About the Award
Each year, AHP member organizations find new and innovative ways to advance their missions and achieve greater impact for the populations they serve.
The AHP Innovation in Philanthropy Award recognizes teams whose work has meaningfully advanced the practice of philanthropy. Honorees include philanthropy professionals and their collaborators: clinicians, administrators, donors, foundations, and external partners.
The award prioritizes innovations that are both replicable and transferable, celebrating ideas that can elevate performance across the entire profession, not just within a single organization.
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?
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
- Launching a cross-sector partnership that advances philanthropic impact in new ways.
- Engaging hospital staff in philanthropy through a new or reimagined approach.
- Streamlining how philanthropy moves through an organization by reducing process barriers.
- Expanding or diversifying a donor base through a novel strategy.
- Deepening physician and provider engagement in philanthropic efforts.
- Advancing board engagement, development, or governance practices.
- Improving the recruitment or retention of philanthropy staff.
Selection Committee
Allie Quick (Chair)
President & Founder
Bridging Generosity LLC.
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