May 2026 Focus
Letter from the President
If I had a dollar for every time someone outside of philanthropy asked me, “So when is your slow season?”…well, I probably wouldn’t need to write another appeal.
It’s a fair question. In many professions, there’s a natural rhythm—busy seasons and quieter stretches. But in healthcare philanthropy? We know the truth: There is no slow season!
What we do have is a constant thread running through everything we do: urgency, purpose, and the privilege of connecting generosity to impact. So instead of chasing a mythical “slow time,” maybe the better question is: How do we thrive in a field that never really slows down?
A few thoughts from the trenches:
1. Plan the week you want—then adapt to the one you get.
If you’re waiting for a long stretch of downtime to “finally catch up,” you need to let that fantasy go. Block time intentionally for the work that often gets squeezed out: strategizing, planning, evaluation, and donor stewardship. Protect it when you can—but don’t measure success by perfection. Some weeks those blocks will hold; other weeks they’ll disappear. The value is in intentionally making space for what matters, even if it doesn’t always go as planned.
2. Build in micro-recovery.
We can easily become exhausted by the relentless pace of our work. Add in busy family and personal lives, and it becomes even harder to catch our breath. Build in small resets—a walk between meetings, a true lunch break, or a commitment to not check email after 7pm—to create breathing room and recover your energy.
3. Practice strategic “no.”
Being a team player doesn’t mean saying yes to everything. In fact, it often means being clear about your priorities so mission-critical work doesn’t get diluted. It is both appropriate and necessary at times to decline tasks that fall outside your role or goals in order to avoid mission creep and protect focus, time, and energy for what matters most.
4. Stay connected to the “why.”
When everything feels urgent, it’s easy to slip into transactional mode. But the work we do is anything but transactional—it’s deeply human. Taking even a brief moment in the busiest times to remind yourself of the purpose for your work helps reframe “busy” into “meaningful.”
At NEAHP, one of the things I value most is that we’re not navigating this pace alone. This community understands the unique cadence of our work—the intensity, the unpredictability, and the incredible impact that comes with it.
So the next time someone asks when your slow season is, feel free to smile and say, “I’ll let you know when I find it.” Then reach out to a colleague to share a laugh, or a moment of disbelief, about the question.
Until then, thank you for the work you do every day—fast-paced, ever-evolving, and always making a difference.
Warmly,
Emily Brooks, President
NEAHP
Back to top
2026 NEAHP Conference
Thank You for Making the March Conference a Success!
We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us for this year’s conference in March! From attendees and presenters to sponsors and volunteers, your energy and participation made this year’s gathering both refreshing and inspiring.
This year, we enjoyed a variety of highlights: engaging keynote speakers, thought-provoking breakout sessions, and countless networking moments that sparked new ideas and partnerships. We left the conference refreshed, inspired, and grateful; grateful for your energy, your insights, and your commitment to making a difference!
We are already planning next year’s conference. Save the date: March 1-3, 2027 // The Equinox Golf Resort & Spa // Manchester, Vermont
Back to top
We want your input!
Our Conference Committee is hard at work developing beneficial programming for next year's event.
What topics would you like to see covered at next year’s conference?
Are you interested in being a part of next year’s conference planning?
TAKE SURVEY
Back to top
Legislative Corner
While no major new federal legislation has emerged since January, 2026 marks the first year the policies of the new One Big Beautiful Bill Act (signed into law July 2025) are being implemented—and early signals show meaningful shifts in donor behavior and estate planning strategies that healthcare fundraisers should be watching closely. Following are a few articles and resources that cover these topics.
Helpful Resources
Following are some current resources that can aid you in better understanding your donors and their philanthropic giving.
Back to top
Calendar of Events
Tuesday, June 9, 2026 | 12:00pm - 1:00pm | Zoom
Ask the Experts Series:
Tools that Work: A Proven Method for Turning Resident Alumni into Hospital Supporters
Register
Thursday, June 18, 2026 | 11:00am - 12:00pm | Zoom
New England Networking Series
Register
Tuesday, July 14, 2026 | 12:00pm - 1:00pm | Zoom
Ask the Experts Series:
Session Info Coming Soon!
Save the Date
Back to top
Sponsor Highlights
Learn from our Sponsors:
Keeping It Fresh: Sustaining Engaged Clinician Partnerships
Sarah Burdi, CFRE, Principal Consultant
Accordant
As Healthcare Policy Shifts, Philanthropy Matters More
Brian Browne, Associate Vice President
BWF
Mission-Focused Prospect Cultivation Events: A field-tested, step-by-step guide to raising more money in less time by engaging your best major and mid-level prospects through cultivation events instead of time-consuming fundraising events.
John A. Perry, CFRE, President and Principal Consultant
Engaged Generosity
Hallmarks of a Strong Culture of Philanthropy in Healthcare
Meg Bailey, MA, Vice President
Graham-Pelton
Grateful Patient Program: How to Inspire More Generosity
Jay Finney, VP – Donor Engagement & Non-Profit Strategies
StoryCause
Philanthropy at a Crossroads: How Political and Economic Uncertainty in Washington is Reshaping Healthcare Fundraising: Navigating Policy, Taxation, and Economic Trends to Sustain Philanthropic Success
David E. Garamella, MPA, JP, CEO & Founder
The Giving Collaborative
The Human-Plus-AI Model: Efficiency, Scalability, and Growth
Kate Nimety, EVP, Strategy
Cody Culp, AVP, Technical Strategy
Zuri Group
Back to top
