VP Philanthropy

Hospital Sisters Health System (HSHS) is a highly integrated, multi-institutional health care system sponsored by The Hospital Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis, which is an international, multi-cultural congregation of Franciscan Sisters. The system office and the Hospital Sisters of St. Francis Foundation, the central coordinating body, is located in Springfield, Illinois and individual foundation branches are set up in each of the local ministries throughout Illinois and Wisconsin.

HSHS is committed to delivering high quality, compassionate, holistic, and cost-effective health care services to all who seek it. As a System, HSHS is able to strengthen and further its mission, share innovative ideas, and develop and implement strategies to transform health care locally and nationally. As a Franciscan health care ministry, HSHS is inspired to serve others, particularly the most vulnerable in our society, through a care integration strategy to provide exceptional care centered on the whole person -- mind, body, and spirit. HSHS is also committed to adopting the latest best practices to deliver exceptional and compassionate care to all patients.

HSHS is a nearly $3 billion enterprise serving urban and rural communities throughout Illinois and Wisconsin with 15 acute care hospitals consisting of over 2,000 beds, 2,300 physician partners and nearly 13,000 employees. The organization is among the leading regional not-for-profit health care systems in the country, as well as one of the largest Catholic Health Systems, and is an A+ rated credit by both Standard & Poor’s and Fitch. In April 2022 HSHS was named to the Becker’s Healthcare "150 Top Places to Work in Healthcare."

The Vice President, Philanthropy (VP) will serve as the chief fundraising strategist for HSHS and its affiliates, helping to align system strategic goals with fundraising programs and priorities, including annual giving, capital campaigns and endowment campaigns. This new leader will be responsible for the overall management, coordination and direction of the fundraising operation across the entire HSHS and Hospital Sisters of St. Francis Foundation. The VP will also focus on the cultivation and solicitation of transformative gifts by managing and advancing a portfolio of some of the most committed donors and promising prospects.

Central to the new VP's impact will be creating a strategic development plan based on a deep assessment of the current fundraising program. The fundraising team is ready for a new vision for philanthropy, and the next VP will be expected to implement a metrics-driven, goal-oriented roadmap to ensure the organization will achieve its philanthropic goals. Included in this plan must be the development of a culture of philanthropy within HSHS and in the communities it serves.

HSHS is seeking a candidate with significant experience in leading through organizational growth and change and an accomplished record of cultivating and closing major and principal gifts. The successful candidate will understand and appreciate the entirety of a development program while committing to best practices in the profession and to the mission of HSHS. This individual must be a visionary leader who possesses exceptional communication and relationship-building skills.

This is an opportunity to join HSHS at a critical and exciting time in its fundraising history. Damond Boatwright became President and CEO of the HSHS in June 2021 and launched a dynamic strategic planning process for HSHS. Using the priorities generated by this work, the VP, Philanthropy will be able to launch a comprehensive development effort, including a multi-state capital campaign, that will make a significant impact.

Please direct all nominations and resumes to Donna Padilla, Michael Raddatz, Anissa Conner and Jessica Cummings through the WittKieffer Candidate Portal. For additional information, please contact the WittKieffer search team at HSHSVPPhilanthropy@wittkieffer.com

HSHS values diversity and is committed to equal opportunity for all persons regardless of age, color, disability, ethnicity, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status or any other status protected by law.