WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING
Unparalleled Change Agent
Susan’s influence as an innovator and an inclusive change agent in the field is unparalleled. She is a professional who is deeply impassioned about and committed to work on behalf of the common good. Susan was extremely influential in my personal evolution as a donor and board member.
–Henry A.J. Ramos, Senior Editor & Project Consultant, Arte Público Press,
University of Houston
Outstanding Coach
Susan is an outstanding coach: honest, incredibly intuitive, brilliant and so experienced. She enabled me to find my leadership skills and become the leader I needed to be.
–Susan Cole, Founder and Director
Trauma and Learning Policy Initiative
Harvard Law School
A Terrific Thought Partner
Susan really got what was unique about our particular strategy of using films to work for social justice – and she was highly effective in communicating about it passionately and convincingly. She was a terrific thought partner with great perspective.
– Debra Chasnoff, z”l
Former President and Senior Producer, Groundspark
Trusted, Long Term Strategic Thinker
Susan is a trusted, bold and visionary leader – a long term strategic thinker.
– Torie Osborn, Senior Policy Director
Office of Supervisor Sheila Kuehl
From Coaching Clients
I am so much more effective as a leader of my organization with the gift of you seeing me, holding my vulnerabilities and history, while honoring my strengths, resilience and present-day path.
- N
You have been my spiritual midwife, helping me to stay on my path and keep returning to what is true about me.
- L
Working with you, I re-gained the confidence to go after the job that allowed me to make a difference for high school students.
-A
I am now breathing so much more deeply as I go through my day, and much more able to stay grounded in myself despite the same old stresses of my job.
- G
I am struck by your deep enthusiasm and passion, and grateful to benefit from your clear and holistic approach. My pilates clients will benefit for sure.
- V
Your grounded presence and partnership helped me learn to cultivate my own resilience, never more important than now.
-Y

Extraordinarily Thoughtful Professional
As Director of Advancement and later a consultant for the National Writing Project, we benefitted from Susan’s perspective on how to build a sustainable, future-oriented organization for progressive educators nationwide. She is an extraordinarily thoughtful professional with deep experience in diversity, equity and inclusion work, coalition-building and political engagement.
–Elyse Eidman-Aadahl, Executive Director,
National Writing Project
Critical Thinker and Visionary
Susan Freundlich is a multi-talented and highly effective fundraiser and organizational consultant as well as a critical thinker and visionary. I have always known her to bring keen insight, experience and her commitment to activism for social justice to her work with donors, foundations, and community-based organizations.
– Paul Kivel, Social Justice Educator;
Community-based Donor Activist, and Writer
New Branding
With Susan's leadership, JFCS East Bay created thoughtful new branding, an engaging and compelling website, inspiring videos and a new tag line that describes the organization perfectly:
Compassion in Action, Commitment to All.
–Joel ben Izzy, Storyteller, Author & Story Consultant; JFCS East Bay, VP Board of Directors

A Seasoned Professional of the Highest Caliber
Susan brought a deep understanding of true social justice. She has an innate ability to deliver a mission-focused message whether in a fundraising appeal, a communications campaign or face-to-face with donors or partners. She built strong and lasting relationships that inspired donors to give. Susan brings creativity, integrity and a desire for excellence to every effort, and is a seasoned professional of the highest caliber.
– Judy Patrick, Public Policy Consultant at Equal Rights Advocates;
Former President & CEO, Women’s Foundation of CA

Positive Tone, Productive Atmosphere
As a long time philanthropist and donor activist, I rekindled my commitment to the Women’s Foundation of California as a direct result of Susan’s leadership there. I trusted and depended on her deep sense of compassion and meaningful inclusion of all. Susan’s well-honed communication skills and knowledge of organization development help create a positive tone and productive atmosphere that inspires authentic and effective relationships.
— Leonie Walker
Philanthropic Activist and Executive Director
Laparoscopic Institute for Gynecologic Oncology