Ohio Association for Healthcare Philanthropy
Meaningful philanthropic partnerships in healthcare philanthropy offer significant value by amplifying impact, fostering innovation, and building stronger communities. They enable organizations to address complex social issues such as population health, mental wellness, and food insecurity more effectively through collaboration, resource pooling, and shared expertise. These partnerships also enhance the reputation and engagement of both philanthropic organizations, and the businesses or individuals involved.
Nonprofits in the healthcare space can leverage the knowledge, skills, and connections of their clinical partners to improve their operations, develop new programs, reach better patient outcomes, and garner a wider audience of support. The development and nurturing of meaningful partnerships among philanthropic team members can boost employee morale and engagement, creating a more positive and purpose-driven work environment. Engaging in community partnerships is essential in establishing a common mission and lead in community health initiatives. Each of these areas will be addressed by our speakers as we explore the value of meaningful relationships among our clinical teams, nonprofit colleagues, and community partners.
4.5 CFRE credits will be available for the conference. Continental breakfast and lunch will be provided.
Schedule of the Day:
8:00 am
8:30 am
8:40 am
9:00 am
10:30 am
10:40 am
12:10 pm
1:15 pm
2:45 pm
3:00 pm
Check-in & Continental Breakfast
Welcome & Introductions
OAHP Annual Meeting
Erin Stitzel: "How to Qualify a Physician Partner"
Mid-morning break
Lois Elrich: "Maximizing Valued Partnerships with Nonprofit Colleagues"
Lunch
John Perry: "Enhancing the Value of Community Partnerships to form Mission Coalitions"
Announcements & Closing Remarks
Conference Concludes
Registration will close at the end of day on
Monday, October 6.
OAHP Members - $200 to attend
Non-Members - $275 to attend
(includes membership with registration)
Featured Speakers & Topic Descriptions
Erin Stitzel, FAHP, CFRE is a nationally recognized leader in grateful patient fundraising and clinician engagement. She has worked with over 65 hospitals across the U.S., Canada, and the U.K., helping to build and implement programs that connect philanthropy with physicians, nurses, and other caregivers. Her work has led to significant increases in giving from grateful patients and families, as well as stronger service-line partnerships across health systems.
Erin is a Fellow of the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy (FAHP)—the field’s highest distinction—and a member of AHP’s inaugural 40 Under 40 class. She is a frequent speaker at healthcare philanthropy conferences and has published with organizations such as the American Hospital Association, AHP, and Blackbaud.
She specializes in helping healthcare organizations design clinician partnership strategies that result in meaningful donor engagement and major gift growth. Erin’s strengths also include strategic planning, campaign development, and multi-hospital system implementation. Her deep understanding of hospital operations and culture allows her to integrate philanthropy seamlessly into clinical environments.
Passionate about building purposeful connections between grateful patients and caregivers, Erin brings a hands-on, collaborative approach that delivers long-term results.
How To Qualify A Physician Partner
It’s no secret that choosing and cultivating the right physician partners to collaborate with to identify and cultivate donors is an essential strategy that can exponentially increase your philanthropy success. Just like prospects must be qualified, potential physician partners require similar scrutiny and diligence to assess their willingness and capacity to contribute their time and attention to effectively partner.
Participants in this session will learn how to successfully qualify physician partner prospects through first learning the qualities to look for in selecting ideal physician partners and evaluating the various roles that physicians can play in an effective partnership. Next, by providing a question set and other scripting tools, participants will learn how to engage in conversation with the physician to understand their motivations, values and expectations to help qualify them effectively with the goal of determining whether or not they are able to invest their time into developing a partnership, and willing to learn how to introduce grateful patients and family to the foundation. Strategies to continuously evaluate and assess whether the partnership remains productive will also be discussed, including discussing how to set partnership goals and measure progress and success. All participants will be provided with a takeaway tool that outlines the elements covered in the session, including ideal physician partner characteristics, question sets and scripting templates.
Qualifying physician partners is an important skill that can help set new and tenured philanthropy officers on a path to successful partnership with health care’s most important ally.
