This episode is sponsored by:
I am so honored to share today’s conversation with Laura Bode, the newly appointed Chief Philanthropy Officer at A New Leaf. A survivor of childhood trauma, Laura rebuilt her confidence as an adult with the support of key mentors who saw her potential before she could see it herself. Today, she leads a powerhouse nonprofit serving more than 30,000 people each year and has helped grow philanthropy revenue from $300,000 to over $10 million.
In this episode, we dig into her remarkable journey, the emotional realities nonprofit leaders face, the burnout she’s experienced firsthand, and how she rebuilt a healthier, more grounded approach to leadership.
In this episode:
- 00:00:00 Value of Mentorship After Trauma
- 00:05:59 Strategic Shifts for Nonprofit Growth
- 00:09:55 Optimizing Your Board
- 00:14:02 Navigating Burnout
- 00:23:39 Expanding Community Engagement
NOTEWORTHY QUOTES
“Invest in marketing. It’s hard to ask anybody to get behind your mission if they don’t know who you are.” – Laura Bode
“ We want to give [our program staff] every tool that we can so that they can be successful in helping the people that they’re working with in their programs.” – Laura Bode
“ You’ve got to take care of each other, keep that end goal in mind, and not get hung up on the small losses along the way.” – Laura Bode
RESOURCES
The Lead with Heart Summit is not just another conference. It’s a powerful, purpose-driven experience created specifically for nonprofit fundraisers who are feeling burned out, stretched thin, and in need of real, meaningful support. April, 2026.
The EmC Masterclass developed by Dr. Lola Gershfeld is for everyone looking to enhance their communication and collaboration skills to raise more revenue for their mission. This groundbreaking Emotional Connection process has been integrated into top universities’ curriculum and recognized by international organizations like ICF HRCI, and SHRM. Use the code LEADWITHHEART to enjoy a generous 10% discount.
Imagine a fundraising partner that not only helps you raise more money but also supports you in retaining your donors. A partner that helps you raise funds both online AND on-location. Donorbox is a comprehensive suite of tools, services, and resources that gives fundraisers, just like you, a custom solution to tackle your unique challenges. Helping you…help others. Visit donorbox.org to learn more.
CONNECT WITH LAURA
LinkedIn: Laura Bode
Website: https://turnanewleaf.org/
CONNECT WITH HALEY
Haley is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE), Certified Stress Management Coach, and Certified EmC train the trainer. She is the Founder of The Savvy Fundraiser, a nonprofit consulting and coaching business. She has worked in both small and large nonprofit teams in the human services, homelessness, and youth sectors; and she specializes in the EmC process, nonprofit leadership, board development, and fundraising. Haley is a passionate, impact-driven, experienced nonprofit professional whose mission is to empower, elevate and engage nonprofit leaders to build healthy, thriving organizations.
Instagram: @thesavvyfundraiser
LinkedIn: Haley Cooper, CFRE
Website: thesavvyfundraiser.com
This episode is sponsored by Donorbox
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.