Fundraising at The Miriam: A Legacy of Giving

Since its beginnings, extraordinary generosity has been a constant at The Miriam Hospital. Patients, families, volunteers, clinicians, and employees have been enthusiastic donors and advocates in expressing enormous pride and confidence in the quality of care the hospital provides. This affection has translated into successful fundraising initiatives—ranging from annual and memorial giving to events and capital campaigns—that have resulted in stateof-the-art facilities, critical research, and advanced medical care. In recent years, the donor base has expanded to include a broader geographic reach, including patients and families new to the area. The hospital’s well-attended annual gala and auction has increasingly attracted more diverse and younger donors.

Well established and comprehensive,

The Miriam’s fundraising program raises approximately $4-5 million a year and has the highest rate of repeat donors across the Lifespan system. There is a long history of donor support at the major gift level ($10K+), with individual and charitable foundation gifts of as much as seven figures. The Miriam People Society, an annual giving program of gifts ranging from $1000 to $25K+ is supplemented by a developing grateful patient/family program. The Living Heritage Society is an honorary recognition group of those who have planned gift arrangements. The hospital also benefits from a full roster of giving opportunities that support endowed lectures and fellowships, and many areas of research.

In the last 10 years there have been two significant capital campaigns—the “Campaign for Excellence,” which raised $8 million for emergency and cardiac care renovations, and the previous “Campaign for the Next Generation,” which was a $30 million capital improvement effort. This is an exciting time to join the philanthropy team as it prepares for a possible upcoming campaign in support of a major hospital renovation that includes an expansion of the Emergency Department, new patient rooms, and a secure and redesigned entryway.

The Miriam’s Fundraising Leadership

The Miriam Hospital Foundation is governed by a 27-member board of highly regarded business, community, and clinical leaders who are committed to advancing the hospital’s mission and ensuring its future. The Board is 100 percent invested in philanthropy. In addition to the Foundation Board, there is a volunteer group known as The Miriam Hospital Governors. Numbering 60, the Governors are active donors and advocates who gather five times a year to keep abreast of the state of the hospital, its future goals, and its fundraising efforts. A number of Trustees and Governors also serve on a variety of hospital committees, including the Gala, Ethics, and Neighborhood Relations committees.

Future Philanthropic Opportunities

With a passionate donor and community base and a strong brand, The Miriam Hospital is well positioned for additional philanthropic growth. Areas of particular opportunity for the philanthropy team include:

• Strengthening a grateful patient/ family program.

• Playing a key role in a capital campaign (currently in the planning stages).

• Building the donor pipeline and expanding and diversifying the donor base, particularly among the area’s younger donors; and optimizing the hospital’s unique multi-generational giving traditions.

• Raising funds to advance programs of excellence in urology, nursing, cancer, and cardiology.

Recent Fundraising Highlights

• $1 Million Gift to Support Nursing Education, Retention. Inspired to give back following the patient experience of a family member, Carol and Fred Levinger gifted $1 million to The Miriam Hospital to establish The Carol and Fred Levinger Nursing Excellence Fund to support the hospital’s award-winning nurses with student loan repayment and tuition assistance.

• $25K Rhode Island Foundation Grant for New Cancer Registry. This grant is enabling The Miriam’s Minimally Invasive Urology Institute to establish a first-of-its-kind registry of urologic cancers to advance research, promote prevention, address treatment disparities, and improve health outcomes for Rhode Island residents.

• Thousands of Dollars Raised for Cancer Services. Brown University’s football team continues to “bench press for cancer,” a long-standing tradition that has raised more than $100K for The Miriam’s renowned cancer program, specifically its first-of-a-kind Cancer Survivorship Program.

Holly Palermo, The Miriam’s CDO, has held the position since 2017, following progressively increasing responsibilities over a near twenty-year tenure. She oversees a team of five, including a senior philanthropy officer, grants writer, stewardship officer, and development associate. She draws support for her program and the hospital’s front-line fundraising efforts from the Lifespan central services team. “I am proud of our very talented and committed team,” notes Holly. “We have a culture of collaboration and engagement in which members of the team build on each other’s strengths, embrace challenges, make improvements, and celebrate successes.” Holly fosters an environment that values transparency in communications, and appreciates humor. “There is nothing more important than how we communicate with one another, both in the workplace and in life,” she says.

Chief Development Officer, The Miriam Hospital

Holly joined the hospital’s philanthropy office in 2004 and over her tenure has built strong partnerships with hospital leadership, foundation board, volunteers, donors, and staff. Prior to Lifespan, she served in a community relations role in the Public Affairs Department of Harvard Pilgrim Health Care. She holds a bachelor of arts in journalism and English from the University of Rhode Island.