Positive Impact Philanthropy Podcast · Lori Kranczer

An Interview with Jennifer Gabriel, CEO of the National Women's Hall of Fame

·24 min·2 clips

At six, Jennifer was taunted for running like a girl, igniting her fight for women's equality.

This episode features an interview with Jennifer Gabriel, CEO of the National Women's Hall of Fame, conducted by host Lori Kranzer. Gabriel shares her personal journey into philanthropy and her leadership role at the hall, which honors women's achievements. Her career spans over 25 years in fundraising, including roles in annual funds, major gifts, and planned giving. Gabriel first visited Seneca Falls, New York, after an eighth-grade teacher pointed out the minimal textbook coverage of the women's rights movement. A childhood memory of a cousin taunting her for running "like a girl" cemented her early awareness of gender inequality. The National Women's Hall of Fame moved to a permanent home in a historic limestone building in Seneca Falls in 2020. A subsequent feasibility study recommended hiring professional staff to expand the organization's national reach. The hall's donor base consists largely of average individuals, with typical gifts ranging from $150 to $1,000. Women's giving circles significantly contribute to the organization's collective funding model. An independent national panel of about 120 judges selects inductees across diverse fields like arts, athletics, STEM, and business. Gabriel initially entered fundraising as a grant writer after a career in political speechwriting. She quickly transitioned to major gifts work, preferring relationship-building over grant writing's administrative tasks. She points to resources like the Lilly School of Philanthropy at Indiana University for those starting fundraising careers. Gabriel emphasizes authenticity and building genuine, trusting relationships with donors as key to her philosophy. She believes showing up as one's whole self benefits both the fundraiser and the donor's connection to the cause. The organization aims to use a nationally broadcast induction ceremony to expand its reach and redefine celebrity within the women's rights movement. Future goals include adding programming staff and creating more community engagement, both virtual and in-person. The hall's website is womenofthehall.org, and it maintains an active blog and social media presence under "womenofthehall." The tone is conversational and inspirational, blending personal narrative with professional insights into nonprofit management. The style is interview-based, with the host guiding the guest through her personal history and organizational mission. Listeners interested in women's history, nonprofit leadership, and philanthropic career paths would find this episode valuable. Those seeking highly technical fundraising advice or critical analysis of philanthropic models might find the content too broad or personal.

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