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

I am thrilled to welcome Jacqueline Ackerman, interim director of the Women's Philanthropy Institute (WPI), to the podcast. In this episode, we’re unpacking how women give and why understanding those patterns can completely reshape how we approach nonprofit fundraising strategies.

Jacqueline brings a rich perspective, combining data, empathy, and decades of research to challenge traditional donor engagement approaches. From giv...

I’m honored to welcome Elliot Kallen to the Lead with Heart Podcast. Elliot is the president and co-founder of A Brighter Day, a nonprofit organization that has turned the devastating loss of his teenage son into a powerful mission to prevent teen suicide and offer hope to thousands of families.

In this deeply moving and empowering conversation, Elliot shares how his nonprofit is supporting 3,000–6,000 families each month with free ...

I can’t think of a more powerful way to celebrate 100 episodes than with Susan Inouye, a transformational executive coach and bestselling author whose work bridges neuroscience, somatics, and leadership.

In this milestone conversation, we explore how nonprofit leaders can shift from head-centric to heart-centered leadership. Susan shares five key leadership shifts for building emotionally intelligent, collaborative cultures—especial...

I’m thrilled to welcome David Rhode. David is a seasoned leader, nonprofit coach, strategic consultant, and author of Passion Isn’t Enough: A Practical Guide for Nonprofit Leaders. His career spans marketing, founding and running a nonprofit, and teaching at the University of Pennsylvania. He offers deep insight into leading sustainable organizations.

In this episode, we explore how to build a resonant brand, shift from passion to s...

What if we told you that hustle isn’t the only way to grow your nonprofit’s impact?

In this episode, I’m joined by Luis Báez, a revenue enablement strategist and sales coach whose mission is to prove that you don’t have to grind to grow.  Luis spent the last decade translating high-growth tech strategies into sustainable success for executive sales leaders and heart-centered business owners. We dive into the power of servant leaders...

I am so excited to welcome Alejandra Ramirez Wells to the Lead With Heart Podcast. Alejandra is an internal communication strategist and culture-building expert with nearly two decades of experience helping mission-driven organizations transform from the inside out.

In this episode, we dive deep into how internal communication is the key to creating sustainable nonprofit culture, retaining talent, and reducing burnout. Alejandra sha...

This week on Lead with Heart, intuitive coach and former jazz musician Shimrit Nativ shares her journey from off-grid living to leading a thriving coaching practice. We explore how nonprofit leaders can reconnect with their purpose, rebuild trust in their intuition, and take aligned action—whether launching bold initiatives or navigating day-to-day pressures.

In this episode:

• [01:43] Meet Shimrit: From off-grid living to intuitiv...

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 firs...

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 en...

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, ...

 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 nonprofit...

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 worldwid...

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 in...

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 Ma...

Principled leadership is essential to nonprofit success—a belief strongly held by my guest, Andrew Olsen.

Andrew helps nonprofit leaders increase impact through thriving organizational cultures that drive revenue growth. He's assisted over 500 nonprofits in raising half a billion dollars, authored bestselling books, and hosts the Rainmaker Fundraising Podcast.

We discuss leadership's role in fundraising, building strong don...

I am thrilled to welcome Christy Pretzinger as my guest on this episode of Lead with Heart. Christy is the CEO and founder of WG Content - a company that has reshaped the healthcare content landscape through an inspiring approach centered on kindness and people-focused values. 

She's a sought-after speaker and expert on topics like emotional intelligence, trust, and the often overlooked soft skills that create truly connected a...

In this episode of Lead with Heart, I am joined by Laura Bonnell, the founder of The Bonnell Foundation and host of the Living with Cystic Fibrosis Podcast. 

Laura's journey into advocacy began when her mother's instincts clashed with initial medical skepticism, ultimately leading to a life-changing diagnosis for her daughter Molly. Fueled by a passion to help her daughter and others with cystic fibrosis (CF), Laura shifte...

In this episode of Lead with Heart, we’re talking all about connection and collaboration with Britt Hogue - the founder of The Collective Good. 

With over 20 years of experience spanning the social, public, and private sectors, Britt has dedicated her career to fostering collaboration and connection. She knows firsthand that working collectively, whether as families, teams, or nations, can drive impactful solutions to some of our mo...

This episode is all about navigating HR in the nonprofit sector. We’re discussing the importance of onboarding, building a supportive work culture, employee retention and more with Dr. Tiffany Slater.

Tiffany is the founder and CEO of HR Tailormade and is here to help nonprofit leaders and small business owners navigate the complex world of HR with heart and expertise.

She is a trailblazing entrepreneur who built her business from th...