Board Retreats – Comments and Feedback

Gail, you have a presentation style that puts your audience at ease and draws them in as you make your points. The real life stories you use to illustrate your points are both entertaining and educational.
Jeff Weller, board chair, Ronald McDonald house of the Rio Grande Valley

Thank you for the extraordinary training session you conducted for the Museum this past Saturday. It was informative, thought-provoking and fun. In these challenging times, where resources are scarce, an organization would be wise to use some of those resources engaging your firm.
David H Pottenger III, Board Chairman, NC Museum of Life and Science

I have never seen this group be more engaged and excited about fund raising- and believing we will be successful! We sure are on FIRE here!
Deborah M. Johnson, CFRE, Director of Development, The Pine School, Hobe Sound, FL

You sure fired our board members up with ideas and a sense of confidence that they can be great “friendraisers” for our organization. Your energy and enthusiasm for fundraising was infectious.
Peggy A. Grimes, Executive Director, Montana Food Bank Network

Gail Perry is in-fact a non-profit missionary with a message that can save great organizations by helping them bring committed and passionate donors to their cause.
Kim Lopez, Board member Insight Meditation Center, Washington DC

Gail’s practical advice from years of successful fundraising was priceless. Hers is that rare training after which you walk out and immediately start implementing her ideas. All I can say is “thank you!”
Kim Lopez, Board member Insight Meditation Center, Washington DC

We were all impressed with your “soft sell with great impact” presentation yesterday. Clearly we learned some new tools for fund-raising but more importantly shifted the attitude!
Marion G. Thompson, board member greater Baltimore Medical Center Foundation

Thanks so much for a great retreat and leaving us with so much new momentum to go out and raise funds for GBMC. You did an outstanding job.
Doug Smith Greater Baltimore Medical Center Foundation

Over the past week I’ve had the privilege, and I use that word deliberately, to attend three great meetings, all of which serve to inspire me. All presenters were on their game, which gives me great hope for our future. Thank you for being one of these three.
David H Pottenger III, Board Chairman, NC Museum of Life and Science

Gail, Your passion is contagious and your visit was so helpful. Gwendolyn, Board Member of America’s Second Harvest San Deigo CA I was surprised at how quickly our session went, felt far more knowledgeable about the friend-raising process and am convinced our organization is better off for having been through this. Additionally, I feel that my personal knowledge base was greatly expanded.

David H Pottenger III, Board Chairman, NC Museum of Life and Science

I love your cultivation strategy of “advice visits.” I’ve been having a great time contacting various business leaders asking for their coaching/opinion on making the Grand Canyon Chapter of the Red Cross a success. My approach is to briefly outline what the Red Cross does in our community , and ask what successful practices they have seen on the charitable boards they serve on. The response has been great. They are interested and want to have on-going dialogue. Thanks again, Gail!
Karen Mildenhall Managing Director Marsh, Inc. President elect, GRAND CANYON CHAPTER OF THE AMERICAN Red Cross

Thank you so much for the fantastic retreat this morning!!! Our board members (and staff) are energized and ready to begin the work ahead. Carolyn Insley GBMC Foundation Gail, It was such a thrill to see the body language and faces of our board members change from reservation, reluctance, and uncertainty to smiles, laughs, and excitement. You rallied the troupes in a way that got them out of their comfort zone, made them tackle those underlying fears, and empowered them to motivate. It was brilliant!
Abby Johnston Director of Development Saint Mary’s School

What a change! Now when we discuss fundraising no one begins to make excuses or shies away. Our board members are stepping up to foster the relationships with donors, love to tell our story to anyone who will listen and certainly aren’t shy or “ashamed” to ask.
Jeff Weller, board chair, Ronald McDonald House of the Rio Grande Valley

Thank you for helping us move closer to realizing the vision we have for our Museum You were extremely well prepared for our particular needs. You kept the meeting “light” and fun, and yet were able to convey an important message.
David H Pottenger III, Board Chairman, NC Museum of Life and Science

I really like the way you involve your audience in the discussion with numerous exercises and activities. That really helps people immerse themselves in the topics and creates important buy-in to the subjects discussed. Jeff Weller, board chair, Ronald McDonald house of the Rio Grande Valley You make fundraising comfortable and fun for our board members. And you energized us all to move in a positive direction. Thank you so much!
Michael Lowery Development Director, Ronald McDonald House of Chapel Hill

Thank you for good usable information and for helping us stretch to find our own way.
Zanne Baker, Board Member, Penland School

After our retreat, the board member are showing confidence that we are a cause that offers something so critical and worthwhile. They KNOW people will want to support us. They truly have been “transformed”… thank you!
Jeff Weller, board chair, Ronald McDonald house of the Rio Grande Valley

Gail was a very skilled, passionate facilitator at the NCAEYC Board Retreat. She helped me to view fundraising from a totally new, different perspective.
NCAEYC Board Member

Gail, Loved your workshop, your enthusiasm and brilliance for the work and the material you presented. It was right on and perfectly aligned for me and the needs of my organization. Appreciated very much a window into your mastery.
Stanford Siver, Alliance for PeaceBuilding, Washington DC

I wanted to personally say thank you for a tremendous evening of inspiration. I know you changed mind sets and attitudes about how we approach fund raising and more importantly how we can effect positive outcome.
Deborah M. Johnson, CFRE, Director of Development, The Pine School,Hobe Sound, FL

Great investment of time and money.
Board Member, the Pine School, Hobe Sound, FL

Gail’s energy and ideas will be useful in many aspects of our lives – above and beyond just fundraising. Fundraising is an area that I am not excited about – but now I really feel like I have a new perspective.
Board Member, the Pine School, Hobe Sound, FL

I absolutely loved the workshop. I also thought that the honesty of the Board was excellent.
Board Member, the Pine School, Hobe Sound, FL

Gail was wonderful. Even this old dog learned a few new tricks.
Board Member, the Pine School, Hobe Sound, FL

I can’t thank you enough for your wonderful presentation to the SECC Kick-Off Luncheon group !!! You not only gave everyone good techniques and tools, but put a very human face on the process of fundraising.
Dr. Haig Khachatoorian, NC State University

Gail, you’re just terrific in terms of your warmth, empathy, energy and group dynamics. I can see why you are so effective with nervous board members and volunteers.
Dr. Haig Khachatoorian, NC State University

Thank you very much for the great retreat. It was very productive and extremely uplifting to me and the members of the board. I really appreciated your focus on being positive and emphasizing our successes!
Fouad Fakhouri, Artistic Director Fayetteville Symphony

Gail helped Democracy NC have its best board meeting EVER. After her visit, the members of our board were inspired to help. They’re already making thank you calls and planning next steps! ‘
Molly Beacham, Democracy NC’