Converting Gratitude into Growth at UConn Health Foundation
September 23, 2025, 2pm ET/11am PT
At UConn Health Foundation, a simple invitation for patients to share gratitude has become a strategic driver of philanthropic giving. In this interactive case study, you'll hear directly from the UConn Health Foundation team about how they combined stories of gratitude with data intelligence to prioritize prospects for outreach. Learn gratitude-to-giving best practices for how to effectively gain buy-in from executive and clinical teams, elevate caregiver engagement, strengthen a culture of philanthropy and grow your high-value giving pipeline.
Speakers:
Bree Muehlbauer, MPA, CFRE Senior Director, Philanthropy Digital Health Strategies
Bree is an experienced fundraiser, nonprofit leader, and AFP Certified Trainer. She is currently Senior Director of Philanthropy at Digital Health Strategies, a healthcare-focused digital marketing and fundraising agency. Previously she has been a fundraising consultant working with higher education, independent schools and arts and culture institutions preparing for campaigns ranging from $11 million to $6 billion. She taught nonprofit management at the University of Montana where she earned her Masters of Public Administration with certificates in Public Policy and Nonprofit Administration. Bree also holds a certificate in Inclusive Philanthropy from Florida International University.
Kim Barkhamer, MS CFRE Senior Director of Development UConn Health
Kim Barkamer is an accomplished fundraising executive with extensive experience in higher education and health care philanthropy. She currently serves as the Senior Director of Development at UConn Health, where she leads the institutions' grateful patient program and drives philanthropic support for research, education and clinical care. She brings more than a decade of advancement leadership experience from institutions including the University of Sciences in Philadelphia, Temple University, Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, and the Salvation Army of Greater Philadelphia. Moderator:
Jonathan Sills, MS VP, Fundraising Strategy Digital Health Strategies
Jonathan’s role is to bring innovation and best practices to DHS clients’ fundraising programs through the development and implementation of data-driven solutions and strategies addressing the entirety of the donor pyramid. With more than 20 years serving the nonprofit space, he has raised millions of dollars across healthcare, human services, public media and animal welfare.