Take The Leap
Take the Leap is the podcast where we get real about the rollercoaster that is entrepreneurship and life.
Sure, some folks make running a business look like a walk in the park, but let's be honest – it's more like a wild ride through a theme park with unexpected twists and turns!
Join us your co-hosts, Victoria & Ashlan, as we spill the beans on our own real-life experiences and shine a spotlight on some amazing guests. From the highs of success stories to the lows of epic failures, and hey, we'll even throw in some cringe-worthy, laugh-out-loud embarrassing moments for good measure!
So buckle up and tune in every week for a dose of raw, unfiltered truth about what it's really like to chase your dreams and build a business. Whether you're a seasoned entrepreneur or just dipping your toes into the startup world, we've got something for everyone. Even if it's just to make you think, "I'm so glad I didn't do what they did!"
Take The Leap
#123: Boundaries, Burnout, and Better Nonprofit Leadership
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What happens when motherhood, burnout, and a deep belief in people-first leadership collide? You build a business that challenges the way nonprofits work from the inside out.
In this episode, Haley Cooper shares how she took her experience in fundraising, leadership, and nonprofit strategy and turned it into a business focused on helping organizations become more connected, sustainable, and human-centered. From launching The Savvy Fundraiser during maternity leave to writing a book, hosting a podcast, and building the Lead With Heart Summit, Haley’s story is a reminder that entrepreneurship can be both deeply personal and powerfully mission-driven.
We also dig into nonprofit burnout, the danger of reactive leadership, why diversified funding matters more than ever, and how boundaries, clarity, and emotional connection can transform both organizations and the people leading them.
Key Takeaways
- Entrepreneurship can be the bridge between ambition and a life that actually works. Haley built The Savvy Fundraiser because traditional work structures no longer matched the reality of being a parent, a leader, and a human being with limits.
- Burnout is not a personal failure, it is often a systems problem. Haley’s work centers on helping nonprofit leaders build healthier cultures where people feel connected, supported, and able to do meaningful work without constantly operating in survival mode.
- Saying yes to everything is not a growth strategy. Early in business, Haley took on too many kinds of work from a scarcity mindset. One of her biggest lessons was learning that clarity, boundaries, and focus create more sustainable success than being everything to everyone.
- Your business should be designed on purpose, not built by default. Haley talked about the importance of choosing offers, projects, and platforms strategically instead of piling things on just because there is an opportunity or because someone else is doing it.
- People do not leave missions, they leave unhealthy cultures. One of the strongest ideas in this episode is that nonprofits can only thrive when the humans behind the mission feel safe, valued, and supported.
Guest & Host Information:
- Guest, Haley Cooper, Founder of The Savvy Fundraiser
- Co-Host, Ashlan Glazier-Anderson, Owner of AshbeanPDX Marketing
- Co-Host, Victoria (Tory) Proppe, Owner of Imagine Marketing Strategies
Connect with Haley:
- Website: www.thesavvyfundraiser.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/haley-cooper-cfre
- Lead with Heart Summit on April 16 & 17: https://leadwithheart.vfairs.com
Connect with us:
- On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TaketheLeap-Today
- On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/taketheleap_today
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