For Nonprofit Board Members
Easy Fundraising & Friendmaking for Board Members
How to Raise Friends and Funds for Your Cause.
Practical resources to help you to find your best role in fundraising and help raise money for your nonprofit.
Written by
Gail Perry, MBA, CFRE
Gail Perry is an internationally recognized fundraising expert and keynote speaker who has spent 30+ years helping nonprofit boards embrace fundraising with confidence and joy. A major gifts and capital campaign strategist, she is the founder of Gail Perry Group and a LinkedIn Top Voice in Philanthropy. Read her story.
Welcome!
If the thought of fundraising makes you nervous, you're in good company.
Most nonprofit board members care deeply about their organizations—but they've never been shown a comfortable, natural way to help with fundraising.
That's why I created Friends to Funds.
Fundraising doesn't begin with asking for money. It begins with friendship.
Here you'll learn how to build relationships, open doors, share your passion, and inspire generosity in ways that feel authentic to you.
Welcome. I'm so glad you're here.
“I’ve watched Gail Perry work her magic with nonprofit boards for twenty years.”
Roger Craver
Author, Editor, The Agitator
“Gail Perry has cracked the code that stumps most boards: generosity doesn’t start with an ask, it starts with a friendship.”
Nathan Chappell
Chief AI Officer, Virtuous; co-author of The Generosity Crisis, Nonprofit AI, and N1 Philanthropy
“The most valuable thing for me was reinforcing the fact that I don’t have to go out tomorrow and beg people for money; that it’s a process and it’s all about building relationships. And, that it can be fun!”
Board member
Pathways Hospice Foundation
FREE
Free Board Member Friendmaking Toolkit
Whether you're just beginning or looking for fresh ideas, these practical tools will help you start building confidence today.
Inside you'll discover:
- Friendmaking Job Description for Board Members
- The Ambassador’s Guide
- The Influencer’s Guide
- The Occasional Asker’s Guide
- The Steward’s Thank You Guide
Tools to help you make friends, build relationships, and inspire generosity
Find Your Fundraising Role
Every board member has something valuable to contribute.
The question is… How do you naturally help?
Â
Every board member can help raise more money. Not by doing the same things—but by discovering the role that fits them best.
“I don't have to do everything. I have a role.”
Ambassador
Shares enthusiasm, opens doors, represents the mission.
Influencer
Connects people, encourages interest, makes introductions.
Steward
Thanks, recognizes, listens, and strengthens relationships.
Occasional Asker
Is willing to participate in important gift conversations at the right moment.
Articles & Videos
Practical Ideas You Can Use Immediately
Continue learning through articles, short videos, downloadable resources, board engagement ideas, donor relationship strategies, major gifts insights, behavioral science, and fresh thinking about philanthropy.
Board Retreats
Looking for support for your entire board?
For CEOs, executive directors, development professionals, and board chairs.
Explore Board RetreatsBring the Friends to Funds philosophy to your organization through
- Fired Up Fundraising Board Retreat / Workshop
- Board retreats
- Keynote presentations
- Customized board fundraising education
- Bulk book purchases
Stay Connected
Fundraising is changing.
Every week I'll share practical ideas about nonprofit boards, fundraising strategy, donor relationships, board engagement, and friendmaking.
You'll receive:
- New articles
- Short teaching videos
- Free downloadable resources
- Book updates
- Early access to workshops and new
- Friends to Funds resources
No fluff. Just practical ideas that help nonprofit board members become more confident and more effective.