What to Look for When Choosing a Hospital Fundraising Partner
When it comes to organizing fundraising campaigns that make a real impact, choosing the right hospital fundraising partner can be a game-changer. The right collaborator brings industry experience, a track record of success, and a commitment to educating and empowering your staff, board, and volunteers.
This guide walks you through the key factors to consider as you evaluate prospective fundraising partner options.
1. Proven Experience in Hospital Fundraising
Hospitals (like all nonprofit sectors ranging from healthcare to the arts) have unique needs and challenges—ranging from strict compliance requirements to varied donor bases. It’s crucial to ensure that any potential partner has a deep understanding of healthcare-related giving because healthcare is a different ballgame than some of the other nonprofit sectors.
Healthcare-Focused Portfolio: Ask for case studies or examples that show how they’ve supported similar organizations. Track record speaks much louder than words about their expertise in the hospital fundraising niche.
Knowledge of Healthcare Regulations: A partner with a history of navigating HIPAA guidelines, patient privacy concerns, and other healthcare regulations in conjunction with ethical and effective giving can help safeguard your organization’s reputation and donor relationships.
2. Comprehensive Donor Engagement Strategies
A successful fundraising partner goes beyond transactional asks; they excel at helping to build lasting donor relationships that cultivate sustained support over time allowing your hospital’s fundraising to actually scale.
Personal Outreach
Any hospital fundraising partner worth their salt knows that the relationships with key stakeholders and donors are going to generate far more revenue in both the short and long term than other fundraising methods like events, direct mail, or even grants. Make sure your fundraising partner knows the best ways to prioritize everyone’s time.
Ongoing Stewardship
The best hospital fundraising partners emphasize donor retention, not just acquisition. Ask about their strategies for thanking, updating, and re-engaging supporters after the initial gift.
3. Emphasis on Education and Skill-Building
A truly beneficial hospital fundraising partner should take on some (or if you have a good one, a lot) of the brunt of campaign management. However, the best ones will also prioritize your own development during that process as well.
Highly skilled fundraising partners should teach your staff, board, and volunteers how to grow their own fundraising skill sets. This fosters self-sufficiency and sets your organization up for long-term success with or without your fundraising partner:
Workshops and Training Sessions: Partners who offer hands-on training, covering everything from solicitation techniques to database management, ensure your team gains confidence and expertise.
Mentorship and Coaching: Look for ongoing guidance rather than one-off services. Regular check-ins and educational offerings empower your staff to take the lead in future fundraising campaigns.
4. Customized Approach and Flexibility
Hospitals vary in size, community demographics, and funding priorities. A strong fundraising partner should tailor their strategies to your specific environment:
Adaptable Strategies: Whether you need to boost major gifts, launch a new capital campaign, or build a robust annual giving program, a partner should customize their plan to align with your mission and goals.
Scalability: As your hospital’s needs evolve, the partner should be capable of scaling efforts—offering more (or less) assistance as your internal capacities and resources change.
5. Track Record of Achieving Measurable Results
Results matter—especially in a field where donations can literally save lives. Evaluate potential partners based on their historical achievements:
Defined Success Metrics: Ask about specific milestones they helped previous clients reach, such as increases in total dollars raised, donor retention rates, or major gifts secured.
Transparent Reporting: A partner committed to data-driven fundraising can show you how they measure progress during a campaign. That clarity helps keep everyone aligned on shared objectives.
6. Alignment with Your Hospital’s Culture and Values
Every hospital has its own unique culture. The best hospital fundraising partner fits seamlessly within that environment:
Shared Vision: They should demonstrate an authentic appreciation for your mission, whether it’s community outreach, cutting-edge research, or patient-focused care.
Collaborative Philosophy: Look for a partner that values open communication (for both easy and difficult conversations), respects your in-house expertise, and fosters a genuine spirit of teamwork.
7. Transparent Pricing and Agreement Terms
Ensure that you fully understand how your fundraising partner structures its fees and deliverables:
Clear Scope of Work: Get a detailed outline of which services they’ll provide—whether it’s feasibility studies, staff training, or planning entire fundraising campaigns.
Clear Breakdown of ALL Fees: Determine the grand total which fees are included whether this be monthly, hourly, or project based. It’s also in your best interest to ask if all fees are included in this, or if anything else is itemized separately like travel and resident expenses.
Find the Right Partner For Your Hospital Fundraiser
Selecting the right hospital fundraising partner can truly mean the difference between short-lived gains and permanently scaled up results. If you’re looking for a partner for your next hospital fundraiser, contact PRIDE Philanthropy to see if we would be the right fundraising partner for you.
