2025 40 Under 40 Winners

Carl led a successful three-year $10 million fundraising campaign for the Institute for Nursing Excellence at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart, securing more than $3 million in major gifts himself. In the first year of the Grateful Engagement program, Carl’s leadership contributed to 331 gifts from grateful patients, significantly expanding PeaceHealth’s philanthropic reach. 

He launched and led the implementation of a Grateful Engagement program across the Oregon Network, training 26 physicians and clinical leaders in donor engagement practices. Carl introduced a formal qualification process for building the donor pipeline, helping the Oregon Philanthropy team identify and cultivate new major gift prospects more effectively.  

I began my career in advancement at the University of Oregon, focusing on prospect management and analytics. Over time, I transitioned into frontline fundraising at the School of Law. In 2020, a philanthropy officer position opened at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart. I’d always been curious about healthcare philanthropy, so I applied—and was selected! This role has allowed me to combine my background in analytics and fundraising to help increase access to care in our community. It’s been an incredible opportunity.

In many ways, healthcare philanthropy found me. My previous roles prepared me for the complexity of the healthcare environment. After nearly five years at PeaceHealth, I’ve come to see this work as my vocation. A former board member once said, “The emergency department is the great equalizer—it doesn’t matter your zip code or net worth; we all end up there at some point.” That perspective resonates deeply with me. Knowing that my work helps expand access to care and supports our caregivers keeps me motivated every day. It’s an honor to align philanthropy with PeaceHealth’s mission and serve our Oregon communities.

As a newly minted development officer at the University of Oregon, I had both misconceptions to overcome and growth ahead of me. On my very first donor visit—with a retired judge—I came prepared with research and full confidence that he could make a major gift. I jumped quickly to the ask, without taking the time to build a philanthropic relationship.

That meeting was a turning point. I learned that every donor brings a unique lived experience and personal circumstances. Despite a wealth rating suggesting he could make a $100,000+ commitment, the judge shared that he was focused on supporting his son and grandchildren. In that moment, I realized that my role as a fundraising professional isn’t just to solicit—it’s to listen, understand, and align philanthropy with what matters most to the donor.

I keep a photo from that meeting in my office as a daily reminder: never forget the humanity in our work.

Philanthropy brings things into the world that didn’t exist before—almost like magic. My greatest passion lies in partnering with hospital colleagues to imagine what’s possible. With the right philanthropic alignment, those visions become reality. Seeing the tangible impact of these investments over time fuels my commitment to healthcare philanthropy.

Healthcare is complex, and decision-making in a matrixed organization involves many layers. As fundraising professionals, our role is to align philanthropy with the hospital’s strategy—not to drive it. Trust in your hospital partners’ ability and motivation to chart the course for care in your community. Then, go out and invite donors to join you on that journey.