The Organization: Rhode Island Hospital and Hasbro Children’s
Rhode Island Hospital is a private, 719-bed, not-for-profit acute care hospital. Rhode Island Hospital (RIH) is the largest hospital in the state and provides comprehensive services to patients. The hospital has expertise in cardiology, including the state’s only open heart surgery program; oncology; neurosciences; orthopedics; organ transplantation; pediatrics; psychiatry and diabetes. Rhode Island Hospital is the only Level I trauma center for southeastern New England, providing expert staff and equipment in emergency situations 24 hours a day. It is the principal teaching and research hospital for The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University and the largest and most comprehensive of the Brown affiliated hospitals. The hospital's pediatric division, Hasbro Children’s (HC) is the state’s premier pediatric facility. The division has the area’s only pediatric intensive care unit, pediatric oncology and cardiac programs, pediatric imaging center, and separate emergency and operating suites designated for pediatric patients. Rhode Island Hospital and Hasbro Children’s have earned worldwide recognition for its family-centered environment and expert staff.
Rhode Island Hospital, the flagship hospital for Brown University Health
Formed in 1994, Brown University Health is a not-for-profit health system based in Providence, RI comprising three teaching hospitals of The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University: Rhode Island Hospital and Hasbro Children's; The Miriam Hospital; and Bradley Hospital, the nation’s first psychiatric hospital for children; Newport Hospital, Saint Anne's Hospital and Morton Hospital, community hospitals offering a broad range of health services; Gateway Healthcare, the state’s largest provider of community behavioral health care; and Brown Health Medical Group, the largest multi-specialty practice in Rhode Island. Historically, Brown University Health teaching hospitals are among the country’s top recipients of research funding from the US National Institutes of Health. Brown University Health hospitals are charitable organizations that depend on support from the community to provide programs and services.
Rhode Island Hospital and Hasbro Children’s History:
RIH was built through the generosity of the community, beginning in 1857 with a bequest by Moses Brown Ives to establish a fund for a hospital in Rhode Island. On October 1, 1868, the founders of Rhode Island Hospital gathered on the hospital grounds to dedicate the new hospital, founded to serve the citizens of our state as its name indicated. That generosity upon which the hospital was created has continued throughout the years to support major campaigns. Through philanthropy and ongoing community support, Rhode Island Hospital has continued to expand and improve to support its mission to be at the forefront of medicine.
Today's Rhode Island Hospital honors the memory of our founders and we believe it is all they imagined and more. Throughout its rich history, Rhode Island Hospital has created a legacy of milestones that have had enormous impact on the community. Today it is a national leader in research, a major teaching hospital and is home to some of the nation's finest doctors. Through the years, we have remained true to the vision of our founders; to provide care to the region's most seriously ill and injured with the latest medical technology available. Collectively, the community has supported many special campaigns, including drives to fund the $8.75 million, 10-story hospital which opened in 1955; the innovative $10 million Ambulatory Care Center built in the 1970s; and the world-class Hasbro Children's, for which the community raised $24 million. Most recently, the Every Child, Every Day campaign exceeded its goal by raising more than $42 million for renovations, programs and research for both HC and Bradley Hospital.
Leadership Spotlights
Joseph G. Pannozzo – Vice President of Development
Joseph G. Pannozzo, Vice President of Development
Brown University Health
Joe Pannozzo is Vice President for Development and leads our philanthropic enterprise. Joe came to Brown University Health nearly 12 years ago as Chief Development Officer (CDO) for Rhode Island Hospital and Hasbro Children’s. He was promoted to system VP in 2021.
As CDO for RIH and HC, Joe led the Every Child, Every Day campaign for Hasbro Children’s and Bradley hospitals from start to finish. This effort represents Brown University Health’s largest fundraising initiative to date. The campaign exceeded its goal by raising more than $42 million for renovations, programs and research.
Brown University Health Development, which encompasses the efforts of four separate hospital foundations as well as the Brown University Health Foundation, collectively raised $24.7 million in FY24
Prior to coming to Brown University Health in 2013, Joe worked in leadership fundraising roles at Tufts Medical Center, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Stonehill College.
