 2024. Get on the waitlist now.
CONNECT WITH JULIE
Julie, the founder of Courage Lab is a change agent, a challenger, a bonafide fundraiser, and a certified risk taker. She believes in the power of courage, the good that comes from generosity, and the audacity of the ask. Her work is dedicated to helping nonprofit leaders fearlessly pursue their mission by raising major gifts that make major change. Through soul-shaking beliefs, resources, and programs like The Courage Lab, she changes what people believe, how they fundraise, and the size of their impact.
Instagram: @juliemordonez
LinkedIn: Julie Ordoñez
Podcast:
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
From the publisher's feed
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…
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.

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