In this week’s powerful conversation on the Lead with Heart Podcast, I sit down with intuitive coach and former jazz musician Shimrit Nativ. Her journey - from living off-grid in rural nature to building a thriving coaching practice - is both radical and deeply resonant for those of us navigating the intense demands of mission-driven work.

We explore practices for nonprofit leaders to reconnect with their “why” and share how they can rebuild trust in their intuition as a guiding force, both personally and professionally. Shimrit shares tangible tools to quiet the external noise, re-engage with your inner voice, and take aligned action, whether you’re launching a bold new program or simply trying to stay grounded amid fundraising deadlines.

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

DM Shimrit on

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 to help nonprofit leaders turn visions into reality, and create meaningful impact

As the fundraising engine of choice for over 80,000 organizations in 90+ countries, Donorbox’s easy-to-use fundraising tools help you raise more money in more ways. Seamlessly embed a customizable donation form into your website that reduces donor drop-off with a 4x faster checkout, launch a crowdfunding or peer-to-peer campaign, sell event tickets, raise funds on the go with Donorbox Live™ Kiosk, and much more. Learn more at donorbox.org

The EmC Masterclass by Dr. Lola Gershfeld will help you enhance your communication skills to raise more revenue for your mission. This groundbreaking Emotional Connection process has been integrated into top universities’ curriculum and recognized by international organizations. Use code LEADWITHHEART to enjoy a -10%.

CONNECT WITH HALEY
Haley is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE), Stress Management Coach, and EmC trainer. She founded The Savvy Fundraiser, a nonprofit consulting and coaching business, and has experience with nonprofits in human services, homelessness, and youth sectors. Specializing in EmC, leadership, board development, and fundraising, Haley is dedicated to empowering nonprofit leaders to create thriving organizations.
Instagram: @thesavvyfundraiser
LinkedIn: Haley Cooper, CFRE
Website: thesavvyfundraiser.com

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 in

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 to help nonprofit leaders turn visions into reality, and create meaningful impact

As the fundraising engine of choice for over 80,000 organizations in 90+ countries, Donorbox’s easy-to-use fundraising tools help you raise more money in more ways. Seamlessly embed a customizable donation form into your website that reduces donor drop-off with a 4x faster checkout, launch a crowdfunding or peer-to-peer campaign, sell event tickets, raise funds on the go with Donorbox Live™ Kiosk, and much more. Learn more at donorbox.org

CONNECT WITH HALEY
Haley is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE), Stress Management Coach, and EmC trainer. She founded The Savvy Fundraiser, a nonprofit consulting and coaching business, and has experience with nonprofits in human services, homelessness, and youth sectors. Specializing in EmC, leadership, board development, and fundraising, Haley is dedicated to empowering nonprofit leaders to create thriving organizations.
Instagram: @thesavvyfundraiser
LinkedIn: Haley Cooper, CFRE
Website: thesavvyfundraiser.com

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:

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 to help nonprofit leaders turn visions into reality, and create meaningful impact

As the fundraising engine of choice for over 80,000 organizations in 90+ countries, Donorbox’s easy-to-use fundraising tools help you raise more money in more ways. Seamlessly embed a customizable donation form into your website that reduces donor drop-off with a 4x faster checkout, launch a crowdfunding or peer-to-peer campaign, sell event tickets, raise funds on the go with Donorbox Live™ Kiosk, and much more. Learn more at donorbox.org

CONNECT WITH HALEY
Haley is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE), Stress Management Coach, and EmC trainer. She founded The Savvy Fundraiser, a nonprofit consulting and coaching business, and has experience with nonprofits in human services, homelessness, and youth sectors. Specializing in EmC, leadership, board development, and fundraising, Haley is dedicated to empowering nonprofit leaders to create thriving organizations.
Instagram: @thesavvyfundraiser
LinkedIn: Haley Cooper, CFRE
Website: thesavvyfundraiser.com

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:

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 to help nonprofit leaders turn visions into reality, and create meaningful impact

As the fundraising engine of choice for over 80,000 organizations in 90+ countries, Donorbox’s easy-to-use fundraising tools help you raise more money in more ways. Seamlessly embed a customizable donation form into your website that reduces donor drop-off with a 4x faster checkout, launch a crowdfunding or peer-to-peer campaign, sell event tickets, raise funds on the go with Donorbox Live™ Kiosk, and much more. Learn more at donorbox.org

The EmC Masterclass by Dr. Lola Gershfeld will help you enhance your communication skills to raise more revenue for your mission. This groundbreaking Emotional Connection process has been integrated into top universities’ curriculum and recognized by international organizations. Use code LEADWITHHEART to enjoy a -10%.

