Philanthropy may be considered the healthcare industry’s best kept secret. While many elements of delivering care make headlines, philanthropy works quietly in the background to provide what other avenues of funding cannot consistently deliver.

An old adage tells us that the best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago, and the second-best time to plant a tree is today. This saying also provides sage advice for development professionals in providing stewardship for donors—especially for those who are providing contributions for medical or scientific research.

Complex scientific research is being conducted that addresses some of our world’s most persistent and painful problems. The success of the work, however, is often impeded by a lack of financial resources. Philanthropy can help accelerate and improve research efforts, which is why it is critical that researchers learn their important roles in fundraising.

Those donors who make major contributions to research usually have significant personal reasons for doing so. As we work to provide meaningful stewardship to those who support our work in research, it is important to ensure the donor feels respected, sees the impact, and has expectations met.

Meaningful philanthropy requires a team effort, starting with the caregiver and encompassing the collaboration between the hospital’s foundation, the donor, and the caregiver. If a patient or a patient’s family wants to make a contribution, they generally reach out to the clinician because this is with whom they have formed a connection.

Development professionals are relationship experts; they are adept—whether by nature or as a result of practiced skill—at building close, trust-based relationships with donors. The same skills apply to building robust working relationships with CEOs.

Because she strongly focused on providing care for her young patients, philanthropy and grateful patients were not on the mind of this pediatric doctor. Often, when medical professionals do begin to engage with a grateful patient program, they might focus too narrowly on only the patient. This pediatrician learned about the power of philanthropy through the family of a grateful patient.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, research confirmed that trust, honesty, and respect are a trio of qualities that must be intentionally displayed during executive suite engagement in order for working relationships to thrive.

Development professionals in a medical setting know that positive medical outcomes are not the only motivator to philanthropy. Understanding donor motivation can help clinicians provide patients and family members the opportunity to share their story and become engaged in ways meaningful to them.

Advancement Resources and Association for Healthcare Philanthropy (AHP) have partnered to conduct an in-depth study into the relationships between development leaders and healthcare executives that lead to success in fundraising. In conjunction with the release of the full report on February 20, 2018, we are highlighting several of the key findings from the research.

Advancement Resources and the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy (AHP) have partnered to conduct an in-depth study into the relationships between development leaders and healthcare executives that lead to success in fundraising. Building up to the release of the full report later this month, we will preview key findings from the research.

Advancement Resources and the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy (AHP) have partnered to conduct an in-depth study into the relationships between development leaders and healthcare executives that lead to success in fundraising. Building up to the release of the full report in early 2018, we will preview key findings from the research.

Several critical factors must be in place in order to develop and sustain successful philanthropic support at healthcare institutions. Challenges include building your potential donor pipeline ethically and effectively, partnering with physicians to increase referrals, and positioning and optimizing your fundraising events.

When we think about healthcare experiences involving children, we naturally focus on the perspectives of parents that drive meaningful philanthropy. But there’s another perspective that is important to consider: the perspective of the children themselves.

A referral-based medical philanthropy system represents the greatest opportunity for significant, meaningful philanthropy in the healthcare setting. Yet clinicians can sometimes be reluctant to engage in fundraising.

There’s a common myth among physicians that philanthropy is all about prying money from the reluctant. Is it any wonder that some physicians want to avoid it at all costs?