About Laura Zielke
If you’re a nonprofit executive in the middle of something that doesn’t fit neatly into a strategic plan (e.g., a board that has lost its way, a leadership transition, staff drama, or a season when the financials, the staffing, and your own health all need attention at the same time), Laura Zielke coaches leaders like you. Her clients are usually competent, conscientious, and quietly exhausted, running organizations that depend on them while wondering how much longer they can keep this up.
Laura is a Holistic Nonprofit Executive Coach and Certified Life Coach whose work draws on values clarification, thought work, burnout prevention, and restorative self-care. Her approach is equity-centered and grounded in inclusion and belonging — not as buzzwords, but as the conditions under which leaders and the people they serve can actually flourish.
During her years at Joan Garry’s Nonprofit Leadership Lab, Laura supported thousands of nonprofit leaders and led hundreds through boot camp experiences she designed on board leadership and fundraising, plus a grant writing intensive she helped facilitate. Serving nonprofit leaders day in and day out gave her a close-up view of what nonprofit leadership actually looks like from the inside: the structural messiness, the impossible tradeoffs, the loneliness at the top, and the quiet erosion that turns capable leaders into depleted ones.
Alongside her coaching, Laura has run her own business for more than 28 years as a graphic designer and marketing strategist, advising business owners, clergy, elected officials, and nonprofit leaders on messaging, design, and strategy. That entrepreneurial throughline informs how she coaches — with a working understanding of budgets, boards, brand, and the real constraints leaders are operating inside.
If this sounds like the kind of support you’re looking for, schedule a complimentary mini-session. You’ll meet Laura and talk through what you’re carrying, what you need, and whether holistic coaching is the right fit.
"I understand the unique struggles many nonprofit leaders face, and I am dedicated to holding space for you. Let go of the burden of going it alone and allow me to be your sounding board, your confidant, and your guide. I will listen without judgment, provide unwavering support, and help you figure out next steps."
Laura Zielke
professional credentials & associations
equity-centered practice commitment
As a white woman, I recognize that I have privilege and power in our society that has been historically denied to people of color. I am committed to using that privilege and power to create a more equitable and just world, and to continuously educate myself on the ways in which I can be a better advocate and accomplice. I acknowledge that this work is ongoing and that I must continue to listen, learn, and unlearn in order to truly contribute to the fight for racial justice.
As an equity-centered coach, I will offer a safe and supportive space where individuals can reflect on their own beliefs, behaviors, and actions, and explore ways to foster inclusive practices, dismantle systemic barriers, and promote equality and justice.
I am committed to dismantling systemic and structural racism.