CONNECT WITH HALEY
Haley is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE), Stress Management Coach, and EmC trainer. She founded The Savvy Fundraiser, a nonprofit consulting and coaching business, and has experience with nonprofits in human services, homelessness, and youth sectors. Specializing in EmC, leadership, board development, and fundraising, Haley is dedicated to empowering nonprofit leaders to create thriving organizations.
Instagram: @thesavvyfundraiser
LinkedIn: Haley Cooper, CFRE
Website: thesavvyfundraiser.com

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 to help nonprofit leaders turn visions into reality, and create meaningful impact

As the fundraising engine of choice for over 80,000 organizations in 90+ countries, Donorbox’s easy-to-use fundraising tools help you raise more money in more ways. Seamlessly embed a customizable donation form into your website that reduces donor drop-off with a 4x faster checkout, launch a crowdfunding or peer-to-peer campaign, sell event tickets, raise funds on the go with Donorbox Live™ Kiosk, and much more. Learn more at donorbox.org

CONNECT WITH HALEY
Haley is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE), Stress Management Coach, and EmC trainer. She founded The Savvy Fundraiser, a nonprofit consulting and coaching business, and has experience with nonprofits in human services, homelessness, and youth sectors. Specializing in EmC, leadership, board development, and fundraising, Haley is dedicated to empowering nonprofit leaders to create thriving organizations.
Instagram: @thesavvyfundraiser
LinkedIn: Haley Cooper, CFRE
Website: thesavvyfundraiser.com

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

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 to help nonprofit leaders turn visions into reality, and create meaningful impact

As the fundraising engine of choice for over 80,000 organizations in 90+ countries, Donorbox’s easy-to-use fundraising tools help you raise more money in more ways. Seamlessly embed a customizable donation form into your website that reduces donor drop-off with a 4x faster checkout, launch a crowdfunding or peer-to-peer campaign, sell event tickets, raise funds on the go with Donorbox Live™ Kiosk, and much more. Learn more at donorbox.org

The EmC Masterclass by Dr. Lola Gershfeld will help you enhance your communication skills to raise more revenue for your mission. This groundbreaking Emotional Connection process has been integrated into top universities’ curriculum and recognized by international organizations. Use code LEADWITHHEART to enjoy a -10%.

CONNECT WITH HALEY
Haley is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE), Stress Management Coach, and EmC trainer. She founded The Savvy Fundraiser, a nonprofit consulting and coaching business, and has experience with nonprofits in human services, homelessness, and youth sectors. Specializing in EmC, leadership, board development, and fundraising, Haley is dedicated to empowering nonprofit leaders to create thriving organizations.
Instagram: @thesavvyfundraiser
LinkedIn: Haley Cooper, CFRE
Website: thesavvyfundraiser.com

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 to help nonprofit leaders turn visions into reality, and create meaningful impact

As the fundraising engine of choice for over 80,000 organizations in 90+ countries, Donorbox’s easy-to-use fundraising tools help you raise more money in more ways. Seamlessly embed a customizable donation form into your website that reduces donor drop-off with a 4x faster checkout, launch a crowdfunding or peer-to-peer campaign, sell event tickets, raise funds on the go with Donorbox Live™ Kiosk, and much more. Learn more at donorbox.org

CONNECT WITH HALEY
Haley is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE), Stress Management Coach, and EmC trainer. She founded The Savvy Fundraiser, a nonprofit consulting and coaching business, and has experience with nonprofits in human services, homelessness, and youth sectors. Specializing in EmC, leadership, board development, and fundraising, Haley is dedicated to empowering nonprofit leaders to create thriving organizations.
Instagram: @thesavvyfundraiser
LinkedIn: Haley Cooper, CFRE
Website: thesavvyfundraiser.com

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 to help nonprofit leaders turn visions into reality, and create meaningful impact

As the fundraising engine of choice for over 80,000 organizations in 90+ countries, Donorbox’s easy-to-use fundraising tools help you raise more money in more ways. Seamlessly embed a customizable donation form into your website that reduces donor drop-off with a 4x faster checkout, launch a crowdfunding or peer-to-peer campaign, sell event tickets, raise funds on the go with Donorbox Live™ Kiosk, and much more. Learn more at donorbox.org

CONNECT WITH HALEY
Haley is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE), Stress Management Coach, and EmC trainer. She founded The Savvy Fundraiser, a nonprofit consulting and coaching business, and has experience with nonprofits in human services, homelessness, and youth sectors. Specializing in EmC, leadership, board development, and fundraising, Haley is dedicated to empowering nonprofit leaders to create thriving organizations.
Instagram: @thesavvyfundraiser
LinkedIn: Haley Cooper, CFRE
Website: thesavvyfundraiser.com

Produced by Ideablossoms