New to Healthcare Philanthropy? Six Things to Do Now
When I entered the world of healthcare philanthropy more than a decade ago, I found it to be both exciting and overwhelming. Whether you're transitioning from another sector or new to fundraising altogether, this field comes with its own set of unique challenges, expectations, and opportunities.
If you're new to healthcare fundraising, here are six best practices to help you build a strong foundation and find early success in your role.
6 essential steps for getting started in healthcare philanthropy
1. Learn the healthcare language
Before you can raise funds for healthcare, you need to understand the environment in which you’re working. Healthcare has its own terminology, culture, and regulatory considerations. Spend time getting to know:
The structure of your organization (hospital, foundation, system, etc.)
Key services and departments
Common healthcare acronyms and jargon
Compliance regulations such as HIPAA and IRS 501(c)(3) guidelines
Talk to clinicians, administrators, and frontline staff to gain insight into their work. This builds credibility and helps you better translate clinical needs into compelling philanthropic opportunities.
2. Understand the mission—and the margin
As I learned quickly in Beatrice, healthcare philanthropy doesn’t just support the “extras”—it increasingly funds the essentials. From life-saving equipment to community wellness programs, charitable giving often bridges the gap between what’s reimbursed and what’s needed. Learn how your organization is funded, where gaps exist, and how philanthropy can make a measurable difference.
Ask questions like:
What are our greatest funding priorities?
What services are not covered by insurance or government funding?
How does philanthropy help advance patient care, equity, and innovation?
3. Build strong internal relationships
Some of my best memories in Beatrice are of conversations I had over coffee with supporters of the hospital and community. Your success in healthcare philanthropy depends heavily on collaboration. Cultivate strong relationships across departments, especially with:
Executive leadership
Medical staff and department heads
Finance and compliance teams
Marketing and communications
Board and foundation members
These internal champions will help you identify funding priorities, share impact stories, and gain donor trust.
4. Identify and understand your donor base
Healthcare donors are a diverse group—grateful patients and families, community leaders, local businesses, foundations, and major philanthropists. If your organization has a grateful patient program, get to know how it works. Study your donor database to understand giving trends, key supporters, and potential opportunities for engagement or stewardship.
Also, consider:
What motivates our donors? (Impact, gratitude, legacy, tax benefits, etc.)
What’s our donor lifecycle—from first gift to major/planned giving?
Are we capturing and using patient feedback or data ethically and effectively?
5. Focus on storytelling and impact
Donors give to people and outcomes, not institutions. Learn how to tell stories that connect emotionally and show tangible impact. Partner with clinicians and patients (when appropriate) to gather real-life examples of how philanthropy has changed lives.
Use storytelling in:
Case statements
Campaign materials
Donor proposals and reports
Events and stewardship communications
Always be sure your stories are HIPAA-compliant and shared with permission.
6. Embrace a culture of gratitude and stewardship
Healthcare donors often give in deeply personal ways. Whether it’s a tribute to a loved one or gratitude for exceptional care, those gifts deserve meaningful recognition. Establish stewardship practices that are timely, sincere, and aligned with donor intent.
Best practices include:
Prompt thank-you letters and gift acknowledgments
Regular impact updates
Donor recognition events or walls
Personal notes from clinicians or leadership when appropriate
Stewardship is not a final step—it’s an ongoing relationship-building process that sets the stage for future giving.
Sam has a background in healthcare philanthropy as well as foundation and higher education administration. Most recently, Sam was the Executive Director of the Beatrice Community Hospital Foundation in Beatrice, NE. He also served as Director of Scholarship Programs for The Ford Family Foundation based in Roseburg, OR. He is a native of Pilger, NE, and currently lives in Bennington, NE.