Episode 101: Anne Friedman

Anne Friedman serves as the Executive Director (ED) of Gay for Good (G4G), leading the nation’s foremost LGBTQ volunteer network. Her decade-long dedication to the organization is rooted in deep institutional knowledge, having begun as a chapter volunteer in 2010 before rising through the ranks to serve as a Chapter Leader and Board Member. In 2018, Friedman transitioned from the Board to become G4G’s first-ever dedicated, paid employee, marking a critical moment in the organization's professionalization. She brought a strong foundation of professional experience in the nonprofit sector, specializing in communication, marketing, and donor relations, which proved essential for managing and scaling the growing national volunteer network.

Under her executive leadership, G4G experienced rapid and quantifiable scaling. Within her first two years, Ms. Friedman oversaw a 60 percent expansion of the chapter network, growing the organization from ten to sixteen chapters, while simultaneously doubling the supporter mailing list to engage over ten thousand individuals. Today, she mobilizes LGBTQ+ and ally volunteers across more than twenty chapter cities to actively promote diversity and foster inclusion by strengthening ties to the broader community through community service. This operational success has solidified G4G’s position as a visible force for good that dispels misconceptions and enhances goodwill through collaborative action.

Ms. Friedman is currently guiding the organization through a strategic shift focused on long-term sustainability and institutional maturity, as defined by the 2025-2028 Strategic Plan. This strategy prioritizes "Excellence" by implementing a Unified Chapter Model—standardizing expectations and providing comprehensive training for chapter leaders—and investing in a robust Volunteer Management System (VMS) to enhance operational efficiency. Her strategic focus on increasing fundraising capabilities and diversifying revenue streams is aimed at supporting increased staff capacity and ensuring G4G continues to provide welcoming, affirming spaces for service for all communities nationwide.