SUCCESS STORY
Hartford HealthCare
Connecticut’s most comprehensive healthcare system strategizes a system-wide philanthropy program across seven separate hospitals.
The Situation
Hartford HealthCare is Connecticut’s largest integrated healthcare system, with a medical staff of 4,000 providers and $4.3 billion in operating revenue. Over the past 10 years, Hartford HealthCare has undergone significant change and transformation to provide the best care across Connecticut and beyond. While its seven acute-care hospitals and two networks have been integrated and adhering to certain standards of treatment and operation, the system was in need of a centralized and unified approach to philanthropy to encourage fundraising growth and set up their staff and sites for success.
The Solution
Graham-Pelton conducted a Philanthropy Capacity Assessment of Hartford HealthCare’s development operations, which consisted of internal and external assessments. In order to develop a road map for a system-wide philanthropy department, we examined Hartford HealthCare’s 11 philanthropy programs, taking into consideration each program’s objectives, and applied best practices for leadership, staffing, major giving, annual giving, planned giving, corporate and foundation relations, grateful patient engagement, donor stewardship, communications, and more.
As part of an external assessment to better understand the capacity for an accelerated approach to philanthropy, we conducted a landscape analysis with peer and aspirant peer organizations, discussions with physicians and system leadership, wealth screening analysis, and a constituent e-survey to capture philanthropic interest. By conducting these evaluations, we were able to identify the philanthropic capacity and untapped potential that exists within the 11 programs and develop clear messaging about Hartford HealthCare’s role as a charitable organization within the community.
The Success
As a result of our assessments, Hartford HealthCare is now equipped with a road map to implement a system-wide approach to philanthropy, as well as documented procedures for fundraising and a detailed plan for implementing these processes across the system. We are currently in discussions with Hartford to assist in their next fundraising chapter, including the creation of a strategic plan, a talent assessment, a database audit and database integration support, portfolio development, and strategic counsel.
