INDIANAPOLIS—The members of the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University's Board of Visitors have elected Gail L. Freeman, founder and president of Freeman Philanthropic Services, LLC, as the Center's new board chair.

Freeman is a recognized and innovative leader in the nonprofit sector who brings more than 25 years of experience to her new role. She created and leads Freeman Philanthropic Services, LLC, a full-service retained executive recruitment firm specializing in the not-for-profit sector.

Freeman formerly served as vice president and director for a national retained executive search firm, managing all aspects of the search process, including client relationships, research, networking, qualification and final selection of candidates. Her previous leadership roles also include serving as executive director of the Irvington Institute for Immunological Research and as president of a division of the fundraising firm Brakeley, John Price Jones, Inc.

"We are pleased to have Gail, with her immense understanding of the field, as our new chair," said Gene Tempel, executive director of the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University. "Under her leadership, the Center will deepen its engagement with key leaders in the nonprofit sector."

As the Center's board chair, Freeman will help extend the Center's reach nationally and internationally and assist it in securing resources to fulfill its mission.

"I am keenly aware of the increasingly important role fundraising professionals play in encouraging generosity," said Freeman. "They must bring to their leadership positions the ability to move beyond the transaction of the gift exchange to facilitating a transformational experience for the donors. We must cultivate talent, and the Center plays a vital role in ensuring leaders achieve those goals and become reflective practioners."

Freeman frequently speaks, writes, and consults within the nonprofit sector. Her numerous publications include articles for the Association of Healthcare Philanthropy, the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), and Fund Raising Management. As a featured speaker for various conferences and other venues, she teaches on a variety of topics ranging from career development to strategic planning.

An active community volunteer, Freeman is a board member for The New School Milano Graduate School and the AFP Foundation for Philanthropy International. She served on the board of the Greater New York AFP Chapter and was the co-chair of its strategic planning committee. At the request of People to People, an organization founded by Dwight D. Eisenhower and AFP, Freeman joined 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. At the invitation of the U.S. State Department's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, she also has spoken to participants of the multi-regional International NGO Management Program about strengthening leadership, utilizing volunteers, fundraising, and developing missions for nongovernmental organizations.

Freeman teaches not-for-profit management and development as an adjunct professor at Columbia University and at the Milano Graduate School of The New School. She graduated with honors from the Masters Program in Not-for-Profit Management at The New School. She has been honored for her contributions to philanthropy by the Greater New York Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.

The Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University, a part of the Indiana University School of Liberal Arts at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, is a leading academic center dedicated to increasing the understanding of philanthropy, improving its practice and enhancing philanthropic participation through research, teaching, public service and public affairs programs in philanthropy, fundraising, and management of nonprofit organizations.

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