Rhode Island Hospital's Foundation and Development Division
The mission of the Rhode Island Hospital Foundation is to support excellent, compassionate, and state-of-the-art health care, education, and research through philanthropy, which is key to sustaining every great academic medical center. The foundation’s board of trustees provide leadership, oversight, and direct assistance in implementing the Rhode Island Hospital Foundation’s purpose to “solicit and raise funds to further improve and advance the science or art of healthcare delivery and patient care and the knowledge, practice, and teaching of medicine and nursing … .” The trustees advocate for the needs and missions of Rhode Island Hospital and its Hasbro Children’s, and devote their time and resources to supporting and advancing those initiatives. Bolstering Brown University Health Cancer Institute’s efforts to harness the power of the immune system to defeat deadly disease and helping to organize the Heroes Ball to benefit Hasbro Children’s Pain and Palliative Care Program for children with complex, chronic conditions are just two examples of how well-stewarded philanthropy improves lives. As Anthony Calandrelli, foundation board member, said, “Rhode Island Hospital was built on a foundation of community support and it’s our collective responsibility to keep that going for future generations.”
The Senior Philanthropy Officer will work in collaboration with the RIH/HC President, hospital CDOs, Brown University Health Development Team and volunteer leadership to advance the fundraising program. The incoming officer will focus on the successful identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of major and planned giving donors.
Responsibilities and Qualifications
Essential Responsibilities:
Identifies, cultivates, solicits and provides stewardship for major gifts of $10,000 or more. Builds effective relationships with physicians, patients, grateful families, administration, trustees and volunteers to advance the mission of the institution through philanthropy.
Manages a portfolio of 100+ active major donors/prospects and creates cultivation, solicitation and stewardship strategies for each.
Participates in aggressive “moves management” program with a focus on cultivating, rating, soliciting and stewarding gifts over$10,000. Makes anywhere from 3-4 “asks” per month.
Documents all cultivation and solicitation activities with prospects/donors and cooperates with established prospect clearance policies and procedures.
Works with RIH/HCH and Brown University Health development staff to ensure collaboration among affiliates and disciplines, maximizing opportunities for the cultivation of major, principal, planned, foundation and corporate gifts.
Works with appropriate Brown University Health development staff to ensure that gifts are recorded, acknowledged and recognized in keeping with the best practices in recognition and stewardship.
Recruits, organize, train and direct volunteers, advising same on effective major gift fundraising methods.
Works closely with the Major Gifts team to develop and implement individual donor strategies for cultivation and solicitation.
Maintains effective and timely communication with senior management and physicians to discern organizational goals and to incorporate funding priorities in donor cultivation and solicitation strategies.
Implements major gift fundraising strategies that are consistent with Brown University Health and Rhode Island Hospital missions, and works closely with appropriate Brown University Health departments to both leverage resources and maintain unified messaging.
Helps identify major gift prospects and develops strategies for elevating donor commitment.
Participates as a member of the major gift team during meetings and as system-wide fundraising opportunities are developed.
Works closely with gift officer colleagues on developing effective prospect strategies for campaign and non-campaign initiatives. Where appropriate, will assist VP/CDO in providing mentoring for new and/or less experienced individual giving officers.
Education and Experience:
Bachelor’s degree in communications, business administration or the like, or the equivalent in related experience.
Five to seven years related professional experience in development, including experience in major gift fundraising, with established track record in achieving annual goals.
Experience at a multi-institutional hospital or health care center preferred.
Brown University Health is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, ethnicity, sexual orientation, ancestry, genetics, gender identity or expression, disability, protected veteran or marital status. Brown University Health is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor.
Applications & Nominations
Rhode Island Hospital has partnered with Boyden Executive Search. For more information about this opportunity or to submit a cover letter and resume, please email:
Wendy Wilsker has dedicated her entire career to the non-profit sector, serving in leadership roles within charitable organizations and working alongside them as an executive recruiter and consultant. She excels at identifying the unique challenges and opportunities non-profits face, and partners with senior leadership to build successful organizational structures, teams and advancement programs.
Beth Parsons specializes in the education and non-profit sectors, having held fundraising and leadership roles in prominent educational and social impact organizations for nearly 20 years. She partners with clients to develop search strategies on the basis of organizational needs and core values. Her extensive advancement network serves as a source of high-impact talent.
Don’t check off all the boxes or meet every single requirement? We have learned that potential candidates hesitate when applying for a job unless they meet every single requirement. Boyden Boston is dedicated to inclusivity and valuing diversity and equity in the workplace. If this opportunity excites you, but your background may not be a perfect match, we still encourage you to apply.
Rhode Island Hospital – Advancing Medicine. Touching Lives – 2024 Publication
