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AHP Innovation in Philanthropy Award

Each year, AHP member organizations find new and innovative ways to advance their missions and achieve greater impact for the populations they serve

Launched in 2023, the AHP Innovation in Philanthropy Award helps recognize these outstanding achievements. Through the Innovation in Philanthropy Award, AHP annually recognizes a team of philanthropy professionals and allies (such as clinicians, administrators, donors, foundations, and external partners) for a significant innovation in the practice of philanthropy. 

Designed to honor innovative projects and the teams that accomplished them, the ultimate goal of this award is to elevate philanthropy and accelerate performance across the profession. We’re looking for innovative approaches that are both replicable and transferable to other fundraising teams.  

The winning innovation will be featured at the 2024 AHP Annual International Conference in San Diego, including a formal award presentation, recognition in the conference program and mobile app, and an opportunity for the winning organization to present an educational session about their innovation.

Application 

The application form requests information in five areas: 

  • About the Innovation Idea: Tell us about your innovation.
  • Outcomes: What were the quantifiable outcomes of the innovation project? 
  • Transferability: How can other organizations replicate your innovation? 
  • Learnings: What insights did you gain from implementing this project? 
  • Team Makeup: Who was involved in this project and what were their roles? 

The 2024 application deadline has passed. We look forward to reviewing your innovative project for our 2025 award. 

Criteria 

  • This award recognizes a team of philanthropy professionals and allies (such as clinicians, administrators, donors, other foundations, external partners, etc.) who have helped create and implement a significant innovation in the practice of philanthropy.  
  • The innovation should have been already implemented and have generated some level of impact. Theoretical or planned innovations will not be considered. 
  • The innovation should enable the philanthropic organization to shorten the time from need identification to response. 
  • The innovation should have had a demonstrated impact on the philanthropic organization or the population it serves. 
  • While dollars raised can be one indicator of impact, that should not be the sole measure of impact. Impact should be the key component to the criteria, but it should not be totally focused on dollars raised. 
  • The idea should be scalable so that it can be used in organizations of different sizes and different geographies. It should not be a “one and done” type of project. 

Examples of Potential Innovations 

  • An initiative that brings partners together in new ways to advance philanthropy 
  • The rollout of a new way to more effectively engage members of the hospital staff in philanthropy 
  • Developing a new way to metabolize philanthropy through the organization more quickly (processes that move past bureaucratic hurdles) 
  • Innovation that expands a donor base  
  • Innovation that engages physicians and other providers in new ways 
  • Innovations in board engagement and development 
  • Innovation in recruitment, retention of staff 

Timeline 

  • April 1: Application opens 
  • May 31: Application submission deadline 
  • June: Committee review 
  • July: Winning organization notified 
  • August: Award recipient announced 
  • November 6-8: Award presented and winning team recognized during the AHP International Conference 

Selection Committee  

Allie Quick (Chair)
Executive Liaison
Satell Institute

Kelly Gagan
President
Rochester Regional Health

Paul Homick
President
Mercy Health Foundation

Afsheen Jiwani, CFRE
Campaign Director, Major Gifts
UHN Foundation 

Daniel Pennington
President
Vail Health Foundation

Susan Shum, CFRE
Chief Philanthropy Officer 
California Hospital Medical Center Foundation - CommonSpirit Health

Heather Vucetin
Vice President, Development
Cedars-Sinai
 

Read about the 2024 Winner