117. Sonia Saleh on Spirituality and Leadership in the Nonprofit World

Hey, hey, hey.

Welcome to Mind Power Meets Mystic with my friend and co-host, Michelle Walters, our Mind Power junkie, and me, Cinthia Varkevisser, your House Mystic. Today, we are super honored to have Ms. Sonia Saleh.

Miss Sonia is the founder of Uplifting Nonprofits. She’s on a mission to transform fundraising for nonprofits, empowering them to achieve their important missions with expertise from both for-profit and nonprofit worlds. She teaches the art of fundraising through her program Unleash Your Inner Fundraiser, helping clients double their results while gaining confidence. A multilingual and multicultural leader, Sonia has been a Rotary member for over 10 years, including serving as District Governor for Long Island. Based in New York, she works with nonprofits worldwide, lending passion and expertise to make a global impact.

Cinthia: Well, tell them, Sonia!

Sonia: Thank you, thank you. It’s great to be here.

Cinthia: Oh, we’re super excited to have you. So let’s get started. We all have people in common in our groups, so we’ve had our really quick chat. I want to go right into it and talk about spirituality. It’s something that Michelle and I are very passionate about. We love to talk about and share it. So I’d love to hear about your spiritual awakenings, let’s say, and how it fed into your life and your work.

Sonia: Great, great. So I can tell you’re all about spirituality just by the vibe here. It’s been quite a journey for me. My parents were from two different continents, countries, and religions—my father, Egyptian Muslim; my mother, Swedish Protestant. I grew up overseas, and when I was in a Christian group, everyone tried to convince me to be Christian. When I was in a Muslim group, they tried to convince me to be Muslim. And I thought, This does not work for me.

My parents exposed me to both faiths, celebrating both holidays and traditions, but everyone else said, You have to choose this; this one is better. So I walked away. I couldn’t deal with the arguments and disagreements. During that time, my mother would share unique spiritual things with me—like the book Chariots of the Gods. She even used a Ouija board for a while but stopped when the messages made her uncomfortable.

Meanwhile, my father, though Muslim, had dreams where the Virgin Mary spoke to him. So there was always this spiritual energy around, though not formally spoken about. I now call what I follow the "Sonia Religion"—it’s spiritual, open, and uniquely my own.

When I met my husband, he was Roman Catholic but not particularly religious. He introduced me to Robert Monroe’s work, particularly his book Journeys Out of the Body and the Monroe Institute. It opened doors to spirituality in ways that resonated with both of us.

From there, my husband studied shamanism and indigenous traditions, while I explored New Age spirituality. It’s been a core part of my life, and my work reflects the understanding that spirituality and energy are in everything.

Michelle: Absolutely, Sonia. I love hearing your story and how spirituality has woven through your life.

Cinthia: Me too! It’s fascinating how your parents had these profound experiences, even from different faiths, and how that set the foundation for your own spiritual path.

Sonia: Thank you, Cinthia. And yes, it was amazing to share this journey with my husband. Sadly, I’m now a widow, but the journey we shared is something I deeply treasure.

Sonia: How I got into it—everything with me is a story of how I get into something. I was working in hotels as a sales and marketing director, and before that, I had volunteered with nonprofits—large, small, a variety of them. But at the time, I didn’t even realize there was a nonprofit sector. I just thought, “Business is business.”

One of the organizations I volunteered for asked me to join their board. I was an ideal candidate: I talked money all day, I had connections, and I understood marketing and sales. But when they asked me to fundraise, I froze. I had lists of people I could call, but I never made the calls. I could ask for a sale, but I couldn’t ask for a donation. It felt personal, like begging, and I worried about how it would affect my relationships. I was giving people an incredible opportunity to make an impact, but back then, we didn’t value that the way we do now.

So, I joined another board, and they said, “We need you to help with fundraising.” I knew I had to figure this out. I went to the library—this was before the internet had all the resources—and I started reading everything I could about fundraising. I learned the process but still struggled to take action.

Eventually, I came across quantum physics, brain science, and energy work. That’s when the lightbulb went off. I understood what was holding me back—those inner fears and doubts—and I began to apply those principles to overcome them. Over time, I became not just a good board member, but a great one.

When I left the hotel industry, I thought, “I want to help nonprofits full-time.” I started consulting, doing everything and anything in the nonprofit space. But the one thing I kept hearing was, “Our board doesn’t fundraise.” That’s when I realized my journey gave me the experience and insight to teach others. I understood both the leadership’s perspective and the board’s fears, so I started focusing on teaching boards how to fundraise and leaders how to work with their boards effectively.

