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 mental health toolkits, a 24/7 teen crisis text line, and Zoom counseling sessions. We explore how emotional intelligence, real communication, and parent-teen connection can create protective factors against the alarming rise in teen suicide.

In this episode:

• [02:47] The loss that sparked a movement
• [05:34] Early warning signs of teen depression and suicidal thoughts
• [08:07] How social media affects teen self-worth
• [11:04] The hidden epidemic of cyberbullying
• [14:53] Practical strategies for emotionally connecting with teens
• [17:57] Programs at A Brighter Day - from text lines to Zoom therapy
• [21:14] The power of nonprofit partnerships
• [22:55] Destigmatizing suicide and mental health struggles
• [28:33] Elliot’s vision for reaching 37 million high schoolers
• [33:51] Leadership lessons from scaling a grief-born mission

Teen Crisis Text Line: Text “BRIGHTER” to 741741

CONNECT WITH ELLIOT

LinkedIn: Elliot Kallen

Instagram: @abrighterdaycharity

Website: https://abrighterday.info/

Email: elliot@abrighterday.info

Phone: 510 206 1103

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 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—especially across generations.

If you're ready to build a culture where people feel seen, valued, and safe to contribute their gifts, this episode is a must-listen.

In this episode:

• [02:50] Susan’s unexpected journey to transformational coaching
• [07:11] Learning from Tony Robbins, Deepak Chopra, Pema Chödrön, and more
• [08:39] The difference between being and doing in leadership
• [10:14] How somatic and heart intelligence drive nonprofit team performance
• [17:58] Defining heart intelligence
• [20:08] Five leadership shifts to help leaders lead multigenerational teams
• [27:57] Building a culture of belonging in your nonprofit
• [34:52] A simple yet powerful practice to start leading with heart today

Leadership’s Perfect Storm by Susan Inouye

CONNECT WITH SUSAN

LinkedIn: Susan Inouye

Instagram: @susan_inouye

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 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 strategy, and engage your board in impactful fundraising.

In this episode:

• [02:21] David’s transition from for-profit to nonprofit leadership
• [03:45] The key to brand clarity and consistency in the nonprofit sector
• [07:21] Building a brand without a marketing budget
• [10:57] Why David wrote Passion Isn’t Enough
• [12:53] The three biggest challenges facing nonprofit leaders today
• [15:07] How to move board members from commitment to accountability
• [20:20] Rethinking give/get policies
• [25:00] Using motivation, celebration, and consistency to build a fundraising culture
• [28:45] Why passion alone won’t sustain nonprofit leadership
• [31:10] Leadership skill-building
• [34:48] David’s #1 advice for nonprofit CEOs feeling isolated or burned out

Passion Isn't Enough: A Practical Guide for Nonprofit Leaders by David Rhode

CONNECT WITH DAVID

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

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