Biography
Gail L. Freeman is Founder and President of Freeman Philanthropic Services, LLC (FPS), a full service firm specializing in a range of recruitment, coaching, and onboarding training services for not-for-profit organizations and institutions, including higher education institutions, hospitals, academic medical centers, social service, cultural, performing arts, membership, and advocacy organizations. FPS recruits C-suite executives for mission-driven organizations and institutions for its diverse international client base.
Ms. Freeman is Chair Emeritus of the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University and a founding member of the Board of Visitors for the School of Philanthropy at Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis. She has served as a board member for The New School’s Milano Graduate School and the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Foundations for Philanthropy, and a member of American Humanics’ Nonprofit Sector Workforce Coalition. She has served on the board of the Greater New York AFP Chapter and was the co-chair of the Strategic Planning Committee. She works closely with the Independent Sector’s NGen program, which aims to expand and improve the not-for-profit talent pool by developing the skills and networks of emerging leaders under 40. Moreover, Ms. Freeman has taken on diverse challenges, including serving as a member of the National Steering Committee for Research America. Ms. Freeman was the recipient of the New York AFP Chapter Philanthropist of the Year award in 2000 and received the AFP Founders’ Medallion – the highest award the association gives for service – at the 2010 AFP International Conference in Baltimore.
Ms. Freeman has served the not-for-profit sector as an executive, development professional, executive recruiter, and consultant. Her broad experience and multi-faceted knowledge base bring a complete perspective to FPS’ numerous and diverse clients, which include Tufts University, Harvard University, Weill Cornell Medicine, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York-Presbyterian, Feeding America, Trust for the National Mall, New York Community Trust, Museum of Pop Culture, Miami City Ballet, Florida Humanities, and American Institute for Conservation / Foundation for Advancement in Conservation.
Since founding FPS in 2002, Ms. Freeman has built and sustained long-lasting and deep partnerships with leaders and organizations committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, resulting in more than 60% of the firm’s 636 executive recruitments resulting in minorities, LGBTQ individuals, and women securing leadership positions in the not-for-profit sector. She has partnered with organizations including the Vera Institute of Justice, Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, National Urban League, UNCF, and A Better Chance. Recently, Ms. Freeman partnered with the National Urban League to recruit the Vice President, Strategic Initiatives and Advancement who will lead and administer the Lilly Endowment’s $100 million place-based Quality of Life Renewal Initiative in Indianapolis.
At the request of People to People International, an organization founded by Dwight D. Eisenhower and AFP, Ms. Freeman was invited to join delegations of not-for-profit executives to meet with Chinese and Russian health, cultural, educational, social service and religious leaders. These delegations led exchanges on building philanthropic support for programs that respond to local needs, an issue of singular importance in the rapidly changing Chinese and Russian economies and societies.
Ms. Freeman frequently speaks, writes, and consults within the not-for-profit sector. She has published numerous articles for leading not-for-profit organizations and co-authored “How to Increase Your Annual Fund” (Fund-Raising Management). As a featured speaker at AFP, AAMC, AHP, Center on
Philanthropy at Indiana University and the Association of Governing Boards, Ms. Freeman lectures on a myriad of topics ranging from the state of philanthropy and career development to strategic planning. In addition, she has worked with and trained top-level volunteers and staff in fundraising. Ms. Freeman graduated with honors from the Master’s Program in Not-for-Profit Management at The New School.