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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

Beginning in 2023, the new AHP Innovation in Philanthropy Award will help recognize these outstanding achievements. Through the Innovation in Philanthropy Award, AHP will annually recognize 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 2023 AHP Annual International Conference in Orlando, 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 form opens January 16, 2023. We look forward to reviewing your innovative project.  

All submissions must be received by March 13, 2023.

Criteria 

  • This award recognizes a team of philanthropy professional 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 roll out 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 

  • January 16: Application opens 
  • March 13: Application submission deadline 
  • April: Committee review 
  • May: Winning organization notified 
  • June: Award recipient announced 
  • September 19-22: Award presented and winning team recognized during the AHP International Conference 

Selection Committee 

Jory Pritchard-Kerr, FAHP 
President & Chief Executive Officer
Collingwood General & Marine Hospital Foundation 

Kenya Beckmann
Regional Chief Philanthropy Officer
Providence Foundations, Southern California 

Afsheen Jiwani, CFRE
Senior Development Officer, Major Gifts
The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation 

Allie Quick
Chief Philanthropy Officer
Allegheny Health Network 

Steve Testa, CFRE
President
Nationwide Children’s Hospital Foundation