Championing Health Through Collaboration and Impact

Bryant Group is thrilled to announce our most recent recognition on the Top 40 Healthcare Search Firms List from Hunt Scanlon, the most widely trusted source for information in the talent management industry. We are passionate about changing lives to positively impact the world. 

While development and fundraising have many similarities across industries, there are some specific nuances to healthcare philanthropy that are unique to the audiences engaged, communities impacted, and broad scope of work influenced by social determinants of health (SDOHs). Bryant Group leaders attended the Association of Healthcare Philanthropists’ Leading Forward conference in late March where we learned first hand the impact health equity has on communities and the philanthropic investment needed to save lives.

“Healthcare is facing economic headwinds and philanthropy has never been more important,” shared Shannon Duval, former System VP of Philanthropy at CommonSpirit Health. “We can be helpful in making decisions for the community by serving as a convener and driver of momentum across the community.”

As Bryant Group works with advancement professionals in healthcare, we are discovering what is specific to healthcare philanthropy, what trends are essential to its success, and what keeps fundraising professionals there.

1. Immediacy of Impact - “In healthcare philanthropy, those dollars [raised] are directly impacting families, patients and individuals by saving lives,” Matthew Roberts, VP of Philanthropy at Vail Health Foundation said. Unlike longer term objectives in other areas of fundraising, healthcare philanthropy appeals to benefactors/investors because their gift is saving lives in their community.

Duval shared a story when a patient continued to frequent the ER. Upon further investigation, the patient didn’t have a working refrigerator which was causing food poisoning. A small investment in a working refrigerator kept the patient from coming back to the ER. “About 25% of health is determined by healthcare factors. The other 75% depends on other social factors. How might we address more beyond the hospitals and clinics? For a patient to know they have a safe place to live, healthy food, and their basic human needs met are equally important to keeping their blood pressure levels normal.”

 2. The Engagement of Audiences - “Great gift officers are listening and asking great questions,” Duval said. “Rarely are we seeing gifts that are unrestricted.”

Many of those giving to healthcare philanthropy (Roberts prefers the term “benefactor,” Duval prefers “investor,” both agreeing “donor” is not appropriate in healthcare) have experienced great sorrow or tremendous joy in their lives and in turn they want to see what their generosity has made possible. As the gift officer, it’s important to listen well and package programs together through strategic conversions.

“What’s so magical about healthcare philanthropy is how personally transformational it is, giving the patient and their family an opportunity to express gratitude as part of their healing process. It’s an honor and a privilege,” Duval shared.

3. Collective Impact and Abundance Mindset - “When we put the patient at the center, we need those [other] agencies and community organizations at the table,” Duval said. “It’s never been more critical than it is now.” 

“How can we solve as many social determinants of health as we can through partnerships? Not one single entity is trying to do it all,” added Roberts. Food insecurity, behavioral health access, mentorship for children, services in schools, law enforcement are all pieces of how the collective impact model Roberts presented at the AHP Leading Forward Conference has transformed how their community has tackled behavioral health. They’re aligning their agenda, measuring outcomes together, staying in constant communication, and each entity is doing what they do best. “Not all of our partners are ‘healthcare’ entities,’ Roberts shared. “The local food bank directly impacts the health of our patients.”

“We used to be afraid that we were competing with others,” Duval said. “By aligning community support dollars, all partners can help identify how to make the greatest impact.” Both Roberts and Duval agree that embracing an abundance mindset (versus a scarcity mindset) can transform potential and build bridges to further community impact. “Sky’s the limit if you embrace this [abundance] mindset,” Roberts concluded.

“The fundraising and approach to working with benefactors is very similar. And the transition from [higher education] to [healthcare] is pretty easy,” Roberts said. “The ever evolving landscape [of healthcare] is a big driver that motivates me personally. My curiosity to understand and learn more about the complexity of healthcare and its changing priorities coupled with the immediacy of impact have drawn me to healthcare.”

Impact is at the core of the philanthropic work we do. Bryant Group wants to recognize and celebrate the fundraising and collaboration efforts Duval and Roberts are championing to better the lives of those in their communities. “We need hungry talent with the tenacity to live up to the potential of this moment and, should you choose, you will literally change and save lives,” Duval concluded.