Lifespan Philanthropy: Supporting the Health of Southeastern New England

Every day, Lifespan’s hospitals and care providers treat thousands of patients across southeastern New England who rely on them for the very best care available. Philanthropy helps fuel these vital health services through investments in patient care, research, and medical education. Fundraising at Lifespan is matrixed to fully leverage the system’s strengths and centralized resources while maximizing strong local donor allegiance and engagement.

Administrative oversight of system-wide fundraising and centralized development services is provided by Joe Pannozzo, Lifespan’s Vice President for Development. Under Joe’s leadership, Lifespan raised more than $30 million annually in the last two fiscal years. Aspiring to build a stronger culture of grateful patient and family philanthropy, he strives to empower frontline staff to achieve high levels of success in their major and planned giving strategy work to further hospital and system goals. “I strongly believe our development colleagues are our best asset,” Pannozzo notes. “And I’m committed to supporting them in every way possible.”

To promote interdisciplinary efforts to implement strategies that benefit Lifespan’s community of hospitals, frontline fundraising staff from across the system meet regularly. These meetings encourage best practices among team members, and provide opportunities for cross-system coordination and review of affiliates’ goals and corresponding metrics.

Joe Pannozzo Vice President for Development, Lifespan

Joe Pannozzo brings nearly two decades of experience to his systemwide philanthropy leadership role. He joined Lifespan in 2015 as System Vice President for Campaigns and CDO of Rhode Island Hospital/Hasbro Children’s Hospital, during which time he led a successful four-year, $30 million campaign for pediatrics. Previously, he served as Executive Director of Development at Tufts Medical Center, and prior to that as Senior Director of Major Gifts for Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. He earned his undergraduate degree at Stonehill College, where he later held positions in fundraising and government relations.

Each hospital affiliate has a chief development officer (CDO) who reports to their respective president and has a “dotted-line” reporting relationship to the system VP. The size of the staff they manage varies according to the scope of the hospital’s philanthropy program. The CDOs and their affiliated foundations are supported by Lifespan Central Services, which includes Development Marketing and Communications (e.g., collateral development, direct mail, web and social media efforts), Development Operations (e.g., finance, database/gift processing, prospect research), Special Events and Corporate Relations (e.g., event direction and coordination, corporate sponsorship), and Planned Giving.