Lois Elrich is a transformational coach, entrepreneur, and author who helps leaders and organizations break through barriers and achieve lasting success. As founder of Real Change Business Coaching, she’s known for her deep listening, sharp insights, and fearless accountability that inspire clients to step into their full potential.
She’s also co-founder and president of Solid Blend Technologies, a water management and safety company recognized among Best Places to Work and Healthiest Places to Work in Ohio. Lois created the Ideal Culture Program, helping companies thrive through intentional leadership and culture design.
Her first book, Some Things to Think About: Lessons from My Dad, blends heartfelt stories with practical strategies, earning 5-star reviews for its clarity, relatability, and transformative impact.
A Professional Certified Coach (ICF) with multiple leadership and behavioral certifications, Lois has been honored with awards including Enterprising Women of the Year, WiBN Women of Impact, Ohio 500, and Best in Ohio Business Coach.
Outside of work, Lois is fueled by family, adventure, and growth—traveling, reading, and cherishing time with her husband, children, and grandchildren. For her, leadership is not a destination but a lifelong journey of learning, service, and lifting others higher.
Maximizing Valued Partnerships with Nonprofit Colleagues
Strong partnerships among nonprofit colleagues are essential for achieving success in healthcare philanthropy. When internal teams collaborate effectively—sharing expertise, aligning priorities, and communicating clearly—they not only strengthen morale but also amplify their organization's ability to deliver on its mission.
In this interactive session, participants will explore practical strategies for building trust, reducing friction, and maximizing the value of internal partnerships. Leveraging emotions and using the DISC communication framework, you'll learn how to maximize your partnerships to work more effectively together. Through real-world role play scenarios and reflective exercises, you'll leave with tools you can apply immediately to create stronger, more purpose-driven relationships with your nonprofit teammates.
John Perry, MSA, CFRE is the founder, president and principal of Engaged Generosity, strategic consultants in philanthropy. With 24 years’ experience in healthcare philanthropy and higher education, he has experience leading campaigns and raising principal and major gifts for academic medical centers, community health systems, cancer centers, children’s hospitals, medical schools and disease-specific organizations.
Most recently, John served as Associate Vice President for Philanthropy, overseeing giving for the University of Kentucky HealthCare system and College of Medicine. He also served as Chief Philanthropy Officer for the Joslin Diabetes Center (a Harvard Medical School affiliate), Senior Associate Dean for Medical Advancement at Brown University, Director of Development at Michigan Medicine, Chief Development Officer of the former Oakwood Healthcare Foundation and Senior Director of Major Gifts for the Karmanos Cancer Institute.
John holds a BA from DePauw University and an MS in Administration from Central Michigan University. He has been a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) since 2006 and has been a member and officer of numerous professional organizations, including the Association of Healthcare Philanthropy, the Group on Institutional Advancement for the Association of American Medical Colleges, New England AHP and now OAHP.
He and his wife Julie live in Cincinnati and are proud parents and grandparents.
Enhancing the Value of Community Partnerships to form Mission Coalitions
Philanthropic needs of hospitals are evolving. In addition to traditional capital projects, hospitals and health systems are increasingly seen as the leaders in creating healthier communities and leading in community health initiatives. Most of these efforts require partnership with community organizations who share this mission. In addition, the workforce shortages require hospitals to invest heavily in scholarships, so there is opportunity to partner with educational institutions.
The panel, moderated by John Perry, will discuss best practices to engage community organizations, how to articulate and focus on your common mission, how to build case for support elements to share the impact of the key initiatives. We will also discuss how to truly collaborate through the donor cycle and leverage the power of your partners, while resisting the temptation to compete for donors.
Panelists include: Lynn Griffor, VP for the McLaren Greater Lansing Foundation; Jami Marsh, VP of Philanthropy & Grants for the IU Health Foundation and Barbara Lang, Senior Gift Officer for Mercy Health Foundation, Greater Toledo
Thank you to our Sponsors:
