Philan
Services/Find an Advisor
friends of philan

A network of charitable advisors matched to emerging donors.

Friends of Philan is our growing community of independent advisors, planned-giving specialists, and fundraisers who share our values — and get introduced to donors and organizations who need exactly what they do best.

Read the FAQs
about the network

How to join the network.

We're intentionally small. Every Friend of Philan is vetted for experience, values, and care — because our donors and organizations trust us to point them somewhere honest. Here's what to expect if you apply:

  1. 01

    Tell us who you are

    Share a short profile — your practice, focus areas, and the donors or organizations you love working with most.

  2. 02

    Meet the Team

    A quick call to make sure our values line up and to understand where you'd like to plug into the network.

  3. 03

    Get matched

    Once you're in, we introduce you to emerging donors and organizations whose questions match your expertise.

qualifying criteria
  • Experts in specialty or niche verticals across missions, industries, strategies, and the full spectrum of capital.
  • We outsource clients to the specialist in their field.
  • Advisors who are clearest and most specific in their specialty are more likely to be matched with prospective donors.
  • We value demonstrated expertise in several ways — projects across careers, transferrable skills, number of years in practice, etc. However, we look for cues that a client will be a fit across a few areas.
  • Credentials support your application, but are not required. We understand the field is a pay-to-play environment and this does not always represent expertise.
upcoming events

Roundtables, salons, and open houses.

New dates are being sketched onto the calendar.

We host quarterly gatherings for the Friends of Philan network — check back soon or join the waitlist to be first to hear about the next one.

FAQS

Frequently asked questions

What is Friends of Philan?+

A vetted network of independent charitable advisors, planned-giving specialists, and fundraising consultants matched to emerging donors and small organizations through the Philan platform.

Who is Friends of Philan for?+

Independent advisors and emergent firms accepting new clients who want introductions to donors and organizations aligned with their values and expertise — without the marketing lift of finding them on their own.

How does the matching work?+

We hand-match based on the donor's mission, industry, strategy, and the full spectrum of capital interests. You review the match before accepting, and we only work with experienced independent advisors who are small or solo shops meeting our key criteria.

Is there a cost to join the network?+

Membership itself is free for advisors who meet the qualifying criteria. Terms around client engagements are agreed upon per match and disclosed up front — no hidden fees, no exclusivity clauses.

How long does the application take?+

Most applications are reviewed within 30 days.

What's expected of a Friend of Philan?+

Respond to introductions within a few business days, keep your availability current, and let us know when your practice is at capacity so we route thoughtfully.

Ready to become a Friend of Philan?

Tell us a bit about your practice — or your interest in being matched — and we'll be in touch.