EVENT: Association for Healthcare Philanthropy International Conference
WHEN & WHERE: Aurora, Colorado, Oct. 22 – 24
THEME: Inspiring Hope and Resilience
Hope and resilience were on full display in Aurora, CO, at the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy 2025 International Conference, held October 22 — 24. More than 800 philanthropy professionals from across the U.S., Canada and beyond gathered to share best practices, tackle challenges together and lift one another up through candid, mission-first conversations.
“We’re all here because we care about humanity.”
ER physician and author of The Beauty in Breaking, Dr. Michele Harper, opened the conference with an inspiring keynote on Wednesday evening, reminding the audience why we’re called to this work. While she didn’t shy away from the challenges of the moment, she reminded those gathered of the meaning of philanthropy and the power of love and hope in this moment. After all, the Greek roots of philanthropy are philo (“love”) and anthropos (“human being” or “humankind”). She reminded us all that “love is a verb.”
Philanthropy-Forward in Mergers and Acquisitions
Numerous philanthropy teams at AHP were in the thick of navigating mergers and acquisitions – a major topic of conversation in and between sessions. The key headline for healthcare leaders: Start early and move faster. Don’t wait three, four, or ten years to decide how to align your philanthropy efforts. By then, you risk donor relationships, staff retention and lost revenue.
When foundation board members, staff and donors resist change, David Flood, president of Intermountain Foundation, suggested stepping into the role of “Chief Honesty Officer.” He particularly highlighted the time and resource drain of operating multiple foundations, noting: “If we’re true stewards of philanthropic resources, doesn’t it behoove us to join forces and embrace efficiencies of scale quickly?”
What’s Up in D.C.?
Friday morning’s opening session, led by AHP’s president and CEO Alice Ayres, featured a panel of healthcare philanthropy leaders discussing what the OBBBA and the government shutdown mean for healthcare and philanthropy. Margins remain persistently narrow following the COVID pandemic (averaging 1.90% over the past year, according to Kaufman Hall) and federal research funding continues to decline.
Charity care is expected to become an even greater focus given impending Medicaid cuts and ACA premium increases. Fundraising leaders are being looked to for creative ways to increase philanthropic revenue and close the gap.
Michelle Glennon, associate vice president for development at Johns Hopkins, described how they’re empowering their volunteer leaders – trustees and advisory board members – with timely information and messaging so they can serve as ambassadors in the community and rally support for research funding.
Inclusive Philanthropy
In a session called Modernizing Philanthropy: Inclusive Strategies for Transformational Giving, Angelique Grant, principal of The Inclusion Firm, offered practical strategies for building inclusion into donor engagement. She discussed how to recognize donors’ identities and values to plan fundraising approaches and events that make every supporter feel seen and respected.
“This landscape is changing,” she said. “No longer are you going to be able to rinse and repeat. Inclusive philanthropy is about authentically welcoming and engaging all individuals to participate in generosity through all giving vehicles and all giving channels.”
Grant emphasized showing up authentically and aligning values as true partners with donors.
Hope for the Future
Even in challenging times, one message echoed throughout the conference: hope. Across sessions and hallway conversations alike, philanthropy proved to be about more than generosity – it’s about aligning hope, vision, strategy and investment to build a healthier future.
— Elizabeth Middleton, Associate Vice President, and Melinda Church, Senior Vice President, Philanthropy