I love bringing spiritual principles like energy and collaboration into the process. Fundraising isn’t just about money—it’s about connection. It’s about aligning with the energy of abundance and building relationships that inspire people to contribute. I recently taught a course on self-care for nonprofits, and it included energy work and exercises to connect the brain and energy. The response was incredible because people are looking for this kind of integration.

One of the highest compliments I’ve received came from an attorney serving on a board. He said, “Not only did Sonia get me to fundraise, but she also impacted my personal and professional life.” That’s what it’s about—going beyond just teaching skills to creating personal transformation and bringing joy and passion into the work. It’s a privilege to help nonprofits achieve their missions while making the world a better place.

Cinthia: I love that you bring such a holistic and personal approach to nonprofit work, Sonia. It’s inspiring!

Michelle: Absolutely. You’re helping people not only meet their goals but also connect with their purpose and values. It’s beautiful.

Sonia: Thank you. It’s truly my joy.

Cinthia: I love that you also incorporate energy and spirituality into your work—it makes it feel so much more aligned and impactful. And your point about collaboration really stands out. Can you talk more about how you use collaboration as part of the process with boards and leadership?

Sonia: Absolutely. Collaboration is at the heart of what I do. A board functions best when its members and the organization’s leadership are working together, aligned in their mission. I always say the magic happens when there’s clear communication and shared vision. Each board member brings unique skills, perspectives, and connections, and when those are leveraged effectively, the organization thrives.

For instance, I often facilitate exercises that focus on energy alignment within the group. It might sound abstract, but it’s very practical. When everyone’s energy is aligned, meetings become more productive, decision-making is clearer, and members feel more connected to the mission.

One of the things I emphasize is that board members need to understand their roles beyond just showing up to meetings. That’s why I created a video resource specifically for boards. It’s a 25-minute video priced affordably at $47, and it walks board members through their fundraising responsibilities and how they can approach this work with confidence. It’s practical, but it’s also infused with the understanding that fundraising is about building authentic relationships, not just asking for money.

Cinthia: That’s fantastic! And what about the financial contributions you mentioned earlier? Why is it so critical for board members to contribute financially?

Sonia: That’s such an important point, Cinthia. Every board member needs to contribute financially, and here’s why:

First, it’s about leading by example. If you’re a board member, you’re a representative of the organization. When you contribute financially, you’re demonstrating your commitment. This isn’t about the amount—it could be $10 or $10,000. It’s about saying, “I believe in this mission enough to invest in it myself.”

Second, it’s essential for fundraising efforts. Many grant applications require 100% board participation in giving. Funders want to see that the board fully supports the organization because why would they invest if the board itself isn’t?

And lastly, it’s about integrity and alignment. By giving, you’re putting your money where your mouth is. You’re not just saying, “This is important”—you’re showing it through action.

Michelle: That makes so much sense. It’s about walking the talk, isn’t it?

Sonia: Exactly. And when you bring in collaboration and alignment, fundraising becomes less about pressure and more about joy. It’s about connecting people to a cause they care about and inviting them to be part of something meaningful.

Cinthia: I love that. And I imagine it also helps foster deeper relationships within the board itself.

Sonia: It absolutely does. When board members collaborate and connect on a deeper level, they become more invested in the work. It’s not just a task—it’s a shared mission. And that sense of unity and shared purpose ripples out into the organization and the community it serves.

Cinthia: Beautifully said, Sonia. Thank you so much for sharing your insights and your heart with us today.

Michelle: Yes, thank you. You’ve given us so much to think about—and take action on.

Sonia: It’s been my pleasure. Thank you both for having me. I love what I do, and I’m always thrilled to share it with others.

Cinthia: We’ll be sure to include the link to your video in our show notes. It’s such a valuable resource for boards and nonprofits.

Sonia: Thank you! I really appreciate that.

Michelle: And for our listeners, if you’re feeling inspired by Sonia’s work and thinking about joining a board or taking your nonprofit to the next level, this is your sign to do it.

Cinthia: Absolutely. Thank you again, Sonia, and thank you to our audience for tuning in to Mind Power Meets Mystic.

Sonia: Thank you so much!

Cinthia: Until next time, everyone—stay aligned and connected.